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TBBC Women’s Basketball Season Preview Roundtable
WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
There’s much to talk about around the Ohio State women’s basketball team for this upcoming season. They have the best staff in the country working hard to get to the level of the UCONN’s , Notre Dames and Tennessee’s of the world. Kelsey Mitchell should be the best player in the nation this season as nobody showed the ability to stop her or even really slow her down. She will have an opportunity against last years final four teams, who are all on this seasons schedule.
Huge thanks to our super fan Jeff Howell for coming in and throwing down his Lady Buckeye’s expertise. As always we have our women’s basketball lead man Charles talking shop, too!
Kelsey Mitchell should be the best player in the country this season. What can she do to improve on an amazing freshman season?
Has to dish it and take care of it to improve this season
Charles – Its hard to see Mitchell improving much on her scoring from last season but I certainly wouldn’t complain if she does. I think the biggest improvement for her to make is to get other players involved and distributing the ball. She wasn’t bad at it last year by any means but she is going to draw a lot more attention and double teams this season which means other players are going to get opportunities. The more Mitchell can find the open player and get them the ball, the better OSU will do and it will also eventually decrease the defensive pressure on her.
Jeff – Phenomenal talent and if she stays healthy will shatter all of Katie Smith’s records. If she can reduce her turnovers and stop forcing shots she will improve considerably. Luckily we enter the season healthy and she will have a lot more trust in her teammates.
WVa – The one thing Mitchell can do well and better than most of the rest of the country is score. For her to improve upon her freshman season, she will need to continue to do that as well as feed her teammates the ball. The team was led by both Mitchell and Alston last season in scoring and it took some time to get some of the other players up to speed but If anyone can do it it’s those two.
I look forward to seeing Mitchell in her comfort zone which will be to get others involved, we should see a drastic increase in her assist count and that in turn should bring down her turn-overs. Ball security will be key for the sophomore as she draws double teams away from the basket to try and force her to give it up. I see all of the teams that the Buckeyes play doing just that.
What secondary player are you most excited to see play and why?
Charles – This is a tough one as there are a lot of exciting players on this team, even more so with the injuries last year. Definitely excited to see how Ameryst Alston does in her final season, always loved Cait Craft for her basketball IQ, but I’m most looking forward to seeing Kalpana Beach play. Beach was impressive at the beginning of her freshman season, showing signs of being a truly special player but unfortunately she hasn’t really been healthy since then. If she can stay healthy this year, the front court could be scary good and athletic.
Jeff – Kianna Holland. I have heard great things about here and I had the opportunity to spend time with her during the OSU WBB Team Camp that I officiated at. Great personality, outstanding leader and I am told that she can shoot lights out! Being elected as a captain this year after just transferring to OSU last year tells you all you need to know about her.
WVa – Alexa Hart is the player I am looking forward to seeing blossom even more. She blocked an OSU single-season record 129 shots, breaking Jessica Davenport’s old mark of 116, Her 129 blocks were second-most in the Big Ten and they were tied for the fifth-most by a freshman in a season in NCAA history. Her 12.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game became clutch down the stretch last season and poses match-up issues for many of the teams on the Buckeyes schedule this season.
Coach McGuff said on media day that he has the depth to play like he wants to. What if anything can slow him down?
One of the best coaches in the country has it going and he wants it right now.
Charles – After last season the answer to this one is easy, injuries. The Buckeyes were really hurt by injuries last year and hopefully they will have better luck this season. If the team can stay healthy and have the depth it should have, other teams better watch out because even almost no bench last year, the team played fast.
Jeff – Injuries. We stay healthy, we will have a very successful season and make a deep run in the tournament.
WVa – It’s a unanimous decision, injuries will be their undoing if they happen. There hasn’t been a more documented injury riddled season in Ohio State history than last season and Coach McGuff had to go to the retirement list to get help. This year isn’t that dire so far and here’s hoping it never comes to that. This is a special team.
What game(s) are you looking forward to the most this season and how do the Buckeyes do in them?
