Wow! Great comments everyone, especially libertyhawkeye who got the commentary started. I enjoy reading everyone’s opinions. I was not expecting this with FB season getting started. Thanks for everyone’s contributions!
I think there is a general consensus with regard to four of the five starters.
Kathleen and
Mackenzie are the two full-time returning starters and combined for 66-67 minutes last year. I’m certain that they will do similarly again this season. The only uncertainty is who will replace the three departing senior starters. Although
Monica had only 181 minutes, Lisa stated last year that Monica was being groomed to replace Megan. (She shot 55% from the field and scored 15 points with 7 rebounds in one game against NC Central last year.)
Amanda (5 career starts and 1116 minutes in three years) and
Alexis (35 career starts and 1496 minutes in two years) both have plenty of experience and are logical replacements for Hannah and Tania. Amanda played exceptionally well in Spain and is my prediction for the starting ‘4’ position. I wrote earlier that I thought Alexis may not start next season and that
Tomi possibly would. Now, since the Spain trip and the comments that Lisa made at the pre-trip press conference, I believe the fifth starter will be
Kate Martin. Lisa specifically mentioned that Kate was doing very well. Also, It was reported that Kate had 13 rebounds, 5 steals, 7 points and 2 assists in the final game in Barcelona. (I did not see any stats for the Spain games but I did see some video clip highlights that showed Kate and Alexis in many of the clips. I saw Tomi only once.)
Lisa usually substitutes more liberally in the non-conference and then settles with fewer substitutions when the B1G schedule begins. Lisa mentioned that they were returning to a single post offense with four players playing out on the perimeter and that they would even play some without a post. She also mentioned that
Logan Cook (4 of 7 on 3-point shots last year) had elevated her game. These two comments lead me to believe that Logan will be substituting for Monica and I would guess the minutes to be split about 2/3 to 1/3. Another comment by Lisa, about
Makenna Warnock, makes me think she will back-up Amanda. I still think Tomi will have a role behind Kate (or possibly Mackenzie) and that Alexis will see time behind Kathleen and/or Mackenzie. However, another remark by Lisa, about
Gabby Marshall, suggests to me that Alexis’ role may be diminished. In my opinion, when the B1G schedule begins, either Makenna or Tomi will be elevated into a three player rotation with Amanda and Kate at the ‘3’ and ‘4’ positions. I think those minutes will be relatively evenly split for the three main players with about 25-30 for the starters and maybe 20 to 5 split for the two substitutes. Meanwhile, the back-up minutes at the ‘1’ and ‘2’ positions will be scarce for Alexis or Gabby. Finally, I really like
Zion and think she fits in at one of the wing positions where there will undoubtedly be very few minutes for the bench, so it seems probable that she,
Paula V-R and
Megan Meyer will spend most of the time sitting at the far end of the bench.
I hope you all enjoy my comments as much as I do yours. Go Hawks!
