Re: 2022 - 2023 Schedule/Season

by DoubleDipper Thu Mar 09, 2023 9:49 am

up7587 wrote:
DoubleDipper wrote:As we watched the Pilots fall apart in the second half, I was impressed by the leadership and "take charge" attitude of the WSU floor leaders while the UP squad looked bewildered and were constantly looking to the sidelines for instructions.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

That was then, this was now!

WSU just won the Pac12 Tournament Championship, and the Pilots should have beaten them back on Pearl Harbor Day. In that game, the player's responses to Mike's commands came with question marks in the player's actions and expressions on the court...that was not the case in Las Vegas.

Each time Mike shouted a command during the WCC Tournament the team responded with a nod of the head as they carried out his directions. Has Mike matured as a coach in 3 months? Perhaps, but there is no doubt the team has greatly matured in that time.

by up7587 Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:27 am

DoubleDipper wrote:That was then, this was now!

For sure! At the time they were 5-5 and looking like a mid-pack squad. Since then they've gone 18-3! Big time turn around.

by StudentPilot Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:40 am

DoubleDipper wrote:Simply put, McKelle outplayed the (voted for) WCC Player of the Year in the Tournament Championship game.

GU's #14 turned the ball over 7 times because of UP's team defense, but it was McKelle who was in her grill the entire game, and when on offense McKelle missed only one shot and and every point she scored was a momentum changer during the second half.

I finally had the opportunity to watch the game on video, and McKelle played as good or better than I've seen her play this season.

Does UP need to go to the portal in the offseason? I'm not sure, but with McKelle's game improving along with her confidence, and with two strong, but as yet untried guards on the bench in Melika and Emma, and with Ryhan Mogel coming in as a freshman, maybe not!

by DoubleDipper Thu Mar 09, 2023 11:17 am

up7587 wrote:...I learned from the GU fan board that the Zags lost yesterday because Lisa Fortier stood on the sideline with her arms folded and did nothing to help her team as they imploded. They (well, at least one of them) thought Coach Meek helped his team from the sidelines, and outcoached Fortier with his halftime adjustments.

What?? How could that be?? Fortier was the (voted for) WCC Coach of the Year!

After all, she guided her team that was expected to be 1st in the conference to the expected result. Razz

by up7587 Thu Mar 09, 2023 11:37 am

DoubleDipper wrote:After all, she guided her team that was expected to be 1st in the conference to the expected result.

Well, she did have to deal with injuries to important players. I doubt any other coaches had to do that. Rolling Eyes

by Adam Thu Mar 09, 2023 2:08 pm

wrv wrote:
Adam wrote:
up7587 wrote:
DoubleDipper wrote:As we watched the Pilots fall apart in the second half, I was impressed by the leadership and "take charge" attitude of the WSU floor leaders while the UP squad looked bewildered and were constantly looking to the sidelines for instructions.

All coaches give instructions and often call out plays, but Meek does it to the extreme, IMO.

Practice, practice, practice, and turn the players loose with some guidance and then turn the team loose on the court letting the floor leaders/captains run the show would better serve the team, again, IMO.

While looking for something else early in the thread, I found this post after the Dec. 7th game. It made me smile because I learned from the GU fan board that the Zags lost yesterday because Lisa Fortier stood on the sideline with her arms folded and did nothing to help her team as they imploded. They (well, at least one of them) thought Coach Meek helped his team from the sidelines, and outcoached Fortier with his halftime adjustments.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

The ideal is somewhere in between I think. Intervene to make adjustments is definitely great coaching. Calling out every play even when things are going fine, is where the earlier comments were focused I think. Great coach we have none the less, but its just an area that can definitely help develop players even more than all the ither good stuff does

With due respect, we are into some subjective mumbo jumbo here. While it may be that Coach Meeks occassionally over does it, the objective evidence speaks for itself: Coach Meek has won the league championship twice in three years, and no other Pilot basketball coach has, none, and to date during his four years no scholarship player has entered the freely open transfer portal. This objective evidence is arrayed against internet opinions offered by fans of the team, albeit observant and informed fans.

