WBB: Paulk commits to ISU
- Thread starter mred
- Start date
As mentioned in the 2025 recruiting thread, this past season she was the SoCon POY and defensive POY as a sophomore. This is a really nice get.
Looks like a good pick-up.
Sidetrack: Refreshing to see "(player) committs" instead of "(school) earns commitment from ..."
(That's a separate pet-peevery topic of mine).
Sidetrack: Refreshing to see "(player) committs" instead of "(school) earns commitment from ..."
(That's a separate pet-peevery topic of mine).
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Very good addition. Brings some different skill sets that will give our roster more flexibility.
She appears to fill the biggest roster need, a wing that can more than adequately defend. I think she is a Day 1 starter. Her shooting numbers weren’t great at Wofford but those likely improve with more talent around her. She has two years so Bill is now locked and loaded with a rotation of 7 rising juniors to contend for the conference title in what is likely his final two seasons.
Is this an upgrade from Joens? Honest question. Not even trying to start anything. Seems like a good addition.
My guess is that she is not as good of a shooter, but a better defender and rebounder. She looks to be a little bigger than Kelsey. Probably more comfortable guarding an opposing 4 than Kelsey. From the video I watched she appears to play hard like Kelsey too.
Evangelia Paulk records second triple double in Wofford history
Evangelia Paulk records second triple double in Wofford history
Triple double with an incredible 10 steals!
Don't care what level you play at, 10 steals in a game takes some defensive effort!Evangelia Paulk records second triple double in Wofford history
Evangelia Paulk records second triple double in Wofford historynextgen.soconsports.com
Triple double with an incredible 10 steals!
I say this as someone who wanted to keep Joens and liked the role she played. No way she puts up those numbers last year even at a lower level. Now the question is how is Paulk’s contribution with a much lower usage rate. Good pickup on paper regardless.
It wasn't even her season high -- she had 13 in a different game. Granted, that was a 107-35 win over DII Erksine.
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!
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!
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
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
The staff has addressed quickness at the PG and athleticism at the 4 spot. We have some quality depth and flexibility on this roster. Now the real work begins. IMHO for us to make a significant improvement from this year we need to integrate the new pieces, Audi to improve her defense, Addy to play at a first team all conference level, and Hare to be healthy. Excited for the season.
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Before anyone appoints her the second coming…take a deep breath. Saying adding her means no excuses for not winning everything in the conference is way premature and an excuse to crucify the coaches/team if it doesn’t work out. Good defender? Check. Offense? Still a big question mark. She can score, but her percentages aren’t the best. Perhaps with better support around her? We will find out. We found out this year how hype can blow up in one's face so I’m kicking back and doing the hopeful wait and see.
Agree on checking expectations.
If crunch time becomes the historical "hey everyone force it to Audi no matter what" play 12 times in a row, resulting in 9 turnovers... then I don't know how much any of it matters.
Note this is nothing against Audi - it can also be the "hey Emily force a drive into 4 defenders but never get past the free throw line before getting buried and turning it over because refs don't call reaching fouls with 2 minutes to play" play.
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)..
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!
