They look good before they board for Italy

[oldtimewomen's hoopcoach]

As I said in my first post; they look good. The Key is the coaches have let up a bit, and taken good players and are doing their best to make them very good players and a very good team. If the team stays healthy, they can win the Valley and should win the Valley. They just need to stay under control and out of foul and turn-over trouble. All of us in Shocker Nation will enjoy this team!

[1972Shocker]

Kudos to Brian Petratta on his write-ups of the Italy trip. Really an outstanding job. My only criticism what was the score. Apparently, the Shocks broke the century mark.

What a great trip for these young ladies. Not sure how much they will accomplish basketball-wise but the experience of this trip should give them a much broader perspective and appeciation for this world.

Basketball-wise the trip should be valuable just for the extra pracitices, especially considering we have 2 players coming of injury redshirts and 5 other newcomers (not counting Darice Fountaine).

Anyone know if Darice made the trip? I am assuming she would not be able to participate as a transfer, but I'm not positive about that.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

Final was 104-41.

[1972Shocker]

The Key is the coaches have let up a bit, and taken good players and are doing their best to make them very good players and a very good team.

OTWHC what do think the catalyst for this lighter touch is? Anything in particular or just the natural maturing of a young coach.

If the team stays healthy, they can win the Valley and should win the Valley. They just need to stay under control and out of foul and turn-over trouble. All of us in Shocker Nation will enjoy this team!

Not sure I can go so far as to say we should win the Valley, but we certainly are capable of it with the proper focus, effort and chemistry.

UNI and MSU will no doubt be picked as the teams to beat, but they are certainly not unbeatable. UNI really got it rolling during the conference season last year and they have the POY, Jacqui Kaqlin returning to lead the way. MSU has the prior year's POY, Casey Garrison, back for her final season. No reason Haleigh can't join Kalin and Garrison as one of the premier players in this league. Haleigh needs to avoid the dumb fouls and high-risk fouls and maximize her minutes. We need Haleigh to have a POY year and she is capable of it.

Not sure when was the last time we headed into a season with even a smidgen of hope of competing for the top spot in the MVC.

:goshocks:

[1972Shocker]

Final was 104-41.

Thanks DSB, but I noticed the scoreboard in the goShockers.com write-up, which I overlooked when I first looked at the article shows a final of 102-41.

That makes it sound much more competitive. ;-)

In any case, sounds like the Ladies are having a great time.

[oldtimewomen's hoopcoach]

The Key is the coaches have let up a bit, and taken good players and are doing their best to make them very good players and a very good team.

OTWHC what do think the catalyst for this lighter touch is? Anything in particular or just the natural maturing of a young coach.

Some players quit after last season; they may have anyway; but being very hard core non stop doesn't work for every player. I think Jody and the staff have learned this a bit. I only watched a bit of summer practice, but it was much more positive than the summer before when I watched a few times. Should be fun this year.

If the team stays healthy, they can win the Valley and should win the Valley. They just need to stay under control and out of foul and turn-over trouble. All of us in Shocker Nation will enjoy this team!

Not sure I can go so far as to say we should win the Valley, but we certainly are capable of it with the proper focus, effort and chemistry.

UNI and MSU will no doubt be picked as the teams to beat, but they are certainly not unbeatable. UNI really got it rolling during the conference season last year and they have the POY, Jacqui Kaqlin returning to lead the way. MSU has the prior year's POY, Casey Garrison, back for her final season. No reason Haleigh can't join Kalin and Garrison as one of the premier players in this league. Haleigh needs to avoid the dumb fouls and high-risk fouls and maximize her minutes. We need Haleigh to have a POY year and she is capable of it.

Not sure when was the last time we headed into a season with even a smidgen of hope of competing for the top spot in the MVC.

:goshocks: