Minnesota 2018

[saywhatnow]

Dec 11, 2017 21:55:29 GMT -5 gogophers said:

I've harped on this before, but one more time can't hurt: Martin is the 16th ranked recruit. Yes, the rankings sometimes turn out to be undeserved, but more often, the very highly ranked players show their stuff, eventually, even if not always as quickly as the fans (and presumably the coaches and the players) would like. Both Harms and Wilhite didn't become stars until their senior years. Martin had a really, really bad November, and Hugh eventually threw in the towel and benched her. Perfectly understandable and long-over due, I thought. Now the question becomes, how does she respond to that demotion. I hope it lights a fire under her and she lives up to her potential sooner rather than later. It will be interesting to see whether she can reclaim her L2 role next year. Maybe.

I agree with your comparison.  From the matches I watched, there were moments where I wanted more from her.  But unfortunately, athletes take the next step forward in their own time. I see glimpses of what she can be, but now it is a case of how bad she wants to take that next step.  She is in a good situation to do so with Hart leading the way and SSS feeding her the ball.  

[Deleted]

Dec 12, 2017 20:32:25 GMT -5 haze said:

That's just crazy. Do the coaches honor the scholarships to someone who has verbaled or do they take them off the table if there is an injury/transfer/late bloomer, whatever? I'm sure they could, but I would hope they would honor them to the kid and there are no Nick Saban moments where they offer and get a verbal and then there is none available to the kid when they graduate.

I'll refrain from comment.

[Deleted]

I will be very interested in the collegiate careers of Mosser and Martin. In theory, Mosser was the one more ready for D1 and Martin is the one with a higher ceiling. But we'll see. So far, the first part has been true. But Martin really did improve a lot from spring 2017 to this fall.

[spikerthemovie]

Dec 12, 2017 21:03:07 GMT -5 @ruffda said:

I will be very interested in the collegiate careers of Mosser and Martin. In theory, Mosser was the one more ready for D1 and Martin is the one with a higher ceiling. But we'll see. So far, the first part has been true. But Martin really did improve a lot from spring 2017 to this fall.

And Mosser took a lot more swings (and had a bigger role), so the comparison isn't direct, but Mosser's season hitting percentage of .204 isn't all that much better than Martin's .184.

[Deleted]

.204 really isn't that bad, especially for a frosh. Buechler was right around there, too, and she's very good. Consistency is the big thing.

I would guess Mosser was in serve receive too, although I didn't watch much UCLA volleyball.

UCLA doesn't have passing stats, but her digs are low enough for me to think she was subbed out in the back row. Simo?

[haze]

Martin looks to have a funky and stiff approach and swing, but she seems super rangy. Would like to see her become more fluid around the court from her defense to transition to attacking. A lot of that could just be the speed of the game that she has to get used too.

[gogophers]

In mentioning Martin's ranking and the high potential that presumably suggests, I didn't mean to dismiss McLean or Kleinman. By an odd coincidence, Minn OH recruits were ranked #16 and #44 in both the class of 2016 and the class of 2017. #44 isn't 16; but it ain't chopped liver, either. With 5 OHs ranked no lower than 44 (5, once Rollins arrives), you'd think the competition in the gym would produce at least 2 standouts. We know Hart is already one.

[Deleted]

And the fact Rollins was #33 should make anyone doubt the value of those rankings ...

[permagrin]

Dec 12, 2017 21:13:18 GMT -5 @ruffda said:

.204 really isn't that bad, especially for a frosh. Buechler was right around there, too, and she's very good. Consistency is the big thing.

I would guess Mosser was in serve receive too, although I didn't watch much UCLA volleyball.

UCLA doesn't have passing stats, but her digs are low enough for me to think she was subbed out in the back row. Simo?

She played back row but did not serve receive often

[gogophers]

Lots of people say Rollins were ranked too low, but c'mon. No one said the rankings are infallible. But if you look at the players we talk about on the board, the ones that win the AA honors, you'll have to agree that Tawa and crew are pretty good judges of talent.

[Deleted]

No, I don't. And I have my reasons.

I don't think there's anything nefarious going on. I just think apples are being compared to oranges.

[mnsports255]

Looking way too far forward, 2020 projects to have some absolute studs on that team. Samedy, Barnes, Pittman all as seniors, Taylor Landfair, Mel Shaffmaster, Shea Rubright, Adanna Rollins, CC McGraw. Sara Nielsen and Martin will also be seniors and could develop into big time contributors by then too. So much talent assuming that nobody leaves the program.

[ndodge]

I hope to see McGraw dig Rollins (and lots of other looks) in KC on Friday. They're on opposite squads, I believe, for UA match.

[craftylefty]

Anyone get to watch Rollins and McGraw play yesterday? Thoughts? (I did not.)

[ndodge]

I did, both looked quite good. McGraw very solid, got lots of touches, made good plays on almost all of them. Her teammates kept passing her, for second contact, in front of the ten, so she had to bump set, which was done ok, not great, but not really her fault, i.e., having to move pretty far and then bump set on the run (SSS taking first ball and kinda back setting to Rosado behind the ten can be a thing of beauty). Rollins has a nice Hart-like sharp angle shot and has really good hands (took second ball at least a couple times, came out perfect).