Charles – This is easily the best women’s basketball schedule I’ve ever seen OSU have and it is probably one of the most difficult ones ever. The Buckeyes play all of last year’s Final Four teams – Connecticut, South Carolina, Notre Dame, and Maryland. Those are easily the most exciting games on the schedule and they will tell us a lot about the program. I don’t think OSU will be ready to beat UConn, Notre Dame, or South Carolina early in the season when they meet but I think they can give all three of those teams a game. OSU came close to beating Maryland in the Big Ten Tournament title game last year and I think this year they succeed and knock off the conference newcomers during the regular season and I expect a great rematch in the tournament title game at the end of the season.
Jeff – UConn at home and Notre Dame on the road. Two big time programs and Final Four participants this past year. These two games early in the season will provide a solid gauge as to exactly where we stand as a program.
WVa – The Buckeye hung with one final four team last season in Maryland and had their chances to end the Terps perfect run in the B1G. This is easily one of the best schedules I have ever seen for the women’s team and maybe even better than some of the men’s schedules. The final four comes calling in UConn at home early and then South Carolina and Notre Dame as well as Maryland in the conference again. The best match-up is UConn at home, a win or compete with the defending champs here will send a clear message.
Prediction for this season
Charles – I’m seeing something like 20-9 overall, 13-4 in the Big Ten with a second place finish behind Maryland in the conference. The depth and speed of the team really pay off in the Big Ten tournament though and OSU wins the tournament and gets a number 2 seed in the NCAA tournament where they make it to the Elite Eight before falling just short of a Final Four
Jeff – B1G Champion and Elite 8, possible Final 4 participant in the NCAA tourney. One final note: “Fans, please come support this team. Tickets are inexpensive and you are guaranteed a great seat at the Schott. Outstanding talent, outstanding coaching, and a program that is expected to be competitive nationally. Let’s Go Bucks!!”
WVa – Even though the Buckeyes have what it takes to win it all, I still believe they are a year away from dominating the landscape of college women’s basketball. They have all of the pieces, and will probably upset a couple of the final four teams, but in the end they will suffer some upsets themselves due to lack of experience and will be second best in the conference behind Maryland. 23-6 overall and 15-2 in the B1G with a two seed headed into the NCAA’s. They will also stand a good chance of winning the B1G tournament and getting a #1.
The post TBBC Women’s Basketball Season Preview Roundtable appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
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WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
There’s much to talk about around the Ohio State women’s basketball team for this upcoming season. They have the best staff in the country working hard to get to the level of the UCONN’s , Notre Dames and Tennessee’s of the world. Kelsey Mitchell should be the best player in the nation this season as nobody showed the ability to stop her or even really slow her down. She will have an opportunity against last years final four teams, who are all on this seasons schedule.
Huge thanks to our super fan Jeff Howell for coming in and throwing down his Lady Buckeye’s expertise. As always we have our women’s basketball lead man Charles talking shop, too!
Kelsey Mitchell should be the best player in the country this season. What can she do to improve on an amazing freshman season?
Has to dish it and take care of it to improve this season
Charles – Its hard to see Mitchell improving much on her scoring from last season but I certainly wouldn’t complain if she does. I think the biggest improvement for her to make is to get other players involved and distributing the ball. She wasn’t bad at it last year by any means but she is going to draw a lot more attention and double teams this season which means other players are going to get opportunities. The more Mitchell can find the open player and get them the ball, the better OSU will do and it will also eventually decrease the defensive pressure on her.
Jeff – Phenomenal talent and if she stays healthy will shatter all of Katie Smith’s records. If she can reduce her turnovers and stop forcing shots she will improve considerably. Luckily we enter the season healthy and she will have a lot more trust in her teammates.
WVa – The one thing Mitchell can do well and better than most of the rest of the country is score. For her to improve upon her freshman season, she will need to continue to do that as well as feed her teammates the ball. The team was led by both Mitchell and Alston last season in scoring and it took some time to get some of the other players up to speed but If anyone can do it it’s those two.
I look forward to seeing Mitchell in her comfort zone which will be to get others involved, we should see a drastic increase in her assist count and that in turn should bring down her turn-overs. Ball security will be key for the sophomore as she draws double teams away from the basket to try and force her to give it up. I see all of the teams that the Buckeyes play doing just that.
What secondary player are you most excited to see play and why?
