[81alum]

If the goal is to win championships, then Lepolo is not the answer. 

I am hopeful that Nivar will come along.  Where I disagree with your observation is its absolute certainty--which doesn't really account for player development.  I think it every bit as reasonable to believe that Lepolo will gain confidence in her shot (and she did sink a trey last game) as to believe that Nivar will acquire more vision and passing acumen.  Both of them are highly likely to improve in the areas in which they currently are less strong.  This is particularly true on a Tara team--although the most dramatic progress for guards is usually between the freshman and sophomore years.

Let's take Amber Orrange, who as a freshman in 2011-12 started 23 games as we searched for a point guard.  She and Kokenis were both fulfilling that role.  Orrange was 3/10 from three point range for the entire year.  She averaged 5 ppg.  She did have a mid range jumper and could drive, but clearly did not do a lot of either.  She had 112 assists to 57 turnovers, however, and this was enough to get us to the final four.

Now take a look at Orrange's senior year, 2014-15.  She started all 36 games, and her assist/turnover ratio continued to be excellent as it was her freshman year:  127:66.  However, by this point she became our second leading scorer at 13ppg, and was 29/68 from three point range for a fiery 42%. 

So the question is whether Lepolo will follow the Sniezek trajectory or the Orrange trajectory.  You must think the former, I think there are clues that say the latter.  But neither one of us really knows--it depends upon many imponderables and we will just have to see.

---

However, despite her limited minutes Brink still leads the team in efficiency:



Stanford EFF Leaders Per Game
This Season (so far)

(1) Cameron Brink 15.9

(2) Haley Jones 15.4

(3) Kiki Iriafen 11.2

Brink is like a booster rocket whose fuel is quickly spent, but still gets you into orbit.  

I like your simile, and think it accurate.  And I agree that when she is on the floor Brink is almost always the best player out there.   I refuse to believe, however, that she can't be coached into playing more minutes--something she clearly wants also.

During Chiney's senior year she averaged 34 minutes per game.  I am greedy, and would love to see Brink do likewise.  Chiney also had fouling issues as a freshman, but gradually grew out of them over the course of her college career.  I hope we can see similar growth for Brink.

[81alum]

If the goal is to win championships, then Lepolo is not the answer. 

I am hopeful that Nivar will come along.  Where I disagree with your observation is its absolute certainty--which doesn't really account for player development.  I think it every bit as reasonable to believe that Lepolo will gain confidence in her shot (and she did sink a trey last game) as to believe that Nivar will acquire more vision and passing acumen.  Both of them are highly likely to improve in the areas in which they currently are less strong.  This is particularly true on a Tara team--although the most dramatic progress for guards is usually between the freshman and sophomore years.

Let's take Amber Orrange, who as a freshman in 2011-12 started 23 games as we searched for a point guard.  She and Kokenis were both fulfilling that role.  Orrange was 3/10 from three point range for the entire year.  She averaged 5 ppg.  She did have a mid range jumper and could drive, but clearly did not do a lot of either.  She had 112 assists to 57 turnovers, however, and this was enough to get us to the final four.

Now take a look at Orrange's senior year, 2014-15.  She started all 36 games, and her assist/turnover ratio continued to be excellent as it was her freshman year:  127:66.  However, by this point she became our second leading scorer at 13ppg, and was 29/68 from three point range for a fiery 42%. 

So the question is whether Lepolo will follow the Sniezek trajectory or the Orrange trajectory.  You must think the former, I think there are clues that say the latter.  But neither one of us really knows--it depends upon many imponderables and we will just have to see.

---

However, despite her limited minutes Brink still leads the team in efficiency:



Stanford EFF Leaders Per Game
This Season (so far)

(1) Cameron Brink 15.9

(2) Haley Jones 15.4

(3) Kiki Iriafen 11.2

Brink is like a booster rocket whose fuel is quickly spent, but still gets you into orbit.  

I like your simile, and think it accurate.  And I agree that when she is on the floor Brink is almost always the best player out there.   I refuse to believe, however, that she can't be coached into playing more minutes--something she clearly wants also.

During Chiney's senior year she averaged 34 minutes per game.  I am greedy, and would love to see Brink do likewise.  Chiney also had fouling issues as a freshman, but gradually grew out of them over the course of her college career.  I hope we can see similar growth for Brink.