The crew at IE seems to be puzzled by what's the matter with this team (Muffet's girls), and I surely don't know for sure, but you remember that I used to coach a little girl's bball, so I have some opinions. For what they're worth, here they are:
A). This team was predicted as a powerhouse on several assumptions (which I'm certain Muffet didn't share) and a void spot in the analysts' thinking which is extremely common, and frankly stupid. Specifically:
B). We lost "only" three players, so with two HS All-worlders coming in, and a year for the vets to improve, we would surely be better. Very few of these things played out as true.
C). The three graduates were almost the entire leadership on the team. Michaela was WAY under-rated as a leader; Maddy was the Warrior Heart of it all on the floor, and Blessed Hannah was the FIRE who suddenly was off the bench and the team begin strangling opponents. Somehow these people were supposed to be replaced.
D). Lindsay is the only one of the vets truly holding up her end. She's the only leader on the team, and almost the only FIRE. MAYBE Mychal can get there by season's end. The only other chance is Jackie Young. ... but that's asking too much for a rookie.
E). Brianna begin the first few games as if she was going to be more physical. She's reverted to athletic cruise control now. We needed more.
F). Kate has held up her end of the pre-season prediction --- she has improved. She works harder on defense and is OK. She's just limited.
G). Marina is also limited. She's doing the best she can, but (with the exception of "handy steals") she cannot move her feet well enough to play straight up defense. Still she's better than Arike.
H). Arike is the number one problem with this team. You can't play with her and you can't play without her. Here's where the analysts went totally stupid. Because she's a threat to drop 30 on you, they think she's all-world. But she's an outside-the-system gunner with a vacant wandering mind defensively, and impulsively strange offense when you can stand it the least. Muffet has had to unceremoniously yank her more than I've seen her do that to any player ever. The idea that Marina could replace Michaela isn't a terrible stretch (except on leadership), but the idea that Arike could replace Maddy is a thought so insane that it cannot exist in a rational basketball universe.
I). Jackie Young has lived up to her billing once she got healthy. I believe that Muffet will finally begin starting her --- hopefully putting Arike on the bench. Jackie Young will be a great player and soon.
J). In contrast, the other HS AA Player-of-the-year looks out-of-shape, out-of-comfort-zone, and rarely of any help. Boley was supposed to come in and spell if not replaced Kate, rebound, and bomb threes till the nets caught fire. She HAS to pick it up.
K). Ally Patberg has been dealt a rough hand with more illness to begin the season. She looks to be relaxing and may be able to give Lindsay some down time. I was hoping that we could go double point guard some with her or Mychal, and defense some people's brains out. We cannot field a stopper team with Arike on the floor, and probably not Marina (though she is at least conscious).
That's what Muffet is dealing with I believe: no leadership except Lindsay, a potential cancer in Arike, an underperforming Erin Boley, and a too-passive Brianna. Even with Kate's improvement, and Jackie's excellence, those grand three old ladies that we lost are not being replaced --- and none of that is Coach's fault. I feel for her this year, and would probably have benched Ogumbawale long ago even if that meant having her think about transferring.
I would love to see her start Lindsay, Jackie, Kate, Marina, and a talked-to Brianna, and make Mychal and Ally first off the bench, and Arike only once the opponent was worn down a bit by our (then) hard defense and team-passing. I'd give Boley a talking to also about throwing her body around rebounding if she wanted to play.