WBB: Paulk commits to ISU

[HFCS]

This is what we all wanted - a defensive whiz kid who can rebound. When Evangelia Paulk was first mentioned by Mred a couple days ago, I decided there was NO WAY ISU could convince the reigning SoCon Player of the Year to move to Ames, but we just got our answer to Littlepage-Buggs and Fauntleroy.

PG - Jada Williams / Wilson (Beatty)
SG - Hare / AJ (Freya Jensen)
SF - Paulk / Syd Harris (Aili Tanke)
PF - Addy Brown / Alyssa Williams
C - Audi Crooks / Alyssa Williams (Lily Tauleiei)

There are no more excuses to be made - our top seven is best in conference and we have depth with valuable experience (Wilson, Tanke, Williams). Go State!

Littlepage-Buggs is an all time key & peele name.

 

[acoustimac]

You're so predictable! I included the "no more excuses" phrase for the sole purpose of seeing if I could facilitate a "defense of CBF response" from you and you couldn't resist.

I knew you did because you are so predictably hateful when it comes to thoughts about the staff. You just can't resist always finding a way to jab at them or anyone that doesn't agree with your vendetta wherever it originates from. I'm just not sure how going through life looking for ways to be angry and take stabs at people is a good thing.

 

[nfrine]

Hope she doesn't change her mind after reading this thread...welcome Evangelia!

 

[ICCYFAN]

I knew you did because you are so predictably hateful when it comes to thoughts about the staff. You just can't resist always finding a way to jab at them or anyone that doesn't agree with your vendetta wherever it originates from. I'm just not sure how going through life looking for ways to be angry and take stabs at people is a good thing.

Seriously, just stop with the rhetoric. Again, you included "staff" when I've never criticized anybody but Bill and again you use "hate" - you're just pandering to the other diehards. I don't hate anybody - I'm a 62 year-old grandfather with a wife of 35 years, three productive adult children and a nice life - I'm angry about nothing! Apologies to everybody else - you shouldn't have to wade thru the crap and I shouldn't have promulgated it.

 

[Jnecker4cy]

This really should be a good news thread. This is an addition we needed hopefully works out and improves the team. This thread should be positive not bring up and rehash old storyline.

Go Cyclones

 

[mred]

Apologies to everybody else - you shouldn't have to wade thru the crap and I shouldn't have promulgated it.

Correct.

 

[casey1973]

You're so predictable! I included the "no more excuses" phrase for the sole purpose of seeing if I could facilitate a "defense of CBF response" from you and you couldn't resist. Nothing was said about "winning everything in the conference" - the words don't exist in this thread until you suggest it.

Next, quit with the tactic of including "team" and "staff" in these discussions, which makes things sound worse than they are. Only a select few ever criticize individual players - it's the exception rather than the rule. Fewer still are criticisms of coaching staff members other than CBF. CBF banks over $1M / year (all things included) in a non-revenue sport - he's well compensated to take a little heat from fans with high expectations.

Lastly, CBF has pushed "all his chips to the middle" on this Junior class dominated team, leaving the cupboard bare following the 26-27 season. As of now, the only players known to be on the 27-28 roster (assuming no portal loses) are: Reagan Wilson, Aili Tanke, Reece Beaty, Freya Jensen & Macy Comito - three point guards and two shooting guards. I'm actually fine with this tactic - Bill needs a Final Four on his resume to qualify for the WBB Hall of Fame and the old dog is showing some new tricks, he's going for it! Let's go State!

Yep. Remember the top 10 ranking last year and it seemed like, as in past years, same ol same ol. I am hoping for the best this coming season. Time will tell.

 

[swclone11]

I’m optimistic - the opposite usually stinks. We had some close calls this year on 50/50 games that went against us, win a few of them next year and things already look better. Win a few more by improving and getting better and it looks like a good season. We’ve made good additions this off season - probably the best that anyone can expect, now it’s time to go out and prove it.

 

[ZorkClone]

I would think our roster is complete with her. I like that she seems to have defsive chops as that seems to be a place our staff doesn’t focus on. Offensively she doesn’t have to do too much, just be a threat enough that the other team has to guard you.

 

[NWICY]

I understand that conference titles aren't based on paper. It's a team game so its critical for players to mesh. But hard to deny this is a talented roster and barring significant injuries- should finish top 3 in the Big12. Winning a conference title typically is a combination of talent, coaching, elite execution and a few breaks.

