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Post by Island on Dec 1, 2004 15:00:23 GMT -5
Rose is no house cat. When he has a bone to pick, he speaks his mind. Except his thoughts about how to dominate the Big Ten. That's in a strong box somewhere buried under Mark Pavlik's backyard. Remember when people thought that Penn State was on the outside looking in. What a difference a season makes.
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Post by Island on Dec 1, 2004 15:01:25 GMT -5
I hate when it does that. OK I'm changing it so it doesn't look like I bred some new species. Rose is no girl thingycat. When he has a bone to pick, he speaks his mind. Except his thoughts about how to dominate the Big Ten. That's in a strong box somewhere buried under Mark Pavlik's backyard. Remember when people thought that Penn State was on the outside looking in. What a difference a season makes. |
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Post by brybry on Dec 1, 2004 15:03:41 GMT -5
[quote author=IdahoBoy®® link=board=general&thread=1101890485&start=1#0 date=1101892976]Bah Humbug!
Puhleeeeze! Are you kidding me?! Rus Rose talking about tough teams?! Does anyone recall his scheduling practices? Penn State may or may not be superbly overrated but this is for certain: They schedule lighter than dandelion seeds on the wind and they have no needs to worry until the 3rd and 4th rounds of the tourney. They were awarded a cakewalk to the Regional.[/quote]
Okay, so PSU scheduled some weak opponents. I think it was a good move to build some momentum. But considering they won in the a very tough Big 10 and they beat Stanford in an away match, I think that says something.
Of the top seeds, I think PSU has the least enviable position. IMO, Hawaii's draw looks easier than the Nittany Lions. Not many teams would want to face the Huskies when Tomasevic gets back in her groove.
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Post by bigfan on Dec 1, 2004 15:53:54 GMT -5
Rose is no house cat. When he has a bone to pick, he speaks his mind. Except his thoughts about how to dominate the Big Ten. That's in a strong box somewhere buried under Mark Pavlik's backyard. Remember when people thought that Penn State was on the outside looking in. What a difference a season makes. The man has never seen a microphone or a camera he does not like. His thoughts on Joe Paterno; classic. I hope his ball-club makes it to the regionals so he can be educated on how the big boys play bullyball.
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Post by bigfan on Dec 1, 2004 15:56:56 GMT -5
Okay, so PSU scheduled some weak opponents. I think it was a good move to build some momentum. But considering they won in the a very tough Big 10 and they beat Stanford in an away match, I think that says something. Of the top seeds, I think PSU has the least enviable position. IMO, Hawaii's draw looks easier than the Nittany Lions. Not many teams would want to face the Huskies when Tomasevic gets back in her groove. I can think of several Pac-10 teams ready, willing and able to tear apart the ravenous Huskies come judgement day |
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Post by Serendipity on Dec 1, 2004 16:10:02 GMT -5
I hope his ball-club makes it to the regionals so he can be educated on how the big boys play bullyball. What is that supposed to mean? |
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Post by BOTE on Dec 1, 2004 18:08:24 GMT -5
Got to love Russ for his sound bites. He tells it pretty straight. It has become rather old to continually beat on Penn State's preseason schedule. Say what you want but for the past two years this team has pulled together and won everymatch in the back half of the season, home and away. There are plenty of other teams that schedule in a similar manner, but very few are as successful as Penn State. Have to ask why? There probably is no simple answer. Russ has said previously that his setter (Tortorello) and Libero (Walters) are among the best, if not the best at what they do. These two have played together for the past 3 years and the chemistry is there. They play the game the way Russ wants it played. But this doesn't explain the past accomplishments of this program. Its that intangible something that is passed down each year to the incoming freshmen and is carried on with each new class. It has nothing to do with playing Quinnipac or Minnesota but playing Penn State volleyball. Winning 8 out of 14 Big 10 championships tells me that there is a common thread. 05 will be different for the Lions as they travel to Hawaii and Nebraska tourneys in the preseason. Will this schedule make them a better team come NCAA tourney time? If this is true then
it looks like 9 out of 15 years and three in a row.
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Post by ScottySmalls on Dec 1, 2004 18:15:01 GMT -5
I have respect for Paula Gentil but who is a better defensive player? Kaleena or Paula? That is just an opinion. But who had more of an impact and who makes their team that much better? It is obviously Kaleena! She should not have been overlooked for the defensive player of the year award. But I dont think she cares too much about it her team did win the Big Ten
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Post by Island on Dec 1, 2004 18:26:44 GMT -5
Are you trying to say that Minnesota wouldn't have missed Gentil's absurd amounts of digs in their tough matches. I really don't think so. Minnesota's whole strength has been their defense. Gentil is a big part of that. Take Paula away and Minnesota doesn't beat Penn State or a lot of other great teams. It's your opinion and your team so you know them better but Minnesota depends on their libero as much as any team in the nation. I don't think Walters has more of an impact than Gentil does.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2004 18:41:26 GMT -5
They are both great players. I'll just assume Rose was quoted out of context. If not, I will lose a lot of respect for the man (who I think is a fabulous coach and very funny man).
