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Message: [QUOTE="EricLA, post: 2373187, member: 26"] So glad to see he's "impressed" so far with the freshmen. And he pretty much nails it with his comments about Crystal starting or not. When Crystal is not on the floor, there's a lot more responsibility on Kia because Crystal is no longer there to share the ball handling responsibilities. Yes Gabby had a bunch of assists last year, yes Lou is more than capable of handling the ball, but would anyone really want either of them handling the ball more than necessary? Geno summed up in 1 sentence why I think it makes more sense to have Crystal start. Lou CAN be one of the primary ball handlers, but that's not even close to the highest and best use of her remarkable skills. Same goes for Gabby. Geno has so many options to mix and match this season, but one thing that's not been discussed much, if at all, is that fact that he DOES like having 2 really good ball handlers on the court. Who are the guards who are considered really good ball handlers? I would say Crystal, Kia, Mikayla, and Andra (Molly is a guard too). I don't doubt that if Crystal starts, most likely Azura would be first off the bench BUT what if Geno takes out Crystal or Kia? Will he WANT Samuelson becoming the 2nd primary ball handler? If Lou handles the ball a lot more, you lose all the great things she can do off the ball (example - getting herself open to receive a pass and drain a 3). It's a different dynamic if Azura comes in for one of the guards. I doubt this would happen, but if Geno really wants 2 ball handlers on the floor, depending on how Mikayla and Andra progress, might he not consider subbing Kia or Crystal with Mikayla or Andra (or Molly, if she has a meteoric rise in performance from last season)? It's not impossible to consider, depending on how both progress. That would give Geno the flexibility to sub in Azura, Batouly, Megan, Lexi and Kyla for Lou, Gabby or Pheesa. What I'm talking about is more positional substitution, not just subbing in the next best player. I still think that either Crystal or Azura starts with the other first off the bench no matter who he takes out. But just throwing out some other ideas - food for thought! [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach