Johanna Muzet
- Thread starter 7ICoug
- Start date
Hmm...June seemed to do a better job recruiting. I mean Bobbi Buckets and Molina.
Next year is going to be rough
Next year is going to be rough
It was a disappointing season to say the least. Two of the best players in program history. One of which possibly the best WSU player of all time, the other might be our best PG of all time and a solid supporting staff but not enough wins. In defense of the coaching staff they played a tough schedule including a brutal PAC 12 schedule. If we can’t win with last years talent it might not bode well for coaches future win-loss prospects.
June could recruit but the coaching wasn't there. It's somewhat been the opposite so far for Ethridge.
Unless we pick up some quality transfers or recruits in general over the next couple of months it's hard to see us moving too far from the basement next year.
Unless we pick up some quality transfers or recruits in general over the next couple of months it's hard to see us moving too far from the basement next year.
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I'm wondering if we just traded weaknesses in the woman's basketball program. Etheridge is by no means a bad coach, but still might not get it done. June wasn't a bad coach either.
It seems the most important quality for a coach in Pullman is the ability to recruit. Without shrinking the talent gap no amount of solid coaching is going to result in success.
It's one of the reasons Smith's recruiting has been so encouraging. We always knew he'd be a better X's and O's coach than Kent, but he appears to have stepped up recruiting as well. That's a formula for post season basketball.
It seems the most important quality for a coach in Pullman is the ability to recruit. Without shrinking the talent gap no amount of solid coaching is going to result in success.
It's one of the reasons Smith's recruiting has been so encouraging. We always knew he'd be a better X's and O's coach than Kent, but he appears to have stepped up recruiting as well. That's a formula for post season basketball.
If I had to grade Etheridgr so far I would give her a B- on bench coaching (she really hasn’t shown me much) and. C+ in recruiting. ( still hope this grade jumps when this class is done). Give her a B- overall.
It’s still early but June appears to have been a better recruiter. The third class is usually when you can start to telll, so I’m crossing my fingers for this years class and next years. As far as actual coaching we haven’t imo seen any noticeable upgrade yet.
It’s still early but June appears to have been a better recruiter. The third class is usually when you can start to telll, so I’m crossing my fingers for this years class and next years. As far as actual coaching we haven’t imo seen any noticeable upgrade yet.
June went overseas for a reason and Ethridge need to as well. I thought some of our talent didn't always fit with the way Ethridge wants to play plus the Pac 12 in women's hoops is a lot like volleyball. The top 6 teams in the conference are stacked with 4 and 5-star players and even with 2 of the best players in program history our overall talent really didn't match up. That's just how it works and we don't get a handicap.
Muzet had become the 3rd best player on the team and now we need to replace all 3. That's a tall task even if we had recruits lined up. We seem to be struggling to get players to sign.
How does Etheridge have "2 of the best players in all of program history", while being a supposed bad recruiter.
If a coach can get, have 2 of the best players ever in program history, that is semi usually, semi mostly the result of either good recruiting, beating out programs for good recruits, good evaluation of under the radar recruits, good development of either good recruits, or under the radar recruits.
The only way that Etheridge would be a bad recruiter, with 2 of the best players in program history, would be if coach June recruited the 2 best players in program history.
Also as others have said, Pac 12 Womens Basketball is the SEC Football of Womens Basketball.
Almost every team is STACKED with 3.5, 4, 5 star recruits.
Add to that ALMOST the TOUGHEST SCHEDULE in all of Womens BBALL, with the NONCONFERENCE filled with the better, best Womens BBall teams.
Add to that the newer coach.
WSU even with Coach K, and 3,4 of the best players ever in all of WSU history, would be extremely hard pressed to win in the above circumstance.
If WSU is to win, it needs a coach that is both a good recruiter, evaluator, developer, X's and O's, etc, a coach K type, and a weaker nonconference schedule, and some breaks, luck, etc.
Because of that coach Etheridge probably deserves a free pass for the year.
