|
Post by JHAM on Oct 15, 2007 13:00:35 GMT -5
You are correct Ruffda, it was -9, -17, -20 (I had to look it up). Probably won't see those types of scores with the current team, at least lets hope not!
|
|
|
Post by JT on Oct 15, 2007 15:15:41 GMT -5
They need to put it together for this weekend. Northwestern and MSU aren't going to be too sympathetic. Mrs JT will also not be happy if she has to put up with my moping around on the road. She doesn't normally come on these road trips w/ me, so when she does come along, she'd better not be disappointed, nor have to cope with my being disappointed!
|
|
|
Post by spikerthemovie on Oct 16, 2007 0:03:56 GMT -5
I just hope Hannah Werth wasn't too concerned with how the team played this weekend, because it wasn't what I'd want a top recruit to see. My sense is that when recruits are legitimately interested in a school and see them play this way they think "hmmm, I could come in and help this team right away." If it's an official visit, I doubt she's negatively influenced. Why were you listening (as opposed to watching) the match? I think it's an intriguing line of questioning. Makes me think of a few years ago, when -- if memory serves -- both Christine Tan and Megan Hodge made an official visit on a weekend when the Gophers were horrible (Am I remembering right that they lost to Northwestern at home?). Tan ended up committing to the Gophers, Hodge ended up going to another school I prefer not to recall.
|
|
|
Post by smiley on Oct 16, 2007 0:13:00 GMT -5
I would say some recruits want to start at the top and others want to build to the top.
Plus they're teenagers.
|
|
|
Post by ugopher on Oct 16, 2007 14:48:42 GMT -5
They're a very young team that lacks on court vocal leadership, inconsistent serve receive / passing from match to match to the point of I am breaking my own rule here. After this weekend I was going to stay away from VT but the pull is too strong. To me the lack of leadership is what this team lacks the most. Well, that nand consistent passing. When I look back to the final four teams of 03 and 04 they had some strong leadership in Busse, Martin, Gentil and Taatjes. Leadership both vocal and in production. Busse and Martin would simply take over matches with their offense, Gentil with her defense, and Taatjes would pull them together by making the right decisions. MN has some strong recruits coming in over the next few years. Hopefully, one or two of them will be strong leaders as well.
|
|
|
Post by smiley on Oct 16, 2007 15:43:43 GMT -5
You can never overestimate the value of good leadership. Without it you're going to lose matches you should have won.
|
|
|
Post by whispers on Oct 17, 2007 9:42:44 GMT -5
The coaches pick the captains. They must judge who will be the leaders and be good leaders.
|
|
|
Post by shouts on Oct 17, 2007 11:07:18 GMT -5
Leadership at the coaching level?
|
|
|
Post by spikerthemovie on Oct 17, 2007 11:31:19 GMT -5
I bow to no one in my admiration of Hebert, but I do think this is an area where the team might be feeling the loss of Boos, who seemed like a great communicator/support system for the women on the team. The good news, as far as I'm concerned, is that seems like something the other coaches will only get better at as time progresses.
|
|
|
Post by gopherit on Oct 17, 2007 13:38:57 GMT -5
I agree about the Boos thing. I also believe they have a leader or two in the Freshman. I know Cowles reputation is that of a leader on the court. I think they will emerge when they think their on-court performance justifies the role.
I wouldnt suprise me if there werent some team weirdness over the fact that the newest members are the most highly touted...and this was before they ever played a match. It might have been the coaches means of firing up the freshmen, but it might have burned some of the juniors...and the senior. hehe
This team is going to be awesome. It would have been nice if it happened immediately, but thats pretty rare in any sport.
|
|
|
Post by bomber on Oct 17, 2007 17:03:58 GMT -5
I wouldnt suprise me if there werent some team weirdness over the fact that the newest members are the most highly touted...and this was before they ever played a match. It might have been the coaches means of firing up the freshmen, but it might have burned some of the juniors...and the senior. hehe Interesting observation. They being girls and all, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if there was some "team weirdness" after Hebert had pronounced his frosh middle "the best middle he's ever had at Minnesota". Especially before she walked onto the court for the regular season. I'm thing J Jones didn't particularly care for that comment.......
|
|
|
Post by jlo on Oct 17, 2007 17:11:54 GMT -5
Who is going to start at the leftside positions and opposite this weekend??
|
|
|
Post by spikerthemovie on Oct 17, 2007 18:37:10 GMT -5
I wouldnt suprise me if there werent some team weirdness over the fact that the newest members are the most highly touted...and this was before they ever played a match. It might have been the coaches means of firing up the freshmen, but it might have burned some of the juniors...and the senior. hehe Interesting observation. They being girls and all, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if there was some "team weirdness" after Hebert had pronounced his frosh middle "the best middle he's ever had at Minnesota". Especially before she walked onto the court for the regular season. I'm thing J Jones didn't particularly care for that comment....... Hebert's a smart guy. I have no inside knowledge of this, but I feel pretty confident that Jones and maybe even last year's Nelson had been told that his give-the-new-player-the-confidence-she'll-need quote was probably coming, and to take it with a grain of salt. PS. "They being girls and all." Puh-leeze.
|
|
|
Post by bomber on Oct 17, 2007 19:00:09 GMT -5
You obviously are male, as is Hebert, so you may discount or possibly not even comprehend how a female mind sometimes works. On a woman's team, bonding and internal cohesion is vital, even indispensible, or regardless of talent, you can forget success. (Though I doubt Hebert does not know this already)
Feelings can get hurt VERY easily, and trouble can start from that point. I'm not saying that's Minnesota's problem (they can't pass, and have no visible leader at present), but Hebert might have considered another tactic less likely to cause an issue.
|
|
|
Post by ugopher on Oct 17, 2007 20:42:50 GMT -5
You obviously are male, as is Hebert, so you may discount or possibly not even comprehend how a female mind sometimes works. On a woman's team, bonding and internal cohesion is vital, even indispensible, or regardless of talent, you can forget success. (Though I doubt Hebert does not know this already) Feelings can get hurt VERY easily, and trouble can start from that point. I'm not saying that's Minnesota's problem (they can't pass, and have no visible leader at present), but Hebert might have considered another tactic less likely to cause an issue. Mike spoke at a Chamber luncheon last month and made this very point. He said that female athletes are different than male athletes - male athletes have no problem proving they are the best on the team whereas with female athletes it is more about the team. He said it took him a little while to figure that out. I recently started coaching girls and it took me almost a full season to figure it out but once I did it made a tremendous difference in my approach. As far as leadership goes, Boos may have been a factor last year. However, a coach's leadership only goes so far, leaders are needed on the court. I do believe that one of the current freshman will become a leader but it takes time.
|
|