Babcock and Stafford

[Fk_Pitt]

For those who follow this team closer, what was the plan going into the season? Surely Dan didn’t expect Stafford and Babcock to be what they are? Or did he? They are on the court the whole match. What if they needed to grow into their roles like so many freshmen do? What would this team have looked like? Who would we have relied on? Or was this always the plan because these two players were slam dunk players?

 

[HOF Coach]

For those who follow this team closer, what was the plan going into the season? Surely Dan didn’t expect Stafford and Babcock to be what they are? Or did he? They are on the court the whole match. What if they needed to grow into their roles like so many freshmen do? What would this team have looked like? Who would we have relied on? Or was this always the plan because these two players were slam dunk players?

Dan knew what he had in Liv and Torrey. They are elite.

Kayla Lund raves about them.

 

[plcp]

If you followed the team from the start, there was no question thry were integral to this team. Pitt has a chance to be bat champs and can you imagine what he can pick up on the portal?!

 

[PittMBA]

For those who follow this team closer, what was the plan going into the season? Surely Dan didn’t expect Stafford and Babcock to be what they are? Or did he? They are on the court the whole match. What if they needed to grow into their roles like so many freshmen do? What would this team have looked like? Who would we have relied on? Or was this always the plan because these two players were slam dunk players?

He knew he had two stars

 

[mike412]

I think a lot of people thought he would work them in slowly, but they are too good. I don’t think anyone realized how good they would be defensively in the back row.

Also, if you go back and read posts, there were quite a few people who thought Babcock would be a MB and not an Outside Hitter.

 

[Bethlehemjohn]

For those who follow this team closer, what was the plan going into the season? Surely Dan didn’t expect Stafford and Babcock to be what they are? Or did he? They are on the court the whole match. What if they needed to grow into their roles like so many freshmen do? What would this team have looked like? Who would we have relied on? Or was this always the plan because these two players were slam dunk players?

He absolutely knew what he was getting. They were our two best recruits ever.

 

[RightSaidTed]

This team could be scary good next year. Not that they aren't already, but Fairbanks and Klika as seniors and Stafford and Babcock with a full year under their belt ... If Fisher can pull an elite MB from the portal, they could be preseason Top 2 (Pretty sure Nebraska is also returning most/all of its team).

 

[pittdan77]

The team struggled a bit early in the season because there was a big learning curve for the two freshmen. I was surprised he put them out there like that but he obviously knew it was worth it. Honestly, they play with confidence and they aren't afraid to make mistakes and that fits with how Fisher wants is team to play. Right now, Pitt is just overpowering teams and a lot of people don't talk about the defense but you could see how frustrated USC was by the blocks and digs the team was making as that game progressed. The two freshmen are both excelling in that regard, too.

 

[121rum]

Wasn't bayless the highest ranked recruit in the class as well?

 

[imrealangry]

They stumbled early but you could see the flashes. Like others have said, these two were some of Pitt's highest ranked recruits ever. The talent was immediately apparent and that's why they started all season. Recruits of this caliber were inevitable after Pitt's deep tourney runs recently.

 

[vantheman1976]

They stumbled early but you could see the flashes. Like others have said, these two were some of Pitt's highest ranked recruits ever. The talent was immediately apparent and that's why they started all season. Recruits of this caliber were inevitable after Pitt's deep tourney runs recently.

That's why a national championship game against Nebraska is so intriguing.....they start 3 freshman....we start 2. Imagine a national championship game where 5 of 12 starters are freshman.

 

[RightSaidTed]

That's why a national championship game against Nebraska is so intriguing.....they start 3 freshman....we start 2. Imagine a national championship game where 5 of 12 starters are freshman.

Except we would play them in the semis - still intriguing though. Would love to see that match up.

 

[vantheman1976]

Except we would play them in the semis - still intriguing though. Would love to see that match up.

Oh yeh....I keep forgetting....we're 4th seed....not 3rd like we should have been

 

[chrisran24]

Wasn't bayless the highest ranked recruit in the class as well?

Stafford was. If I remember correctly, Stafford was top 10 nationally, Babcock was top 20, Bayless was top 50 and Haiti was top 75. Or somewhere around each of those. Stafford and Babcock were MVPs of the All-American game as well

 

[mike412]

Depending on which recruiting service you looked at, there was a disparity between ranking Babcock and Stafford. Some had Babcock higher; some had Stafford higher. Remember, they are ranked primarily based on their performance in 10th and 11th grade. Most commit by then. By the time they are seniors, the evaluators are looking at 10th graders.

One thing that helped Stafford was when she was in 10th and 11th grade her setter was one of the two or three best in the country. She now starts at Stanford. That probably made it easier to adjust to Fairbanks. Babcock had some good players around her but none of that caliber.