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Post by bbg95 on Jun 12, 2023 17:29:09 GMT -5
Yeah, I suppose there could be be people still in the portal. I'm not really sure on that. But the deadline to enter the portal has passed. Grad students can still transfer. Also, to be clear, Cook didn't actually pull anyone's scholarship that I know of. He simply didn't offer Akana one, and then couldn't offer Caffey one without being penalized an additional scholarship the next season. He did do his best to sabotage any potential attempt by Caffey to go somewhere else, though. And he certainly threw Akana under the bus regarding her reason for transferring. Nebraska went through last year down a scholarship player compared to everyone else because that scholarship was saved for Caffey. He just couldn't give it to her because it would mean he would lose 2 scholarships this year as a penalty. I mean, I know what happened. I was being a bit flippant with my comment.
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Post by stevehorn on Jun 12, 2023 17:39:17 GMT -5
Could be. TCU got Brianna Green (Denver) on 5/14. She was 1st team all conference in The Summit League. And this was a significant get for them given that they lost Makayla Myers and needed another MB and have 5 legit OH's on their team. Kansas got Toyosi Onabanjo (Iowa) on 5/31 - which was also important given that they lost both starting MB's from last year and could greatly use that depth. I don't know that this is the end of the transfers for the year? But these were two significant transfers in the last month. Yeah, I suppose there could be be people still in the portal. I'm not really sure on that. But the deadline to enter the portal has passed. The deadline is only for entering the portal. Those that entered by the deadline are still in it unless they have entered their new school or elected to have their name pulled out of the portal.
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Post by bbg95 on Jun 12, 2023 17:49:17 GMT -5
Yeah, I suppose there could be be people still in the portal. I'm not really sure on that. But the deadline to enter the portal has passed. The deadline is only for entering the portal. Those that entered by the deadline are still in it unless they have entered their new school or elected to have their name pulled out of the portal. Right. Entering the portal was what I was thinking about when I first commented. But you and others are right that people could still be in the portal. I guess I was thinking more about people transferring out of the programs at this point rather than transferring in.
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Post by slxpress on Jun 12, 2023 19:39:27 GMT -5
The deadline is only for entering the portal. Those that entered by the deadline are still in it unless they have entered their new school or elected to have their name pulled out of the portal. Right. Entering the portal was what I was thinking about when I first commented. But you and others are right that people could still be in the portal. I guess I was thinking more about people transferring out of the programs at this point rather than transferring in. Well, I still think you’re correct. I don’t believe we’re going to see a whole lot of meaningful personnel additions, which was your point.
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Post by stevehorn on Jun 12, 2023 19:41:16 GMT -5
The deadline is only for entering the portal. Those that entered by the deadline are still in it unless they have entered their new school or elected to have their name pulled out of the portal. Right. Entering the portal was what I was thinking about when I first commented. But you and others are right that people could still be in the portal. I guess I was thinking more about people transferring out of the programs at this point rather than transferring in. For transferring out, yeah that's basically over. Technically a grad transfer could enter the portal, but you would think they wouldn't wait this late to enter. Might be an occasional late occurring situation where the player thinks they can get a waiver, but that should be rare. Even the transferring in pool likely is exhausted or almost exhausted of notable names.
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bluepenquin
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Post by bluepenquin on Jun 13, 2023 7:57:52 GMT -5
If redcard starts up a new B12 thread, I will move over (unless/until)...