My guess is the Zag fans would take coach Meek over their coach in a heart beat. I went to the Zag board, where the following criticism of their women's bball coach was offered, whom they refer to as CLF:

"After watching CLF standing with her arms crossed watching her team struggle against the press, what a difference watching Mark Few coach the men. Every time up or down the court, Few and his staff are calling out plays, pointing out where they want the players to be, the play to run, etc. There are very few plays that Coach Few is not actively involved in directing the play. Maybe CLF should take some lessons from the coach down the hall if she wants to improve her tournament record; both the WCC and the NCAA." Posted 3/7/23 by ZagDaD.

Sounds as if Few resembles Meek style wise.

While I won't over-simplify this by suggesting "all's well that ends well," I will suggest there is stronger evidence that Meek has gotten it [mostly] right and that he should be lauded. Coach Meek is a good coach, a really good one as far as I can tell, but not above criticism.

BTW, one sage earlier posted on this board that we do not have a D1 point guard: I think that McKelle's performance during the tournament suggests otherwise. She is not at the skill level of Haylee Andrews, but we are a mid-major program. Points as good as Haylee do not grow on trees. But McKelle has established herself at the D1 level, even if more limited. Congrats on the good tournament Mckelle.

This same sage suggested strongly that Lliana is a liability--I continue to disagree.

Internet forums are nothing but places to offer opionions, so by design are 'subjective mumbo jumbo', and that post is no different, with all due respect.

Meek is a straight up excellent coach, no doubt. Brilliant tactician, pushes performance, etc. Should have been WCC coach of the year. 2 champs in 4 years is of course objective evidence of that. Regarding the other comment offered as an objective fact, I dont pretend to know scholarship status, so just checking that Tyler, Megan, Shasta, Josie, Jacksen and Jayce who all entered the transfer portal and found new schools, were all walkons?

Acknowledging we have a standout successful coach, doesnt mean the few people that commented that they think being over-involved in play direction, concern for the tone towards players coming off court, players hesitantly looking to Meek for play calls, are opinions that should be criticised as mumbo jumbo. Comparing coaching styles as being similar based off one post on gonzaga forums though may well be.

Just have to watch any Gonzaga mens game to see Few and Meek have completely different styles. Few displays exactly the subtlety the previous posters are suggesting could be an area for improvement. Few is measured, often with long periods of silence taking a knee. He trusts the point guards and leaders come down and call plays confidently after making reads on the D setup, even in pressure situations, and the players motion to reposition each other. Few then intervenes when he sees errors or breakdowns where he can see something he can offer to help his on court leaders, or only occasionaly redirects the plays where he sees a better play option or wants to change things up tactically. Its the subtley of intervening necessarily which Meek is great at, and the next advance in player development of them learning how to make their own reads confidently that can even further advance team success, as well as develop them ready for needing to do that at the semi pro or pro level. Since those comments, the players have certainly matured in leading things, but Im not sure theres been a commensurate balance of sideline direction. A bit better no doubt, so good signs, and also a good suggestion that the early comments werent mumbo jumbo, if the improvement since is coming along.

We should be ok on an opinion forum with both lauding an excellent coaches merits and achievements, but also discuss observations that could further advantage success, not only measured in wins and champs, but player developmment, welfare, and even further success potential on court. There are countless highly successful coaches who's reputations have lost their shine after investigations or departures show how success was achieved at the expense of player welfare. Not suggesting thats the case here at all, but in a modern context where UP just went through a major campaign about concerning stats for student mental health, we shouldnt be in a space where observers commenting on seeing McKelle or other players in tears after being berrated, or how other teams leaders seem confident and trusted to call plays, arent able to suggest their concern for fear of criticism as mumbo jumbo. Its just to suggest, your objective facts of champ wins are great, but arent the only defining yard stick these days.

If mumbo jumbo is a few people offering measured observations, then I say keep mumboing the jumbo!

by Adam Thu Mar 09, 2023 2:14 pm

up7587 wrote:
DoubleDipper wrote:After all, she guided her team that was expected to be 1st in the conference to the expected result.

