Women's Baskeetball Srping Commit(s)

[SACCAT]

SACCAT’s play by play call for next year just became more challenging with the addition of the twins .

So we now have 6 “guards” joining the team. I guess position named forward or wing is obsolete in the new age of baskeetball.

Thank goodness for jersey numbers, and I'm sure Ian will appreciate that the parents gave the two sisters fairly distinctive first names and not very similar ones like some twins have (Jason and Jarron Collins, for example). I like that they wore #1 and #2 in high school, perhaps they can do the same at MSU as both of those numbers are currently available. I wonder if the "older" twin got to wear #1.

OK, finally, here it is. If this isn’t the ultimate reason to have names on the uniforms, I don’t know what is.

How will that help it is same last name

I was joking all the way! But it would help that Ian guy out. I mean, if Smith passes to Smith for a layup, who really cares which? Except maybe Smith does.

SACCAT can handle it with ease with one eye closed even. It would be a big help if the twins had very different hair styles like the Moran twins at NAU had. Sometimes it's hard to see a number on the jersey but you can almost always see a player's head. Speaking of the Moran twins I think that Courtney and Heidi have a great chance of being better and even more impactful for the Bobcats than the Moran twins were for NAU. They are 2 inches taller and look to have great speed and ball handling, shooting and tenacious effort. Looking forward to next year's Cats.

In the late 90s at the Class C State Tourney. there was a team (I believe) from Heart Butte that had 7 players (5 of them starters) that all had the same last name. That last name was "Elk Shoulder" Nothing will be harder than that.

[Bobcat4Ever]

The last twins I remember were from Minot, ND. I am thinking on the names, but they haven’t bubbled up yet — seriously might have been Smith. They were *very good* players in the Spoelstra era (I think). They never fouled out because one might have seven fouls but her sister got three of them! Just kidding, but it was fun. It’s like having two KJs.

A big shout out to our incomparable Women’s SID for the answer. The twins were Sandy and Susan Neiss of Surrey, (right near Minot) ND.

[84CatGrad]

To me our achilles heel last year was rebounding. We were commonly outrebounded and we are losing Martin, Dykstra, Deden, Janssen. Morales and Picton who corralled 44% of our 'bounds. Interestingly, Chirrick was only two rebounds behind our leading total rebounder, Martin, and averaged 4.3/game, just behind Martin and Dykstra's 4.4. We need Harris and Johnson to hit the weights this year and/or hope the Smith twins can board.

[SACCAT]

To me our achilles heel last year was rebounding. We were commonly outrebounded and we are losing Martin, Dykstra, Deden, Janssen. Morales and Picton who corralled 44% of our 'bounds. Interestingly, Chirrick was only two rebounds behind our leading total rebounder, Martin, and averaged 4.3/game, just behind Martin and Dykstra's 4.4. We need Harris and Johnson to hit the weights this year and/or hope the Smith twins can board.

I agree to an extent... MSU was also the 2nd best shooting team in the Big Sky (.05 a game behind ISU), so less chances for Rebounding there. Cats were also 4th in the Conference in opponents rebounding. Cats had only 949 shots attempted against them in Big Sky Play (For Comparison, NAU had 1157 attempted against them and UM had 1060)... So less chances because of our Defense and Steals, but still were just -4 in rebounding average per game.

[MSU01]

To me our achilles heel last year was rebounding. We were commonly outrebounded and we are losing Martin, Dykstra, Deden, Janssen. Morales and Picton who corralled 44% of our 'bounds. Interestingly, Chirrick was only two rebounds behind our leading total rebounder, Martin, and averaged 4.3/game, just behind Martin and Dykstra's 4.4. We need Harris and Johnson to hit the weights this year and/or hope the Smith twins can board.