#13 Texas Tech
Key Losses: Kenna Sauer (OH) Reagan Cooper (OH) Brooke Kanas (MB) Karrington Jones (MB)
Key Returning: Reese Rhodes (S) Madalyn O'Brien (OH) Maddie Correa (L)
Key Additions: Destiny Cox (OH/RS) - transfer from Texas A&M/North Carolina Emily Merrick (RS) - transfer from Tennessee Kate Hansen (MB) - Freshman Elena Leontaridou (MB) - transfer from Providence
Projected Starters: S: Reese Rhodes (SR) OH: Madalyn O'Brien (SR) OH: Destiny Cox (SR+) MB: Kate Hansen (FR) MB: Maddison Gilliland (FR) RS: Emily Merrick (GR) L: Maddie Correa (JR)
2022 Record: 16-13 (5-11) 2022 Pablo Rank: 50
In 2021, Texas Tech finished 17-13 (7-9) and #39 in Palbo. They made the NCAA Tournament (not sure how long it had been?) - and ended up losing to Florida Gulf Coast in 5 sets in the first round after jumping out to a 2-set lead. They returned their team for 2022 - and expectations for TTU was very high. Unfortunately, things didn't work out very well. An 8 game losing streak towards the end of the season torpedoed a season that until then looked like a 2nd consecutive year tournament berth. Texas Tech was 3-11 after September last year. They won their last game of the season - in which probably was their best game of the season - a 3 set drubbing at home against Kansas. But by this time it was way too late to salvage the season.
Texas Tech losses their top 4 scorers from last year - including 1st team Big 12 Kenna Sauer and 2nd team Big 12 Booke Kanas. Adding some insult - two of these players transferred to B12 rivals as 5th year eligibility graduates. I will not say they lost more than Texas (in terms of talent) - but this is a significant loss of talent with seemingly little or no replacements. It helps to have a very good setter coming back in Reese Rhodes - and then the starting libero - but where is the scoring going to come from? Also - do they have an OH that can receive serve? Freshman Kate Hansen probably takes over at one of the MB open positions - but I have no idea who start in the other position? This is a roster that looks incomplete to me - and I wouldn't be surprised if they have a scholarship available to still add (getting late). Otherwise - this season could get real ugly if they don't have some existing players that have rarely played in the past step up this year.
The 2023 schedule isn't tough. 12 Nonconference games - and only 3 of them are teams that finished last season in the Pablo top 100 (SMU, LSU, and Wichita State). Notre Dame and LSU are the only P5 teams on the nonconference schedule. They also get 7 of the 12 at home. Their conference schedule isn't going to be easy for them - even though they only play Texas and BYU once.
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Post by anOPINionATEDbeACH(hookemboo) on Jun 13, 2023 11:59:02 GMT -5
I can see tech finishing last this year.
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bluepenquin
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Post by bluepenquin on Jun 13, 2023 13:28:32 GMT -5
#12 West Virginia
Key Losses: Adrian Ell (OH/S) Melanie McGann (OH) Kamiah Gibson (S) Sky Stokes (L)
Key Returning: Bailey Miller (OH/RS) Quincey Coyle (OH) Tierney Jackson (MB)
Key Additions: Lauren DeLo (S) - transfer from Rutgers Hailey Green (MB) - transfer from Denver Camilla Covas (DS/L) - transfer from South Carolina Sarah Goche (FR) Nele Broszat (FR)
Projected Starters: S: Lauren DeLo (JR) OH: Bailey Miller (SO) OH: Quincy Coyle (SO) MB: Tierney Jackson (SO) MB: Hailey Green (JR) L: Camilla Covas (L)
2022 Record: 7-22 (0-16) 2022 Pablo Rank: 134
In 2021, West Virginia went 19-10 (8-8) and earned a spot in the NCAA tournament. They lost in the 1st round to Illinois in 4 sets. Their Pablo Ranking ended at #33. This was a legit team. However, it was a senior dominated team and went into a complete rebuild in 2022. Losing every conference game doesn't instill much confidence going into this season - especially when losing thier most valuable player in Adrian Ell. However, 3 of those losses in conference were 5th set 2 point losses - and they had 3 Freshman that developed into quality players that provides a framework for a very young team for this year.
