|
Post by WI FIB on Dec 30, 2012 13:29:03 GMT -5
I saw Illinois play in person and IMO their problem was a lack of leadership. Luhrsen looked so bored out there. The passing was decent. Not as bad as I thought it would be but nothing to write home about. Their offense was also very slow and predictable (think USC). I saw them play in person quite a bit this season, and while I would agree there was no real on-court leadership, I couldn't disagree more about the passing. It was far from decent. Worse, it was completely inconsistent. When this team passed well, they were tough to beat. When they didn't, they weren't. They usually didn't. Period.
|
|
|
Post by newman21 on Jan 5, 2013 19:18:18 GMT -5
Don't they need another Setter. They have one coming in in 2015 but how can you realistically start a season with only one Setter? What about any of the transfers that are available? Do they have any scholarship positions left?
|
|
|
Post by smiley on Jan 5, 2013 19:59:36 GMT -5
Strizak will be the back up setter as well as an OH. Stark won the Under Armour setting skill contest her senior year. Plus there may be a walk on setter. @011 we only had one setter and made the NC match. All scholarships are filled.
|
|
|
Post by cathy4 on Jan 5, 2013 21:18:57 GMT -5
Strizak will be the back up setter as well as an OH. Stark won the Under Armour setting skill contest her senior year. Plus there may be a walk on setter. @011 we only had one setter and made the NC match. All scholarships are filled. J. Wolfe was back-up???
|
|
|
Post by smiley on Jan 6, 2013 2:17:55 GMT -5
yes
|
|
hartz
Sophomore
Ah-mah-zing
Posts: 131
|
Post by hartz on Jan 6, 2013 11:50:31 GMT -5
I hate to bring up the Blair Brown-McMahon comparison again, for fear of the argument it caused when it was discussed before, but I do so to point out that Blair took a significant leap, conditioning wise, from her sophomore to junior year. The work was probably being put in all along, but it became extremely apparent...several coaches commented on how much more imposing she looked that year (09) when I was around. McMahon could benefit from this and come back in a similar way, quicker, leaner, more explosive, and allow her to move to all-around status as a junior, which some seem to want.
|
|
|
Post by smiley on Jan 6, 2013 12:20:50 GMT -5
While the idea is that every player improves as they get older they're also all different. And who's to say Liz will "improve" the same way Blair did. Liz may come back bigger, more muscular. She may stay basically the same. Liz isn't Blair, despite what the "experts" here at VT think. The biggest thing they have in common is that they're both tall. Liz is Liz. She'll be what she puts into it.
|
|
|
Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Jan 6, 2013 14:21:28 GMT -5
While the idea is that every player improves as they get older they're also all different. And who's to say Liz will "improve" the same way Blair did. Liz may come back bigger, more muscular. She may stay basically the same. Liz isn't Blair, despite what the "experts" here at VT think. The biggest thing they have in common is that they're both tall. Liz is Liz. She'll be what she puts into it. You all can say what you will about McMahon, but I am thankful every match that Illinois plays that Liz is an Illini!
|
|
|
Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Jan 6, 2013 14:33:16 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by smiley on Jan 6, 2013 14:49:09 GMT -5
A more important reason to drop the Mcmahon-Brown comparison other than two different players, on different teams with different surrounding players is that to continue is to invite the PSU trolls to insult Liz and the Illini.
|
|
|
Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Jan 7, 2013 9:22:24 GMT -5
Any rumors (actual information) about Coach Oldenburg's replacement.
Since Illinois' two remaining coaches are men, I would anticipate a woman being hired.
I would like to see a coach whose strength is passing and defense. As usual, I have not taken the time to research how Illinois' backcourt defense has been historically, but just by personal observation, I would rate it no better than middle of the pack in the B1G every season. And of course, last year, passing was a major stumbling block for the Illini. I have heard that incoming freshman Strizak is an excellent passer, and she should help alot next season.
|
|
|
Post by smiley on Jan 7, 2013 10:06:49 GMT -5
I give little credence to a new players reputation for back row play. Several of last years first year players came in with the reputation of being good back row players. The problem was two fold. The back row was ALL new players except for Beltran and there's a HUGE difference between club/HS and upper D1. The coaches all said that ball control was going to be the biggest problem and it was worse than expected. Hope you're right about Strizak but first she's got to find the court.
|
|
|
Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Jan 7, 2013 10:20:22 GMT -5
Speaking of Illinois' defense historically, I remember back when Hebert was coaching the Illini, Illinois seemed to always have a big, good block. But when, a team was successful in getting the ball past the Illinois block, the backrow defense was not very good. Just my impression.
To the contrary, it seemed that once Hebert moved on to Minnesota, the Gophers became known for their tremendous liberos and backcourt defense (along with an always solid Gopher block).
|
|
|
Post by smiley on Jan 7, 2013 12:35:46 GMT -5
remember the block, not so much the back row. Back in those days Hebert never gave scholarships to back row players. And I don't think he scouted that hard for top walk on DS's. He just went for the big front row and was pretty good at finding them.
His last few years here were down for him so maybe he learned his lesson on how important the back row is.
|
|
|
Post by Babar on Jan 7, 2013 13:37:07 GMT -5
remember the block, not so much the back row. Back in those days Hebert never gave scholarships to back row players. And I don't think he scouted that hard for top walk on DS's. He just went for the big front row and was pretty good at finding them. His last few years here were down for him so maybe he learned his lesson on how important the back row is. When Mike coached at Illinois there was no libero, 12 subs and each player could only enter the game three times. The emphasis was on players who could play all the way around.
|
|