I agree to an extent... MSU was also the 2nd best shooting team in the Big Sky (.05 a game behind ISU), so less chances for Rebounding there. Cats were also 4th in the Conference in opponents rebounding. Cats had only 949 shots attempted against them in Big Sky Play (For Comparison, NAU had 1157 attempted against them and UM had 1060)... So less chances because of our Defense and Steals, but still were just -4 in rebounding average per game.

Each team has the same number of possessions over the course of a game, and for each defensive possession there are really only three outcomes: the opponent scores, the opponent misses and you get the defensive rebound, or the opponent commits a turnover. MSU forces so many turnovers compared to its opponents that mathematically I'm not sure it would ever be possible for them to also have a significant rebounding advantage over the course of a full season.

[SACCAT]

To me our achilles heel last year was rebounding. We were commonly outrebounded and we are losing Martin, Dykstra, Deden, Janssen. Morales and Picton who corralled 44% of our 'bounds. Interestingly, Chirrick was only two rebounds behind our leading total rebounder, Martin, and averaged 4.3/game, just behind Martin and Dykstra's 4.4. We need Harris and Johnson to hit the weights this year and/or hope the Smith twins can board.

I agree to an extent... MSU was also the 2nd best shooting team in the Big Sky (.05 a game behind ISU), so less chances for Rebounding there. Cats were also 4th in the Conference in opponents rebounding. Cats had only 949 shots attempted against them in Big Sky Play (For Comparison, NAU had 1157 attempted against them and UM had 1060)... So less chances because of our Defense and Steals, but still were just -4 in rebounding average per game.

Each team has the same number of possessions over the course of a game, and for each defensive possession there are really only three outcomes: the opponent scores, the opponent misses and you get the defensive rebound, or the opponent commits a turnover. MSU forces so many turnovers compared to its opponents that mathematically I'm not sure it would ever be possible for them to also have a significant rebounding advantage over the course of a full season.

Exactly... And that is why I am not to worried about their rebounding at this point.

[Helcat72]

What about post defense?

[MSU01]

What about post defense?

Easy, you don't need post defense if you can just get a steal before they ever make it that close to the basket. Also they still have Ella Johnson who I thought was MSU's best post defender last year. She should take on a significantly increased role this coming season.

[Bobcat4Ever]

What about post defense?

Easy, you don't need post defense if you can just get a steal before they ever make it that close to the basket. Also they still have Ella Johnson who I thought was MSU's best post defender last year. She should take on a significantly increased role this coming season.

The ‘Cats blocked a ton of shots last year, and I don’t see that decreasing. It’s not like the women need to stop a Jubrile Belo. Different game.

[MSU01]

Taking a look at where the WBB roster for next year currently stands:

Returning Players
#5 Ella Johnson (Jr.)
#13 Drea Brumfield (Jr. w/ medical redshirt option for '23-'24)
#15 Isobel Bunyan (Jr.)
#20 Brooke Berry (Jr. w/ medical redshirt option for '24-'25)
#30 Dylan Philip (Jr.)
#23 Teagan Erickson (So.)
#33 Addison Harris (So.)
#44 Taylee Chirrick (So.)

Newcomers
Courtney Smith (R-Fr. transfer from Toledo)
Heidi Smith (R-Fr. transfer from Toledo)
Brianne Bailey (Fr. from ID)
Kadynce Couture (Fr. from MT)
Grace Hintz (Fr. from WA)
Jamison Philip (Fr. from WA)

This adds up to 14 total players leaving one spot potentially still open on the roster for another incoming transfer player. With such a young team and zero seniors currently on the roster, it will be interesting to see whether Coach Binford uses her 15th roster spot or leaves it open for a potential mid-year transfer as she has done in the past.

[ClowderUp]

Nice to see a transfer who's another Addy Harris type player 4/5, or even a true 5 that can still move well in Binford's system. Proven rebounder. That's the only gap I can see. Regardless this team should be the preseason favorite again imo.

