Merkle is a blue chip

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Bigk

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I’m my Opinion, If you’re scoring 19 points a game and getting close to double digit rebounds a game in the Big Ten, you are definitely a blue chip player. Those of you who think she’s just an above average power 4 player, I beg to differ.
 

Bigk said:
I’m my Opinion, If you’re scoring 19 points a game and getting close to double digit rebounds a game in the Big Ten, you are definitely a blue chip player. Those of you who think she’s just an above average power 4 player, I beg to differ.
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Defense and availability. She doesn't play 30 minutes per game due to her size. She has missed a few games due to injury every year. Her defense is not very good.
 


TruthSeeker said:
Defense and availability. She doesn't play 30 minutes per game due to her size. She has missed a few games due to injury every year. Her defense is not very good.
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When you have Merkle, Thomas, Breshers, Woodson you don’t need to play 30 minutes a game. She will be used I’m sure like Hart and Tonga. Go hard and get a rest. In her minutes she’s going to be productive. This team has elite 8 potential.
 

DietCokeFan said:
When you have Merkle, Thomas, Breshers, Woodson you don’t need to play 30 minutes a game. She will be used I’m sure like Hart and Tonga. Go hard and get a rest. In her minutes she’s going to be productive. This team has elite 8 potential.
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Thank you - there are more pieces on the chess board now
 


Bigk said:
I’m my Opinion, If you’re scoring 19 points a game and getting close to double digit rebounds a game in the Big Ten, you are definitely a blue chip player. Those of you who think she’s just an above average power 4 player, I beg to differ.
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ESPECIALLY if you are doing it for Penn State.. let's be honest they haven't been the best team.. the last few years.. I'm sure she got doubled plenty.. to be 1000% honest I haven't watched Penn State other then the games against us.. but I'm sure teams were doubling her plenty.. almost 19 and half points and almost 9 rebounds.. isn't something to sneeze at
 

TruthSeeker said:
Defense and availability. She doesn't play 30 minutes per game due to her size. She has missed a few games due to injury every year. Her defense is not very good.
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LakeWoebegone said:
All that matters is how is translates to the Gophers and I think this was our best case scenario for Center. I still am just so pleased the coaching staff got this done.
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Agree 100%. Coach P's defensive and ball-security strengths should also help minimize 2 of Merkle's chief weaknesses, namely defense and turnovers. Penn State was a disaster on defense (worst in the BIG), and Merkle was part of the problem, but far from the whole problem. Merkle's turnover rate in BIG play this year was 18.4% (Sophie Hart's was 11.5%).
 

BigTenGuy said:
Agree 100%. Coach P's defensive and ball-security strengths should also help minimize 2 of Merkle's chief weaknesses, namely defense and turnovers. Penn State was a disaster on defense (worst in the BIG), and Merkle was part of the problem, but far from the whole problem. Merkle's turnover rate in BIG play this year was 18.4% (Sophie Hart's was 11.5%).
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I also feel when you’re the star trying to do too much could be the issue here. Get her on a team with more talent, teams won’t be able to focus just on her. I expect her numbers to improve.

Again this is a fantastic get.
 

DietCokeFan said:
I also feel when you’re the star trying to do too much could be the issue here. Get her on a team with more talent, teams won’t be able to focus just on her. I expect her numbers to improve.

Again this is a fantastic get.
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If nothing else, it does prove the institution wants to win. I have no idea how much it spent and whether the returnees took a discount from the market price, which could be a factor, but it’s encouraging that the administration is demonstrating it wants to win by providing a good coach and decent resources.
 

I noted in another thread that my wife was streaming Merkle highlights on the TV last night and I was impressed. She was not afraid of when UCLA swarmed her with 3 players and kept scoring. And in several highlights, when she realized she was trapped, she'd swing around and fire the ball off to the perimeter players, often resulting in 3s. So its there. It just needs to be Gopherized.
 

LakeWoebegone said:
I noted in another thread that my wife was streaming Merkle highlights on the TV last night and I was impressed. She was not afraid of when UCLA swarmed her with 3 players and kept scoring. And in several highlights, when she realized she was trapped, she'd swing around and fire the ball off to the perimeter players, often resulting in 3s. So its there. It just needs to be Gopherized.
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Awesome! That’s what I like hear double team recognition and the ability to kick it back out!
 

I know this thread is about Merkle being a 'blue chip' player... but, considering the number of girls playing HS bb and the few that receive scholarship offers for college ball... they are all 'blue chip'... IMO.

Sometimes I wish some on the forum would give all the portal grabs a chance to play before throwing-them-under-the-bus.

... and yes, without question,! Merkle is blue chip and I am glad she chose Minnesota!
 

DietCokeFan said:
When you have Merkle, Thomas, Breshers, Woodson you don’t need to play 30 minutes a game. She will be used I’m sure like Hart and Tonga. Go hard and get a rest. In her minutes she’s going to be productive. This team has elite 8 potential.
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Sophie played fewer minutes/game than Merkle... both <25
 

This is a BIG get for this team. Merkle will clog the middle and make it difficult for the opposing bigs to bully this team down low for easy scores and open the floor on offense. Great pick-up for Coach P and the program.
 



Bobek said:
People are sure nitpicking Merkle. Why complain about getting a 6’6” player who averaged 19 ppg and a lot of rebounds in the Big Ten? She make this team better!
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Agree 100%. She will also help improve the team's shooting percentage, which has been the continuing offensive weakness of Coach P's Gopher teams. The Gophers have been 13th, 11th and 10th (2025-26) in FG% in conference games during Coach P's tenure. Sophie Hart shot 55.4% in BIG play this year; Gracie Merkle shot 72.6% in BIG play. Merkle will make the Gophers a more efficient offensive team.
 

Agree. You can't take that for granted. There are a lot of tall post players who don't make shots right under the basket. Height, nor presence doesn't just = scoring. It takes talent and skills for sure to make close to 3/4 baskets.
 

DietCokeFan said:
When you have Merkle, Thomas, Breshers, Woodson you don’t need to play 30 minutes a game. She will be used I’m sure like Hart and Tonga. Go hard and get a rest. In her minutes she’s going to be productive. This team has elite 8 potential.
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Correct, the goal is to play 8-9 players in the rotation and be strong in the 4th. Hart played 23 minutes a game. Merkle played 3 more minutes a game than Hart.
 

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