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Post by rjaege on Nov 6, 2021 1:04:23 GMT -5
Did anyone notice a chance in Lexi Sun's demeanor during the Illinois match? She usually is jubilant after a kill, flashing a huge smile that lights up the gym. In that match she was much more businesslike, wearing a face of determination. That just isn’t true. She was as jubilant as she as ever been during the Illinois match-complete with arms straight up and a huge smile. The only point I remember her being “businesslike” was after her final kill in the 3rd set, I think to make it 24-21 . . . Just a couple points before she got a block and was as “jubilant” and “smiling” as she has ever been at Nebraska. I believe at that point her businesslike manner was duplicated by all of her other teammates as they focused on closing out the match. My pictures during the rest of the match show a player excited and smiling everytime either she or her teammates scored. I have noticed during the past dozen matches or so that Hames has become a more formidable blocker and instead of going into a frenzy with her chest bumps as she has in the past, merely raises her right arm as as her teammates gather around after she gets a block. I doubt that her demeanor has changed, it clear her focus is transforming quicker to the next point. I agree. She was jubilant after success. She definitely played a determined match, so would agree with that too. As far as Cook not instilling confidence in his players that is laughable. 🤣🤣🤣 Look at all his players finding success in their college careers and many in their pro careers, including 3 wearing olympic gold.
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Post by HOLIDAY on Nov 6, 2021 1:32:26 GMT -5
He is an amazing coach but he isn’t infallible. He’s made a lot of bonehead decisions ( Remember Anderson,) and we all know that. I still wouldn’t trade him for any coach in the NCAA’s. Every coach has a different way of motivating players and I’m sure he feels like this was do or die for Lexi, I get that.I just think mentioning that she has “finally,” been playing multiple times times is not confidence building. Sue me.
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Post by Kingsley on Nov 6, 2021 9:39:11 GMT -5
The black Taraflex is only for high schoolers.
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Post by gibbyb1 on Nov 6, 2021 10:27:00 GMT -5
You literally can’t win consistently for 25 years at that level if you are not inspiring confidence. I don’t disagree and again, I am a big fan, but, belittling a player in public does not inspire confidence. You can make excuses but it doesn’t. Belittling is of course a ridiculous characterization.
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Post by HOLIDAY on Nov 6, 2021 11:24:47 GMT -5
I don’t disagree and again, I am a big fan, but, belittling a player in public does not inspire confidence. You can make excuses but it doesn’t. Belittling is of course a ridiculous characterization. I think you “finally,” had something smart to say. Does that make you feel confident?
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Post by gibbyb1 on Nov 6, 2021 11:27:20 GMT -5
Belittling is of course a ridiculous characterization. I think you “finally,” had something smart to say. Does that make you feel confident? Well I certainly don’t feel belittled.
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Post by HOLIDAY on Nov 6, 2021 11:29:10 GMT -5
I think you “finally,” had something smart to say. Does that make you feel confident? Well I certainly don’t feel belittled. Ok
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Post by rjaege on Nov 6, 2021 13:29:14 GMT -5
Well I certainly don’t feel belittled. Ok I do not think Cook is worried about his 5th yr senior All- American OH lacking confidence. I think he is trying to fire her up a bit. Sun had a good game vs the Illini. Hope Sun is back and that continues. Cook has been consistent that the best players in practice play. Makes sense, if there are exceptions, then practices deteriorate. I sense some frustration in Cook when it comes to Sun. Not sure if that was from practice or game play or both. Or possibly that is just how their relationship rolls, a bit edgy. Hope Sun is back to her full potential. Huskers are a better team with Sun playing 100%. Is Cook's approach effective? Time will tell. But he is not just sitting back moving past Sun, he is actively trying to motivate her, IMO. Note that Cook and Hunter had a somewhat rocky relationship when she played. Seems that worked out OK.
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Post by HOLIDAY on Nov 6, 2021 13:34:04 GMT -5
I do not think Cook is worried about his 5th yr senior All- American OH lacking confidence. I think he is trying to fire her up a bit. Sun had a good game vs the Illini. Hope that continues. Cook has been consistent that the best players in practice play. Makes sense, if there are exceptions, then practices deteriorate. I sense some frustration in Cook when it comes to Sun. Not sure if that was from practice or game play or both. Hoping that is behind the Huskers now. Huskers are a better team with Sun playing 100%. Is Cook's approach effective? Time will tell. But he is not just sitting back moving past Sun, he is actively trying to motivate her, IMO. Note that Cook and Hunter had a somewhat rocky relationship when she played. Seems that worked out OK. I think girls/women are just more emotional when they play. Anyone with experience coaching understands that. A coach with John Cook‘s accolades doesn’t have to explain himself, I understand that, I just think when you’re trying to get the very best out of each player, it takes a different vibe for each one. She did seem visibly irritated/ hurt when she followed him in that interview. Maybe it helps motivate her and maybe it causes hard feelings.We’ve had trouble this year finding our mojo. They have moments that their fantastic and moments when they frankly stink. Sometimes I think John misses the small things that can help a team gel earlier. Just my two cents which isn’t worth much.