Bailey Miller led the team in scoring as a 6 position OH. Coyle and Jackson were 3rd and 4th in scoring. DeLo was the starting setter for Rutgers and will likely move in as the starter this year. Hailey Green was a productive starting middle for Denver and Camilla Covas was the top DS for South Carolina. I can see either of their bigger freshman making an impact this season (Goche and/or Broszat). West Virginia will have good size - and are still very young. I also have great trust in Sunahara as a coach and getting the most out of this team, but very concerned about being able to consistently get enough talent to that University. I could see them as being #10 on this list.
The 2023 nonconference schedule is very soft (as it should be for a young team like this that didn't win a conference game last season). 12 matches - 6 at home. They will be favored in 10 of the 12 matches - with playing at North Carolina and at Duke being their 2 toughest matches.
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bluepenquin
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Post by bluepenquin on Jun 13, 2023 13:38:48 GMT -5
As a single datapoint in conference RPI. Last season, Santa Clara in the Big West was #133 in PABLO - pretty much the same as West Virginia. West Virginia was 7-6 in the non conference. Santa Clara was 5-9. Not a huge difference - but these things add up.
West Virginia dropping Penn State from their annual schedule is helpful (they took a set from them last season). And Sunahara doing the Hawaii trip last year - where UCLA and Hawaii were virtual automatic losses. They have replaced that with something considerably easier this season.
Two more teams to round out what I consider the bottom tier in the Big 12 heading into the season.
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bluepenquin
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Post by bluepenquin on Jun 14, 2023 8:27:41 GMT -5
#11 Cincinnati
Key Losses: Avry Tatum (RS) Kailea Carrier (MB) Payton Frederick (L) Emme Madden (S)
Key Returning: Carly Glendinning (OH) Shaye Eggleston (OH) Abby Walker (MB/RS) Caroline Endres (S)
Key Additions: Jadyn Bauss (OH) (transfer from SMU Katelyn Lefler (S) transfer from Illinois State Carly Skrabak (L) transfer from Marquette Zeta Washington (MB) - Freshman Nina Horning (OH) - Freshman
Projected Starters: S: Caroline Endres (SO) OH: Carly Glendinning (SO) OH: Shaye Eggleston (JR) MB: Abby Walker (JR) MB: Zeta Washington (FR) RS: Nina Horning (FR) L: Carly Skrabak (GR)
2022 Record: 11-19 (9-11) 2022 Pablo Rank: 137
In 2021, Cincinnati went 19-9 (14-6) and had a respectable #80 in Pablo. They lost their best player in Mallow and one other key starter (Williams) but brought in replacements that seemed to setup Cincinnati to improve. Things didn't work out well. They scheduled a tough non-conference (Pittsburgh, BYU, Florida State, South Carolina 2X, Utah State) and had injury issues with their starting setter (Madden) right from the start. Cincinnati did beat Florida State and lost to Pittsburg in 5 sets, then took a set from BYU. They just never seemed to recover - and the season went south quickly.
Eggleston returns for another season in the Big 12 (okay, little sister Eggleston joins the B12). Abby Walker continued to be one of their top scorers and was 2nd team all-conference - she was joined by Freshman 6 rotation OH Glendinning also 2nd team all-conference. Freshman Caroline Endres took over the setting duties (other than a handful of games in the middle of the year where Madden started - it would appear that Madden is a medical retirement?). Shaye Eggleston was 3rd on the team in scoring (also playing 6 rotations). Skrabak looks to take over the Libero spot where she started for Marquette last year. There are unknowns in the projected lineup (several choices). Katelyn Lefler (transfer from Illinois State) was their starting setter and could win the starting job. Jadyn Bauss was a 6 rotation OH for SMU last year - who could win the starting job over Eggleston (at least she provides depth at the position). Or, one of the 3 OH moves to the RS. Freshman Nina Horning provides some much needed size at 6-5 - and no real idea who would be the other starting MB - the hope being that incoming Freshman Zeta Washington could win the spot. Redshirt Sophomore Ligia Williams could potentially win the spot, she started the season in 2022, but got injured in their 6th match and didn't return.
