DeNesha Stallworth To Transfer Out Of Berkeley

This is, indeed, very upsetting and concerning. Stallworth was tremendous last season and while she struggled sometimes this year, I thought she was one of the two or three most important players for Cal’s hopes of a good season next year. I must admit that I am starting to wonder what is going on with so many players leaving and the coach talking constantly about players’ lack of motivation. Very sad.

You have to be shittin’ me.

Seriously?

Just strange.

There were definitely some chemistry problems in the sophomore class…even the coaches were talking about it. But for her to transfer, it’s not looking good. This top four class has fallen apart.

Not a good trend. If this was MBB or football there would be a lot more conversation about what is wrong with the program. I think Coach Boyle still deserves a bit of a pass, but Cal has fallen behind in the league over the past few years and the attrition is probably a big reason why. This needs to be fixed, and it might be getting to the point where the program has a rep that will affect recruiting.

F.

M.

L.

This sucks. This fucking sucks. Leading scorer, key threat, beast down low – gone. This is seriously not good.

And I hadn’t even realized the trend was this bad – what’s going on?

I mean… is Coach Boyle being too rough on the players? I know she’s tough-as-nails, but I have to admit, I’ve often found her post-game comments to pretty harsh. Never really mentioned it ‘cause I figured that’s just how some coaches are… but damn, is it starting to drive kids away? I’m not trying to start anything, but I’m seriously wondering if this might be an issue. I think the tactic worked in the past because she had some tough-as-nails players like Walker, Gray-Lawson and Hampton. I’m not saying that this batch of players isn’t driven – but maybe fewer of them have the mentality that can handle that approach? I mean, Alexis and Ashley were special players, and the teams clearly looked to them for leadership and support. Maybe without those type of leaders…

I dunno, it’s all conjecture anyway. But this is not good. At all.

…the cause is the coaching staff or Coach Boyle. If it’s an isolated incident then it’s part of the regular attrition teams face. I think Joanne Boyle is a spectacular coach, but I’m not there at the half-time meetings and after-the-game lectures. Having seen the LaVonda Wagner meltdown at OSU (and I’m not saying that is what’s happening here AT ALL), it’s amazing what a sour relationship with a coach can do to a team.

I, too, wish DeNesha all the best. She seems like a really nice lady with a lot of basketball talent.

Go Bears.

I like Coach Boyle, viewing passively from the outside. I like the way she handled Tierra’s situation, and I like what she says and how she says it in interviews.
But as was pointed out, quite a number of transfers….

I’m sure she’s learning as much about leadership as the players she leads are learning about playing. I imagine it’ll only make her better to receive this vote of No Confidence.

I hope Stallworth does well going forward.

As for the team, I think we’ll have enough going forward if Brandon can get back on the floor, and if Cohen can add a scoring threat to the PG position. And if Stallworth was a factor in the team’s lack of focus, drive, desire, then we’ll be even better. I recall Boyle being really frustrated with a lack of effort, and if a player transfers out, it would seem that THAT was potentially a player who was the focal point of such a comment. So, maybe it’s subtraction by addition. Not quite as dramatic as the Gary Franklin situation, I’m sure, as that turnaround was unprecedented in my experience, but maybe we see a psychologically much stronger team next season.

Caldwell played 2 fewer minutes than Stallworth, but out-rebounded her by 2 per game. She also shot a slightly higher percentage from the floor, although had markedly fewer steals and blocks, while scoring 4 pts less.

Meanwhile, Brandon averaged 8.5 boards as a freshman, equaling Caldwell’s number. So, I think we can be solid there. Just need Gray to provide a 3rd to that rotation. And if the perimeter game can improve with Cohen and improved play from Sherbert, and contributions from any others, it’ll still be a great game to watch!

Boyle’s teams rode to four straight NCAA appearances on the strength of her predecessor’s recruiting class. Boyle’s first recruiting class was Rama, who, albeit largely because of injuries, never excelled, Natasha, a serviceable player and LG who regressed every year. Her next recruiting class consisted of Mooch who started one game in 4 years, Kelsey who left after two years and a girl who was never eligible to play. The following year she brought in Casey and Angeli both of whom left after a year and there was a third recruit who changed her mind and stayed in Hawaii. That’s two recruiting classes with a grand total of one player who stayed for four years and two who were at Cal more than one. Now De’Nesha is leaving.
I don’t know what to make of it all but I find it very worrisome. I think we’re a long way from Boyle’s job being in jeopardy but there seems considerable cause for concern.