Member Since: 11/17/2006 Location: Cincinnati Post Count: 6,803
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Women's basketball 2023/2024
Posted: 5/15/2023 2:11:01 PM
DEPARTURES Yaya Felder - transfer to Baylor Caitlyn Kroll - exhausted eligibility
RETURNEES Cassidy Laffler SO Aja Austin JR Kendall Hale JR Kate Dennis JR Kailah Johnson SR Ella Pope JR Jaya McClure SO
??? Madi Mace - She's been in the program for 3.5 years. Was it a grayshirt or blueshirt her first year? Assuming she took a medical redshirt this past year, I see a path where she could still have three years of eligibility. Jasmine Hale - She's been in college basketball for five years already. This includes a year at Wisconsin, a sit out year, the Covid year, and a season where she "did not play" according to our roster. She could be anywhere from done with ball to two years left from what I see Abby Garnett - Also been in college ball for five years already. This includes a redshirt, the Covid year, and a year where she played in only two games (redshirt again?). Also could be anywhere from done to two years left. Sasha Antenova - In five years with the program, she has played in 20 games. This includes three DNP (at least one redshirt official) seasons AND the Covid year. Again, could be anywhere from done with ball to two years left. Peyton Guice - Been in the program for four years. She intentionally burned a redshirt to play in the MAC Tournament in 2022 but was a DNP all last year (redshirt?). I think she has two years left if she wants, but could also be done with ball.
NEWCOMERS Kennedi Watkins - 5-10 transfer from SEMO, JR Monica Williams FR Asiah Baxter FR Bailey Tabeling FR Aylasia Fantroy FR Emma Barnett FR
With seven returnees not honored on senior day or transferred and six newcomers, I'd assume only two of Guice, Mace, J. Hale, Garnett, and Antenova could return. From a skill standpoint, if that's true, I hope it's Mace and Guice, but what's left is a team that is very, very small. None of the newcomers are bigs - Barnett has height, but like Kate Dennis, is more of a wing player. Austin did not look like a well conditioned player when I watched. That would be the extent of our players over 6'0''. The team appears to be loaded with guards and small forwards, which is fine if you can play with pace, go deep in the bench, bomb away from three. But again, as we've seen several times under Boldon, I see a team that is going to be dominated on the glass and get no easy two point attempts.
DEPARTURES Yaya Felder - transfer to Baylor Caitlyn Kroll - exhausted eligibility
RETURNEES Cassidy Laffler SO Aja Austin JR Kendall Hale JR Kate Dennis JR Kailah Johnson SR Ella Pope JR Jaya McClure SO
??? Madi Mace - She's been in the program for 3.5 years. Was it a grayshirt or blueshirt her first year? Assuming she took a medical redshirt this past year, I see a path where she could still have three years of eligibility. Jasmine Hale - She's been in college basketball for five years already. This includes a year at Wisconsin, a sit out year, the Covid year, and a season where she "did not play" according to our roster. She could be anywhere from done with ball to two years left from what I see Abby Garnett - Also been in college ball for five years already. This includes a redshirt, the Covid year, and a year where she played in only two games (redshirt again?). Also could be anywhere from done to two years left. Sasha Antenova - In five years with the program, she has played in 20 games. This includes three DNP (at least one redshirt official) seasons AND the Covid year. Again, could be anywhere from done with ball to two years left. Peyton Guice - Been in the program for four years. She intentionally burned a redshirt to play in the MAC Tournament in 2022 but was a DNP all last year (redshirt?). I think she has two years left if she wants, but could also be done with ball.
NEWCOMERS Kennedi Watkins - 5-10 transfer from SEMO, JR Monica Williams FR Asiah Baxter FR Bailey Tabeling FR Aylasia Fantroy FR Emma Barnett FR
With seven returnees not honored on senior day or transferred and six newcomers, I'd assume only two of Guice, Mace, J. Hale, Garnett, and Antenova could return. From a skill standpoint, if that's true, I hope it's Mace and Guice, but what's left is a team that is very, very small. None of the newcomers are bigs - Barnett has height, but like Kate Dennis, is more of a wing player. Austin did not look like a well conditioned player when I watched. That would be the extent of our players over 6'0''. The team appears to be loaded with guards and small forwards, which is fine if you can play with pace, go deep in the bench, bomb away from three. But again, as we've seen several times under Boldon, I see a team that is going to be dominated on the glass and get no easy two point attempts.