Charles – This is a tough one as there are a lot of exciting players on this team, even more so with the injuries last year. Definitely excited to see how Ameryst Alston does in her final season, always loved Cait Craft for her basketball IQ, but I’m most looking forward to seeing Kalpana Beach play. Beach was impressive at the beginning of her freshman season, showing signs of being a truly special player but unfortunately she hasn’t really been healthy since then. If she can stay healthy this year, the front court could be scary good and athletic.
Jeff – Kianna Holland. I have heard great things about here and I had the opportunity to spend time with her during the OSU WBB Team Camp that I officiated at. Great personality, outstanding leader and I am told that she can shoot lights out! Being elected as a captain this year after just transferring to OSU last year tells you all you need to know about her.
WVa – Alexa Hart is the player I am looking forward to seeing blossom even more. She blocked an OSU single-season record 129 shots, breaking Jessica Davenport’s old mark of 116, Her 129 blocks were second-most in the Big Ten and they were tied for the fifth-most by a freshman in a season in NCAA history. Her 12.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game became clutch down the stretch last season and poses match-up issues for many of the teams on the Buckeyes schedule this season.
Coach McGuff said on media day that he has the depth to play like he wants to. What if anything can slow him down?
One of the best coaches in the country has it going and he wants it right now.
Charles – After last season the answer to this one is easy, injuries. The Buckeyes were really hurt by injuries last year and hopefully they will have better luck this season. If the team can stay healthy and have the depth it should have, other teams better watch out because even almost no bench last year, the team played fast.
Jeff – Injuries. We stay healthy, we will have a very successful season and make a deep run in the tournament.
WVa – It’s a unanimous decision, injuries will be their undoing if they happen. There hasn’t been a more documented injury riddled season in Ohio State history than last season and Coach McGuff had to go to the retirement list to get help. This year isn’t that dire so far and here’s hoping it never comes to that. This is a special team.
What game(s) are you looking forward to the most this season and how do the Buckeyes do in them?
Charles – This is easily the best women’s basketball schedule I’ve ever seen OSU have and it is probably one of the most difficult ones ever. The Buckeyes play all of last year’s Final Four teams – Connecticut, South Carolina, Notre Dame, and Maryland. Those are easily the most exciting games on the schedule and they will tell us a lot about the program. I don’t think OSU will be ready to beat UConn, Notre Dame, or South Carolina early in the season when they meet but I think they can give all three of those teams a game. OSU came close to beating Maryland in the Big Ten Tournament title game last year and I think this year they succeed and knock off the conference newcomers during the regular season and I expect a great rematch in the tournament title game at the end of the season.
Jeff – UConn at home and Notre Dame on the road. Two big time programs and Final Four participants this past year. These two games early in the season will provide a solid gauge as to exactly where we stand as a program.
WVa – The Buckeye hung with one final four team last season in Maryland and had their chances to end the Terps perfect run in the B1G. This is easily one of the best schedules I have ever seen for the women’s team and maybe even better than some of the men’s schedules. The final four comes calling in UConn at home early and then South Carolina and Notre Dame as well as Maryland in the conference again. The best match-up is UConn at home, a win or compete with the defending champs here will send a clear message.
Prediction for this season
Charles – I’m seeing something like 20-9 overall, 13-4 in the Big Ten with a second place finish behind Maryland in the conference. The depth and speed of the team really pay off in the Big Ten tournament though and OSU wins the tournament and gets a number 2 seed in the NCAA tournament where they make it to the Elite Eight before falling just short of a Final FourJeff – B1G Champion and Elite 8, possible Final 4 participant in the NCAA tourney. One final note: “Fans, please come support this team. Tickets are inexpensive and you are guaranteed a great seat at the Schott. Outstanding talent, outstanding coaching, and a program that is expected to be competitive nationally. Let’s Go Bucks!!”
WVa – Even though the Buckeyes have what it takes to win it all, I still believe they are a year away from dominating the landscape of college women’s basketball. They have all of the pieces, and will probably upset a couple of the final four teams, but in the end they will suffer some upsets themselves due to lack of experience and will be second best in the conference behind Maryland. 23-6 overall and 15-2 in the B1G with a two seed headed into the NCAA’s. They will also stand a good chance of winning the B1G tournament and getting a #1.
The post TBBC Women’s Basketball Season Preview Roundtable appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
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