Anonymous
Years ago

Opals Olympic qualifiers

Opals vs Chinese Taipei tonight 8pm aest on YouTube.

China vs Korea in the other group down to the wire. Both teams currently look stronger than us. Great defense.
Korea edging China in final qtr.
Nz vs phillipines at 5.30.

Topic #46332 | Report this topic


Anonymous  
Years ago

Not sure how they look better than the opals. With big Liz opals are a completely different team.

Reply #774160 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Major upset by Korea.

Reply #774162 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Wow, korea on the rise with there young guns.

Reply #774164 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Is Alanna Smith in the squad?

Reply #774166 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Aussie defense sucks. Maybe only 2 on our starting 5 can defend properly, Allen and Ohea.
We don't move the ball very welll either. We just lob into Cambage.

Reply #774167 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

No Garbin is in for smith.

Reply #774168 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

Reply #774186 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

anyone know what the most points in a game is by an Opal?

Reply #774191 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Our defense needs so much work.

Reply #774195 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

No problem qualifying for the next stage in this group, February will be tough no matter what.

Reply #774197 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

That was as ugly as expected. Hard to get up for an opponent that bad.

Reply #774198 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

We were ugly also, Japan even though undersized should be too quick for us.

Reply #774202 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Eager to see tokashikis young backup 6'3 umezawa against our bigs.

Reply #774203 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Mitchell is washed up

Reply #774206 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Don't say that, luuucs favourite player.

Reply #774207 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

She sure is.
Just came off a WNBA season so good that she won MIP for the 2nd time, playing 30mpg and shooting 43% from 3, and had career highs for points, rebounds & assists, but yeah got totally washed up between September and November.

Reply #774209 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

"She sure is" was response to washed up, btw. She's not my favourite player, but I do think she is clearly our best PG.

Korea-China is going down to the wire.

Reply #774210 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Wnba v fiba, very different.
Probably our best pg atm but not needed over Griffin or Whitcomb imo.

Reply #774211 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Whitcomb should be the naturalised player. She is a great floor spacer. Rather ebzery and lavey running the point than a washed up mitchell.

Reply #774212 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Agree, same as WC without Madgen though, add nicholson.

Reply #774216 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Our d is beyond terrible, Kunek or Nicholson would have come in handy.

Reply #774218 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Kunek? what the?

Reply #774221 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Agree nicholson deserves to be in this team. Sandy b playing favourites.

Reply #774222 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Now(currently is)
Mitchell / Ebzery / Lavey
Talbot / Madgen
Allen / Ohea
George / Magbegor / Garbin
Cambage / Tolo

Compared to WC, Tolo has replaced Bunton at C, Garbin pushes out Smith at PF, Mitchell as starting pg has taken the naturalised spot over SG Whitcomb.


Now(should be)
Ebzery / Lavey
Talbot / Nicholson / Madgen(Seekamp or Tupaea the other 2 options currently)
Allen / Ohea
Griffin / George / Magbegor
Cambage / Tolo


February(could be)
Ebzery / Lavey
Talbot / Nicholson / Wallace
Allen / Ohea
Griffin / George / Magbegor
Cambage / Tolo

Also Tokyo team^
Excludes injured/ill players during that time and 3x3 player possibilities


Beyond Olympics
Several outs due to age.. lots of players 33-38y.o before next major tournament.
Big changes, fringe opals like Nicholson, Blicavs, Smith become regulars and prospects like Mangakahia, Aokuso likely come into the side amongst other new young talents.

Reply #774229 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Mansfield is still the best aussie born pure point guard

Reply #774234 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

No, she isn't

Reply #774235 | Report this post


ANON  
Years ago

Mitchell is far from washed up lol, as for having whitcomb as the naturalised player over her , HELL no.
As could be seen at the end of that game Enzery turns the ball over way too much, neither Enzery or Lavey are good floor leaders

Right now Mitchell is all we have for PG

Reply #774286 | Report this post


Pop  
Years ago

And Seekamp, who most definitely can - and does - run a team well and is able to use her initiative on court when necessary.

That said, I thought it was generally agreed that most, if not all, the guards in this team were picked largely for their speed/lateral movement with a view to limiting the guard quickness and outside shooting of the quick little Asian guards.

Reply #774291 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Seekamp is a turnover machine with a dodgy jump shot so no thanks

Reply #774303 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

Opals defeat India 114-29 in the 2nd game. I only caught the final 6 minutes, and that was 6 minutes too many.
Looking forward to the one proper game of the tournament tomorrow, and hoping that these garage lead-in games have helped the preparation more than they have hurt it.