Guice missed all of last year because she tore the ACL on the other knee than she tore two years ago. I commented then that since she burned a redshirt she probably is not wanting to pull a BVP in use COVID and injury redshirts to pile up master's degree's and that she may be done.
My cousin and I took his little girls to senior day last year. I commented that as far as I knew Kroll was the only one out of eligibly. All of those women walked as a senior. As we have seen before that definitely does not mean that you are not coming back. However, given the size of the recruiting class and the actions of the rest of the squad, I expect that Garnett, Antonova, and Hale are not coming back and from Guice's past actions that she is not either. Pope got here before Mace but went on a mission. They basically took the same scholarship for half a year. After Pope left, wherever she went off to, Mace graduated high school early and came to college a semester early. I'm guessing that they'll both be back but I don't know.
So expect I young team. I wonder how much reduced win totals from outlandish numbers of injuries has hampered Boldon's ability to recruit. Is this a good class by MAC standards? I don't know.
Boldon came in and won MAC titles in his second a third years. He brought in Amani Burke, Katie Barker, and Hannah Thome (who was the twin sister of a WNBA player but could not stay healthy here) in one early class and Cece Hooks, Erica Johnson, Gabby Burris, Kalie Bambule, and Alexis Sover (who transfred to Wright State) in another. That had to be a really, really good class by any team standard outside the P5. A really young team then wins 30 games after the players that played most of the minutes of the championship teams graduate. The future looked paved with gold. How unlucky did Boldon have to be to end up here? It is depressing to think about what could have been.
Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 14,675
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RE: Women's basketball roster
Posted: 5/15/2023 3:46:03 PM
I think we need to recruit a BigWoMANZ. Our teams have been small, even by MAC standards. Most teams we've played have had taller players. BG and CMU, for instance, both had 6'2" centers who played significant minutes. They might not have been scoring machines, but they their presence defensively caused problems, not necessarily in a huge number of blocked shots but in causing our players to have to shoot at awkward angles which reduced their percentages. The current administration seems focused entirely on the small, faster guard and forward types. I just don't think it's a winning strategy at this point in the MAC.
The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA
"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."
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Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 14,675
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RE: Women's basketball roster
Posted: 5/15/2023 6:13:36 PM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:
OhioCatFan wrote:
I think we need to recruit a BigWoMANZ. Our teams have been small, even by MAC standards.
Gabrielle Wiznitzer
Didn't know he had a sister who played college basketball!
The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA
"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."
Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org
I think we need to recruit a BigWoMANZ. Our teams have been small, even by MAC standards. Most teams we've played have had taller players. BG and CMU, for instance, both had 6'2" centers who played significant minutes. They might not have been scoring machines, but they their presence defensively caused problems, not necessarily in a huge number of blocked shots but in causing our players to have to shoot at awkward angles which reduced their percentages. The current administration seems focused entirely on the small, faster guard and forward types. I just don't think it's a winning strategy at this point in the MAC.
It doesn't help that the few bigs we have, haven't been able to produce a lot. Austin played double digit minutes per game in MAC play and averaged two rebounds a game. Her specialty seemed to be that of a three-point shooter; she shot 17% from three. I felt bad watching her last season because she looked tired before she would even play a minute.
But at least she was available. Antonova has played 20 games in five years. I don't know the story there; unless you're close to the team, there's not much information out there. It's one thing to be plagued by injuries but when you've also got multiple scholarships where the players just don't appear to be panning out, and you carry them multiple years, that's a problem. How's any team supposed to overcome that? It's about as bad as being on probation, frankly.
There's some Mothers' Day pics on the women's Twitter account. Maybe you can figure out who appears to be sticking around. Some faces include Cassidy Lafler, Madi Mace, Kate Dennis, and Bailey Tabeling.
Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 14,675
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RE: Women's basketball roster
Posted: 5/15/2023 8:58:39 PM
Good points, WxM. The only thing I’d add is our bigs are in general shorter than the opposition’s bigs. Dennis and Garnett are 6’1”. I’m not sure Antonova’s height, but she’s not likely the answer to our center problem.
The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA
"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."
Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org
Since Bob has been here, he really has not had many impact bigs/post players. Jasmine Weatherspoon may have been the best? I don't go to every women's home game, but do make it to a lot of them. Getting beaten on the glass and being "out-physical'd" by opponents has felt pretty common. In the past, we've had the guards and athletic forwards that have made up for it. Right now, unfortunately, the cupboard feels pretty bare. Felder was the one really bright spot and now she's gone to Baylor, and who can blame her?
Member Since: 11/17/2006 Location: Cincinnati Post Count: 6,803
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RE: Women's basketball roster
Posted: 5/16/2023 5:05:38 PM
WxM wrote:
OhioCatFan wrote:
I think we need to recruit a BigWoMANZ. Our teams have been small, even by MAC standards. Most teams we've played have had taller players. BG and CMU, for instance, both had 6'2" centers who played significant minutes. They might not have been scoring machines, but they their presence defensively caused problems, not necessarily in a huge number of blocked shots but in causing our players to have to shoot at awkward angles which reduced their percentages. The current administration seems focused entirely on the small, faster guard and forward types. I just don't think it's a winning strategy at this point in the MAC.
It doesn't help that the few bigs we have, haven't been able to produce a lot. Austin played double digit minutes per game in MAC play and averaged two rebounds a game. Her specialty seemed to be that of a three-point shooter; she shot 17% from three. I felt bad watching her last season because she looked tired before she would even play a minute.
But at least she was available. Antonova has played 20 games in five years. I don't know the story there; unless you're close to the team, there's not much information out there. It's one thing to be plagued by injuries but when you've also got multiple scholarships where the players just don't appear to be panning out, and you carry them multiple years, that's a problem. How's any team supposed to overcome that? It's about as bad as being on probation, frankly.
There's some Mothers' Day pics on the women's Twitter account. Maybe you can figure out who appears to be sticking around. Some faces include Cassidy Lafler, Madi Mace, Kate Dennis, and Bailey Tabeling.
I think we need to recruit a BigWoMANZ. Our teams have been small, even by MAC standards. Most teams we've played have had taller players. BG and CMU, for instance, both had 6'2" centers who played significant minutes. They might not have been scoring machines, but they their presence defensively caused problems, not necessarily in a huge number of blocked shots but in causing our players to have to shoot at awkward angles which reduced their percentages. The current administration seems focused entirely on the small, faster guard and forward types. I just don't think it's a winning strategy at this point in the MAC.
Small due to style of play. Not much room for a post when you jack 3' s like its your job!
Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 14,675
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RE: Women's basketball roster
Posted: 5/17/2023 10:42:39 AM
BillyTheCat wrote:
OhioCatFan wrote:
I think we need to recruit a BigWoMANZ. Our teams have been small, even by MAC standards. Most teams we've played have had taller players. BG and CMU, for instance, both had 6'2" centers who played significant minutes. They might not have been scoring machines, but they their presence defensively caused problems, not necessarily in a huge number of blocked shots but in causing our players to have to shoot at awkward angles which reduced their percentages. The current administration seems focused entirely on the small, faster guard and forward types. I just don't think it's a winning strategy at this point in the MAC.
Small due to style of play. Not much room for a post when you jack 3' s like its your job!
Guess I'm suggesting that the style of play should change, but I suspect that's unlikely with Coach B. who seems wedded to the current system and unlikely to change.
The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA
"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."
Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org
I think we need to recruit a BigWoMANZ. Our teams have been small, even by MAC standards. Most teams we've played have had taller players. BG and CMU, for instance, both had 6'2" centers who played significant minutes. They might not have been scoring machines, but they their presence defensively caused problems, not necessarily in a huge number of blocked shots but in causing our players to have to shoot at awkward angles which reduced their percentages. The current administration seems focused entirely on the small, faster guard and forward types. I just don't think it's a winning strategy at this point in the MAC.
Small due to style of play. Not much room for a post when you jack 3' s like its your job!
