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Post by ay2013 on Jul 29, 2014 19:19:35 GMT -5
Texas, Florida, USC, and Wisconsin. The B1G and PAC schools will beat each other up all season; Texas and Florida will get top 4 national seeds. Stanford hasn't made it to a Final Four since 2008; don't see how they are going to replace Carly Wopat's production. Penn State will be very talented, but depending on more than one true freshmen to produce in the starting lineup is a tough task; probably mental more than it is physical for them to play poised when it matters the most. While several on here might not be impressed by what Baker did at Tennessee or what Prieto showed at PSU, I'm glad they landed at Texas; can't imagine how weak we'd be at the pins without them (undersized with Pilar and Neal, no doubt). Eckerman has one OH spot nailed down. The other OH spot is open, and Opposite spot(s) are far from determined. Stanford not making it to the final four since 2008 means next to nothing. They are still a perennial top team that can compete with anyone. And you don't see how they are going to replace Wopat's production? hmmm....how is Texas going to replace Webster, Allison, and Palmer's production to the point of reaching the final four? What is Texas going to do that Stanford won't be able to do? Fill the positions with other top talent? Go to the other returning starters more?....hmmmm I could see Florida picking up a top seed, but more because they play in a weaker conference, not because they are a top 4 team by season's end.
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Post by OptimusPrime on Jul 29, 2014 19:27:28 GMT -5
Paulina is great in the front but a little spastic in the back row. I think she will contribute and she just might be an it factor for the horns. More spastic than Amy Neal, Cat or Pilar in the backrow? Slower than Eckerman? I find that a little hard to believe. I think she's an upgrade for TX in the back row. Don't know about the incoming libero, who's been touted as fantastic. I just know that Cat is bad. Pilar and Amy provide little passing relief. We'll see what happens! She was. Yes. I am hoping RR has worked on her a bit to a point where she may be better than expected but I doubt he would release her if that was the case. She is not slow!!! That is not spastic means if anything she seemed more impatient in the back row. Lets just wait and see. I am not 100% sure on how much she has improved or not improved. We will know soon enough. I do know that she is darn good in the front row.
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Post by southie on Jul 29, 2014 19:33:06 GMT -5
Texas, Florida, USC, and Wisconsin. The B1G and PAC schools will beat each other up all season; Texas and Florida will get top 4 national seeds. Stanford hasn't made it to a Final Four since 2008; don't see how they are going to replace Carly Wopat's production. Penn State will be very talented, but depending on more than one true freshmen to produce in the starting lineup is a tough task; probably mental more than it is physical for them to play poised when it matters the most. While several on here might not be impressed by what Baker did at Tennessee or what Prieto showed at PSU, I'm glad they landed at Texas; can't imagine how weak we'd be at the pins without them (undersized with Pilar and Neal, no doubt). Eckerman has one OH spot nailed down. The other OH spot is open, and Opposite spot(s) are far from determined. Stanford not making it to the final four since 2008 means next to nothing. They are st ill a perennial top team that can compete with anyone. And you don't see how they are going to replace Wopat's production? hmmm....how is Texas going to replace Webster, Allison, and Palmer's production to the point of reaching the final four? What is Texas going to do that Stanford won't be able to do? Fill the positions with other top talent? Go to the other returning starters more?....hmmmm I could see Florida picking up a top seed, but more because they play in a weaker conference, not because they are a top 4 team by season's end. It's my opinion that Stanford not reaching the Final Four in half a decade is relevant to my 2014 Final Four predictions; deal with it. No one designated you as the Stanford defense team, even though you fall all over yourself to lick their nuts. I'm entitled to my opinion and prediction. Until Stanford can prove they won't underachieve in the NCAA tourney, I won't pick them to reach the Final Four. Wopat demanded a lot of attention from the opposition the last 4 years, and Stanford still couldn't make the Final Four. Once I get to see her replacement, maybe I'll change my mind.
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Post by OptimusPrime on Jul 29, 2014 19:41:34 GMT -5
Saw her many times before PSU!!! and just on the PSU games she was in (not too many here). I think that is plenty of times. If she's on the left, do you think she will play 6 rotations at Texas? Honestly, I don't know!! She has the potential to be a 6 rotation player. She just needs to calm her mind and slow herself down a bit. The right coach can turn her into a great all around player. But it is tricky. Can she actually slow her mind down? if so, can she figure out exactly how much so that she does not show down too much!! I honestly don't know. But would love to have her on my team. She is a good project to have.
