Guards: Kaniya Boyd, Kailyn Gilbert, Rieyan DeSouze, Chaney Spencer, Gianna Gentry

Guards/Wings: Janae Kent, Salese Blow, Ibifaa Azogu

Posts: Emerald Parker, Jayda Porter, Miyah Verse, Anita Franchini, Vanessa Saidu


Out to start the season: Essence Cody, Pien Steenbergen

Any thoughts or guess on a two deep? I'm curious what guards we start between DeSouze, Boyd, Gilbert, and Blow. Without Cody we're going to need to lean on Parker and Porter, Verse and Franchini will come off the bench. I think Kent will start at the 3. I'm just curious about the back court. Don't know if Joni will be ready to start DeSouze although I think she's capable.

I'm guessing we go

Kaniya Boyd
Kailyn Gilbert
Janae Kent
Jayda Porter
Emerald Parker

Rieyan DeSouze
Salese Blow
Anita Franchini
Miyah Verse
Vanessa Saidu

Depending if Porter is healthy to begin the season

We absolutely do not need any injuries as our depth is weak, especially especially in the front court. We need to keep Porter healthy. We have no one on our roster over 6'3…

Starting 5: Kaniya, Kailyn, Janae, Miyah, Emerald (even though I think Rieyan could possibly make her way to starting lineup)
Heavy reliance: Rieyan, Salese, Anita, Jayda
I don't think Pien is out for the season

I hope Jayde can get up to speed fast, I know she had a surgery Joni talked about, don't know the severity of that. A front court of Emerald and Miyah will not equate to success against any team with a pulse. Offensively they will take up so much space as both aren't threats offensively and can't score unless right under the basket. We don't have the outside shooting to make that work unless our shooters improved dramatically. I like Porter's game and feel like she could flow well with another post inside, Porter has a nice shot and skill set offensively.

Hurts not having anyone over 6'3, a lot of sec teams do. Our posts who should see time being 6'3, 6'3, 6'2, and 6'1 will be a challenge. We're going to have to play a lot of small ball and rely on a defense that can create turnovers and get in transition. We're gonna run a lot of puck and roll and hopefully shoot well. Again thankfully we scheduled an extremely soft non conference with nearly all quad 4 games

How many games will this team winmore than Bobby, or the same number in the SEC?

I like the video--but I want to know what is going to be different this year! Everyone else in the SEC seems to be getting better. Will we ever be at the level of a LSU, South Carolina or tu? Vic is bragging that for the first time they have sold out of season tickets.

If you can help raise the difference in NIL spend of $4-5M between our program and those you mention, we will get there.

I guess it is a chicken or egg dilemma.

We have to do something to create excitement around the program. I have been a season ticket holder since before GB and don't plan on walking away but sometimes the games are tough to watch.

From SEC Media Day interviews:

Salese Blow
What can you tell us about this Texas A&M team?
"As far as this year, we have improved. As you can see, we have a lot of transfers, a lot of new faces coming in, and a couple of freshmen. We're going to be play super hard, guard you 94 feet, and be ready for everything."
What have you learned about playing for Head Coach Joni Taylor?
"She's relentless. She wants us to be good in every aspect, on and off the court, but specifically on the court. She preaches defense, being confident in ourselves and playing hard the entire game."

Kailyn Gilbert
What do you like most about Head Coach Joni Taylor?
"What I like the most about Coach Joni is that she's like a mother figure. She's somebody that I would want to emulate and be like growing up. She's a great role model. Treats everyone with respect. So that's what I like most about Coach Joni."
With your playing experience in the SEC, what strengths can you add to this year's program?
"I feel like I have a lot to give to this team. Like you said, I've played for a top-five team in the country. I kind of knew what we needed to do as a team, and so just kind of taking what I've learned from LSU and bringing it to this team, and obviously mixing stuff that Coach Joni has as well. I think it's going to take us pretty far."

Janae Kent
Is there anything that you added to your game that you want to showcase during the upcoming season?
"Consistency. All of you guys are going to see it: shots, pull-ups, just playing really consistently. Rebounding, and just expanding my role a little bit for this year."
Who do you think is going to be a big asset for the team this year?
"Emerald Parker and our freshman Rieyan ReSouze they have been looking really good. They have both stepped up into a different role this year, so we are excited for them."
How does the coaching staff help the team, both on and off the court?
"I think it is one of the best staff in the country honestly. They genuinely care about us. They spend a lot of time with us saying things like, 'let's go get lunch,' 'let's go grab coffee,' "come by the office.' We sit in the office like we are just chilling at home. It's very family oriented, and a lot of people don't get to experience that in college."

I got really excited to hear Emerald Parker & Rieyan ReSouze have been looking really good!

Also, Kailyn Gilbert!! She's a lethal scorer and has been waiting to be the key scorer/leader on a team. I feel like this is her time to shine. She single handedly won multiple clutch time victories for LSU - that's the poise and scoring reliability we need. I remember seeing that she averaged 32pts/game in high school, with plenty of 40-50 pieces.

Anita & Jayda are going to step up big time as well with Essence not playing this season. I remember being really impressed with Anita's minutes when we played South Carolina last year.

Gig 'Em!

sharpdressedman said:

---

Gap said:

---

If you can help raise the difference in NIL spend of $4-5M between our program and those you mention, we will get there.

---

No one will invest in JT. The AD is letting the program collapse rather than fire her and pay a buyout, just like with G and soccer.

---

I think we would gladly invest in JT if she could somehow pull together a season like Jamie Morrison, Mark Weaver, Gerrod Chadwell, Trish Ford, Bucky McMillan have all done (repeatedly) with limited resources (as compared to football/baseball, etc). The "the program doesn't have enough money to compete" is tired. Others have proven it's possible. She comes with name recognition from USA basketball, connections to the W, and has just parked the bus. Injuries have plagued almost every season she's been here (I'll give her that), but there is no excitement in the program because it is noncompetitive. Winning changes the mood; that's the only thing that will.

Did we play any scrimmages or exhibitions, haven't heard or seen anything on that front

Tu had exhibitions with UConn and UCLA and scrimmaged Baylor, some other SEC teams had their exhibitions live streamed

taylorswift13_ said:

---

Did we play any scrimmages or exhibitions, haven't heard or seen anything on that front

Tu had exhibitions with UConn and UCLA and scrimmaged Baylor, some other SEC teams had their exhibitions live streamed

---

They played 3 scrimmages. The last one was last Saturday at TCU

I saw pictures from the "welcome back" reception. I guess I don't donate enough to get invited to that although I have had season tickets from since before GB.

The size of the event = the number of people who come to Reed for games. Hopefully the product on the court will be a little better? I try to remain positive.

They played UH last Saturday. TCU was before that.

Any results

No idea with TCU. But heard they won vs UH.

apparently we have a game today

BQ_90 said:

---

Maybe a new coach can salvage this program and reengage the fans.

However I'm not sure the NIL money is there. We might get a glimpse at that in soccer. Without a huge NIL influx our soccer program it completely dead and gone.

With football back in cycle of having to spend money on buyouts most likely, I don't see the money there for WBB.

---

By outs come from different money bag

Rudybryan said:

---

BQ_90 said:

---

Maybe a new coach can salvage this program and reengage the fans.

However I'm not sure the NIL money is there. We might get a glimpse at that in soccer. Without a huge NIL influx our soccer program it completely dead and gone.

With football back in cycle of having to spend money on buyouts most likely, I don't see the money there for WBB.

---

By outs come from different money bag

---

It comes from donors esp since wbb program is a giant hole in the ADs budget