[OCcardinal]

Tara seemed to suggest in the presser that her work is harder this season because lineups are not as automatic.  I was confused by that at first because I thought the starters were playing more minutes.  So I compared the average number of minutes in Pac 12 play between last year and this among the players that played the most:

2021-22 Season Pac 12 Games
Player Games (Avg Minutes when playing)
Anna 15 (32)
Haley 14 (30)
Lexie 15 (30)
Lacie 16 (25)
Cam 15 (22)
Hannah 13 (13)
Fran 16 (13)
Jana 13 (10)
Kiki 15 (8)

2022-23 Season 
Player Games (Avg Minutes when playing)

Hannah 10 (36)
Haley 10 (35)
Cam 10 (29)
Talana 9 (25)
Agnes 8 (19)
Brooke 9 (12)
Kiki 10 (11)
Indya 10 (11)

Comparing the two seasons, I noted the following:
- Haley and Hannah are putting in big minutes (avg of 35+), compared to Haley and Anna's 31 minutes average last season. I don't know if that is because they are doing particularly great or because they are helping fill in for Tara's lack of a go-to 5th or 6th player in the rotation.
- Cam is averaging 7 minutes more a game and is now just under a 30 minute average.  I'm not convinced that the team is better off with her playing 30+ minutes (a tired or overly-cautious Cam trying to avoid fouls isn't necessarily better than our other talented bigs playing those minutes), but it's good to see she can play extended minutes in case Tara may need her to (e.g., in an overtime tournament game).
- Last season the top 3 averaged 31 minutes. This season it is 33 minutes.  
- Last season the top 4 averaged 29 minutes. This season it is 31 minutes. 
- Last season the top 5 averaged 28 minutes. This season it is 29 minutes (with Talana's numbers deflated due to the injury).  So there are actually fewer minutes to dole out to other players this season.  But last season the #5 was Cam and her 22 minutes are worth at least 30 minutes in efficiency for any other player. Also, the #5 is Agnes and there are two Pac 12 games that Tara didn't play Agnes at all. 
So it seems that last season Tara was more firm on her top 5, while this year it is Haley, Cam, Hannah and Talana + ? (whomever matches up best with the opponent).

[OCcardinal]

Tara seemed to suggest in the presser that her work is harder this season because lineups are not as automatic.  I was confused by that at first because I thought the starters were playing more minutes.  So I compared the average number of minutes in Pac 12 play between last year and this among the players that played the most:

2021-22 Season Pac 12 Games
Player Games (Avg Minutes when playing)
Anna 15 (32)
Haley 14 (30)
Lexie 15 (30)
Lacie 16 (25)
Cam 15 (22)
Hannah 13 (13)
Fran 16 (13)
Jana 13 (10)
Kiki 15 (8)

2022-23 Season 
Player Games (Avg Minutes when playing)

Hannah 10 (36)
Haley 10 (35)
Cam 10 (29)
Talana 9 (25)
Agnes 8 (19)
Brooke 9 (12)
Kiki 10 (11)
Indya 10 (11)

Comparing the two seasons, I noted the following:
- Haley and Hannah are putting in big minutes (avg of 35+), compared to Haley and Anna's 31 minutes average last season. I don't know if that is because they are doing particularly great or because they are helping fill in for Tara's lack of a go-to 5th or 6th player in the rotation.
- Cam is averaging 7 minutes more a game and is now just under a 30 minute average.  I'm not convinced that the team is better off with her playing 30+ minutes (a tired or overly-cautious Cam trying to avoid fouls isn't necessarily better than our other talented bigs playing those minutes), but it's good to see she can play extended minutes in case Tara may need her to (e.g., in an overtime tournament game).
- Last season the top 3 averaged 31 minutes. This season it is 33 minutes.  
- Last season the top 4 averaged 29 minutes. This season it is 31 minutes. 
- Last season the top 5 averaged 28 minutes. This season it is 29 minutes (with Talana's numbers deflated due to the injury).  So there are actually fewer minutes to dole out to other players this season.  But last season the #5 was Cam and her 22 minutes are worth at least 30 minutes in efficiency for any other player. Also, the #5 is Agnes and there are two Pac 12 games that Tara didn't play Agnes at all. 
So it seems that last season Tara was more firm on her top 5, while this year it is Haley, Cam, Hannah and Talana + ? (whomever matches up best with the opponent).