Miden 0 Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I'm not a huge follower of women's basketball, but I do like to keep up with AU's team, and I have to say this year is looking like a disappointing year standing at (13-10)(6-4 SEC). AU wasn't ranked in the top 25 preseason, so its not like we were predicted to be worldbeaters, but we should have a team capable of making the NCAA tourney and it looks like that goal is slipping out of our fingers. Auburn Arena will be hosting 1-2 early rounds of the Womens NCAA tournament this year, so it obviously would be very special to be able to play a home game in the NCAA tournament. In 08-09 we had a very special season going (30-4), winning the SEC regular season, but got knocked out in the 2nd round of the Tourny to Rutgers. Fortner followed that up with a great recruiting class with 3 top 100 ranked players, but our performance on the court has been sub-par since that 08-09 season. Last season, in a rebuilding year, our women stumbled to a (15-16) (5-11) mark, and then this year we have not exactly shown very much in the way of improvement. This season we had a tough OOC schedule, and unfortunately it was too much for our team to handle. We started out the door at 1-4, getting beat handedly by almost all of our decent OOC competition. Eventually we got on track by beating most of our cupcake foes. We have done a decent job in navigating the schedule against the lower half of the SEC, but we've gone 0-3 against the top 4 teams in the league and recently got upset by a bad Miss. St team at home. If we happen to not make the NCAA tourney year, then should next season be a defining year for coach Nell Fortner? Just 2 years ago I remember people talking about how Auburn women's basketball was on the cusp of becoming a regular power in the SEC, but since going 50-16 in 2 seasons, we now stand at 28-26 since late 2009. I'm not saying our Womens team is in bad shape, because we are still an average team, but its no question our Womens team seems to have taken a few steps back from where it was not very long ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronald McDonald 0 Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 We lost a lot and are really young this year. Breakdown of the team: Seniors-- 1 Juniors-- 3 Sophomores-- 3 Freshmen-- 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guerra aguila 0 Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 We lost a lot and are really young this year. Breakdown of the team: Seniors-- 1 Juniors-- 3 Sophomores-- 3 Freshmen-- 5 Nuff said. Good point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger Growlin 0 Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 The team is young but talented and getting better. We went into the season with little experience. They're taking a few bumps now but will be better for it moving forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auclong 1 Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 We lost a lot and are really young this year. Breakdown of the team: Seniors-- 1 Juniors-- 3 Sophomores-- 3 Freshmen-- 5 Allie Smalley has been ill the last few games which has limited her effectiveness. We need her at full speed to play at our best. Also, Jordan Greenleaf has been permamtley dismissed from the team. She will be missed but if she was having some problems, may actually help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy963963 1 Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Young team that looks on the verge of a breakthrough.....next year will be the telling year but then it will be a rather young team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger Growlin 0 Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 The ladies picked up a road win at Arkansas today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InfernoOrangeSS 321 Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Where have you gone, Joe Ciampi-o...hey...hey...hey... :'( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellitor 33,093 Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 We lost a lot and are really young this year. Breakdown of the team: Seniors-- 1 Juniors-- 3 Sophomores-- 3 Freshmen-- 5 Nuff said. Good point. Respectfully disagree. Not enough said. Allie Smalley, our version of Reggie Miller, is graduating this year. So who is gong to be the scorer next year? Plus in my eyes it will be a bit embarrassing this year to be hosting the first 2 rounds of the NCAA tourney in the new Areana and not even qualify to be in the tourney. :banghead: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aupops2 8 Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 We lost a lot and are really young this year. Breakdown of the team: Seniors-- 1 Juniors-- 3 Sophomores-- 3 Freshmen-- 5 Nuff said. Good point. Respectfully disagree. Not enough said. Allie Smalley, our version of Reggie Miller, is graduating this year. So who is gong to be the scorer next year? Plus in my eyes it will be a bit embarrassing this year to be hosting the first 2 rounds of the NCAA tourney in the new Areana and not even qualify to be in the tourney. :banghead: ellitor, maybe Cheryl, not Reggie? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy963963 1 Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Also losing Greenleaf along with Smalley which are big loses, but not impossible to replace. Smalley is a Senior averaging just over 11 PPG and Greenleaf between 9-10 PPG. Blanche Alverson is scoring over 11 PPG and is near Smalley in most statistical categories and is a much better rebounder and Blanche is a Sophomore. Morgan Toles is scoring just over 8 PPG and carries a 2.5/1 assist to turnover ratio as a Sophomore Point Guard in the SEC. Chantel Hilliard is a Junior F/C who shoots a very good percentage (and has scored between 5-6 PPG) from the floor and should get a few more touches next season with the focus going away from the outside shooting of Alverson and Smalley from this year. Courtney Strain is a Freshman Guard who has seen her numbers increase as the season progresses. The toughest thing for a shooter like Strain is to get used to the speed of which you have to get rid of the Basketball to be successful, but Courtney CAN shoot the basketball and score for this team in the next 3 years. Add a group of 2 6'2(Tanner and Williams) and one 6'5(Davis) Freshman post players to the Sophomore 6'8 post player(West) and things should look fine for the Lady Tigers next year. Add a 4* top 100 player Guard(Muhammed) to the mix and it will be another young but talented group of Lady Tigers who shoudl fair just fine. But again...just my 2 cents.....take it for what it is worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellitor 33,093 Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Also losing Greenleaf along with Smalley which are big loses, but not impossible to replace. Smalley is a Senior averaging just over 11 PPG and Greenleaf between 9-10 PPG. Blanche Alverson is scoring over 11 PPG and is near Smalley in most statistical categories and is a much better rebounder and Blanche is a Sophomore. Morgan Toles is scoring just over 8 PPG and carries a 2.5/1 assist to turnover ratio as a Sophomore Point Guard in the SEC. Chantel Hilliard is a Junior F/C who shoots a very good percentage (and has scored between 5-6 PPG) from the floor and should get a few