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Post by jaye on Aug 16, 2009 22:07:57 GMT -5
Yeah man, I think I'm watching the Lehning that Coach MM is watching. Quick Twitch Athlete, that plays the mental game with the best of them and she's like 22 yrs old..... i've had a lifetime of listening to nonsense about black athletes being athletic and white athletes being smart.....spare me....
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Post by lattafan on Aug 16, 2009 22:23:02 GMT -5
Before I get started, I want it noted that I am posting this information at the request of lattafan - not because I am some sort of brainless groupie! First off, Shalee played at Kansas State not at Kansas. It may not seem like a big difference, but saying the two in the same sentence is a no-no in most parts of the Sunflower state. Shalee's college teams were solid, but not spectacular. They never went past the second round of the NCAA tourney. They had lots of good players but no flat-out spectacular players. They were definitely a team that took each individual's strengths and created a product that was much better the individual ingredients. As a freshman, Shalee's team won the WNIT crown - I know that isn't great, but it was a team led by freshman and sophomores. Shalee was the starting point all four years. Her sophomore season was a huge disappointment. The team was off to a great start and just after the beginning of the conference season, Marlies Gipson, hurt her knee. It was an emotional defeat and the team really didn't pick up the pieces again until the post season. That year, the Wildcats finished tied for dead last in the Big 12 but managed to make it to the WNIT semi-finals. Shalee's junior and senior seasons were great. The team started off a little rocky her junior year but ended up knocking down one ranked team after another when the Big 12 season started. That year they finished first in the Big 12, clinching the title on KU's court. I drove six and a half hours to that ball game (and had to be back at work the next morning at 7:45 and I had bronchitis and absolutely no voice with which to yell!). It was worth every minute and cough. It ended up being Shalee's best scoring performance in college with 29 points. Shalee's senior season was solid but bittersweet when she was diagnosed with mono in February. Her stats were hurt badly by this and she missed three games but was at under 50% for about another three. I don't think she fully recovered until well after the end of the season. She had the second longest starting streak in the nation when she had to be benched. I don't know if I would compare her to Sue Bird... I think that only time can tell us if they are on the same court. What I can tell you is that Shalee has worked her tail for her entire life to get where she is. She comes from a town of 1,500 people in very rural southwest Kansas. There are NO AAU teams in the area. Her access to the "perks" that most elite high school players enjoy was very limited. The summer before she started college, she played AAU ball for the first time (I could be wrong here...). The team was based in the Kansas City are which is a good seven hour drive from Sublette, Kansas. Her parents drove her there for practices and then went all over the country that summer - her team won the national title. Her parents are not wealthy and have also worked their tails off to help Shalee live her Dream. Shalee's strength has always been assists - she broke the Kansas State career record very early in the her senior season. By the end of the her career she had an amazing 800 assist - 211 over the previous record. By the way, that record had been set by Megan Mahoney who also played in the W. Shalee is ranked in the top 5 in Kansas State history for rebounds. She often led her team in this column and actually amassed a number of triple-doubles in her Kansas State career. The thing Shalee does best is lead and make those around her better - I think Sue Bird probably has those same traits and that might be part of the comparison. Shalee is a coaches dream because she always wants to be better and will do what she is told. Shalee's personality is very charismatic and outside of basketball, the world is wide open for her. I think she is just now reaching a comfort level with this team which allows her to be more of that leader and possibly to be a little more aggressive toward the goal. She's got spunk and you'll see more and more of it in the future! Thanks for posting and I stand corrected on the school :-). She sounds like a wonderful young lady. I appreciate the sincerity and maturity of your posts. Wishing Shalee and Ivory the best for bright futures in the W... God bless, Lattafan
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Post by lattafan on Aug 16, 2009 22:24:56 GMT -5
Yeah man, I think I'm watching the Lehning that Coach MM is watching. Quick Twitch Athlete, that plays the mental game with the best of them and she's like 22 yrs old..... i've had a lifetime of listening to nonsense about black athletes being athletic and white athletes being smart.....spare me.... X__ Lattafan________________
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Post by cardman on Aug 16, 2009 22:24:56 GMT -5
Jaye,
You gotta realize that it's the only argument they have left. Reality has proven them wrong, so they fall back on myth to keep telling themselves they're right. It ain't ever gonna change.
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Post by lovethedream on Aug 16, 2009 22:52:18 GMT -5
Thank you Lattafan and Thank you Shaleefan! Why can't we all just get along with mutual respect for our favorites like those two?? :-) Both are good players. Both have different abilities and styles. Both are needed on our team, team being the key word I continue to stress. Latta knows the pro game, so I'm glad Lehning is getting the opportunity to start and learn the pros now because we are going to need BOTH of them in the playoffs, just like we are going to need Coco and Mintie, too! Every player is different and each player will be utilized when the situation calls for it. Right now, whatever, who cares.... it is all working and we are winning!!! My concern is that Mary Nell will screw it all up! I hope Carol (and Mique) continue to fill the void on the coaching front and take us all the way!