Well, she did have to deal with injuries to important players. I doubt any other coaches had to do that.

by wrv Thu Mar 09, 2023 3:02 pm

Adam wrote:
wrv wrote:
Adam wrote:
up7587 wrote:
DoubleDipper wrote:As we watched the Pilots fall apart in the second half, I was impressed by the leadership and "take charge" attitude of the WSU floor leaders while the UP squad looked bewildered and were constantly looking to the sidelines for instructions.

All coaches give instructions and often call out plays, but Meek does it to the extreme, IMO.

Practice, practice, practice, and turn the players loose with some guidance and then turn the team loose on the court letting the floor leaders/captains run the show would better serve the team, again, IMO.

While looking for something else early in the thread, I found this post after the Dec. 7th game. It made me smile because I learned from the GU fan board that the Zags lost yesterday because Lisa Fortier stood on the sideline with her arms folded and did nothing to help her team as they imploded. They (well, at least one of them) thought Coach Meek helped his team from the sidelines, and outcoached Fortier with his halftime adjustments.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

The ideal is somewhere in between I think. Intervene to make adjustments is definitely great coaching. Calling out every play even when things are going fine, is where the earlier comments were focused I think. Great coach we have none the less, but its just an area that can definitely help develop players even more than all the ither good stuff does

With due respect, we are into some subjective mumbo jumbo here. While it may be that Coach Meeks occassionally over does it, the objective evidence speaks for itself: Coach Meek has won the league championship twice in three years, and no other Pilot basketball coach has, none, and to date during his four years no scholarship player has entered the freely open transfer portal. This objective evidence is arrayed against internet opinions offered by fans of the team, albeit observant and informed fans.

My guess is the Zag fans would take coach Meek over their coach in a heart beat. I went to the Zag board, where the following criticism of their women's bball coach was offered, whom they refer to as CLF:

"After watching CLF standing with her arms crossed watching her team struggle against the press, what a difference watching Mark Few coach the men. Every time up or down the court, Few and his staff are calling out plays, pointing out where they want the players to be, the play to run, etc. There are very few plays that Coach Few is not actively involved in directing the play. Maybe CLF should take some lessons from the coach down the hall if she wants to improve her tournament record; both the WCC and the NCAA." Posted 3/7/23 by ZagDaD.

Sounds as if Few resembles Meek style wise.

While I won't over-simplify this by suggesting "all's well that ends well," I will suggest there is stronger evidence that Meek has gotten it [mostly] right and that he should be lauded. Coach Meek is a good coach, a really good one as far as I can tell, but not above criticism.

BTW, one sage earlier posted on this board that we do not have a D1 point guard: I think that McKelle's performance during the tournament suggests otherwise. She is not at the skill level of Haylee Andrews, but we are a mid-major program. Points as good as Haylee do not grow on trees. But McKelle has established herself at the D1 level, even if more limited. Congrats on the good tournament Mckelle.

This same sage suggested strongly that Lliana is a liability--I continue to disagree.

Internet forums are nothing but places to offer opionions, so by design are 'subjective mumbo jumbo', and that post is no different, with all due respect.

Meek is a straight up excellent coach, no doubt. Brilliant tactician, pushes performance, etc. Should have been WCC coach of the year. 2 champs in 4 years is of course objective evidence of that. Regarding the other comment offered as an objective fact, I dont pretend to know scholarship status, so just checking that Tyler, Megan, Shasta, Josie, Jacksen and Jayce who all entered the transfer portal and found new schools, were all walkons?

Acknowledging we have a standout successful coach, doesnt mean the few people that commented that they think being over-involved in play direction, concern for the tone towards players coming off court, players hesitantly looking to Meek for play calls, are opinions that should be criticised as mumbo jumbo. Comparing coaching styles as being similar based off one post on gonzaga forums though may well be.

Just have to watch any Gonzaga mens game to see Few and Meek have completely different styles. Few displays exactly the subtlety the previous posters are suggesting could be an area for improvement. Few is measured, often with long periods of silence taking a knee. He trusts the point guards and leaders come down and call plays confidently after making reads on the D setup, even in pressure situations, and the players motion to reposition each other. Few then intervenes when he sees errors or breakdowns where he can see something he can offer to help his on court leaders, or only occasionaly redirects the plays where he sees a better play option or wants to change things up tactically. Its the subtley of intervening necessarily which Meek is great at, and the next advance in player development of them learning how to make their own reads confidently that can even further advance team success, as well as develop them ready for needing to do that at the semi pro or pro level. Since those comments, the players have certainly matured in leading things, but Im not sure theres been a commensurate balance of sideline direction. A bit better no doubt, so good signs, and also a good suggestion that the early comments werent mumbo jumbo, if the improvement since is coming along.

We should be ok on an opinion forum with both lauding an excellent coaches merits and achievements, but also discuss observations that could further advantage success, not only measured in wins and champs, but player developmment, welfare, and even further success potential on court. There are countless highly successful coaches who's reputations have lost their shine after investigations or departures show how success was achieved at the expense of player welfare. Not suggesting thats the case here at all, but in a modern context where UP just went through a major campaign about concerning stats for student mental health, we shouldnt be in a space where observers commenting on seeing McKelle or other players in tears after being berrated, or how other teams leaders seem confident and trusted to call plays, arent able to suggest their concern for fear of criticism as mumbo jumbo. Its just to suggest, your objective facts of champ wins are great, but arent the only defining yard stick these days.

If mumbo jumbo is a few people offering measured observations, then I say keep mumboing the jumbo!

The mumbo jumbo reference was to your reference thaat an "ideal" coach should be somewhere in between calling the plays and not at all. You need a ouija board to pinpoint what exactly a coach should do, according to you, let alone that you audaciously suggest Meek might employ different tactics than he does.This is mumbo jumbo: I prefer the coaches qualifications, analysis and approach.

You suggest the coach should do things differently tactically, that the coach should not call out the plays to the degree he does, and then you suggest Meek is a "brillant tactician." No time like the present to make inconsistent arguments.

The poster at the Zag board was knowledgeable and objective and without an axe to grind as you. His representations re Mark Few are accurate. I have seen Gonzaga games thank you. The post description is an accurate one of Few and both Meek and Few call out plays as was suggested, which is what was suggested occurred.

Mumbo jumbo on but it does not mean measured comments--how about consistency and clarity for a change.

by Adam Thu Mar 09, 2023 3:27 pm

wrv wrote:
Adam wrote:
wrv wrote:
Adam wrote:
up7587 wrote:
DoubleDipper wrote:As we watched the Pilots fall apart in the second half, I was impressed by the leadership and "take charge" attitude of the WSU floor leaders while the UP squad looked bewildered and were constantly looking to the sidelines for instructions.

All coaches give instructions and often call out plays, but Meek does it to the extreme, IMO.

Practice, practice, practice, and turn the players loose with some guidance and then turn the team loose on the court letting the floor leaders/captains run the show would better serve the team, again, IMO.

While looking for something else early in the thread, I found this post after the Dec. 7th game. It made me smile because I learned from the GU fan board that the Zags lost yesterday because Lisa Fortier stood on the sideline with her arms folded and did nothing to help her team as they imploded. They (well, at least one of them) thought Coach Meek helped his team from the sidelines, and outcoached Fortier with his halftime adjustments.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

The ideal is somewhere in between I think. Intervene to make adjustments is definitely great coaching. Calling out every play even when things are going fine, is where the earlier comments were focused I think. Great coach we have none the less, but its just an area that can definitely help develop players even more than all the ither good stuff does

With due respect, we are into some subjective mumbo jumbo here. While it may be that Coach Meeks occassionally over does it, the objective evidence speaks for itself: Coach Meek has won the league championship twice in three years, and no other Pilot basketball coach has, none, and to date during his four years no scholarship player has entered the freely open transfer portal. This objective evidence is arrayed against internet opinions offered by fans of the team, albeit observant and informed fans.

My guess is the Zag fans would take coach Meek over their coach in a heart beat. I went to the Zag board, where the following criticism of their women's bball coach was offered, whom they refer to as CLF:

"After watching CLF standing with her arms crossed watching her team struggle against the press, what a difference watching Mark Few coach the men. Every time up or down the court, Few and his staff are calling out plays, pointing out where they want the players to be, the play to run, etc. There are very few plays that Coach Few is not actively involved in directing the play. Maybe CLF should take some lessons from the coach down the hall if she wants to improve her tournament record; both the WCC and the NCAA." Posted 3/7/23 by ZagDaD.

