04-02-2022, 04:04 PM
On paper, the losses are bad, but not devastating. We lose our third (Lexie Hull), sixth (Anna Wilson), and eighth (Lacie Hull) leading scorers; combined they account for 21.8 points out of 73.9 (29%), 384/1473 rebounds (26%), and 243/537 (45%) of our assists. Still, we bring back our top two scorers (Brink and Jones) our top two rebounders (Brink and Jones) and our top player in assists (Jones), though the departing seniors were 2, 3, and 4 in assists. They were also 2, 3 and 4 in made three pointers (behind Jump) and the Hull twins were tied with Jump in 3-point percentage (40%). We will miss Lexie Hull's team-leading 75 steals; in fact Lexie Hull, Anna Wilson, and Lacie Hull were 1-2-3 on the team in steals, accounting for 171 out of the 297 total steals for the team (58%). A folks have mentioned, we will not be as disruptive a defensive team next year.
I agree that we will likely see a lot more of Haley Jones at the 3 next year, with Cameron Brink and Belibi as the posts (with Iriafen, Prechtel and Betts rotating in with the posts). I could see more of a role for Prechtel next year as a "shooting forward" to bolster our outside shooting. I could see us experimenting with a massive lineup featuring Jump, Jones (as a point forward), Prechtel (as a shooting forward), Belibi and Brink or an even more massive lineup swapping Belibi out for Betts, LOL. But I imagine that our "normal" starting rotation would likely be Van Gytenbeek, Jump, Jones, Brink and Belibi (as BobK suggested). That being said, Vanderveer hasn't shied away from starting freshmen when they are transformational, so I could imagine Betts as our starting center by the end of the year if she is that good.
BC
I agree that we will likely see a lot more of Haley Jones at the 3 next year, with Cameron Brink and Belibi as the posts (with Iriafen, Prechtel and Betts rotating in with the posts). I could see more of a role for Prechtel next year as a "shooting forward" to bolster our outside shooting. I could see us experimenting with a massive lineup featuring Jump, Jones (as a point forward), Prechtel (as a shooting forward), Belibi and Brink or an even more massive lineup swapping Belibi out for Betts, LOL. But I imagine that our "normal" starting rotation would likely be Van Gytenbeek, Jump, Jones, Brink and Belibi (as BobK suggested). That being said, Vanderveer hasn't shied away from starting freshmen when they are transformational, so I could imagine Betts as our starting center by the end of the year if she is that good.
BC