Give the guards a rest, won't ya??
Go Dream!!!
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d3murf
Shooting Gaurd
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Post by d3murf on Aug 16, 2009 23:30:41 GMT -5
Yeah man, I think I'm watching the Lehning that Coach MM is watching. Quick Twitch Athlete, that plays the mental game with the best of them and she's like 22 yrs old..... i've had a lifetime of listening to nonsense about black athletes being athletic and white athletes being smart.....spare me.... lol what? Relax man, she has mental game similar to Lindsey Harding...How about that?
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d3murf
Shooting Gaurd
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Post by d3murf on Aug 16, 2009 23:36:30 GMT -5
The questions I have.... doesn't Shalee think the team needs the ten points she could score? If she could avg. ten points if she wanted to, why doesn't she want to? The only mental game she plays, is the one where she believes the mythology of her greatness that mm is puting into her head. Maybe in another system, but not this one. Again, I am not bashing Shalee. She should have been traded to a team where her talents could be better utilized. Clearly she has talent. No-one gets drafted into any professional sport if they have none. She just doesn't have the skills for this system. She doesn't need to score that many points shes on a Team full of bonifide scorers! Get the ball to Izy, Claw, Angel, Erica, Sancho etc. She needs to distribute and play her role. A great team is a team that everyone plays their role. Why would they trade Shalee she actually does fit the stytem they are running. She pushes the ball something serious and makes great decisions. MM has a good qb for her squad. Ivory or Coco are the ones that should be traded. I love Latta as much as the next person, but they don't need a scoring pg.
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Post by cardman on Aug 17, 2009 0:18:21 GMT -5
What is her role? She does nothing on a CONSISTANT basis. She has one good game per month, and makes one or two good plays per game. Start Ivory on a consistant basis. Let her get into the flow of the game and stay in the flow of the game. With the team as it exists this year, Ivory would be a rock and roller. The team is having to work too hard to compensate for Shalee's shortcomings. We should not be accepting mediocrary, just because the team is getting away with it right now. Put the best five on the floor, Shalee is NOT one of those five. And by the way, Shalee is comperable to Sue Bird? ? Get a grip.
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Post by bayougrl on Aug 17, 2009 2:07:53 GMT -5
All I know is we have a HELL of a team. We have depth that most teams would DREAM of. What we have is a Championship calibar team but you have to have the direction needed on the bench (coach) to make it work. To get further we will have to have the coaching and I don't know if that will happen unless the team is really listening to Carol and Mique. All I can say is the Chamique has really impressed me. I remember this quiet young lady that most said lead by example. I didn't see a very vocal person until this year. She is really doing it all around and she is the reason we are where we are. Jaye - You said a mouth full bro and anyone really listening should have understood what you were saying. I was rolling while I read you #8 something posting - the long one. GO DREAM
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Post by jaye on Aug 17, 2009 6:09:38 GMT -5
i agree....mique is our teams leader and our team takes it's personality from her....after teresa edwards..... mique is my fav player ever......and you're right....we've got one hell of a team.....but all isn't peaches and cream.....i've talked with team members and the people effected by mm's decisions are very unhappy.....as are their friends on the roster.....team cancers aren't always players.....so far we're winning anyway....but team chemistry isn't what everyone thinks.....but our talent is compensating.....i hope that continues to be true..... when you do a player....or in our case.....several players this wrongly.....tho the rest of the team can't really say anything about it....that doesn't mean that they didn't see it.....and doesn't mean that they don't have an opinion about it.....and they're smart enough to know that they could be next....it doesn't make for a cohesive atmosphere.....our players don't live in a vacuum.....many of them feel the same way we do about latta and youngs' treatment.....and from what i hear this is not one big happy family..... but we're winning now.....and winning covers up a lot of problems.....but we have the talent to beat anybody.....even indy.....and with a few breaks we could do the unthinkable....go all the way.....many are going to be satisfied with just getting there this year.....we don't have to be....with proper leadership we could really do something special instead of settling for a moral victory.....with a team this good just making the playoffs shouldn't be our goal..... and i also agree with.....GO DREAM......