Reply #774719 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Womens basketball? Yawn.

Reply #774720 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Cambage Injured or rested?

Reply #774750 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Heartbreak for nz, beat Korea who were unbeaten and end up finishing 3rd on points. Olympic campaign pretty much over.

Reply #774960 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Head to head loss to China and they finish 3rd.

Reply #774961 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

I tune in 4 minutes late and we're already down 14? Jesus....

Reply #774982 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

Reply #774983 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

lol, I told you luuuc, can't play defense, no heart and sandy cannot be the coach any longer.

Reply #774984 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Playing both bigs = stupidity.

Reply #774985 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

16-30 after 1

Reply #774986 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Statues.
Traffic cones.
Whatever you want to call it.

Reply #774987 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Cambage not fit, was trim at Las Vegas.

Reply #774988 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Should be Allen at the 4

Reply #774989 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

We would get slaughtered with a full strength Japan.

Reply #774991 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Cayla George is terrible. Doesn't even take herself seriously

Reply #774994 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

34-47 @ Half time

Reply #774996 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

Cayla George is terrible.

She is a truly awful defender

Reply #774997 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Mitchell and George on at the same time is terrible. Both horrible slow defenders getting carved up against this speedy japanese offense.

Reply #774998 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

I think people have been saying that for 5 years now. Nothing's changed.

Reply #774999 | Report this post


Ware2Bogut  
Years ago

Can they please delist lelani mitchell, she is a huge defensive liability. Looks out of breath trying to chase motohashi.

Reply #775000 | Report this post


Ware2Bogut  
Years ago

Give tess lavey a go in the 2nd half, surely she can play better d then mitchell. Sami whitcomb needs to come in as the naturalised player, they need another floor spacer.

Reply #775002 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Mitchell at fiba level is just not good enough.
Cambage has come in unfit
George and Tolo way too slow for Asian teams.

Reply #775004 | Report this post


cosby  
Years ago

The way this Japanese team move the ball is a joy to watch. Aussie team is all one on one moves.

Reply #775005 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

leilani mitchell -22 to half time. 0/4, 3 turnovers.
cayla george -18 to half time. 1 rebound.
steph talbot -14 - basically contributed nothing.

Ezi +9

Reply #775006 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Sucks that this is the likely Olympic squad excelt maybe Garbin.

Reply #775007 | Report this post


Ware2Bogut  
Years ago

Looks like sandy b has heard us, benching mitchell and george to start the 2nd half.

Reply #775008 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

We need to lose for sandy to actually do something About the lineup.

Reply #775009 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Great decision by sandy and co, Atleast she's capable of change.

Reply #775012 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Close outs are shockingly bad. Why give them so much space..

Reply #775013 | Report this post


Ware2Bogut  
Years ago

The japanese ball movememt, spacing and shooting is elite.

Reply #775015 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Best in the world no question, has to be with only 1 big.
Still our fault, they should be face guarded.

Reply #775016 | Report this post


Ware2Bogut  
Years ago

Need cambage to take over if we are going to come back.

Reply #775017 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Liz should not be setting the screens, too far away from basket.

Reply #775018 | Report this post


Ware2Bogut  
Years ago

That pull up 3 was a dagger.

Reply #775019 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Don't think any body could stop these 3s.

Reply #775020 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

slow time out in the 3rd quarter. that early shot by allen was seriously dumb - with 12 seconds left in the 3rd quarter w

Reply #775021 | Report this post


James Harvey fan  
Years ago

I once saw an interview where Claudia Brassard predicted Cayla George would be defensive player of the year in the WNBL. I wondered if she thought that would motivate George to actually play some defence.

Reply #775022 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Horvasee must giggle to himself when he goes home, he knows the players we have available and we continue to bring these slow centres against 6'0 speedy forwards.

Reply #775023 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

who is horvasee?

Reply #775024 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

Real smart, Liz

Reply #775025 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

wow cambage should be suspended by BA for 12 months. embarrassment.

Reply #775026 | Report this post


Ware2Bogut  
Years ago

That is the biggest weakness of cambage game. She would be goat if she could keep her emotions in check.

Reply #775027 | Report this post


James Harvey fan  
Years ago

What did Liz do while my video was down??

Reply #775028 | Report this post


James Harvey fan  
Years ago

Hovasee = Japanese coach

Reply #775029 | Report this post


Ware2Bogut  
Years ago

Motahashi licking her lips when she sees mitchell trying the gaurd her

Reply #775030 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

What did Liz do while my video was down??