Guess I'm suggesting that the style of play should change, but I suspect that's unlikely with Coach B. who seems wedded to the current system and unlikely to change.
Well you ain't wrong that we've historically struggled on the glass, and with longer teams.
I think we need to recruit a BigWoMANZ. Our teams have been small, even by MAC standards. Most teams we've played have had taller players. BG and CMU, for instance, both had 6'2" centers who played significant minutes. They might not have been scoring machines, but they their presence defensively caused problems, not necessarily in a huge number of blocked shots but in causing our players to have to shoot at awkward angles which reduced their percentages. The current administration seems focused entirely on the small, faster guard and forward types. I just don't think it's a winning strategy at this point in the MAC.
It doesn't help that the few bigs we have, haven't been able to produce a lot. Austin played double digit minutes per game in MAC play and averaged two rebounds a game. Her specialty seemed to be that of a three-point shooter; she shot 17% from three. I felt bad watching her last season because she looked tired before she would even play a minute.
But at least she was available. Antonova has played 20 games in five years. I don't know the story there; unless you're close to the team, there's not much information out there. It's one thing to be plagued by injuries but when you've also got multiple scholarships where the players just don't appear to be panning out, and you carry them multiple years, that's a problem. How's any team supposed to overcome that? It's about as bad as being on probation, frankly.
There's some Mothers' Day pics on the women's Twitter account. Maybe you can figure out who appears to be sticking around. Some faces include Cassidy Lafler, Madi Mace, Kate Dennis, and Bailey Tabeling.
Based on that tweet, Mace and Guice are both in. Garnett, Antenova, and the older Hale are done. Don't see the younger Hale pictured either.
I'd say that someone being included is a strong sign that they're still with the program, but not being included may not necessarily mean they're not with the program. Maybe they just didn't get a picture with mom in time.
A bit frustrating that this kind of tea leaf reading is what we've got to resort to, but that's where we are.
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RE: Women's basketball roster
Posted: 7/17/2023 12:11:58 AM
The roster was updated. Guice and Mace are in. Everyone else who I thought were probably gone are gone. Also gone are Ella Pope and Kendall Hale. According to both their Instas, due to injuries. The team could go into the season with up to two scholarships unfilled.
The roster was updated. Guice and Mace are in. Everyone else who I thought were probably gone are gone. Also gone are Ella Pope and Kendall Hale. According to both their Instas, due to injuries. The team could go into the season with up to two scholarships unfilled.
Pope and Hale would have both been in the main rotation if healthy. You just hope that this team will turn its injury luck around and have some kind of a chance to get things pointed in the right direction going into the future.
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RE: Women's basketball roster
Posted: 7/17/2023 12:51:47 PM
Let's face it, this team is in for a whole lot of growing pains this year. The youth, lack of proven scoring options (though Mace and Guice have had their moments), and lack of post presence (again) is all a ton to overcome.
The team could go into the season with up to two scholarships unfilled.
I forgot they were missing one last year. This might not be a terrible idea in women's basketball as you have two extra scholarships with respect to men's basketball. You don't know if better opportunities might present themselves in the portal for next season and having 13 or 14 players doesn't leave you shorthanded as much. But torn ACLs seem to happen in the women's game a lot more often so, I think, there is more lost time to injuries overall - not anywhere close to what Ohio has experienced the last 5 years - but I'd guess there is more lost time overall.
I think even though Guice burned a year just to play the MAC tournament and WNIT that she COULD return in 24-25 if she wanted. So could Mace. If fact Mace is going into her fifth year in Athens and if she has gotten all of the redshirts that I think she should have she could be playing until 2026 if she wanted. How long they both want to play is TBD as we know they both already have bachelor's degrees. As far as I can tell, last years transfer, Kailah Johnson, is the only player that will be in her final year of eligibility. There was only one last year too but 5 other players apparently called it a career and, of course, Felder went to Baylor so we lost seven players anyway. But next years recruiting class might not be all that big even with 2 scholarships waiting.
Kate Dennis and the new transfer Kennedi Watkins would both also run out in 2025. Everyone but Johnson, Guice, Dennis and Watkins, has, I THINK, at least 3 years of eligibility remaining. That doesn't hardly seem possible.