I really don't see Cincinnati as being a factor in the Big 12 this season. I do think the program will benefit by moving to the Big 12. They are in a great location, and I could see an upgrade in their recruiting. They are a young team this year - and if they can have a couple more Freshman pan out like they did last year - they will move the program forward.
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Post by nellynel on Jun 14, 2023 8:33:56 GMT -5
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Post by bbg95 on Jun 14, 2023 11:15:34 GMT -5
Great work. Out of curiosity, are you planning to put out two of these a day? Or will it just depend? I noticed you put the first two out yesterday.
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bluepenquin
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Post by bluepenquin on Jun 14, 2023 11:26:04 GMT -5
Great work. Out of curiosity, are you planning to put out two of these a day? Or will it just depend? I noticed you put the first two out yesterday. My tentative plan. #10 today. #9, #8, #7 (the intriguing 3 teams in the middle) on Thursday. #6, #5, #4 on Friday. #1 through #3 on Monday or Tuesday (I may be out on Monday for the College World Series). There is a chance I just finish the final 3 this weekend and be done with it. Texas and BYU has so much activity and information from their followers, I am not sure I add anything on them - I guess it would just be some perspective from someone on the outside that doesn't follow the team. The rest of the Big 12 really doesn't have much traffic on this board and they should be more interesting to read.
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Post by hornfanaustin on Jun 14, 2023 11:58:46 GMT -5
Great work. Out of curiosity, are you planning to put out two of these a day? Or will it just depend? I noticed you put the first two out yesterday. My tentative plan. #10 today. #9, #8, #7 (the intriguing 3 teams in the middle) on Thursday. #6, #5, #4 on Friday. #1 through #3 on Monday or Tuesday (I may be out on Monday for the College World Series). There is a chance I just finish the final 3 this weekend and be done with it. Texas and BYU has so much activity and information from their followers, I am not sure I add anything on them - I guess it would just be some perspective from someone on the outside that doesn't follow the team. The rest of the Big 12 really doesn't have much traffic on this board and they should be more interesting to read. Great work Bluepenquin. Gonna miss it when we go to the SEC. I do wonder about the 4 newcomers into the Big 12 and how they view it. Meh? Or Whee? Or Hrumph?
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Post by slxpress on Jun 14, 2023 12:17:21 GMT -5
My tentative plan. #10 today. #9, #8, #7 (the intriguing 3 teams in the middle) on Thursday. #6, #5, #4 on Friday. #1 through #3 on Monday or Tuesday (I may be out on Monday for the College World Series). There is a chance I just finish the final 3 this weekend and be done with it. Texas and BYU has so much activity and information from their followers, I am not sure I add anything on them - I guess it would just be some perspective from someone on the outside that doesn't follow the team. The rest of the Big 12 really doesn't have much traffic on this board and they should be more interesting to read. Great work Bluepenquin. Gonna miss it when we go to the SEC. I do wonder about the 4 newcomers into the Big 12 and how they view it. Meh? Or Whee? Or Hrumph? I doubt BYU, Cincinnati or UCF fans give it much thought other than TX/OU leaving created an opening for them. Texas pushed hard against all those schools when it was discussed expanding the league previously. They have a much better affiliation now than they had prior to being accepted into the Big 12. I also think it will help BYU recruit Texas athletes. There’s a big LDS population in various places in Texas. Especially Euless in the DFW area where there’s a significant South Pacific population. And that’s not to say BYU is limited to LDS affiliated players. It’s just a natural base to start with. There are some strange institutional dynamics between UT/UH that makes that one a bit different, but it doesn’t have anything to do with the volleyball programs. I think in many ways UT’s absence makes the league a lot more entertaining to follow. BYU is the strongest program, but I feel like they have plenty of competition. I’m genuinely looking forward to how it all shakes out.
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