(11-15-2021 11:11 AM)Centdukesfan Wrote:  Womens basketball is the most top heavy sport I think ive ever seen. If Maryland is truly a top 5 team, it is no surprise we lost by 40. For instance, last year #5 missouri state lost by almost 40 in the elite 8 to #1 stanford.

I love watching our women perform, I think they are solidly in the top 30-40 teams in the NCAA, but the separation between the top 3 or 4 and #25 is absolutely miles.

This is true. Are there just fewer girls/women playing sports, such that the number of truly excellent players is less? Therefore, the top teams get that limited number of great players and leave everyone else with just "good" players? On the men's side, we know there are a ton of outstanding players, and the gap between 1 and 16 in the NCAA tourney is narrow (hello, UVa).

Do we see this in softball, soccer, volleyball, etc?

(11-15-2021 11:11 AM)Centdukesfan Wrote:  Womens basketball is the most top heavy sport I think ive ever seen. If Maryland is truly a top 5 team, it is no surprise we lost by 40. For instance, last year #5 missouri state lost by almost 40 in the elite 8 to #1 stanford.

I love watching our women perform, I think they are solidly in the top 30-40 teams in the NCAA, but the separation between the top 3 or 4 and #25 is absolutely miles.

^^^^Absolutely^^^^

Anybody that doesn't see that is just not paying attention, or hasn't been around the game as long as some of us have. Parity is still not here. I look forward to getting out of the CAA and into the Sun Belt, but anyone who thinks that means automatic improvement is in for a rude awakening. There's going to be some adjustment getting used to new opponents (and referees!) and possibly even a new style of play and a new talent pool. I think we're in for an interesting couple of years.

Those of you cracking on Coach O might need to take a step back. Y'all aren't being very realistic at all. He's actually one of the better mid-major coaches I've seen. You also are not paying attention to the fact that two of his top assistants just got hired away, which speaks pretty well for the program, but also means some readjustment. Think Coach Ashley and Coach Bridgette aren't missed? Then you don't know a lot about coaching. Assistants are every bit as important as HCs. Bet on it.

(11-15-2021 11:24 AM)Dukes94 Wrote:  

(11-15-2021 11:11 AM)Centdukesfan Wrote:  Womens basketball is the most top heavy sport I think ive ever seen. If Maryland is truly a top 5 team, it is no surprise we lost by 40. For instance, last year #5 missouri state lost by almost 40 in the elite 8 to #1 stanford.

I love watching our women perform, I think they are solidly in the top 30-40 teams in the NCAA, but the separation between the top 3 or 4 and #25 is absolutely miles.

This is true. Are there just fewer girls/women playing sports, such that the number of truly excellent players is less? Therefore, the top teams get that limited number of great players and leave everyone else with just "good" players? On the men's side, we know there are a ton of outstanding players, and the gap between 1 and 16 in the NCAA tourney is narrow (hello, UVa).

Do we see this in softball, soccer, volleyball, etc?

I don't think that is anything new for Women's or Girls Basketball. In both HS and College the top teams sometimes are way better than most of the other teams. When I was in high school and at JMU a loooong time ago there seemed to be bigger gaps in the teams.

That said just 2 years ago the JMU women's team was beating #8 UMD 57-41 after three quarters. Top 40 or 80 teams can compete with top teams at times.

Did not see the UMD game yesterday, but appeared we got off to a very slow start.

(11-15-2021 11:31 AM)orange-to-purple Wrote:  

(11-15-2021 11:11 AM)Centdukesfan Wrote:  Womens basketball is the most top heavy sport I think ive ever seen. If Maryland is truly a top 5 team, it is no surprise we lost by 40. For instance, last year #5 missouri state lost by almost 40 in the elite 8 to #1 stanford.

I love watching our women perform, I think they are solidly in the top 30-40 teams in the NCAA, but the separation between the top 3 or 4 and #25 is absolutely miles.

^^^^Absolutely^^^^

Anybody that doesn't see that is just not paying attention, or hasn't been around the game as long as some of us have. Parity is still not here. I look forward to getting out of the CAA and into the Sun Belt, but anyone who thinks that means automatic improvement is in for a rude awakening. There's going to be some adjustment getting used to new opponents (and referees!) and possibly even a new style of play and a new talent pool. I think we're in for an interesting couple of years.

Those of you cracking on Coach O might need to take a step back. Y'all aren't being very realistic at all. He's actually one of the better mid-major coaches I've seen. You also are not paying attention to the fact that two of his top assistants just got hired away, which speaks pretty well for the program, but also means some readjustment. Think Coach Ashley and Coach Bridgette aren't missed? Then you don't know a lot about coaching. Assistants are every bit as important as HCs. Bet on it.

When you're done patting yourself on the back for your unquestioned authority on all things women's basketball, please let me know. It's like your Orange pedigree gives you some special status. SMH...

All schools lose assistants, all schools deal with transfers and injuries. We are not unique there. As far as the top schools in the country being head and shoulders above everyone else, I don't disagree. I do think teams 5-8 are closer than they were 10-15 years ago, but there is still a gap.

I don't think even the most zealous of our fans thought we were going to come out of this game with a W. Just wanted to keep it close for a while and maybe put a scare into them. With enough luck, maybe we even enter the 4th still in striking distance. We were done from the get go.

Again, both Longwood and Villanova were within 13 of Maryland at half. If we are as good as many on the board think we are, we should have been much more competitive. On to Liberty and hopefully regroup and regain our confidence.

And both Longwood and Vanillanova ended up very much on the short end of the stick. Did you forget that? This team, until they get the kinks out and Peyton back, is going to be a little shaky. And Maryland, unless they get dealt a major blow or three, is very likely a Final Four team.

Perhaps you haven't been around WBB in other places much. Or maybe your nose is just a little out of joint.