[Cat449yrs]

There may be a possible depth problem right away with the unknown injury status of several players: Dylan Philip (knee), Drea Brumfield (back), Brooke Berry (thumb), Kadynce Couture (thumb) and Grace Hintz (knee)

[MSU01]

Nice to see a transfer who's another Addy Harris type player 4/5, or even a true 5 that can still move well in Binford's system. Proven rebounder. That's the only gap I can see. Regardless this team should be the preseason favorite again imo.

Another question would be how they fill the gap left by their two main ball handlers in Morales and Picton graduating or transferring out. Particularly if Dylan Philip's injury is severe enough that she won't be fully healthy by November. Of course, Coach Binford has a pretty good grasp on who she has available and which players can fill which roles...but it's definitely an interesting roster to look at from the outside.

[ClowderUp]

Nice to see a transfer who's another Addy Harris type player 4/5, or even a true 5 that can still move well in Binford's system. Proven rebounder. That's the only gap I can see. Regardless this team should be the preseason favorite again imo.

Another question would be how they fill the gap left by their two main ball handlers in Morales and Picton graduating or transferring out. Particularly if Dylan Philip's injury is severe enough that she won't be fully healthy by November. Of course, Coach Binford has a pretty good grasp on who she has available and which players can fill which roles...but it's definitely an interesting roster to look at from the outside.

I think Taylee and Jamison Philip taking some offensive point guard reps. You're right though. Tough seeing Picton leave like that.

[lutecat]

Nice to see a transfer who's another Addy Harris type player 4/5, or even a true 5 that can still move well in Binford's system. Proven rebounder. That's the only gap I can see. Regardless this team should be the preseason favorite again imo.

Another question would be how they fill the gap left by their two main ball handlers in Morales and Picton graduating or transferring out. Particularly if Dylan Philip's injury is severe enough that she won't be fully healthy by November. Of course, Coach Binford has a pretty good grasp on who she has available and which players can fill which roles...but it's definitely an interesting roster to look at from the outside.

I think Taylee and Jamison Philip taking some offensive point guard reps. You're right though. Tough seeing Picton leave like that.

I hope Taylee develops a ton on her ball handling for this next year but I'm not ready for her to get regular reps yet. Hopefully a year of developing makes her more....not wild sometimes racing down the court. Jamison is supposed to be a stud. But honestly I see one of the twins being someone that gets ballhandling minutes.

[84CatGrad]

Incoming frosh Grace Hintz could play some point, if she's ready.

[BLACKnBLUEnGOLD]

What about post defense?

Easy, you don't need post defense if you can just get a steal before they ever make it that close to the basket.

I know you're joking, but Binford's teams always rely more on relentless guards who are hard to pass around and smart team defense than on traditional post players.

It's not a bad strategy, since not relying on them means not having to recruit them.

[Helcat72]

What about post defense?

Easy, you don't need post defense if you can just get a steal before they ever make it that close to the basket.

I know you're joking, but Binford's teams always rely more on relentless guards who are hard to pass around and smart team defense than on traditional post players.

It's not a bad strategy, since not relying on them means not having to recruit them.

Well, I guess if Sophie Glancy is gone...we don"t need anyone to replace Dyksyra. I suppose Harris is enough, huh? We had Harris, Dykstra and Deden last year...

[MSU01]

What about post defense?

Easy, you don't need post defense if you can just get a steal before they ever make it that close to the basket.

I know you're joking, but Binford's teams always rely more on relentless guards who are hard to pass around and smart team defense than on traditional post players.

It's not a bad strategy, since not relying on them means not having to recruit them.

Well, I guess if Sophie Glancy is gone...we don"t need anyone to replace Dyksyra. I suppose Harris is enough, huh? We had Harris, Dykstra and Deden last year...

I don't think Binford views roster construction as finding one-to-one replacements for individual players. She's trying to accumulate as many good players as possible who can play well in her system. They've still got Ella Johnson and Teagan Erickson on the team so it's not all Harris by any means. We'd be foolish to expect 30 wins again next season but there's still a lot of talent on the roster.

[lutecat]

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