- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Gracie Merkle is set to enter the transfer portal out of Penn State.
Posted on 4/1/26 at 3:59 pm
Posted on 4/1/26 at 3:59 pm
Gracie Merkle is set to enter the transfer portal out of Penn State.
The 6’6” junior center averaged 19.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.3 APG & 1.1 BPG in 26 games this season. Her 72.48% FG ranked 1st in D1.
The 6’6” junior center averaged 19.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.3 APG & 1.1 BPG in 26 games this season. Her 72.48% FG ranked 1st in D1.
9
Posted on 4/1/26 at 4:16 pm to Makavellimw
Hello, U Conn
Posted on 4/1/26 at 4:56 pm to Makavellimw
She doesn’t fit a team that likes to run up and down the court.
Posted on 4/1/26 at 4:59 pm to Septiger
No, but she can get the rebound and start the transition. And then, probably just stand there and wait for the next rebound.
Posted on 4/1/26 at 6:04 pm to TigerDCC11
quote:
No, but she can get the rebound and start the transition. And then, probably just stand there and wait for the next rebound.
Posted on 4/1/26 at 6:34 pm to Makavellimw
Someone that can take up space, blockout, and get some rebounds
And maybe make a layup here and there
Lol
And maybe make a layup here and there
Lol
Posted on 4/1/26 at 10:32 pm to Jim bean xxx
That's one big girl.
Posted on 4/2/26 at 1:29 am to Septiger
quote:
She doesn’t fit a team that likes to run up and down the court.
If this girl doesn't fit the system, then I don't know why they recruited Del Rosario. What this team severely lacks, and consistently gets beat by, is big girls who can produce. We either have small "bigs" who are good players, but can't get anything going against bigger players, or we have players like Koval and the aforementioned Del Rosario who who just aren't skilled enough to be counted on. Koval is certainly far better than ADR, but not someone who could take over a game if we needed her to. Not so far, anyway.
So I think you have to get bigger, and not worry so much about the pace. You can go small and play fast if the game dictates it, but that style isn't getting LSU past other elite programs who keep beating us when it matters.
Posted on 4/2/26 at 9:27 am to Makavellimw
Watching her highlights, I've noticed she catches the ball really well, doesn't have hands of stone, doesn't bring the ball down to take a dribble that puts the ball in a position to be fumbled/swiped-at/stolen/jump-ball'd. She keeps the ball high and makes efficient 2-to-3 foot bank shots/layups/putbacks.
Those efficient skills alone makes her an upgrade over our current 6-5 lumberjack but Merkle also brings the same built-in advantages for blocking & rebounds a giant/wide-body usually brings.
Those efficient skills alone makes her an upgrade over our current 6-5 lumberjack but Merkle also brings the same built-in advantages for blocking & rebounds a giant/wide-body usually brings.
This post was edited on 4/2/26 at 9:39 am
Posted on 4/2/26 at 9:32 am to Makavellimw
Audi Crooks just announced she’ll hit the portal too. 25.8 points and 7.7 rebounds.
Posted on 4/2/26 at 9:52 am to LSUFreek
quote:
doesn't bring the ball down to take a dribble that puts the ball in a position to be fumbled/swiped-at/stolen/jump-ball'd.
Koval definitely does that but you’d think Starkey would coach her out of that .
Posted on 4/2/26 at 10:18 am to Septiger
You have to understand just how bad Penn State was to understand why this is a bad idea. Her stats look good but are just the result of her and Kyomi Miller being the only people who could consistently do ANYTHING. Dont be fooled.
Posted on 4/2/26 at 12:32 pm to Makavellimw
Big 1 or whatever they call it was horrid in WBB.
Posted on 4/3/26 at 7:01 am to LABred08
quote:
ou have to understand just how bad Penn State was to understand why this is a bad idea. Her stats look good but are just the result of her and Kyomi Miller being the only people who could consistently do ANYTHING. Dont be fooled.
She shot 72% from the field, and has shot 70% for her entire 3 years of college. So if you're insinuating that two players take all the shots on that team, with that shooting percentage, she should have averaged 30 points per game. So, I do not agree with you. Someone who makes that kind of percentage, and who has the size to get the ball over the heads of some of these big girls who've dominated our post players, is someone I'd take any day.
Posted on 4/3/26 at 9:10 am to Septiger
Koval has hands of stone and isn't quick to the ball fetching rebounds
Posted on 4/3/26 at 9:34 am to LSUFreek
Agree, she uses her size very well and is well-trained given abilities on offense. Idk if she has the feet or skills for defense against fast teams, but a lot of girls don't so kind of depends on options out there.
Posted on 4/3/26 at 9:42 am to Metaloctopus
That's the point. She didn't dominate any other big girls. Go look at the schedule. Only 2 games matter, UCLA who plays a slow pace but had 6-7 Betts, she had 15 and 4 and they lost by 36, Betts had 25 and 7. Against South Carolina, (SEC size and speed) she had 9 and 9 and they lost by 40 and Okot didn't even play, Edwards had 29.
If with LSU she would be constantly behind the play and would slow down LSU's entire offense, especially with someone like Fulwiley starting next year. She would consistently get beat on the defensive end in the open floor by teams that have bigs that run ...ie ALL THE GOOD ONES.
She also is a Junior so she only has 1 year left. You don't take that over more athletic kids that will be Sophomores and Juniors next year
If with LSU she would be constantly behind the play and would slow down LSU's entire offense, especially with someone like Fulwiley starting next year. She would consistently get beat on the defensive end in the open floor by teams that have bigs that run ...ie ALL THE GOOD ONES.
She also is a Junior so she only has 1 year left. You don't take that over more athletic kids that will be Sophomores and Juniors next year
This post was edited on 4/3/26 at 10:52 am
Posted on 4/3/26 at 12:30 pm to LSUFreek
Agree! Analysis of Koval’s shortcomings are right on. She also has the habit of just throwing the ball up agindt the backboard instead of “shooting” it. If Simone wants a head coaching job she needs to train Koval!
Posted on 4/3/26 at 12:46 pm to Septiger
quote:
Koval definitely does that but you’d think Starkey would coach her out of that .
There were a lot of bad habits on this year's team that I would have hoped Bob, if he was truly all that great, would have coached the girls out of.
Posted on 4/3/26 at 1:58 pm to Makavellimw
We need athletic bigs. I would take a 6’3 athletic big over a 6’6 flat footed big.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News