But even if she doesnt, even if you fire her, and get yet another coach, WSU probably will not win that much.
That is the bummer for WSU reality of WSU womens basketball.
If a coach can get, have 2 of the best players ever in program history, that is semi usually, semi mostly the result of either good recruiting, beating out programs for good recruits, good evaluation of under the radar recruits, good development of either good recruits, or under the radar recruits.
The only way that Etheridge would be a bad recruiter, with 2 of the best players in program history, would be if coach June recruited the 2 best players in program history.
Also as others have said, Pac 12 Womens Basketball is the SEC Football of Womens Basketball.
Almost every team is STACKED with 3.5, 4, 5 star recruits.
Add to that ALMOST the TOUGHEST SCHEDULE in all of Womens BBALL, with the NONCONFERENCE filled with the better, best Womens BBall teams.
Add to that the newer coach.
WSU even with Coach K, and 3,4 of the best players ever in all of WSU history, would be extremely hard pressed to win in the above circumstance.
If WSU is to win, it needs a coach that is both a good recruiter, evaluator, developer, X's and O's, etc, a coach K type, and a weaker nonconference schedule, and some breaks, luck, etc.
Because of that coach Etheridge probably deserves a free pass for the year.
But even if she doesnt, even if you fire her, and get yet another coach, WSU probably will not win that much.
That is the bummer for WSU reality of WSU womens basketball.
She of course DID NOT recruit either player. Further her star recruit from last year--never showed up at WSU.
Just like this upcoming season she will have the best of the Molina sisters no doubt playing PG. Another player she didn't recruit.
Kind of like Smith gets no credit for recruiting CJ, Mikalalas
A star recruit not showing up isnt always the fault of the coach.
Now maybe it is Etheridge's fault that her STAR recruit didnt show up, and maybe it isnt. I dont know, and we all probably dont know either.
So because of that, Etheridge should probably not be blamed for her STAR recruit not showing up.
Also Etheridge even having a STAR recruit that never showed up shows that she did a good job recruiting the STAR recruit in the first place.
A Star recruit not showing up is a RETENTION PROBLEM, NOT a recruiting problem.
Kind of like how when Leach Tweeted. And he lost a player, that's also a RETENTION problem, not a recruiting problem.
Like I said, given the circumstances, Etheridge probably derserves a FREE PASS, HER FIRST YEAR.
Now if she continues to have problems....But even then, if you fire her, and hire a new coach, your 99.999% chance that your still going to have a LOSING WSU Women's Basketball Program no matter what is done, because of Pac 12 Women's basketball being like SEC football.
And she's already brought in two recruiting classes. Next year will be her third
Mikalalas you can’t make a statement in one paragraph and then refer to that paragraph as proof of your statement in a later paragraph.
Now maybe it is Etheridge's fault that her STAR recruit didnt show up, and maybe it isnt. I dont know, and we all probably dont know either.
So because of that, Etheridge should probably not be blamed for her STAR recruit not showing up.
Now maybe it is Etheridge's fault that her STAR recruit didnt show up, and maybe it isnt. I dont know, and we all probably dont know either.
So because of that, Etheridge should probably not be blamed for her STAR recruit not showing up.
Well...this thread certainly didn't age well .. including my 2 cents
I stumbled upon this thread after reading an article about the Jammies Etheridge effect and how she said early on she had to be the behave cop and the culture wasn't there
I googled some of the departing players and this thread appeared in the search results.
Absolutely amazing what she has done.
She lost 2 of the best players in program history due to graduation..and 2 other contributors to transfer and she has the Cougs in the tourney for the second year in a row.
I think she's the best coach we have in any sport.
I stumbled upon this thread after reading an article about the Jammies Etheridge effect and how she said early on she had to be the behave cop and the culture wasn't there
I googled some of the departing players and this thread appeared in the search results.
Absolutely amazing what she has done.
She lost 2 of the best players in program history due to graduation..and 2 other contributors to transfer and she has the Cougs in the tourney for the second year in a row.
