If you inherit a team that finished 2nd in the State, and you don't make it out of the region is that success?

Then you follow that up with 13-17 and a first round District loss.

 

If you are second in the state 2 seasons ago then you don't have the same players.

I am not close to the 9th region.....but the couple of times I have seen NDA play, I thought they looked pretty good (pretty well coached).

If you are second in the state 2 seasons ago then you don't have the same players.

 

Correct, but last year they had 7 returning girls from the state team. This year they had 3, 5 if you count the freshman they pulled up that sat the pine. The cupboard isn't bare.

my bad, there were eight kids on the team that was 2nd in state on the team this year. 5 Sophmores, 3 Freshman

Correct, but last year they had 7 returning girls from the state team. This year they had 3, 5 if you count the freshman they pulled up that sat the pine. The cupboard isn't bare.

 

I agree the cupboard isn't bare...I think they are a good team. I think the issue is that the other teams in the region have started to mature and many have gotten a lot better with the influx of AAU talent really starting to hit the NKY scene. ND is not dominate like they had been over the last couple years, but I think the other teams getting much better has a lot to do with that. Also, I hate to say this, but they are in a district that had a lot of girls transfer in and made those teams much better in a pretty quick time frame. That's nothing against those teams at all, but it's a reality when we are discussing a perceived decline of another program within that district.

Did the Levandusky ouster diminish program participation or support?

my bad, there were eight kids on the team that was 2nd in state on the team this year. 5 Sophmores, 3 Freshman

 

No. You were right the first time. Soph - Stallman, Hellman, Smith, Fr - Tranter, Renekamp. Being listed on a roster doesn't mean you see a lot of playing time.

15 girls went down to state

2 senior 1 starter 1 bench player

5 Jr. 3 starters

5 So 1 starter

3 Fr.

Sometimes, no matter the talent, teams/players/coaches just do not gel together, especially with girls IMO.

 

Happened with South Oldham as well. Lost in the first round of districts on their home court last night. First time they have not been to region tournament in about 10 years.

This season would have been identical to the 2009-2010 season if Holmes and Holy Cross weren't top five teams. NDA will be fine. They have a great coach and a great young core coming back. Even the best programs have rough years from time to time. Come back and ask for his job if they have a losing record again the next two years.

Injuries and a brutal schedule took a toll on the Panda's. I agree it was just one of those years where things did not gel. In addition, factor in having Holmes and Holy Cross in the district, both which are having excellent years, very tough to get out of the district. NDA will be fine next year. Still plenty of talent walking the halls.

There is a lot that goes into having a successful season, obviously talent, chemestry and good leadership from the coach and on the floor. NDA has a good team and like RCCA9 put it they are in a tough, tough district. Remember only one team will remain, in regional tournament games a lot happens and the teams or team you think will sin a lot of times don't, it puts added pressure on you as a coach and a player and a lot of times teams who are picked to do well and win it can't handle those situations so don't be surprised if its not one of the big 3 who don't win it. All 3 are deserving for sure but they all will get everyone's best game.

Does the fact that NDA dominates in several other sports have anything to do with it?

I really don't think there is anything to see here. Yes, not a great record and didn't make it out of Districts. From a distance, I see where that can look bad. But in reality, they do play a loaded schedule (which I admire). Did it work out for them this season...maybe not. However, their district has two team in the top 10 in the state. And they region has 3 teams in the top 10. I can't remember a recent time where we've had any teams in the top 10 and even our top teams barely crack the top 25 from time to time. The region is very rich in talent now that has been on the way up and has finally matured. They also battled a few key injuries and lost a ton to graduation. They threw a brand new PG into the mix (who did a great job). For me, it was the fighting a uphill battle for them this year with a lot a factors that played into it. To this minute, I still think they are a good team and if you put them in just about any other district, they are most likely competing in the region.

 

Don't mean to be a downer, but could you attribute the first round loss to the new PG? When you have a team who goes to regional finals and state finals back to back years, could throwing in someone who wasn't already a part of that championship team hurt them? Not a knock on the kid, just curious what you think. Poor coaching decision IMO to have a new one in the starting lineup with a team that's already done great things together.

Not touching that last post but there have been a lot of changes at NDA. Coaching(Darpel to Nicole to Wyatt), AD is new as well. Change can create turmoil. We will have to see how it all plays out.