I wish everyone would stop forgetting about Aubrey. If anyone is going to drive the opponents offense / defense crazy it's her! If she is able to control herself more like MoJeff finally did, she will be an absolute terror!
Not just Aubrey but Edwards and Mir as well. With what we have and what is coming we could create some very interesting small ball lineups, pressing and fast-breaking lineups, 4 three point shooter lineups etc. It is exciting that Geno will have many options for situational substitutions based on need.
In general, however, going with a much bigger or much smaller lineup tends to help the offenses on both sides. Bigs can't keep up with the smalls around the perimeter, or on drives to the basket, and the smalls are posted up over and over. Matching size with your opponents is more of a defensive strategy.
We might be able to do small ball better than most because of three factors. Some of our three point shooters are tall enough and talented enough to hold their own on the boards against other team's PF. Anna, Saylor and Caroline fit that category and Edwards looks to have plenty of size and ability at the 4 but may also have pretty good perimeter and three point skills.
Second a very good center who can defend the paint and clear the defensive boards makes it easier to go with this strategy. Ono and Deberry would seem to fit that role, with a maybe on Piath, possibly in an undersized version with Edwards in that role.
And third whoever is our undersized PF they need to be able to hang in there on the defensive end against bigger players. This might not be that much of a problem because not too many college teams have two good post up players in the game at the same time. Ono or later Deberry can take the toughest low post assignment, and our smaller PF would take the lessor threat.
Finally it is comforting that if we need rebounding and or defense at PF that Edwards and Griffin can probably provide that and maybe Mir as well. Maybe for another post or thread, but you could have many different combinations so let me throw out a few scenarios.
End of games or quarters situations.
1. Your possession need a three- Paige, CW, Anna, Westbrook, Edwards
2. Your position looking for a two-Paige, CW, Westbrook, Griffin (off reb), Edwards
3. On defense need a stop- Nika, Westbrook, Mir, Griffin, Ono
4. Opponent needs to foul you to stop clock- Paige, CW, Anna, Westbrook, Edwards
And a few more scenarios.
5. Fastbreak lineup- Nika, Paige, Anna, Griffin, Edwards
6. Pressing lineup- Nika, Paige, Westbrook, Griffin, Ono
7. Fastbreak and Pressing- Nika, Paige, Westbrook, Anna, Griffin
8. Rebounds- Paige, Mir, Griffin, Edwards, Ono
The first four are one possession scenarios, but the others have to take both sides of the ball into account while trying to get the desired trait. Most probably figure Paige into many scenarios, but I probably have higher expectations for Nika and Edwards than many posters.
) is an interesting waste of time. Geno is working on building a balanced team, one that through the years has a proven formula for a National Championship.