Sounds as if Few resembles Meek style wise.

While I won't over-simplify this by suggesting "all's well that ends well," I will suggest there is stronger evidence that Meek has gotten it [mostly] right and that he should be lauded. Coach Meek is a good coach, a really good one as far as I can tell, but not above criticism.

BTW, one sage earlier posted on this board that we do not have a D1 point guard: I think that McKelle's performance during the tournament suggests otherwise. She is not at the skill level of Haylee Andrews, but we are a mid-major program. Points as good as Haylee do not grow on trees. But McKelle has established herself at the D1 level, even if more limited. Congrats on the good tournament Mckelle.

This same sage suggested strongly that Lliana is a liability--I continue to disagree.

Internet forums are nothing but places to offer opionions, so by design are 'subjective mumbo jumbo', and that post is no different, with all due respect.

Meek is a straight up excellent coach, no doubt. Brilliant tactician, pushes performance, etc. Should have been WCC coach of the year. 2 champs in 4 years is of course objective evidence of that. Regarding the other comment offered as an objective fact, I dont pretend to know scholarship status, so just checking that Tyler, Megan, Shasta, Josie, Jacksen and Jayce who all entered the transfer portal and found new schools, were all walkons?

Acknowledging we have a standout successful coach, doesnt mean the few people that commented that they think being over-involved in play direction, concern for the tone towards players coming off court, players hesitantly looking to Meek for play calls, are opinions that should be criticised as mumbo jumbo. Comparing coaching styles as being similar based off one post on gonzaga forums though may well be.

Just have to watch any Gonzaga mens game to see Few and Meek have completely different styles. Few displays exactly the subtlety the previous posters are suggesting could be an area for improvement. Few is measured, often with long periods of silence taking a knee. He trusts the point guards and leaders come down and call plays confidently after making reads on the D setup, even in pressure situations, and the players motion to reposition each other. Few then intervenes when he sees errors or breakdowns where he can see something he can offer to help his on court leaders, or only occasionaly redirects the plays where he sees a better play option or wants to change things up tactically. Its the subtley of intervening necessarily which Meek is great at, and the next advance in player development of them learning how to make their own reads confidently that can even further advance team success, as well as develop them ready for needing to do that at the semi pro or pro level. Since those comments, the players have certainly matured in leading things, but Im not sure theres been a commensurate balance of sideline direction. A bit better no doubt, so good signs, and also a good suggestion that the early comments werent mumbo jumbo, if the improvement since is coming along.

We should be ok on an opinion forum with both lauding an excellent coaches merits and achievements, but also discuss observations that could further advantage success, not only measured in wins and champs, but player developmment, welfare, and even further success potential on court. There are countless highly successful coaches who's reputations have lost their shine after investigations or departures show how success was achieved at the expense of player welfare. Not suggesting thats the case here at all, but in a modern context where UP just went through a major campaign about concerning stats for student mental health, we shouldnt be in a space where observers commenting on seeing McKelle or other players in tears after being berrated, or how other teams leaders seem confident and trusted to call plays, arent able to suggest their concern for fear of criticism as mumbo jumbo. Its just to suggest, your objective facts of champ wins are great, but arent the only defining yard stick these days.

If mumbo jumbo is a few people offering measured observations, then I say keep mumboing the jumbo!

The mumbo jumbo reference was to your reference thaat an "ideal" coach should be somewhere in between calling the plays and not at all. You need a ouija board to pinpoint what exactly a coach should do, according to you, let alone that you audaciously suggest Meek might employ different tactics than he does.This is mumbo jumbo: I prefer the coaches qualifications, analysis and approach.

You suggest the coach should do things differently tactically, that the coach should not call out the plays to the degree he does, and then you suggest Meek is a "brillant tactician." No time like the present to make inconsistent arguments.

The poster at the Zag board was knowledgeable and objective and without an axe to grind as you. His representations re Mark Few are accurate. I have seen Gonzaga games thank you. The post description is an accurate one of Few and both Meek and Few call out plays as was suggested, which is what was suggested occurred.