more touches next season with the focus going away from the outside shooting of Alverson and Smalley from this year. Courtney Strain is a Freshman Guard who has seen her numbers increase as the season progresses. The toughest thing for a shooter like Strain is to get used to the speed of which you have to get rid of the Basketball to be successful, but Courtney CAN shoot the basketball and score for this team in the next 3 years. Add a group of 2 6'2(Tanner and Williams) and one 6'5(Davis) Freshman post players to the Sophomore 6'8 post player(West) and things should look fine for the Lady Tigers next year. Add a 4* top 100 player Guard(Muhammed) to the mix and it will be another young but talented group of Lady Tigers who shoudl fair just fine. But again...just my 2 cents.....take it for what it is worth. I appeciate it Jeremy but I am still embarrased we are hosting the first 2 rounds of the NCAA tourney and will not be in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellitor 33,093 Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 We lost a lot and are really young this year. Breakdown of the team: Seniors-- 1 Juniors-- 3 Sophomores-- 3 Freshmen-- 5 Nuff said. Good point. Respectfully disagree. Not enough said. Allie Smalley, our version of Reggie Miller, is graduating this year. So who is gong to be the scorer next year? Plus in my eyes it will be a bit embarrassing this year to be hosting the first 2 rounds of the NCAA tourney in the new Areana and not even qualify to be in the tourney. :banghead: ellitor, maybe Cheryl, not Reggie? No pops. Cheryl was a power forward. Allie comes off screens as a 3-point specialist much like Reggie Miller did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy963963 1 Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Some things are hard to control....women had to deal with same issues the men did and the program is far from being a mess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellitor 33,093 Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Some things are hard to control....women had to deal with same issues the men did and the program is far from being a mess. THIS^^^^ The program will not be a mess as long as we have Fortner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy963963 1 Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Some things are hard to control....women had to deal with same issues the men did and the program is far from being a mess. THIS^^^^ The program will not be a mess as long as we have Fortner. We may not have agreed on much, but this is one fo them. Coach Fortner has done an outstanding job with the embarassment for Basketball facilities the last 6-7 yrs. Lets see what she can do now in terms of recruiting high end talent to the women's program with the current facilities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Droxside 0 Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 I love every team at Auburn. The women's basketball team has been a bright spot over the years. Having said that I lost alot of interest a few years back after seeing Auburn earn a #1 seed and having to play it's first round game on the road at the #8 seed because of attendance factors I assume. The only other sport with a more ridiculous way of crowning a champion is college football, at least they did get to play in a play-off I guess, but still. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy963963 1 Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 I love every team at Auburn. The women's basketball team has been a bright spot over the years. Having said that I lost alot of interest a few years back after seeing Auburn earn a #1 seed and having to play it's first round game on the road at the #8 seed because of attendance factors I assume. The only other sport with a more ridiculous way of crowning a champion is college football, at least they did get to play in a play-off I guess, but still. I believe that the tournament sites are pre-chosen and Auburn playing on another teams homecourt just happened as a coincidence. It had nothing to do with attendance unless I am mistaken on how sites are chosen. Auburn just wasn't going to be granted a NCAA Regional in the dump of Beard Eaves. BE actually had seats that were abstructed view because the banners were hung in the sight lines from certain upper seats. Made watching the Auburn vs Tennessee womens game in '09 very difficult for some of the folks who came to the game with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warladytigers 172 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 It's a year later and we are no better - we are worse. Our ladies need to be coached up to their potential..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
augolf1716 21,140 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 it has been disappointing to say the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1716 17 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 It is very frustrating but I am not ready to suggest we get rid of our coach. CF fired her recruiter a couple years ago and things have been looking up in terms of the talent we go after and get. We don't have a true center of SEC caliber and we haven't had one for 3 years (if you don't count KeKe Carrier who was so limited in what she could do). The main problem to me seems to be that the big girls are not being coached up to be aggressive on OFFENSE after they get here. I think there needs to be some soul searching by CF about the job the position coach is doing with our inside players. Also, I'm a little iffy about the strength coach. I will continue to support the ladies because they really are fighting as hard as they can and they are great examples of Auburn student athletes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwmboom7 0 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Coach NF has had ample time, and she has progressively gotten worse during her tenure. I thought she would be a good one with her Olympic ties and such but she needs to go...She has had her chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoALtiger 3,860 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I will say that it does look like we have regressed. The ladies program is simply a non-factor at this moment. Not sure if it's coaching or what. CNF sure has great credentials and has won in the past so I really don't know what to think at the moment. I do know we should be better than this though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellitor 33,093 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 I am actually pleasently shocked some people are frustrated. But since Auburn is a football school I doubt any changes will be made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwmboom7 0 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 I am actually pleasently shocked some people are frustrated. But since Auburn is a football school I doubt any changes will be made. I think AU is slowly making basketball a bigger priority, which I really love since I love AU basketball as much, if not more than, AU football. I think we need to go in a different direction with the W Bball program though. I really enjoyed watching/following them in '08 when they were really good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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