The team could go into the season with up to two scholarships unfilled.
I forgot they were missing one last year. This might not be a terrible idea in women's basketball as you have two extra scholarships with respect to men's basketball. You don't know if better opportunities might present themselves in the portal for next season and having 13 or 14 players doesn't leave you shorthanded as much. But torn ACLs seem to happen in the women's game a lot more often so, I think, there is more lost time to injuries overall - not anywhere close to what Ohio has experienced the last 5 years - but I'd guess there is more lost time overall.
I think even though Guice burned a year just to play the MAC tournament and WNIT that she COULD return in 24-25 if she wanted. So could Mace. If fact Mace is going into her fifth year in Athens and if she has gotten all of the redshirts that I think she should have she could be playing until 2026 if she wanted. How long they both want to play is TBD as we know they both already have bachelor's degrees. As far as I can tell, last years transfer, Kailah Johnson, is the only player that will be in her final year of eligibility. There was only one last year too but 5 other players apparently called it a career and, of course, Felder went to Baylor so we lost seven players anyway. But next years recruiting class might not be all that big even with 2 scholarships waiting.
Kate Dennis and the new transfer Kennedi Watkins would both also run out in 2025. Everyone but Johnson, Guice, Dennis and Watkins, has, I THINK, at least 3 years of eligibility remaining. That doesn't hardly seem possible.
Problem is, coaches come under the gun for not using those two extra scholarships.
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RE: Women's basketball roster
Posted: 10/2/2023 11:11:34 AM
A new name on the roster - Bengisu Alper. 5'11'' guard from Turkey.
This is her fourth stop and sixth year in college basketball
18-19: Played in 15 games for Maine 19-20: Sat out after transferring to Colorado State 20-21: Averaged 2.1 ppg over 19 games for CSU 21-22: Averaged 1.3 ppg over 15 games for CSU 22-23: Grad transfer to Northwestern State, made 11 starts and played in 28 games, averaging 3.9 ppg
Member Since: 11/17/2006 Location: Cincinnati Post Count: 6,803
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RE: Women's basketball roster
Posted: 11/2/2023 9:26:36 AM
Anyone go last night? Guice, Austin, and McClure not in the box score. Any boots or knee braces on the bench?
Five in double figures, three of those are newcomers. Good to see production from Dennis and Laffler. What stands out to me is they shot 40 free throws and made 30. Turnovers too high though at 20, but forced 29. Mace got a tech? For what?
Also I changed the thread title. Pretty easy to discuss women's basketball when there's a dedicated thread for the whole season. Can we get this pinned?
Anyone go last night? Guice, Austin, and McClure not in the box score. Any boots or knee braces on the bench?
Five in double figures, three of those are newcomers. Good to see production from Dennis and Laffler. What stands out to me is they shot 40 free throws and made 30. Turnovers too high though at 20, but forced 29. Mace got a tech? For what?
Also I changed the thread title. Pretty easy to discuss women's basketball when there's a dedicated thread for the whole season. Can we get this pinned?
I was just noticing that. McClure and Guice didn't play and Mace didn't start. I don't know anything about out newcomers but those would seeming be our best players. And you'd think that Austin would at least be in the rotation.
Member Since: 12/22/2004 Location: Columbus, OH Post Count: 5,185
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RE: Women's basketball roster
Posted: 11/11/2023 4:16:00 PM
Holy. Moly.
I had the misfortune of tuning into the 4th qtr of the ladies game today. I really think the women's game has come a long way in recent years. But not today.
The Bobcats had a 19 point lead and gave up a 19-0 run for App At to tie it at 59. I can't even begin to think how many turnovers they had in stretch. They went on to lose 71-64. A 31-5 run to end it.
But worse than that collapse was just the game as a whole. 63 turnovers. 39 fouls. Some absolutely horrific shots. App St was 23 for 77 from the field. That's 54 missed shots, from one team. They were 20 of 37 from the line. So 71 total misses when you include the free throws. And they won.
I want my money back. Gonna be a long season and I'm not sure how Boldon survives much longer.
