Nov 9th, 2011
STANFORD WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM STILL UNSURE OF LINEUP JUST DAYS BEFORE OPENER –
Tara VanDerveer and Amy Tucker provided more food for thought than answers in the Cardinal women’s 100-54 victory over Vanguard in their second and final exhvition game Saturday night.
Two true freshmen — forward Taylor Greenfield and guard Amber Orrange — were in the starting lineup for this game, which does not necessarily mean they will be starters when the season begins officially with a key game against No. 24-ranked Texas in Austin.
The only certainty is that the Ogwumike sisters — Nneka and Chiney — will be the starting post players against the Longhorns. The only other player who started both exhibitions was Lindy La Rocque, so it’s a pretty good guess she will be starting against Texas, especially after she hit 5 of 10 three-pointers against Vanguard. She did not commit a turnover in either exhibition game, and the Cardinal need her outside threat.
The need for perimeter scorers is also a reason freshman Bonnie Samuelson may be a bigger factor this season than anticipated. She made 5 of 10 three-pointers against Vanguard, suggesting her 5-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc in the first exhibition against UC San Diego was no fluke. Whether she can do that against quicker, bigger Division I defenders is another question, but VanDerveer may be willing to give her significantly playing time early in the season to find out.
She is unlikely to be a starter, though. It’s not even clear what alignment the Cardinal will use — whether it will use a three-guard set as it used in the first exhibition or a two-guard attack as it started in the second.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that Orrange will become a starter at some point this season, and may be the Cardinal’s starting point guard against Texas. She has not shot well, going 2-for-8 in the two exhibitions, including 0-for-4 Saturday, but more significant is that she had six assists without a turnover on Saturday, giving her 13 assists with just two turnovers in the two exhibitions. Again, doing it against the likes of UC San Diego and Vanguard is a lot different from dishing off against the likes of Texas, but she provides the kind of quick, athletic playmaker the Cardinal has not had in recent years. She could be a major boost for the Ogwumikes, who would benefit from someobdy who can drive and dish.
Junior Joslyn Tinkle did not started either exhibition, but got as much playing time as anyone, so she figures to play a lot, although whether it is as a starter or coming off the bench is unclear. She can play both a small forward or post position, so VanDerveer may like the flexibility she provides off the bench.
Toni Kokenis did not play on Saturday, and she is likely to be a starter, so it’s hard to say who will be in the starting lineup. Last season, VanDerveer used a variety of starting lineups in the exhibitions, and continued to tinker with it for the first month of the season before she settled on La Rocque as the fifth starter. That was when only one starting spot was in question. Now it’s three, and you may see several combinations early in the season.