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Post by trueblue72 on Aug 17, 2009 7:56:26 GMT -5
i agree....mique is our teams leader and our team takes it's personality from her....after teresa edwards..... mique is my fav player ever......and you're right....we've got one hell of a team.....but all isn't peaches and cream.....i've talked with team members and the people effected by mm's decisions are very unhappy.....as are their friends on the roster.....team cancers aren't always players.....so far we're winning anyway....but team chemistry isn't what everyone thinks.....but our talent is compensating.....i hope that continues to be true..... when you do a player....or in our case.....several players this wrongly.....tho the rest of the team can't really say anything about it....that doesn't mean that they didn't see it.....and doesn't mean that they don't have an opinion about it.....and they're smart enough to know that they could be next....it doesn't make for a cohesive atmosphere.....our players don't live in a vacuum.....many of them feel the same way we do about latta and youngs' treatment.....and from what i hear this is not one big happy family..... but we're winning now.....and winning covers up a lot of problems.....but we have the talent to beat anybody.....even indy.....and with a few breaks we could do the unthinkable....go all the way.....many are going to be satisfied with just getting there this year.....we don't have to be....with proper leadership we could really do something special instead of settling for a moral victory.....with a team this good just making the playoffs shouldn't be our goal..... and i also agree with.....GO DREAM...... X__________________ Trueblue72
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Post by lattafan on Aug 17, 2009 10:04:01 GMT -5
i agree....mique is our teams leader and our team takes it's personality from her....after teresa edwards..... mique is my fav player ever......and you're right....we've got one hell of a team.....but all isn't peaches and cream.....i've talked with team members and the people effected by mm's decisions are very unhappy.....as are their friends on the roster.....team cancers aren't always players.....so far we're winning anyway....but team chemistry isn't what everyone thinks.....but our talent is compensating.....i hope that continues to be true..... when you do a player....or in our case.....several players this wrongly.....tho the rest of the team can't really say anything about it....that doesn't mean that they didn't see it.....and doesn't mean that they don't have an opinion about it.....and they're smart enough to know that they could be next....it doesn't make for a cohesive atmosphere.....our players don't live in a vacuum.....many of them feel the same way we do about latta and youngs' treatment.....and from what i hear this is not one big happy family..... but we're winning now.....and winning covers up a lot of problems.....but we have the talent to beat anybody.....even indy.....and with a few breaks we could do the unthinkable....go all the way.....many are going to be satisfied with just getting there this year.....we don't have to be....with proper leadership we could really do something special instead of settling for a moral victory.....with a team this good just making the playoffs shouldn't be our goal..... and i also agree with.....GO DREAM...... x_ Lattafan_________________
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Post by bayougrl on Aug 18, 2009 0:49:56 GMT -5
Jaye believe me I know things aren't peaches and cream. It's no way the team can't be affected by the wrong doing. I sit behind the bench - I'm a season ticket and have been one since the start of the team and I see the body language and that tells the story. Saturday nite Ivory had just made a big 3 and she and Minite had just had this running game starting and out of NO WARE MN pulled them out. I'm telling you out of the two years I have never seen Ivory so defeated about being taken out the game. She and someone else on the bench eyes meet and Ivory soured up her face and was like 'what the F'. She has always been upbeat. The rest of the game she was real chill. All I can say is I hope them winning does not close any eyes on what MN is doing. Don't worry those who are paying attn really see that the calibar are players we have are compensating for a LOT of BAD. Now don't get me wrong, I love the game and love the Dream. I love what they are doing but man when everyone from bloggers to STH to folks in the stands talk about the coaching then something needs to be addressed. You see I said in my earlier posting we have a CHAMPIONSHIP team. And we really should not settle for just making the playoffs. I have seen us play every team that is at the top of their conf and we match up to them very well and we have even beat them. What if we had a Pat Summit type of coach at this point int the Game. The Championship would be ours - NO DOUBT. I guess I could really start naming a number of WNBA coaches that can get this team to the prize.
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Post by nextivorylatta on Aug 18, 2009 11:43:40 GMT -5
im glad we are winning too but that doesnt make the fact that ivory is frustrated and it might effect her game(i hope n pray it wnt) but ivory cant score 18 points everygame if coach doesnt let her play and get a flow of the game..wat guard can make a diff in 3 mins of playing time...well ivory almost did she got a three but was taken out... i want all of this ivory shalee stuff to jus go to rest...we dont talk bout nothing else..lets point da fingers to the coach first plz shes the main reason we are having this war about two great players n da 1st place from wat ive heard from a source doesnt make me happy one bit..time will tell.. Like Ivory said God has a plan for her..God has a plan for everyone inlcuding meadors he needs to go ahead and execute it though lol
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Post by jaye on Aug 18, 2009 13:02:13 GMT -5
i wasn't as hyped about ross joining the coaching staff as everyone else at first.....but i've got to admit....it's paid dividends already.....our concept of team defense has changed.....drastically.... we're doing zone switches and helpouts....and doing them pretty well.....we didn't have this kind of defense before so it has to be ross' influence.....even tho we had good bigs..... teams were killing us with inside scoring.....now their bigs have to work much harder to score.....they're running into double and triple teams.....and having to give the ball up or lose it.....
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