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Post by sptimes2 on Apr 9, 2021 13:27:14 GMT -5
I'd like to think they can win a natty, but am having a tough time finding a reason to pick them in a matchup with Wisconsin.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2021 15:47:33 GMT -5
I like this Badgers team a lot and it would be hard not to root for them (except against Minnesota), but I confess it would be a real kick in the teeth if they win a national championship before the Gophers do.
OTOH, the Gophers had teams with legit chances and didn't do it. Hard to feel too bad if the Badgers win with this team.
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Post by pavsec5row10 on Apr 9, 2021 16:08:13 GMT -5
Is Minnesota winning the NC a realistic possibility? They are the 3 seed, so yes. I don't think they're the best team, I don't think they have always played all that well. But, they have a great ability to win 5th sets. They have a thoroughbred in Samedy who can carry them plus high end talent on the left side. Their weaknesses seem to be consistent passing and struggles getting the middles involved. And 4th sets. Over the past two seasons the Gophers are 20-2 in set 4 (Wisconsin X2) and 8-1 in set 5 (Nebraska). |
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Post by courtwatchers on Apr 9, 2021 16:12:51 GMT -5
Lots of pressure when you are ranked at the top. Feel that played a roll in our past. We shall soon see how Wisconsin handles it.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2021 16:29:00 GMT -5
Depends on the middle. That's all Morgan needed (and probably didn't get often enough). I personally think teams tend to do two things with middles they shouldn't: 1) They run slides even when they don't run it well 2) They set too quickly to middles when a little more air would help Sure.
But I'm saying a 2 to 2+ is not a 1+.
I didn't see Rubright get a hard swing all year, until she finally got a nice, fast, short set in one of the later matches and she slapped it down on the floor.
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Post by NFRvb on Apr 9, 2021 16:33:23 GMT -5
Depends on the middle. That's all Morgan needed (and probably didn't get often enough). I personally think teams tend to do two things with middles they shouldn't: 1) They run slides even when they don't run it well 2) They set too quickly to middles when a little more air would help Sure.
But I'm saying a 2 to 2+ is not a 1+.
I didn't see Rubright get a hard swing all year, until she finally got a nice, fast, short set in one of the later matches and she slapped it down on the floor.
The middle connection is definitely improved and will continue to. What i’m most worried about is our passing |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2021 16:33:43 GMT -5
I like this Badgers team a lot and it would be hard not to root for them (except against Minnesota), but I confess it would be a real kick in the teeth if they win a national championship before the Gophers do. OTOH, the Gophers had teams with legit chances and didn't do it. Hard to feel too bad if the Badgers win with this team. - They have a great setter (from MN) who wanted to play and knew she couldn't beat out SSS. - They have a world class middle, that would make almost any top 15 team a top 5 team (with the right setter). No idea if she was ever recruited by or considered the Gophers and if she didn't want to be behind our middles, but guessing it was mainly just blind loyalty to the Badgers
- They have a solid libero who wanted to play and knew she couldn't beat out CC.
Is what it is. They have other very nice players too, but the above would be why it would happen.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2021 16:48:04 GMT -5
Depends on the middle. That's all Morgan needed (and probably didn't get often enough). I personally think teams tend to do two things with middles they shouldn't: 1) They run slides even when they don't run it well 2) They set too quickly to middles when a little more air would help Sure. But I'm saying a 2 to 2+ is not a 1+. I didn't see Rubright get a hard swing all year, until she finally got a nice, fast, short set in one of the later matches and she slapped it down on the floor.
Not to go too deep into this because I am obviously no expert, but that seems like it is an argument for my point: quick sets to the middle are impressive when the timing between the setter and the hitter is perfect but it is really, really hard to do them consistently. (Same with slides.) I just think too many teams try low-percentage plays to their middles rather than going with something less spectacular but overall more efficient. You see this on VT all the time: "Why don't they run a fast offense?" Simple answer: Because they can't. |
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Post by courtwatchers on Apr 9, 2021 16:52:50 GMT -5
So would saying Wisconsin has a solid libero and knew she couldn't beat out CC correct?
I think maybe a scholarship played a role in the coaches decision. I cannot say for sure that is correct, but I believe it could have.
That solid Libero has proven her worth this year in that position. Named at least twice BIG Defensive Player of the Week and made the Second All BIG Team for the Year....enough said.
Passing will continue to be our Achilles Heel through the end of this season and into next season. We have two Juniors, a Sophomore and now a Freshman in the DS and/or L positions and I for one would really like to know how much more, especially the upper two classmen, will improve by next year. That answer should be coming in the next 5-6 months.
Once again, for Shaffmaster's setting to improve, our passing game needs to improve.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2021 17:34:54 GMT -5
So would saying Wisconsin has a solid libero and knew she couldn't beat out CC correct? I honestly believe that she would have had a chance to compete for the position. Maybe she didn't believe that. Maybe she wanted to be closer to home. I know she had other friends with the Badgers. I also believe they would have made it work but that she had already made up her mind to leave. Should they have anticipated this? Maybe. I sure can't say. I like what I've seen from Wenaas. I also know this was a strength of Rollins coming in to Minnesota. Beyond that? Beats me. But I agree that this team could be national championship caliber with strong passing. |
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Post by gophervbfan on Apr 10, 2021 0:01:28 GMT -5
Hugh talking about late season improvement and getting ready for the NCAA tournament.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2021 9:39:03 GMT -5
Sure. But I'm saying a 2 to 2+ is not a 1+. I didn't see Rubright get a hard swing all year, until she finally got a nice, fast, short set in one of the later matches and she slapped it down on the floor.
Not to go too deep into this because I am obviously no expert, but that seems like it is an argument for my point: quick sets to the middle are impressive when the timing between the setter and the hitter is perfect but it is really, really hard to do them consistently. (Same with slides.) I just think too many teams try low-percentage plays to their middles rather than going with something less spectacular but overall more efficient. You see this on VT all the time: "Why don't they run a fast offense?" Simple answer: Because they can't. You've also said in the past that you think sets to the pins and pin hitters are the most important.
I think you just hate hits out of the middle! 
I don't think it's anywhere near as difficult as you're trying to make it out to be. But it *does* require good passing to be able to do well, that I don't argue.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2021 9:42:31 GMT -5
I like what I've seen from Wenaas. I also know this was a strength of Rollins coming in to Minnesota. Beyond that? Beats me. But I agree that this team could be national championship caliber with strong passing. I like how they've been using her as a DS for Landfair, but then also giving her a few sets out of the back row!
Can't remember if they setup the rotation so that Wenaas-DS is always in the back row when Samedy is in the front row, but that would make the most sense, to always have a back row hitting option.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2021 10:48:36 GMT -5
Can't do that since Wenaas is DSing for Landfair. Setter will always be opposite Samedy.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2021 9:26:57 GMT -5
Can't do that since Wenaas is DSing for Landfair. Setter will always be opposite Samedy. I'm merely saying that they should have Rollins as the OH that is directly behind Samedy. I don't know if that is usually considered "H1" or "H2", or why that even matters.
Then Wenaas-DS will be in the back row with Samedy only in rotation 4, instead of rotations 5 and 6.
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