In Reply to: Re: NO? posted by UCLART on March 30, 2024 at 15:09:27
I get it - I was just struck by some of the things that happened. Kiki has a high dribble at times - let's see if that's still the case next year. Osborne's gaffe at the end of the third quarter I really think I a player just pulling a rock - they've run that routine too many times now - run it correctly - to lay that one on the HC. That's just on the player imo.
OTOH, LSU played with far more control and maturity than we. Our team did win the boards - especially the offensive rebounds - but the ORBs largely reflect Betts' height and dominance - still, the whole team rebounds well - led the country in RB margin.
It feels like Close is growing but the rest is undeniable. I wonder how much of the softness of this team may be due to nurturing that still young sophomore class. Next year is important to see about that - Kiki Rice seems poised to take off as a national star - let's see if she can do it. Lauren Betts is already terrific but also has room to grow. Jaquez should be a cornerstone next season. What does she get from Jones next year? Who picks up the slack from Osborne moving on? Does Bessoir play or not? (She may indeed have walked on senior night but Ken Nwuba did also his senior year but he returned and played again this year. Bessoir can surely get a medical redshirt for this year - 24 minutes in one game does not a season make - but will she? And can Close bring in any transfers to fill out the roster or is she done with the two more freshmen from Kiki Rice's HS in DC?
You may be right - certainly could be right - in the past I've shared your opinion about her as a coach. This year's team was superior to past ones, was hoping it marks growth of Coach Close. Would personally rather hold off another year and see how these sophomores develop before reaching a conclusion about it. Maybe just holding out hope for a better tomorrow.
In short, it's one game today but imo the game was indicative of how good we were - and weren't - at the end of this season. We're certainly a good program at this point but not a great one.