Mumbo jumbo on but it does not mean measured comments--how about consistency and clarity for a change.

As a very experienced coach with fiba coaching qualifications, I cant really getinto this if you cant tell the difference between being a briliant tactician, and knowing when to eploy that brilliance so your players can also become independent on court tacticians. If you think Few and Meek have similar courtside styles, I definitely cant help you. If you present incorrect transfer information as 'objective fact', I definitely can't be bothered.

Theres no point trying to debate ingnorance. There is no inconsistency in my opinion, just coaching and player development principles taught in advanced coaching qualifications drawing on essays, coaching seminars, training videos by the worlds best coaches, including some great ones by Meek and Few.

I wasnt even one of the ones to post the concerns, and my reply post back then simply supported the suggestion that there was merit in the person suggesting that less can sometimes be more is a good thing. Your post even said 'he can be over the top at times'. Consistency has always been there in my posted perspectives. you're just on the attack with the axe to grind. I dont have an axe to grind at all. Have a great relationship with Mike, and he has in the past messaged me a few times seeking scouting advice before playing teams with Aussies.

Take your beef elsewhere. I love studying coaches like Few and Meek and learning from both their strengths and development areas as I develop my own coaching, and offering some perspective in response to other people raising concerns is only an issue if youre precious.

by wrv Thu Mar 09, 2023 4:46 pm

I stand by my comments. Given the uncivil tenor of your diatribe, it is clear that you're the one with the beef. Your allusion to help is laughable in context, a truly odd comment as is your allusion to "precious."

by Adam Thu Mar 09, 2023 5:37 pm

wrv wrote:I stand by my comments. Given the uncivil tenor of your diatribe, it is clear that you're the one with the beef. Your allusion to help is laughable in context, a truly odd comment as is your allusion to "precious."

Ive found all the posts on here in my time to generally be people expressing diverse opinion without narkiness. It was your post that initiated incivility, calling past posters sarcastically 'sages' and criticising people for talking mumbo jumbo. People post opinions about topics, you posted opinions about posters. Dont try and turn on its head someone responding to your initial jibes at multiple posters.

Speaking of preciousness, it may come as a total shock, but coaches arent generally precious types and in need of your blind defence. We have multiple good forums worldwide dedicated to being open about our development journeys, learning from each other. As mentioned before, Few and Meek and great proponents of this peer development, participating and providing seminars. Some of most discussed topics in the modern context is the evolutionary swing from balancing winning, with player development, and now increasingly much more expactation in recent years about player walfare. Most people share and learn willingly in trying to develop their coaching, even those already at the highest levels.

It was only a fortnight ago my club here worksopped with junior coaches some aspects of Mike's press. Our club has for many years run very similar presses, but we particulalry wanted to learn from the transition back into a matchup zone, where its more agressive than our and we play more man to man as well. They watched some of Mikes hour long video session on his press, and then drilled down into the types of players needed to fill the roles in the press and how to develop their skills if there werent natural fits for the chaser and interceptor roles.

Sounds like anything other than rose coloured glasses faces personal sarcasm here, so I will note that and keep any thoughts to coaching forums. Maybe the other original posters raising their opinions will shy away too. Have fun in your echo chamber.

by wrv Thu Mar 09, 2023 5:58 pm

Adam wrote:
wrv wrote:I stand by my comments. Given the uncivil tenor of your diatribe, it is clear that you're the one with the beef. Your allusion to help is laughable in context, a truly odd comment as is your allusion to "precious."

Ive found all the posts on here in my time to generally be people expressing diverse opinion without narkiness. It was your post that initiated incivility, calling past posters sarcastically 'sages' and criticising people for talking mumbo jumbo. People post opinions about topics, you posted opinions about posters. Dont try and turn on its head someone responding to your initial jibes at multiple posters.

Speaking of preciousness, it may come as a total shock, but coaches arent generally precious types and in need of your blind defence. We have multiple good forums worldwide dedicated to being open about our development journeys, learning from each other. As mentioned before, Few and Meek and great proponents of this peer development, participating and providing seminars. Some of most discussed topics in the modern context is the evolutionary swing from balancing winning, with player development, and now increasingly much more expactation in recent years about player walfare. Most people share and learn willingly in trying to develop their coaching, even those already at the highest levels.

