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Message: [QUOTE="BBallF, post: 5285942, member: 10435"] I think if Geno had 12 players that were as talented or contributed as much as his top 6 players he would figure out how to play 12. Did Geno narrow his NCAAT teams and top 5 games to a magic number due to a pattern or preselected number? I think not. At a certain point, you have to have a chemistry and familiarity for the players on the floor and that can control your numbers but when players contribute a special attribute you need or want, they usually play. Before the games were effectively over in the FF, Geno was playing 9 players. You had KK with speed and defense, Ash with speed and surprising offensive rebounding and her known shooting, Ice to back up Jana and play underneath and Aubrey for defense, disruption, and her floor game. So take a core of KK, Azzi, Sarah, Ash, and Serah next year. Add the certainty of K9, Jana and Ice playing and you have 8. No Caroline, Blanca, Morgan, in the mix? Clearly we don't know about Morgan's recovery, Blanca's defense or Caroline's full resumption of her earlier skills. Just suppose Morgan gets back and even improves. I think she plays. Geno loved her defense and floor game. She is 6'2" and so is Caroline and so is Blanca. These are big guards/swing players. If Caroline gets it back, she, as a senior, will play. Her offensive game is multifaceted. She can score in bunches and has a nose for the basket. Blanca is a slasher and power finisher. A different skill and one that breaks down a defense. All 3 may merit time and regularity because all 3 can add different elements that complement those of the core and in some cases even introduce new ones. One thing that Geno demonstrated last year that above and beyond the titles and records makes him the best ever and that is that he can coach any kind of team and talent and transform them into title contenders. Small ball was brilliant in its conception and use. It was a weaponized game changer he brought out at the right times. I see the same thing for other combinations that can play together next year. I think Geno is a very fluid thinker. Whatever flows on this team, he will not turn off the juice. He will nurture it and grow it and make into in February/March a pretty potent concoction. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach