Big 12 2024

[kimdc]

Jun 12, 2024 9:31:33 GMT -5 hanmertime said:

Go play in Laramie Wyoming and tell me there isn’t a BIG DIFFERENCE.
Places like BYU/Col do have an advantage. Just talk to the players.

Sweetheart, it's my job to "talk to the players." And the coaches. And the alumnae. And the fans. Of five different sports. But your caps definitely impressed me. 

[trojansc]

The gym in Laramie is hideous. That may contribute

[bbg95]

Jun 12, 2024 21:05:39 GMT -5 trojansc said:

The gym in Laramie is hideous. That may contribute

Laramie is really high up, over 7000 feet. I remember during college basketball season, a New Mexico fan on Reddit suggested that a win at Wyoming was more impressive than it looked on paper because it required the team to travel to the arena via pack mule, lol.

[bbg95]

Altitude sickness is a bit different than what many people talk about with higher altitude in sports. It's more that the ball moves differently than it does at sea level. Also, the thinner air may cause players to fatigue a bit quicker, though I think that's probably less of a factor in a sport like volleyball. Obviously, that difference won't really matter if the lower altitude team is significantly better than the higher altitude team. But I wouldn't say there's no effect. I found this thread on VT from back in 2015 on the subject, and the general consensus in there (including from coaches) was that there is a difference.

Edit: I forgot to mention, but balls also tend to go farther at higher altitude. This has been well documented in sports like baseball.

[c4ndlelight]

Altitude definitely effects the serve - there's science to back it up, and it certainly can and does get in players' heads - enough that it can impact games by having them serve less aggressively.

One funny thing - I always hear about the effects on the serve but not on the pass. I guess it's because the serve is going longer, so players letting balls go are unlikely to be "penalized" by the altitude - in fact, they may even be rewarded as a 50/50 ball they don't take will go out instead of in. It's also likely they are more likely to put platform on an out serve (but that they are reading as in) -- but that's a hidden detriment so the players wouldn't "feel" it.

As far as exhaustion - volleyball in the rally scoring era just isn't that cardio-intensive. Should also note that some of the observations seem to be based on Tucson --> Salt Lake road trips - and that really isn't as significant of an altitude change as folks are talking about here.

[friendlybanter]

I think Kansas is a phenomenal team. I think they will be at least a top 15 team all year. I know some worry about the lost of Reagan Cooper, but I would argue that Kansas and Cooper was a perfect marriage for both parties. Cooper had never put up such numbers at Tech and was the 2 to Sauer. No one can say saw her being that good last year. What allowed it was Kansas’ elite passing and a great setter in Turner. That is what unlocked Cooper. She was absolutely excellent for Kansas.

However, Kansas returns all their passers and their star setter (reigning conference setter of the year). They still return Elnady, Davis, and Onobanjo, their next three best hitters. I also think last year was a rebuilding year for Kansas in the middle. They had no returning starters( CC Crawford leaving a large hole). So they had to plug and play Onobanjo and Meyers. Onobanjo never being a starting middle before, became Kansas’ best middle hitter. Meyers was always solid, but I wouldn’t say a strength. And if you looked at Kansas in previous years, they have always been strong in blocking, but last year they weren’t as good. Kansas has a middle coming in named Zoey Burgess and I think she’ll start from Day 1 in the middle and be good offensively and defensively. This in turn puts less pressure on the outsides. Elnady is good enough to get kills, and even Bien. If she gets the start at 6 rotation outside, IMO u don’t blink an eye because you know she’s done it before and she’ll be fine.

Then on the right side, I think a player going under the radar is London Davis. She’s now a veteran on the team and she has the ability to put a ball down. Ask K-state, who Davis had 28 kills hitting .556 for the match. She’s gonna get more opportunities and I think she’ll be fine. What I see combating the lose of Cooper for Kansas is a more balanced offense, which is what I thought they needed anyway last year.

I can easily tell that this year’s focus for Kansas will be serving tougher and being a better blocking team. But this team is nails in serve receive and back row defense. But what’s more important for this Kansas team is that the culture of the program is shining through. Their leaders are Caroline Bien and Camryn Turner. A top recruit who has sacrificed front row play for the better of the team, and a under recruited, undersized setter turned star. Kansas did not have 1 transfer out this offseason, and in this state of college athletics that’s impressive. It speaks to the togetherness on this team.

So yeah Im not gonna guarantee they’ll win the conference, but I know the floor of this team is very high.

[digs]

Jun 12, 2024 23:04:42 GMT -5 friendlybanter said:

I think Kansas is a phenomenal team. I think they will be at least a top 15 team all year. I know some worry about the lost of Reagan Cooper, but I would argue that Kansas and Cooper was a perfect marriage for both parties. Cooper had never put up such numbers at Tech and was the 2 to Sauer. No one can say saw her being that good last year. What allowed it was Kansas’ elite passing and a great setter in Turner. That is what unlocked Cooper. She was absolutely excellent for Kansas.