I think she's the best coach we have in any sport.
I don't think we had signed CL-W or Teder, but I was definitely seeing the basement. When we came out in game 1 and literally ran dub off the floor, I was pretty much in shock with what I just watched.
Good to be wrong in this case.
Good to be wrong in this case.
I want to see what she does without the Leger-Walker sisters, especially Charlisse. The day she stepped on the court, she was one of the best players ever to put on a uniform for the women. It is easier to win when you have one of the top 2-3 players in the conference. I like what she is doing, but I would have to say Greeny or Shulenberger have earned the title of best coach.
I must say that I'm enjoying this concept of digging up your worst prediction from the past and reposting it to demonstrate we all make mistakes. Its a little confusion at first, but it does break up the monotony!
I am a little concerned that we have 4 or 5 girls on scholarship that do not seem to be a part of future plans, but I guess that is par for the course for any D1 program. It is probably 10x harder recruiting internationally. I think I saw something this year that Stanford had their first international player on the roster this season. Must be nice!
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I am a little concerned that we have 4 or 5 girls on scholarship that do not seem to be a part of future plans, but I guess that is par for the course for any D1 program. It is probably 10x harder recruiting internationally. I think I saw something this year that Stanford had their first international player on the roster this season. Must be nice!
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Recruiting internationally during the pandemic was a nightmare. I think she had two players not able to make it that were going to be contributors. She also lost that transfer from ASU as well who chose to not to play basketball anymore.
Next year will be interesting to see who runs the point, expect to see more contribution from Wallack and Clarke. I know that Gardner comes from a small school, but she was just named the Gatorade Player of the Year for all divisions. I expect her to get a lot of run next year. I expect Woods to play a little more too. With this success they now have the ability to get a few grad transfers or transfers as well. Because of Covid I think WSU women's are set up to be pretty good for the next couple of years, Charlisse still has 3 years of eligibility and Bella and Johanna have two, plus I think Gardner and Wallack are going to be big contributors.
Point is the biggest question going into next year. Astera Tuhina from Kosovo seems to project to point but first year in college hoops. I assume we are looking in the portal to fill a couple needs.
Alissa Pili (SC) went in the portal. I have seen Internet rumors WSU might be a potential destination. She's a talent but has had trouble with injuries.
I wonder how Kaia Woods will do? She came in spring semester from a prep school. She hadn't played in a game in about two years because her season was canceled last year. It is hard to come in midseason and learn the system. With this season just a head start, and getting in the WSU spring and summer program, she might be someone to watch next season.
Regarding Tuhina, she has played a lot of international ball against much older players. I think she may be able to be ready to play day one just like Charisse.
I would be interested if anyone has an update on the Molina sisters. If this retro thread had predicted that two sisters would take us to back-to-back Tourney bids, everyone would have assumed it was them. I assume (and hope) they left due to playing time, and not some other issues...
I think Chenelle is playing in Sweden. Celena wasn't good enough. Cherilyn left in the middle of the season. I never heard why.
Maybe Woods gives them a player similar to Cherilyn Molina? Molina was relatively short as well but her quickness, passing, and eventually shooting could really impact the game. Woods is even shorter at 5'3" but to come in and play a bit was a good sign.
Hopefully between Tuhina and Woods we can get minutes at the point. Maybe some help from the portal as well.
Dumb question. Do as many women's players enter the portal as the men? I know the Cougar soccer team has picked up four transfers, including one who just recently announced she is transferring to WSU from Santa Jose State.
With all the returning players next season, you would think they would want an experienced point guard. But, Coach Etheridge knows the players more than we do. Plus, Charlisse does a lot of the ball handling.
Last year there were over 1,100 in the portal. This year there are already 400.
Agree on CL-W and toward the end of the season Teder did as well. It wouldn't surprise me if they can't find a good fit in the portal that they just insert Wallack into the lineup and CL-W and Teder take on the ball handling.
