HookemTexas

It's a different team this year; more weight on Kavan's shoulders because the pitching depth isn't as good as a year ago - Mac Morgan, while not elite, was good enough as a #2. On offense, they lose some of the power with the loss of Jolie Mitchell and Mia Scott; Jaycie Nichols is a speedster who is more the wreck havoc on the bases type. LF is where they are really looking for something; last year it was Katie Stewart in left field, so this year you gain some on defense with more speed there, but you lose out on offense because you're not getting the same offensive output from that position. This team has the potential to win it all or lose in the super regionals, but looks like they are starting to get in sync for the post season, so hoping for a deep run again.

My guess is he'll go with one of the other pitchers and bring Kavan in if needed. The softball throwing motion allows repeated use, though the arm does get tired, it's not like baseball where you need multiple days rest to be effective.

They just have to make the plays, pitches, hits, etc. when it counts. Remember last year they were on the brink of elimination, down in the super regional to Clemson who had the winning run to send them to the WCSC on third base with nobody out. Kavan came in, and Texas started to make plays from there on out. Tech had control of game 1 in the championship until Canady didn't know how to intentionally walk a batter. The talent is there, they just have to make plays when it counts.

That’s the major difference is that if Stanford’s required sports all scored anything half decent - they have massive advantage on the inside track to 1st because of the number of sports they have.

Just like last year, everything needs to click at the right time. They top tier talent, but it's not the most elite. OU is better at hitting and Tennessee and Texas Tech both boast better pitching staffs.

I too am feeling like next season is going to be a meh. While the backcourt and wings will be talented, any team with a half decent big is going to eat Texas for lunch. My personal grade so far for the offseason is a D, only because the incoming class is rated highly, but they are unproven. As with others, I don’t see them as a top four team next year, not even top four in the SEC.

The offense this year has really been feast or famine. They'll get shut out or run rule the other team. Very inconsistent.

All the expansion for the extra money has really made the regular season lose a lot of it's value, in every sport. Basically, instead of being the best for the year, you just need to get hot at the end of the season and in the playoffs/tournament. Especially because they usually on a neutral site, so even being the higher seeded team doesn't matter, there's no home court advantage. The baseball/softball model with super-regional hosts is good in that it rewards regular season excellence with home field. This goes for pro sports and college sports.

It should have been an Augie Garrido style moment in the locker room, but he was so embarrassed by the team getting absolutely smoked that he lost it in the press conference.

Concur with your assessment.

I do agree with the sentiment that Vic needs to figure something out with regards to the portal yearly. The elite programs don’t lose key players, they lose the ones that don’t think can get playing time to get it elsewhere. Last few years, this one especially, have seen departures from key role players and starters.

True - Jordan and Maddie also do a lot of the other things that coach wants - hard nosed defense, running the offense (even though they couldn't hit the ocean), the threat is still there for them as scorers as well which opens it up for other players. I get the frustration as much as anyone else; just saying coaching is a lose/lose proposition unless you win. There's always someone second guessing your decisions. Also, in my opinion, with the portal departures, it was almost guaranteed that Texas would not be as good on paper afterwards until next season. Those were three highly ranked recruits and realistically, you're not going to sign higher ranked replacements (that's assuming they go in the portal and then assuming they'd want to join your school). I'm also disappointed in this year's offseason. UCLA managed to hang onto their upper classmen last year and added Kneepkins which made them a bona fide contender and ultimately won the title. Experience in the system and experience in the post-season are huge pluses.

There are questions on leaving Madi in going 3-23 because Texas lost. Texas wins with Madi hitting a key shot down the stretch and the conversation becomes "how did trusting your star player when she was struggling pay off in the win"? It's just like when a coach goes for a trick play in football, success and you're a hero, it fails and wtf were you thinking?

Because Atwood was on deck I think, the switch in the lineup helps Katie out a lot. Basically have to pick your poison.

Book should’ve recruited Hidalgo to transfer to Texas, those two on the court at the same time would be a terror on defenses.