Is Latham on the outside on this team for playing time? If so, I’m surprised. She was a starter as a freshman on a very good Syracuse team last season. All ACC freshman. Agree on Wells, she is likely 8-10 on the option list to play tbh. Maybe I’m wrong there. On Strickland, I agree now. She is not elite enough to get major minutes, but she can still play a role.
Latham is an elite talent… that should either be starting or be with the 2nd uni. I was surprised to see her check in for the first time around the 4:30-5 min mark in the 1Q. Which makes her the bottom 3 rn. Was surprised that Favor went in before her. LATHAM has a high IQ. I love how she actually sits when she D’s up and she will good on the back end of the press…. she does a great job of anticipating the passes. She is more mobile and athletic than Hollingshead and Favor. Wells looked loss defensively and her close out speed is lacking rn…. I expect her to get better by Feb
Her biggest detriment last year was propensity for foul trouble, only thing that limited her minutes imo. Hope she figures that out quick, she is a talent. She may never be an 18/12 type player, but she absolutely can be a 12/10 type, We will see. I have not given up on her potential, lot of games left.
Spencer will be the 1PG, She will give offense when needed, but focus on quarterbacking the alphas. Whitehorn and Coop will be dynamic. Coop will get better as the year progresses, Scary good maybe. Jewel is going to be Jewel and a great player in the SEC. Puckett will be better than last year, which is pretty good. Spearman likely the top big over Hollingshead, maybe tbd, but looks that way. There are 4 other players that will be contributors, you saw it. This LV team is real.
I should have mentioned Spencer! She looked very in control on the court. There has been a massive infusion of athleticism and some returners, like Jillian have probably moved down the depth chart but she is still there best option when they will need some size in the post, the plus to this game is that the team looked really good in this press, press style but they were playing an overmatched opponent who got physically overwhelmed. So another positive step but they have not been tested yet,
This LV team might be as good as any team in the nation when they play their style and don’t get knocked off their game plan. Listen, I understand the level of play they will face in conference. The OOC schedule should go 11-0 before conference play, no true tests in that span outside of a very thin FSU squad. Iowa is a shadow of prior, they won’t be able to match UT’s depth or skill. 11-0. Uconn will likely beat UT, but no way is that a 100% given. And Texas, LSU and SC will be favored in those matchups, but like the UConn game, none are sure losses. This UT team can play, and in a style that can create great upsets.
You may be correct, but if you are not watching closely what is going on with this team, you might be missing the boat. They can play ball and they have ballplayers now. Don't bet against this team. It’s not like the UT teams from the past 8-12 years, this one has some real teeth to their game.
