So I’ll try to be more lucid about the Duke game and the season so far. IMO, DW just can’t coach. I’ve observed the practices of both DW and BW, and the two were decidedly different. No wasted time or purpose at the BW practice, and the DW practice seemed disorganized, confusing and uninspiring. I posted on that last year.
I’ve purposely not yelled this year about the coaching decisions, and tried to be fair to Dennis, but it’s been difficult, and last night, impossible. I still think DW is playing players out of position, his rotations are unfathomable, individual players do not seem to be developing/improving, his offensive sets are not effective, and opposing teams routinely exploit the same weaknesses—with no apparent effort by DW to correct them.
While some teams have trouble getting the ball inside, it’s as if the team doesn’t even try. I realize a lot of WBB teams play inside out, but you’ve got to go inside to go outside. I think one of the players is soft, and has hands like Joey Van Zegeren. Cook is physical, and can play with contact, but her shot inside is consistently short, and many times hits under the rim.
Hicks is good, and going to be better. Her spirit is tough, and she plays with an “attitude” (from me, this is a compliment). However, her shot has no arc, and thus has a low probability of being successful (much like Lindsey Biggs under BD). This can be corrected, with coaching (therefore, I’m not hopeful).
The last few possessions (from the 13-sec mark on) absolutely put me over the edge. The ball went to Young, who was double/tripled teamed, who put up a 3-sec shot that barely reached the lane, let alone the rim. There was apparently no thought to attempt getting the ball inside and going for the tie and overtime (a higher percentage move). While the officials reviewed the out of bounds call, the team got a play from DW, and DW apparently called the same play (from the same spot), and this attempt was even shorter and more challenged than the first attempt). I don’t blame Young, I blame DW. To call DWs offensive sets unimaginative is an understatement and sarcastic.
I’ll post more later today, but I’ve calmed down from last night. Also, I’m limited to the length of a post, and I think I’ve reached it.