Taunted a ref

Reply #775031 | Report this post


James Harvey fan  
Years ago

:(

Reply #775032 | Report this post


Ware2Bogut  
Years ago

Bec Allen having a shocker shooting night.

Reply #775033 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Do we have any body that can shoot? This is embarrassing

Reply #775034 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Do we have any body that can shoot? This is embarrassing

Reply #775035 | Report this post


Ware2Bogut  
Years ago

Sami whitcomb

Reply #775036 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

magbegor should have played 30+ minutes but has barely played.

some of the 3x3 girls would have been handy

Reply #775037 | Report this post


cosby  
Years ago

Opals got no game plan when cambage isn't in. One woman team.

Reply #775038 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

we have 2 plans when Cambage is not in
1. blow layups
2. brick jumpers

Reply #775040 | Report this post


cosby  
Years ago

They were doing that when she was in.

Reply #775041 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

Final score 69-82

Reply #775042 | Report this post


James Harvey fan  
Years ago

Ezi is impressive.

Reply #775043 | Report this post


James Harvey fan  
Years ago

A real backwards step for the team.

Reply #775044 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

jenna ohea was a champ........her team

Reply #775045 | Report this post


Ware2Bogut  
Years ago

Sandy B will have to make some changes, can't just keep selecting her favourites.

Reply #775046 | Report this post


Anon  
Years ago

Ok all blaming different players, but honestly Brondello is to blame, her subs are horrendous, Allen obviously off her game yet left out there jacking up,empty threes every possession, Ebzery doing stupid fouls, hanging onto players, and then the clown of them all Cambage, she just can't get her bigmouth out of her ego can she. Why on earth do we persist with this stupid person, she’s a bloody disgrace.no good being the size of a giraffe if you Get kicked out because you act like a jackass.

Reply #775047 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

terrible coaching because (proceeds to list a bunch of bad things done by experienced players)

Reply #775049 | Report this post


Predictions  
Years ago

Certainly far from gold medal expectations with this lot. Too old, too slow. Poor coaching.

Reply #775050 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

has Luuuc come around to changes yet?

Reply #775051 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

has Luuuc come around to changes yet?

Since when did I have any objection to changes?
Just because I don't scream for wholesale changes based on one game doesn't mean this is my ideal 12.
There's 8 months and a lot of basketball to be played before Tokyo, which is the only tournament I care about.

Reply #775052 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Then why are you commenting on the game?

Reply #775053 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

and then the clown of them all Cambage, she just can't get her bigmouth out of her ego can she. Why on earth do we persist with this stupid person, she's a bloody disgrace.

Yeah, the first move we should make is to dump the only elite player we have. Nevermind the fact that she carried our team to a world cup silver a year ago. Let's put Scherf in there instead right? At least she won't get techs.

Reply #775054 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

I miss the days when more than 4 non-trolls posted about WBB here

Reply #775055 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Cambage was not fit, mentally or physically for this series.
We would have won 2 games without her.

Injuries to Wallace, Aokuso, mangakahia hasn't helped.
Not giving players like Nicholson, Griffin, Kunek a chance saus a lot about being in form and Sandy’s choices.

Reply #775056 | Report this post


ANON  
Years ago

Yeah, the first move we should make is to dump the only elite player we have. Nevermind the fact that she carried our team to a world cup silver a year ago. Let's put Scherf in there instead right? At least she won't get techs.

Did Japan need a 6"6 Goliath to beat us?

No they didn't , she played , she made little difference, on three blocks in quick succession right before she was ejected, every one of those blocks could just have easily been a foul, he’ll the first one she missed her player completely, give her credit she then raced to smack that ball out of the way, but also thought it amusing she was caught sleeping.

You have a brilliant young tall in Ezi who produces as much if not more without the attitude and over inflated ego, pumped by her own arrogance .
Just how far do you go with her shit, Brondello needs to look at fresher players than the same old same old, and that includes Cambage, officials have had a gut full , what sort of mentality is it that shoves the finger up right at the ref in a game like that
She’s a liability NOT an asset

Reply #775078 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

The National Federations of Belgium (Ostend), China (Foshan), France (Bourges) and Serbia (Belgrade) have been awarded the hosting rights of the four FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, from February 6 to 9, 2020.

Top 16 teams.

USA, Japan already qualified.