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Post by ay2013 on Jul 29, 2014 19:51:14 GMT -5
Stanford not making it to the final four since 2008 means next to nothing. They are st ill a perennial top team that can compete with anyone. And you don't see how they are going to replace Wopat's production? hmmm....how is Texas going to replace Webster, Allison, and Palmer's production to the point of reaching the final four? What is Texas going to do that Stanford won't be able to do? Fill the positions with other top talent? Go to the other returning starters more?....hmmmm I could see Florida picking up a top seed, but more because they play in a weaker conference, not because they are a top 4 team by season's end. It's my opinion that Stanford not reaching the Final Four in half a decade is relevant to my 2014 Final Four predictions; deal with it. No one designated you as the Stanford defense team, even though you fall over yourself to lick their nuts. I'm entitled to my opinion andp prediction. Until Stanford can prove they won't underachieve in the NCAA tourney, I won't pick them to reach the Final Four. Wopat demanded a lot of attention from the opposition the last 4 years, and Stanford still couldn't make the Final Four. Once I get to see her replacement, maybe I'll change my mind. It's funny how you begin your response with "It's my opinion" to defend your comments, yet berate me because of my opinion of the situation- a situation that you seemingly believe I have no right to have an opinion on....
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Post by WahineFan44 on Jul 29, 2014 19:54:50 GMT -5
Stanford doesn't have to "replace" wopat or Williams production. They just have to fill the holes enough to be a top team and with McGhee and don't know who will play right (Stanford fans fill me in), they will be fine. They have studs in Gilbert, bugg, burgess inky and Howard.
This is a rebuilding year for nearly every top team this year. So like I said, it's not about finding someone equal to replace who you lost, it's just about competing with the top teams. And from what I've seen of McGehee, she's amazing.
That's why I have Texas and Stanford making the final four. They both lose All Americans, but both return a solid supporting cast. This was the perfect year for Stanford to lose who they did, because everyone else lost their best players too. But unlike those teams, Stanford also returns ALOT more
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Post by pepperbrooks on Jul 29, 2014 19:56:20 GMT -5
This definitely a "coming of,age" year for that junior class. They've got two years of PAC 12 experience, should be primed to make it back to the final four. I'd put money on them to make it back this year or next.
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Post by SportyBucky on Jul 29, 2014 20:43:38 GMT -5
More spastic than Amy Neal, Cat or Pilar in the backrow? Slower than Eckerman? I find that a little hard to believe. I think she's an upgrade for TX in the back row. Don't know about the incoming libero, who's been touted as fantastic. I just know that Cat is bad. Pilar and Amy provide little passing relief. We'll see what happens! She was. Yes. I am hoping RR has worked on her a bit to a point where she may be better than expected but I doubt he would release her if that was the case. She is not slow!!! That is not spastic means if anything she seemed more impatient in the back row. Lets just wait and see. I am not 100% sure on how much she has improved or not improved. We will know soon enough. I do know that she is darn good in the front row. I get that slow is not spastic. That's why I wrote those phrases in different sentences and in reference to different people. Russ would have released her if she didn't want to play for him any longer. A coach always grants a release but can limit the schools to which the release is granted.
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Post by WahineFan44 on Jul 29, 2014 21:18:20 GMT -5
My money is on stanford to win it all, and even more so in 2015 with the addition of hodson to either OH or Opp. Stanford has not been to the final four in a while, but dont count the cardinal out
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Post by volleyfan24 on Jul 30, 2014 4:06:12 GMT -5
Stanford doesn't have to "replace" wopat or Williams production. They just have to fill the holes enough to be a top team and with McGhee and don't know who will play right (Stanford fans fill me in), they will be fine. They have studs in Gilbert, bugg, burgess inky and Howard. This is a rebuilding year for nearly every top team this year. So like I said, it's not about finding someone equal to replace who you lost, it's just about competing with the top teams. And from what I've seen of McGehee, she's amazing. That's why I have Texas and Stanford making the final four. They both lose All Americans, but both return a solid supporting cast. This was the perfect year for Stanford to lose who they did, because everyone else lost their best players too. But unlike those teams, Stanford also returns ALOT more This is the most informed post in here if I had to pick two teams who should make the Final Four to me its Texas and Stanford. I agree completely they return the most players and best line-ups. I think Nebraska returns a lot of talent a veteran setter running a 5-1 and all their stud freshmen returning with experience the Rolfzens and Wong Orantes at libero. I think they are the team to beat in the Big Ten and could make a deep tournament run. The other final four spot for me could be up for grabs by anyone USC, Wisconsin, PSU, Florida, Washington. BYU as a dark horse.