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Post by ScottySmalls on Dec 1, 2004 18:44:29 GMT -5
No, Paula is a great defensive player, but what Kaleena does for Penn State is totally different. You put Paula on any other team and shes a girl who stands in the middle of the court digs balls and loses. With outsides who touch 10 foot or better its easy to dig and set a four ball. What Kaleena does is plays defense, ( in a real position) she could go to any team and make that team that much better!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2004 18:51:58 GMT -5
Completely ignoring the fact she passes great, covers more blocks than anyone in D1, and serves probably half of Minnesota's points. At least.
You don't know what you're talking about.
OTOH, you are correct that Walters is a great player and would make any team better.
But Gentil is Minnesota's stud. Just like Sam is PSU's. Without her, they aren't an elite 8 team, plain and simple.
You want proof? Take a look at Zartman. Even with all her talent AND, arguably, better talent surrounding her, UCLA is not nearly the team Minnesota is. I wonder why?
It's easy to take Paula for granted. I hope I never do.
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Post by Gorf on Dec 1, 2004 18:58:34 GMT -5
You obviously haven't actually watched Paula play if you think she stays in a single position in the middle of the court.
Your comments sound like they're coming from the type of person that says "Why is the other team always serving or hitting right at Gentil?"
They watch the server or attacker contact the ball, then watch the ball in flight, the say things like "How hard could it be to do what she's doing everything is going right to her?"
When you tell them to watch the player and not the ball they see that she is always moving into the flight of the serve or attack rather than standing stationary waiting for the ball to come to her.
She moves as well without the ball (while it is in flight) and covers as much of the court as any player I've ever seen play volleyball.
What also goes largely un-noticed about her level of play (because there is no official stat for it) is the number of times she keeps the ball in play on hitter coverage.
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Post by Island on Dec 1, 2004 19:08:48 GMT -5
It's been a long time since I've seen Paula but if she's just a middle hugger than every Libero I've seen is one too. Gentil is a complete libero. She's not the best in everything but limited she is not. There are liberos with mental flaws, technical flaws, better to their left, to their right. Nothing from Paula really stands out except her positioning and I would assume that's cured by now. She covered blocks and tips amazingly(a fine skill that combines focus and discipline more than anything else). SSC has a deep offcourt and Paula looked like Mays at the Polo Grounds. She was flagging down everything!!! She handles heat pretty well and she has always been tough to rattle. I can't say anything about Walters. That's my loss. I don't think I've ever seen her play. So I can't tell you if Walters is better or not. But believe when I tell you that I would trade any libero Hawaii has ever had for Gentil. And it's not like we have bad ones. She's definitely not just a hole plugger. No, Paula is a great defensive player, but what Kaleena does for Penn State is totally different. You put Paula on any other team and shes a girl who stands in the middle of the court digs balls and loses. With outsides who touch 10 foot or better its easy to dig and set a four ball. What Kaleena does is plays defense, ( in a real position) she could go to any team and make that team that much better! |
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Post by Dufresne on Dec 1, 2004 20:04:37 GMT -5
Gentil is by far one of the top liberos in the country. There is no question about that. I'm sure almost every coach in the country would want her. But people do overlook Kaleena Walters. They are two drastically different players but are both on top of their game. Who would I take? Kaleena Walters. Gentil may have more digs than Walters but she does steal a lot balls from other players. Minnesota sets their team up around Gentil allowing her to dig as many balls as possible. Fine nothing wrong with taking advantage of your best player. Gentil also makes every play dramatic making the inexperienced fan shocked in amazement when she falls all over the court. Not taking anything away from her player hard but Walters makes everything look easy. She is always in the right position making great reads against the best hitters in the country. The number of digs may be lower but her digs are better. Digs don't take into account of where the ball is dug to. Gentil pops balls up so Minn can set high 4 balls to the pin. Kaleena digs balls to target allowing PSU to run middle and let Sam be Sam. She is as quick as anyone I’ve seen this year and great in pursuit. She covers just as well as Gentil and passes nails. She was the reason Penn State beat Stanford at Stanford. Just ask Ogonna!
Oh and could Gentil get hurt anymore? Her coaches and players hardly pay attention to her when she gets hurt because it happens every match.
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