Japan, China, Korea, Australia
USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, Brazil
Nigeria, Mozambique
Great Britain, Spain, France, Serbia, Belgium, Sweden

Reply #775094 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

A top 3 finish in a group of 4 qualifies us for a WC.
Certainly no guarantee of making top 3. We are beatable for most of those teams.

Reply #775096 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

I would cut Cambage after Tokyo, need to rebuild without her. Get rid of all the vets like Mitchell, Ohea, George, Tolo etc etc.

Reply #775098 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Have to develop

Garbin
Froling
Froling
Smith
Magbegor
Mcspadden
Aokuso
Scherf

Reply #775099 | Report this post


ANON  
Years ago

Garbin .. seriously , she's had so much development how much more does she need , she had years at the AIS.

Reply #775105 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Depends on the coaches, didn't evolve much under brassard.

Reply #775106 | Report this post


James Harvey fan  
Years ago

For every negative that comes with Cambage, you have to remember her ceiling is ridiculous. Who else do we have that could score 50 in a WNBA game? I don't see a path to a medal without relying on her heavily.

Reply #775108 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Yeah, but we didn't need her this series. Coming in overweight and not prepared mentally ....

Asia is different yet we still bring 5 talls, why? Only 1 player from the teams we faced in our group over 6’3.
Our 6’2 sgs and sfs should be pfs in Asian tournaments.

Same problem will happen for Asia u16s coming up, a team with primarily bigs who will be beaten by japan, China and Korea.

Reply #775111 | Report this post


ANON  
Years ago

For every negative that comes with Cambage, you have to remember her ceiling is ridiculous. Who else do we have that could score 50 in a WNBA game? I don't see a path to a medal without relying on her heavily.

Scoring 50 points in ONE game does not mean she can, does or ever will do that again .

You have to factor in everything else not just that ONE player or one game

The fact is sure Cambage has the ability if she's inclined to work hard, but the repeat button shows this is NOT the case. So just how long do you keep sucking that same price of lemon before you see the cracks it causes .

Australia is stuck in a time warp of wanting bigs , but the international game has developed into a fast mobile guards heavy rotation on teams, something Australia continues to over look and it ignores the smaller mobile players out there

Reply #775113 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

IVe been saying that for 5 years anon, if you look at the European teams now, they've got 1 6’5 Centre surrounded by 4 guards or mobile forwards.

We continue to play Cambage with George and we get lit up.
Cambage with griffin or Allen or kunek is the best option in Asia, Talbot and Ohea go to the 3 and onball defenders like Nicholson play the 2. Mitchell also a liability at the 1 and Lavey dnp.

Reply #775115 | Report this post


Hoopie  
Years ago

Sandy is a long-time product of the WNBA and that's obvious to me in her selections and the team’s style of play.

Why would we expect an unselfish team-oriented offense like Japan’s from someone who hasn’t needed to think like that for years? The WNBA just doesn’t play that way.

She’s relying on our talls because that’s one of the few advantages we have over Asian teams like Japan, and our team matches up well against the other world teams. Personally, I’d take a 'horses for course’ approach, but I can understand why she won’t take a different squad to Asia qualifiers as opposed to the bigger tournaments. She’s taking a bit of a risk, though - there’s a small chance that we won’t actually get through the Asia qualifiers.

Reply #775117 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Cambage catching the ball at the high post was laughable. Couldn't believe it and it kept happening over and over again.
She tried to dribble around the double team almost every time.

Standing off known shooters was just stupid, everyone bar tokashiki should be faceguarded with a hand in the passing lane.

Reply #775121 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

The only teams I'm certain we can beat in the next round are Mozambique and Puerto Rico. Hopefully we get 1 in our pool.

Reply #775124 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

We are going to get usa, Spain and Belgium lol.

Reply #775126 | Report this post


James Harvey fan  
Years ago

She has been all-WNBA first team and led the league in scoring and was second in rebounding in 2018. I get the immense frustration with her but let's not pretend she had one good game in the WNBA and is easily replaced.

Reply #775129 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

"Scoring 50 points in ONE game does not mean she can, does or ever will do that again ."


Idiot. She won the WNBA scoring title. You don't do that off one good game. If she is not effective against midget teams then that is because we are not using her properly. She should be putting up 40 against them because they have no one who can stop her. She was killing them before she spat it and ejected herself.

Reply #775132 | Report this post


ANON  
Years ago

Your right she "should" be putting up big number games consistently, but she doesn't dies she, and every time she does the same crap of losing her temper and thinking it’s funny to be ejected , not only does it show her total lack of consideration for her team mates but also the country she represents
What is it with Australians acceptance of poor behaviour in sport .