But I still come back to, the staff has to do things differently because IMO the two best returning players (Audi & Addy) are below average on ball defenders. And while Audi can continue to work on her speed, quickness and footwork- I just don't see a path to even being an average defender in 2025/26. So it's going to come down to schemes to compensate. Does that mean a predominately zone defense? Or Audi playing a 1 person zone with the others playing man (and somehow those 4 can guard the opposing center who pops to the perimeter)..

I think Addy could/can become a pretty decent defender if she wants to. Athletic and enough size to hold her own. Audi works better in the middle of a zone type deal.

If we can get back to the offense of 2 yrs ago when everyone shared the ball it will be a lot better overall for the team. Our streaky 3 pt shooting and mediocre FT shooting did us no favors last yr in creating a force it in the paint mentality that we got into.

Happy with the addition, hopefully they mesh well over the summer and look forward to seeing the results this upcoming season.

 

[NWICY]

In Paulk's intro pics if I was many yrs younger that 3rd Pic would make me look twice. That's a cool pic.

 

[WartburgClone]

Check out this article from Des Moines Register:

Iowa State women's basketball: Wofford's Evangelia Paulk commits to Cyclones

Iowa State women's basketball: Wofford's Evangelia Paulk commits to Cyclones

Evangelia Paulk was a two-year starter at Wofford before transferring to Iowa State.

www.desmoinesregister.com

To get around the paywall:

https://archive.is/uJASK

 

[WartburgClone]

Saying adding her means no excuses for not winning everything in the conference is way premature and an excuse to crucify the coaches

 

[ClonesMagic1]

2024: Freshmen of Year
2025: Player of Year
Defensive Player of Year

 

[acoustimac]

I’m optimistic - the opposite usually stinks. We had some close calls this year on 50/50 games that went against us, win a few of them next year and things already look better. Win a few more by improving and getting better and it looks like a good season. We’ve made good additions this off season - probably the best that anyone can expect, now it’s time to go out and prove it.

Pieces def appear to be in place. So many questions to address. The biggest in my opinion is consistency. So many players like Harris, AJ and Tanke for examples, showed signs of greatness and then would disappear. Getting the team to be consistently good would be a huge step. Increased free throw percentage right out of the gates would be nice. My final wish would be seeing the ability and desire to score at all levels. Five months to build team cohesion, heal, and improve. Easy right?

 

[WartburgClone]

Those other IG posts...

 

[swclone11]

Pieces def appear to be in place. So many questions to address. The biggest in my opinion is consistency. So many players like Harris, AJ and Tanke for examples, showed signs of greatness and then would disappear. Getting the team to be consistently good would be a huge step. Increased free throw percentage right out of the gates would be nice. My final wish would be seeing the ability and desire to score at all levels. Five months to build team cohesion, heal, and improve. Easy right?

My guess is the inconsistency doesn’t go away but I think Harris and AJ will get better with it. Usually there’s a small jump between sophomore and junior years as players settle in, so I think Tanke for sure still has another year to keep finding her role and shot, especially as a bench player.

 

[singsing]

In Paulk's intro pics if I was many yrs younger that 3rd Pic would make me look twice. That's a cool pic.

I'm old and I looked twice too.

 

[Marcelason78]

Those other IG posts...

So you’re saying you don’t care if she doesn’t score from three…

 

[CYdTracked]

I think Addy could/can become a pretty decent defender if she wants to. Athletic and enough size to hold her own. Audi works better in the middle of a zone type deal.

If we can get back to the offense of 2 yrs ago when everyone shared the ball it will be a lot better overall for the team. Our streaky 3 pt shooting and mediocre FT shooting did us no favors last yr in creating a force it in the paint mentality that we got into.

Happy with the addition, hopefully they mesh well over the summer and look forward to seeing the results this upcoming season.

There was a time when we almost exclusively played a 2-3 zone and rarely switched to man defense and we were a really good defensive team those seasons. I don't know why we did not go to that more with Audi basically camping out in the paint already on defense. If you have good wing players that can get after it and rotate to the ball the 2-3 works well. We maybe even need to try some kind of matchup zone or a box and 1 as what we've been playing lately we really get exposed on defense against good teams.