Post by verybasicdad on Dec 17, 2006 19:50:44 GMT -5
Well Boiler maniacs, will the 2007 team be better than the oft-hurt 2006 team? Guess 2007 might finally bring a sizable L2, but what else changes from this team that under-achieved in many ways? Don't get me wrong, glad to see a repeat in the sweet 16 but this team was not competitive against the best in the Big Ten and has several question marks rolling into next year...
1) Loss of Dildine impacts the defensive strategy and an incredible passion for the game. Her serving kept the Boilers in many matches thru the year. Big shoes to fill.
2) Miller and Merlau need to be the players that Coach Shondell keeps telling everyone they are. Miller not at the top of the Big Ten defensive gems and Merlau still looking to join the elite hitters in the conference. neither were a force in 2006.
3) Defense was awful for most of 2006. Freshman setter with poor passing equals disaster and when Purdue faced the best in the conference, this formula was often seen. Don't know why Mastandrea was not part of the program this past year especially after a pretty sound Frosh year playing libero but she would seem to play a BIG role in making the defense improve as BIG time improvement is needed in the backrow to compete in 2007. Is Pierce a backrow superstar in 2007?
Lynch, Mader and Gurnell should provide consistent night-in and night-out performances and if Jacques remains healthy then the new-comers at Outside and Middle should enhance the ability to put the ball on the floor but need Merlau at the top of her game to make Purdue a power. Gray will have another year under her belt and a highly recruited setter rolling in might make the 6-2 a weapon for the team instead of a bail-out that it was in 2006.
Last, and I know I will take hits on this one, but the coaching needs to improve. No other D-1 team in any sport changes the lineup as many times as coach did. No consistent playing spot for most of the players so expertise not allowed at any position. Worked against the lesser talent teams but put the team at a disadvantage against the best teams as the scores indicated. No argument that Dave has done a great job in the past four years but 2006 looked like he out-coached himself. You don't show confidence in your team week after week when the line-up changes even after the good performances! At least he will have several players that played multiple positions to choose from next year!
Boilers could be VERY good in 2007, if...thoughts anyone?
1) Loss of Dildine impacts the defensive strategy and an incredible passion for the game. Her serving kept the Boilers in many matches thru the year. Big shoes to fill.
2) Miller and Merlau need to be the players that Coach Shondell keeps telling everyone they are. Miller not at the top of the Big Ten defensive gems and Merlau still looking to join the elite hitters in the conference. neither were a force in 2006.
3) Defense was awful for most of 2006. Freshman setter with poor passing equals disaster and when Purdue faced the best in the conference, this formula was often seen. Don't know why Mastandrea was not part of the program this past year especially after a pretty sound Frosh year playing libero but she would seem to play a BIG role in making the defense improve as BIG time improvement is needed in the backrow to compete in 2007. Is Pierce a backrow superstar in 2007?
Lynch, Mader and Gurnell should provide consistent night-in and night-out performances and if Jacques remains healthy then the new-comers at Outside and Middle should enhance the ability to put the ball on the floor but need Merlau at the top of her game to make Purdue a power. Gray will have another year under her belt and a highly recruited setter rolling in might make the 6-2 a weapon for the team instead of a bail-out that it was in 2006.
Last, and I know I will take hits on this one, but the coaching needs to improve. No other D-1 team in any sport changes the lineup as many times as coach did. No consistent playing spot for most of the players so expertise not allowed at any position. Worked against the lesser talent teams but put the team at a disadvantage against the best teams as the scores indicated. No argument that Dave has done a great job in the past four years but 2006 looked like he out-coached himself. You don't show confidence in your team week after week when the line-up changes even after the good performances! At least he will have several players that played multiple positions to choose from next year!
Boilers could be VERY good in 2007, if...thoughts anyone?