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Post by ay2013 on Jul 30, 2014 4:32:35 GMT -5
Stanford doesn't have to "replace" wopat or Williams production. They just have to fill the holes enough to be a top team and with McGhee and don't know who will play right (Stanford fans fill me in), they will be fine. They have studs in Gilbert, bugg, burgess inky and Howard. This is a rebuilding year for nearly every top team this year. So like I said, it's not about finding someone equal to replace who you lost, it's just about competing with the top teams. And from what I've seen of McGehee, she's amazing. That's why I have Texas and Stanford making the final four. They both lose All Americans, but both return a solid supporting cast. This was the perfect year for Stanford to lose who they did, because everyone else lost their best players too. But unlike those teams, Stanford also returns ALOT more This is the most informed post in here if I had to pick two teams who should make the Final Four to me its Texas and Stanford. I agree completely they return the most players and best line-ups. I think Nebraska returns a lot of talent a veteran setter running a 5-1 and all their stud freshmen returning with experience the Rolfzens and Wong Orantes at libero. I think they are the team to beat in the Big Ten and could make a deep tournament run. The other final four spot for me could be up for grabs by anyone USC, Wisconsin, PSU, Florida. Washington, BYU as a dark horse. Washington, a darkhorse? National semi-finalist and reigning Pac-12 champions, returns 6 starters including the reigning national POY, bring in a top 5 recruiting class and host a regional yet they are a "dark horse". I'm not saying UW will make the final four, but of all the things to characterize the huskies chances at another final four next year, dark horse certainly is not one of them.
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Post by volleyfan24 on Jul 30, 2014 5:23:13 GMT -5
This is the most informed post in here if I had to pick two teams who should make the Final Four to me its Texas and Stanford. I agree completely they return the most players and best line-ups. I think Nebraska returns a lot of talent a veteran setter running a 5-1 and all their stud freshmen returning with experience the Rolfzens and Wong Orantes at libero. I think they are the team to beat in the Big Ten and could make a deep tournament run. The other final four spot for me could be up for grabs by anyone USC, Wisconsin, PSU, Florida. Washington, BYU as a dark horse. Washington, a darkhorse? National semi-finalist and reigning Pac-12 champions, returns 6 starters including the reigning national POY, bring in a top 5 recruiting class and host a regional yet they are a "dark horse". I'm not saying UW will make the final four, but of all the things to characterize the huskies chances at another final four next year, dark horse certainly is not one of them. Sorry it was my error that caused your concern. Bad punctuation I just meant BYU as a dark horse. I think that Stanford is the favorite in the PAC-12 but Washington has a shot and can make the Final Four, my issues for them are a few things. Who is replacing the libero and will they still run the 6-2? Strickland I thought would step down to that position with the addition of Scambray but she is still listed at OH. Also in what was essentially a home game the Huskies took a beating in the Final Four. I think that was not the same team that won the PAC-12 and beat Stanford and USC during the regular season but I think they need to rebuild confidence. Washington can make the Final Four but will they, I am unsure they certainly are capable and returning Vansant who maybe the best 6 rotation OH in the country helps but if last years Final Four proved anything is she can't do it on her own.
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Post by kro2488 on Jul 30, 2014 9:02:30 GMT -5
I would love to see Florida get back there and to the final but it hasn't happened in so long. They always have the potential it just depends who we play in round 2 and which higher seed we get matched up with. I really hope we don't have to play FSU again in round two. But anytime we get seeded it pretty much happens.
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Post by Stanlifornia on Jul 30, 2014 9:24:02 GMT -5
I went with Stanford, Texas, USC, and BYU. Past placement in Regionals would say this scenario is extremely unlikely, but I think Stanford, Texas, and USC going to be the best three teams come tourney time. BYU has the potential to go on a San Diego 2013 type of run. Definitely a sleeper pick.
Frantti, Washington, and Lee might have developed enough by December to consider Penn State a legit contender to go back-to-back.
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Post by bballnut90 on Jul 30, 2014 9:33:41 GMT -5
Texas, Florida, USC, and Wisconsin. The B1G and PAC schools will beat each other up all season; Texas and Florida will get top 4 national seeds. Stanford hasn't made it to a Final Four since 2008; don't see how they are going to replace Carly Wopat's production. Penn State will be very talented, but depending on more than one true freshmen to produce in the starting lineup is a tough task; probably mental more than it is physical for them to play poised when it matters the most. While several on here might not be impressed by what Baker did at Tennessee or what Prieto showed at PSU, I'm glad they landed at Texas; can't imagine how weak we'd be at the pins without them (undersized with Pilar and Neal, no doubt). Eckerman has one OH spot nailed down. The other OH spot is open, and Opposite spot(s) are far from determined. Stanford not making it to the final four since 2008 means next to nothing. They are still a perennial top team that can compete with anyone. And you don't see how they are going to replace Wopat's production? hmmm....how is Texas going to replace Webster, Allison, and Palmer's production to the point of reaching the final four? What is Texas going to do that Stanford won't be able to do? Fill the positions with other top talent? Go to the other returning starters more?....hmmmm I could see Florida picking up a top seed, but more because they play in a weaker conference, not because they are a top 4 team by season's end. The fact that Stanford hasn't been able to "get over the hump" in 6 years shouldn't be underestimated. They've lost 3 times in the regional finals since 2008. On the flip side, Texas has made every final four since then with the exception of 2011. They've won some big regional matches on the road (twice in Nebraska) and have shown a better killer instinct than Stanford. While Stanford does look great on paper this year, I'd put money on Texas over Stanford based on experience and recent history.
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