It was only a fortnight ago my club here worksopped with junior coaches some aspects of Mike's press. Our club has for many years run very similar presses, but we particulalry wanted to learn from the transition back into a matchup zone, where its more agressive than our and we play more man to man as well. They watched some of Mikes hour long video session on his press, and then drilled down into the types of players needed to fill the roles in the press and how to develop their skills if there werent natural fits for the chaser and interceptor roles.

Sounds like anything other than rose coloured glasses faces personal sarcasm here, so I will note that and keep any thoughts to coaching forums. Maybe the other original posters raising their opinions will shy away too. Have fun in your echo chamber.

Adam, I am runniing to dinner to meet of all people my ex. so I will hurry with my post. For what its worth, I urge you to keep posting here because of your knowledge and insight. I certainly think this will be our last encounter at cross purposes.

by Sound Voltex Wed Mar 15, 2023 12:07 pm

In this must-watch interview, get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the 3 Kiwi girls of the newly crowned WCC champion Portland Pilots!

Hear from these talented athletes as they share their experience joining the team and their journey to becoming NCAA Division 1 conference champions. Learn more about their backgrounds and what it means to represent their home country in the USA. This is an interview you won't want to miss, so tune in now to hear from these rising stars!

by DoubleDipper Wed Mar 15, 2023 12:34 pm

Wonderful!!

IMO, all three will be All-WCC hoopers before they graduate.

Flo, I call her "4.flo" after she achieved a 4.0 GPA her first semester, redshirted to develop her body and toughness, but she is very skilled and is a shooter.

Melika already has the body and toughness to compete at the D1 level, and it's too bad she did not redshirt considering she only played "garbage time" minutes. She will likely be counted on for big minutes next season and will one day be a star!

Emme may not have the big body to compete, but her skill and tenacity make up for it. Prone to fouling because of her aggressive defense, she tells me she is "maturing" and will play "smarter" going forward.

Looking at next season's roster, all three should see plenty of court time. Basketball

by up7587 Wed Mar 15, 2023 12:48 pm

How tall is Flo? The roster says 6'0", but in the team photo she looks taller.

by DoubleDipper Wed Mar 15, 2023 1:16 pm

up7587 wrote:How tall is Flo? The roster says 6'0", but in the team photo she looks taller.

Flo, who is thought of as the "little sister" by her teammates, was 6-1 a couple of years ago in high school, and she appears taller than me when we are talking, and I'm 6-1.

by wrv Wed Mar 15, 2023 6:58 pm

Nice article at O-live discussing the Australian and New Zealand connection and how it began and discussing the degree of contribution from our Kiwi and Australian players. Of note, our intrepid coach had never been to Australia before taking over the Pilot's program. From the article:

Prior to Andrews arriving on The Bluff in 2018, the last Australian on Portland’s roster was Lauren Angel from 2007-10.

If there was a pipeline, it was buried miles under the earth.

Andrews’ journey to Townsville, Australia to Portland started through a connection with then-Pilots assistant coach Ben Johnson. He knew Andrews’ coach, and mentioned her to the Pilots’ coaching staff at the time, headed by Cheryl Sorenson. Portland sent an assistant coach to Australia, watched Andrews train, came away impressed and offered her a campus visit.

Andrews eventually signed and enrolled at Portland in 2018. Sorenson’s staff began to press their Australian bets. They recruited Aussies Alex Fowler, a friend of Andrews, and Keeley Frawley.

Sorenson was dismissed following the 2018-19 season. Incoming coach Michael Meek gladly kept Andrews, who averaged 11.8 points as a UP freshman. Frawley signed with the Pilots months before Meek was hired, with Fowler signing shortly after Meek became coach.

This was not part of Meek’s blueprint. During the hiring process, Meek did not seek to turn the Pilots into Australia North. Meek hadn’t even been to Australia before becoming UP coach in 2019.

https://www.oregonlive.com/pilots/2023/03/portland-pilots-ncaa-tournament-team-is-built-from-down-under-as-australians-new-zealanders-dominate-roster.html