I've been puzzled by the team this year - my impression has been that the defense has been (generally) solid, but they have struggled to score. Last year the team gave up 57.3 points per game, this year 57.9. While worse, it isn't a big difference. Offense is a different story - last year 59.5 points per game, this year 55.5.
Why the difference? Losing Cooper, Clement & Jones doesn't help matters, but Reynolds & Boylan have contributed this season. Comparing the team to the last two seasons:
Why the difference? Losing Cooper, Clement & Jones doesn't help matters, but Reynolds & Boylan have contributed this season. Comparing the team to the last two seasons:
| Overall FG % | Three Point% | |||||
| 2008-9 | 2007-8 | 2006-7 | 2008-9 | 2007-8 | 2006-7 | |
| Jessica Minnfield | .338 | .421 | .291 | .284 | .406 | .237 |
| Carly Benson | .353 | .405 | .393 | .318 | .313 | .353 |
| Veronica Hicks | .383 | .355 | .300 | .250 | ||
| Stephany Skrba | .482 | .535 | .354 | .000 | .167 | .000 |
| Melinda Queen | .355 | .311 | .458 | .355 | .105 | .368 |
| Krista Phillips | .386 | .468 | .465 | .174 | .264 | .400 |
| Kalyn McPherson | .267 | .313 | .268 | .000 | 1.000 | .333 |
| Carmen Reynods | .430 | .388 | ||||
| Courtney Boylan | .344 | .321 | ||||
| Ashley Jones | .450 | .273 | .346 | .000 | ||
| Janelle Cooper | .389 | .338 | .352 | .270 | ||
| Krista Clement | .358 | .273 | .336 | .269 | ||
| Ta'Shia Walker | .395 | .458 | .200 | .233 | ||
| Team | .377 | .419 | .367 | .297 | .330 | .274 |
The teams overall shooting percentage climbed dramatically last year, and has fallen this year to levels close to the 2006-7 season. The only players to improve their numbers from last year are Veronica Hicks and Melinda Queen (and Benson's 3point % has gone up a bit as well).
Was last year a fluke? Is it simply a matter of confidence? I wish I knew - but with a young team next year (3 seniors, 1 junior), let's hope it starts to turn around.
1 comment:
I wish it made some sense, but here's my go at it:
I think this team is still in the "learning phase," most evident by their struggles against the press. It seems that this team is going slightly in slow-motion on offense. It shows that this team is still going through the motions and the "shock" factor to the rest of the Big Ten was worn off.
I also believe that the chip on their shoulder last year helped the Wolverines prevail. In addition, Cooper had a knack of knocking down some big shots toward the end of games as well, which Michigan dearly misses as evident from this season.
The absence of Ashley Jones was huge this year. Whenever she took the floor last year, she made her presence known and really helped the floor open up. I think she has some great basketball smarts and swagger that some of the other bigs lack (Skrba is spotty on confidence. KP needs to play bigger). I'm looking forward on how she'll impact the Big Ten next season.
One more note: Michigan has put together two halves with .400+ shooting just twice this year. Ironically, they were both losses. I know basketball's a game of runs, but as the adage goes: Consistency is key.
Coach Dawn and Coach Borseth have done an impeccable job with recruiting: No. 21 in the nation already is phenomenal. Good luck to these ladies next year as they (to take the men's basketball slogan) get "Back to Business."
Thanks Jim for all your work this season. There's nowhere to go but up from here.
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