Don’t care how big she may be , think Australia is better off without her to be honest

Reply #775138 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Next phase team?

Lavey
Ebzery
Wallace
Nicholson
Ohea
Allen
Talbot
Griffin
Smith
Magbegor
George or Tolo
Cambage

Reply #775140 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Toughness + desire
Nicholson, Kunek, Griffin

In the squad? Nup,,.

Toughness/desire in the current squad?
Allen can, Talbot sometimes, no one else atm.

Reply #775142 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Ahhhh to be a coach. Sandy was the best thing since sliced bread to happen to the Opals and after a few rough games people want her head.

Reply #775143 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

I wanted Seebohm.

People were happy that Joyce was gone is all.

Reply #775144 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Sandy startung to make joyce look good. She was very poor in that game.
Imagine the negative press if an oz cricketer or even a footballer got sent off for taunting an umpire. Serial offender. The poster child for adult children everywhere.

Takes no responsibility. Sat out the 2nd game. Totally let her team down again. What an amazing role model. Her sponsors must take a good look at the ongoing poor sportswomanship.

Reply #775145 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Sandy went one better with silver, but still can't make a team play defense.
Seebohm is the saviour going forward. No one else looks to be in the mix.

Reply #775148 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

I'm glad Cambage chucked a wobbly. We were looking a good chance to win while she was on and winning might have papered over some big cracks.

Reply #775163 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Seebohm is setting the WNBL on fire with his 1-5 record

Reply #775164 | Report this post


Anon  
Years ago

Agree everyone just wanted a Joyce gone, Brondello IMO was never a good choice, not just because she was based on the other side of the world and made it very clear from the start she was not making the Opals her priority ( understandable as she probably gets paid a lot more in WNBA) , but she should never have been considered under those conditions. Add to that she's very much old school, which again she’s proven by her choice of roster, and who she cut immediately from the tryouts.

But it’s those who head BA that are the biggest hurdle we have for the women’s team in particular but the men’s also.

Time for a big clear out, starting from the top IMO.

As for Cambage, she will never be a role model for anyone , especially when everyone would rather look at her height than her behaviour.

She probably should have played tennis......at least she wouldn’t be letting her team mates down.

Reply #775171 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Seebohm did not choose that Townsville squad, he inherited it and also lost starting c in preseason.

Reply #775173 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Cambage - the female form of Bogut. What an absolute disgusting representation of Australia she is. She argued that the T was unwarranted cause she wasn't talking to the ref. If the ref can hear it - it gets dealt with.

The 2nd T - I'd be surprised if she doesn't get fined for it.

Major disappointment from her during this game. Her mouth is out of control and someone needs to get some balls and tell her cause the coach is too freaking scared.

Reply #775467 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

I don't recall Bogut ever collecting tech fouls like they were 2017 bitcoins

Reply #775524 | Report this post


MartyS  
Years ago

There's rumours flying around that Teaira McCowan will be the next player to be naturalised.

She would likely replace Cambage post Tokyo, who has given indications she might not stick around.
If this comes to fruition, the Opals will be next level. McCowan is an absolute defensive menace and rebounder, without the attitude that sometimes gets the better of Liz.

In fact, her ceiling could easily surpass that of Sylvia Fowles and Brittney Griner as many in the WNBA have already commented. Add some developing and upcoming quality guards/forwards around Teaira, and the beyond 2020 Opals era looks extremely bright indeed.

It's a pity that the processes can not be hastened to include her now for Tokyo, but that in itself would create bigger headaches for coach Brondello.

Reply #775605 | Report this post


James Harvey fan  
Years ago

Good player obviously, but what is the process to get her naturalised?

Reply #775647 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Lol, why would Mccowan play for us, she's on the u.s radar post fowles and griner and Charles etc

Reply #775652 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Opals next level?

Even with Mccowan, There are 4 other positions.
We have no standout pg, no proven sg, 2 mid 20s sfs who are wishy washy and little proven bench depth.

Reply #775653 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Agreed. The guard situation has been critical for a while now. Very lucky we've had 2 Americans bail us out. What is wrong with guard development in this country? We used to be elite in that area. 15 years ago aussie guards were swarming the WNBA and we were leaving elite players out of the Opals because we had even eliter ones in there.

Reply #775689 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

At least 5 years till we have good guard depth again.