However, Kansas returns all their passers and their star setter (reigning conference setter of the year). They still return Elnady, Davis, and Onobanjo, their next three best hitters. I also think last year was a rebuilding year for Kansas in the middle. They had no returning starters( CC Crawford leaving a large hole). So they had to plug and play Onobanjo and Meyers. Onobanjo never being a starting middle before, became Kansas’ best middle hitter. Meyers was always solid, but I wouldn’t say a strength. And if you looked at Kansas in previous years, they have always been strong in blocking, but last year they weren’t as good. Kansas has a middle coming in named Zoey Burgess and I think she’ll start from Day 1 in the middle and be good offensively and defensively. This in turn puts less pressure on the outsides. Elnady is good enough to get kills, and even Bien. If she gets the start at 6 rotation outside, IMO u don’t blink an eye because you know she’s done it before and she’ll be fine.

Then on the right side, I think a player going under the radar is London Davis. She’s now a veteran on the team and she has the ability to put a ball down. Ask K-state, who Davis had 28 kills hitting .556 for the match. She’s gonna get more opportunities and I think she’ll be fine. What I see combating the lose of Cooper for Kansas is a more balanced offense, which is what I thought they needed anyway last year.

I can easily tell that this year’s focus for Kansas will be serving tougher and being a better blocking team. But this team is nails in serve receive and back row defense. But what’s more important for this Kansas team is that the culture of the program is shining through. Their leaders are Caroline Bien and Camryn Turner. A top recruit who has sacrificed front row play for the better of the team, and a under recruited, undersized setter turned star. Kansas did not have 1 transfer out this offseason, and in this state of college athletics that’s impressive. It speaks to the togetherness on this team.

So yeah Im not gonna guarantee they’ll win the conference, but I know the floor of this team is very high.

Yeah, I really like this Kansas team, too. They will be in system A LOT. Biggest question for me is simply how terminal the attackers will be. Cooper is a big loss.

[bluepenquin]

www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/40342941/sources-big-12-explores-selling-naming-rights-title-sponsor

I am looking forward to the Chico's Bail Bonds 12 Conference Championship game in the near future. Or discussions on how many teams from the Chico's Bail Bonds 12 Conference will make the tournament.

In all seriousness - I love the idea; it seems like a move out of necessity for the conference - and a revenue stream that the B1G and SEC may not be interested in matching.

[friendlybanter]

I agree. I think the Big12 has done a great job of being creative and at staying relevant. From the creation of the Big12 football combine to planning basketball games in Mexico. When Texas and Oklahoma first decided to leave for the SEC many thought that would lead to the fall of the Big12. But they have outlasted the Pac12 and IMO are ahead of the ACC.

[tomclen]

B1G didn't outlast the PAC. They murdered the PAC. Granted, they were easy pickings, having already shot themselves in the foot repeatedly.

But yes, I, too, am looking forward to the Cialis Conference or Dunkin' Donuts Conference or whatever it ends up being called.

[tristen]

Jun 13, 2024 17:13:34 GMT -5 tomclen said:

B1G didn't outlast the PAC. They murdered the PAC. Granted, they were easy pickings, having already shot themselves in the foot repeatedly.

But yes, I, too, am looking forward to the Cialis Conference or Dunkin' Donuts Conference or whatever it ends up being called.

The PAC never had the same relevance as the other conferences…mainly cuz the west coast mostly California students didnt prioritize athletics like other schools around the country…most of these big athletic schools are the only show in town…where as Cali has so much more…and Cali schools academically and athletically are far superior to alot of these other universities

[redcard🏐]

2023-24 Big 12 Athletes of the Year Nominees

Kansas Female Athlete of the Year Candidate
Camryn Turner, Volleyball
Jr., Topeka, Kansas

AVCA All-America Honorable Mention while guiding KU to an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Big 12 Setter of the Year after leading the Big 12 in assists per set (10.7, 14th nationally).
All-Big 12 First Team Selection and won one Big 12 Player of the Week award during the season (Sept. 5).
Serves as President of SAAC at Kansas and is a two-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team Selection.

Texas Female Athlete of the Year Candidate
Madisen Skinner, Volleyball
Sr., Katy, Texas

Led Texas to its second consecutive NCAA Championship and Skinner’s third overall (2020 at Kentucky).
Claimed VolleyballMag.com National Player of the Year honors.
Named the 2023 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player of the Year, an American Volleyball Coaches Association First Team All-American and the 2023 Big 12 Player of the Year.
Earned the CWSA Honda Sport Award for Volleyball, which has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 48 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies "the best of the best in collegiate athletics".

[slxpress]

It’s going to feel weird to me giving the award to either a Texas or OU athlete. Just one of those timing things.

[trojansc]

It is oddly impressive that we know . . . nothing about UCF's 2024 non-conference schedule so far.

[slxpress]

Jun 24, 2024 17:15:40 GMT -5 trojansc said:

It is oddly impressive that we know . . . nothing about UCF's 2024 non-conference schedule so far.

They’ve never appeared on anyone’s schedule? I wouldn’t even know how to check that other than by going through a lot of teams’ schedules, and I’m not doing that.