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Post by rjaege on Nov 6, 2021 13:44:31 GMT -5
I do not think Cook is worried about his 5th yr senior All- American OH lacking confidence. I think he is trying to fire her up a bit. Sun had a good game vs the Illini. Hope that continues. Cook has been consistent that the best players in practice play. Makes sense, if there are exceptions, then practices deteriorate. I sense some frustration in Cook when it comes to Sun. Not sure if that was from practice or game play or both. Hoping that is behind the Huskers now. Huskers are a better team with Sun playing 100%. Is Cook's approach effective? Time will tell. But he is not just sitting back moving past Sun, he is actively trying to motivate her, IMO. Note that Cook and Hunter had a somewhat rocky relationship when she played. Seems that worked out OK. I think girls/women are just more emotional when they play. Anyone with experience coaching understands that. A coach with John Cook‘s accolades doesn’t have to explain himself, I understand that, I just think when you’re trying to get the very best out of each player, it takes a different vibe for each one. She did seem visibly irritated/ hurt when she followed him in that interview. Maybe it helps motivate her and maybe it causes hard feelings.We’ve had trouble this year finding our mojo. They have moments for their fantastic and moments when they frankly stink. Sometimes I think John misses the small things that can help a team gel earlier. Just my two cents which isn’t worth much. I agree that women and men athletes respond differently emotionally. Both react emotionally, but testosterone favors more aggression in men. NE puts a lot of emphasis on the mental preparation of its athletes. I agree Cooks approach to Sun does not appear to be conducive to confidence building. I assume that is by design, i.e., he is not worried about her confidence level. I may be wrong. I have no tea or inside info.
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Post by lvcalum on Nov 6, 2021 15:09:20 GMT -5
I think girls/women are just more emotional when they play. Anyone with experience coaching understands that. A coach with John Cook‘s accolades doesn’t have to explain himself, I understand that, I just think when you’re trying to get the very best out of each player, it takes a different vibe for each one. She did seem visibly irritated/ hurt when she followed him in that interview. Maybe it helps motivate her and maybe it causes hard feelings.We’ve had trouble this year finding our mojo. They have moments for their fantastic and moments when they frankly stink. Sometimes I think John misses the small things that can help a team gel earlier. Just my two cents which isn’t worth much. I agree that women and men athletes respond differently emotionally. Both react emotionally, but testosterone favors more aggression in men. NE puts a lot of emphasis on the mental preparation of its athletes. I agree Cooks approach to Sun does not appear to be conducive to confidence building. I assume that is by design, i.e., he is not worried about her confidence level. I may be wrong. I have no tea or inside info. I think every single thing Cook does is calculated. Right or wrong. Like it or not. You can bet that he said exactly what he thinks he needs to get the best from Lexi.
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Post by gibbyb1 on Nov 6, 2021 15:13:15 GMT -5
I agree that women and men athletes respond differently emotionally. Both react emotionally, but testosterone favors more aggression in men. NE puts a lot of emphasis on the mental preparation of its athletes. I agree Cooks approach to Sun does not appear to be conducive to confidence building. I assume that is by design, i.e., he is not worried about her confidence level. I may be wrong. I have no tea or inside info. I think every single thing Cook does is calculated. Right or wrong. Like it or not. You can bet that he said exactly what he thinks he needs to get the best from Lexi. I disagree that he would intentionally send a message to her through the media. Would he look her in the eye and say what’s on his mind? Yes.
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Post by lvcalum on Nov 6, 2021 17:42:28 GMT -5
I think every single thing Cook does is calculated. Right or wrong. Like it or not. You can bet that he said exactly what he thinks he needs to get the best from Lexi. I disagree that he would intentionally send a message to her through the media. Would he look her in the eye and say what’s on his mind? Yes. Why then would use the same language regarding her play in two separate media appearances? Did he make a mistake - twice? FWIW - I agree he would tell her to her face.
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Post by hornshouse23 on Nov 6, 2021 17:51:15 GMT -5
I think every single thing Cook does is calculated. Right or wrong. Like it or not. You can bet that he said exactly what he thinks he needs to get the best from Lexi. I disagree that he would intentionally send a message to her through the media. Would he look her in the eye and say what’s on his mind? Yes. Could it be that he felt having one on one’s or even calling out her level of play in practice wasn’t getting them anywhere? Simply speculating. Maybe he felt making a public statement about the situation and how it was evolving was his next option. It’s a back-handed compliment to be sure, but at least in this tiny sample size it’s working better than whatever private conversations they’ve had this season.
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Post by WMegs55 on Nov 6, 2021 19:49:09 GMT -5
It seems like Nebraska is not rising to be more than the sum of their parts (or even the sum of their parts given the personnel)…yet. Hames has one of the longest leashes I can recall, which must say as much about Evans and Orr at the moment as her.
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