Reply #775692 | Report this post


MartyS  
Years ago

In response to Post 775652,

Teaira McCowan is not a part of US Basketball, nor an invitee, and to the best of my knowledge has never represented the USA.
This is undoubtedly a consideration in any "stand down" period by FIBA which is not applicable in this case.
For obvious reasons, one doesn't expect any formal announcement to be made until post Tokyo. Hopefully, the conversation at that time would be around the area of defending a Gold Medal.

Reply #775720 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

She has been in multiple camps.

Reply #775721 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

She represented usa at junior level, u trollin?

Reply #775722 | Report this post


anon  
Years ago

"Agreed. The guard situation has been critical for a while now. Very lucky we've had 2 Americans bail us out. What is wrong with guard development in this country? We used to be elite in that area. 15 years ago aussie guards were swarming the WNBA and we were leaving elite players out of the Opals because we had even eliter ones in there."

because BA only focus on bigs and have done for years because we didnt have any half decent bigs , but we had Taylor and Harrower and Ohea who is still around, , the guards are ignored unless they have connections.
we have plenty of good guards, they just never get the opportunity to be developed.

Reply #775883 | Report this post


anon  
Years ago

Agree with the above re bigs vs guards. Body type plays a big part in talent id with BA at the moment. Ability to defend etc. doesn't seem to be of as big a concern. Aus Camp invites after Nationals rarely have anyone other than those who have been high on the points scored column.

Reply #775891 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Our development system is beyond terrible.
Kids go from coe to college to sit on the bench for 3 years.
The ball handling must be dramatically improved along with defense and movement of the ball.

Reply #775892 | Report this post


Anon  
Years ago

"Agree with the above re bigs vs guards. Body type plays a big part in talent id with BA at the moment. Ability to defend etc. doesn't seem to be of as big a concern. Aus Camp invites after Nationals rarely have anyone other than those who have been high on the points scored column."


Because it is all about who scores for most coaches and selectors, they don't look at the why factor, do they score the most because they put up the most shots, but actually have a crap shooting percentage.....(law of averages, )you can teach shooting techniques, but a great defensive player comes naturally, same a PG, they should be floor generals, not just scoring 50 points because they are the only ones shooting the ball.

And they look at height, not speed, they look at height, not work ethic, they look at heigh for everything basically.

Many guards never get the opportunity, and just because a kid goes to the Cof E, it certainly does not mean there aren’t better players who don’t or didn’t go, Only thing going to the Cof E guarantees , is that they will always be in the mix to choose from , not that they are the best choice.

Reply #775912 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

The change to 24 sec shot clock hasnt helped. Ais/coe state development has always focussed on athletic types. There are guards like cole and heal, conti never given a clear run and playing afl unlikely too. Agreed many girls go over to play div 1 and dont play or are not committed enough to stay. Unfortunately Wallace is injured. Fingers crossed for her.

Reply #776008 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

http://www.fiba.basketball/news/seedings-for-fiba-womens-olympic-qualifying-tournaments-revealed-after-latest-ranking-update


Geez, hopefully we get a good draw. We don't want Sweden in pot 4 or Korea really. Everyone else in pots 2 and 3 can beat us also.

Reply #776065 | Report this post


anon  
Years ago

the change to 24 sec shot clock hasnt helped. Ais/coe state development has always focussed on athletic types. There are guards like cole and heal, conti never given a clear run and playing afl unlikely too. Agreed many girls go over to play div 1 and dont play or are not committed enough to stay. Unfortunately Wallace is injured. Fingers crossed for her.


the 24 second clock has nothing to do with the fact they dont develop any guards, same as I wouldn't say those who choose not to go or not to stay at college are not committed, have you seen the majority of the standard in college basketball, its a handful of teams that have a handful of good players, sometimes they are better off staying put and working with seniors here.

Cole didn't go to college,instead shes worked her ass off to get where she is , but Brondello cut her first round and shes concentrating on 3x3 same as Garrick (who should be in the opals squad over the likes of Madgen., Clydesdale same deal, Heal and Conti and Shelley have had great opportunities but still a bit too young, Conti may possibly chose AWFL, and who could blame her, they get paid peanuts in women's basketball.

Wallace has been unlucky but she hopefully may make a good recovery and come back, but will she still have that edge two years out, Rocci, Panousis, Reid all good shooters but not great PG, Antoniado who seems to have been quiet on the radar for some reason could be another one to watch if she has another good season in NBL1 and they are all under 24. Plenty of guards around, if they take the time to actually look at them.

Reply #776097 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Need to beat one of France, Brazil or Puerto Rico in February.

Reply #777285 | Report this post




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