[81alum]

A bigger question than the starting lineup, to me,  is who will be the first post off the bench.  McCall and Kailee J. are the logical 5-4s--but even if they are good they are not that experienced.  Can they stand up to a pounding?  They will pick up fouls and we will need someone else playing quite a bit of time.  Will it be frosh Kaylee, or Tess?  Maybe Erica Payne or they could move Taylor Greenfield from 3 to 4?  If her defense were much better she does have the moves under the basket to play the 4--but defense is a question. 

3 there are lots of good options.  We have almost too many wings now, with Bonnie and Taylor and Rooks and McPhee.  I would not be surprised if Bonnie and Taylor get the bulk of the time since they both graduate.  It may be harder for Rooks and McPhee to play that much unless they knock Bonnie off her starting perch, or play out of position somehow.  Taylor Greenfield is a question mark--will she get back to her earlier solid play, or will she seem muddled as she was most of last year?

For guards we also have a lot of good options--particularly with Bri showing how well she could do over the summer, and Jasmine and Alex will be pushing for time knowing that this is Amber's last year and they each will have one more to go.  Karlie was terrific when she was healthy last year and we should not forget that she was defensively very solid--she is not just offense.  She is also 5" taller than Lili.  Karlie can play the 3.

When you look at how many great guards and wings we have, and how inexperienced and few posts we have, I wonder if we might see a 1-post system part of the time this year.  Tara will probably find a way to put her best five players on the court regardless of their position.  I kind of like a 2 wing lineup given our personnel. 

[81alum]

A bigger question than the starting lineup, to me,  is who will be the first post off the bench.  McCall and Kailee J. are the logical 5-4s--but even if they are good they are not that experienced.  Can they stand up to a pounding?  They will pick up fouls and we will need someone else playing quite a bit of time.  Will it be frosh Kaylee, or Tess?  Maybe Erica Payne or they could move Taylor Greenfield from 3 to 4?  If her defense were much better she does have the moves under the basket to play the 4--but defense is a question. 

3 there are lots of good options.  We have almost too many wings now, with Bonnie and Taylor and Rooks and McPhee.  I would not be surprised if Bonnie and Taylor get the bulk of the time since they both graduate.  It may be harder for Rooks and McPhee to play that much unless they knock Bonnie off her starting perch, or play out of position somehow.  Taylor Greenfield is a question mark--will she get back to her earlier solid play, or will she seem muddled as she was most of last year?

For guards we also have a lot of good options--particularly with Bri showing how well she could do over the summer, and Jasmine and Alex will be pushing for time knowing that this is Amber's last year and they each will have one more to go.  Karlie was terrific when she was healthy last year and we should not forget that she was defensively very solid--she is not just offense.  She is also 5" taller than Lili.  Karlie can play the 3.

When you look at how many great guards and wings we have, and how inexperienced and few posts we have, I wonder if we might see a 1-post system part of the time this year.  Tara will probably find a way to put her best five players on the court regardless of their position.  I kind of like a 2 wing lineup given our personnel.