Since we are in a slow time now, just two two months from the start of official practice, and we have a number of off-topic postings, I feel no need to apologize for again discussing how 200 minutes of playing time will be divided among 14 players. Surely this is just as relevant as OT topics about “what is your favorite flavor of chewing gum” and the hottest prospect for the class of 2027 who goes around wearing an “I Love Geno" t-shirt. And, after all, we have had a number of “Who’s Starting” threads.
This time, however, I will approach the subject from a somewhat different perspective. The caveats, however, are that we really do not know what improvements some players will make during the off-season and how the inevitable injuries will affect playing time. Piath Gabriel, for example, has undergone some non-basketball related surgery and will not be participating in summer practices and this will impede her development. Paige Bueckers has had ankle surgery and also will not be participating in most/all summer activities. What effect might this have on her sophomore season? Likewise Saylor Poffenbarger.
Nevertheless, starting with 200 minutes, what do we know? A few players at the end of the bench, identities not yet determined, although we can make some pretty good guesses, will only play in garbage time and Paige will play 30 minutes. That leaves about 160 minutes to be divided among the other players and how they might be distributed becomes pure conjecture. Since the team has much greater depth than last season, there are a lot more questions about the individuals on the team and how the pieces will come together than for last year. A good deal of the debate prior to last season focused around two questions - was Paige Bueckers going to be the 5th starter and was Nika Muhl good enough to be part of the rotation. A lot of Boneyards voiced negative postings on both these matters. I expect that these minutes will be distributed among the five others in last year’s rotation, plus newcomers Fudd and Juhasz. The basic rotation will probably consist of eight players. What roles Ducharme and Griffin will have remains to be determined.
For the upcoming season, however, we have a number of interesting topics to pontificate about. Is Amari DeBarry good enough to be on the floor for significant minutes or will she basically come off the bench at the end of the game? What will we see from Saylor Poffenbarger in 2021-22? Will she play like a high schooler in over her head or shall we see a confident person who was highly ranked by the rating mavins? Will Aubrey Griffin make major improvements so that she will play more than around 10 minutes per game? Who will have the most minutes at center, ODO or Dorka Juhasz? Which player(s) will be on the floor most after Bueckers? Is Azzi Fudd as good as Paige Bueckers, and so on? Finally, when will certain Boneyarders give Nika Mühl the respect she deserves?
Such will be interesting to contemplate and, if anyone is interested, my favorite gum flavor is spearmint.
This time, however, I will approach the subject from a somewhat different perspective. The caveats, however, are that we really do not know what improvements some players will make during the off-season and how the inevitable injuries will affect playing time. Piath Gabriel, for example, has undergone some non-basketball related surgery and will not be participating in summer practices and this will impede her development. Paige Bueckers has had ankle surgery and also will not be participating in most/all summer activities. What effect might this have on her sophomore season? Likewise Saylor Poffenbarger.
Nevertheless, starting with 200 minutes, what do we know? A few players at the end of the bench, identities not yet determined, although we can make some pretty good guesses, will only play in garbage time and Paige will play 30 minutes. That leaves about 160 minutes to be divided among the other players and how they might be distributed becomes pure conjecture. Since the team has much greater depth than last season, there are a lot more questions about the individuals on the team and how the pieces will come together than for last year. A good deal of the debate prior to last season focused around two questions - was Paige Bueckers going to be the 5th starter and was Nika Muhl good enough to be part of the rotation. A lot of Boneyards voiced negative postings on both these matters. I expect that these minutes will be distributed among the five others in last year’s rotation, plus newcomers Fudd and Juhasz. The basic rotation will probably consist of eight players. What roles Ducharme and Griffin will have remains to be determined.
For the upcoming season, however, we have a number of interesting topics to pontificate about. Is Amari DeBarry good enough to be on the floor for significant minutes or will she basically come off the bench at the end of the game? What will we see from Saylor Poffenbarger in 2021-22? Will she play like a high schooler in over her head or shall we see a confident person who was highly ranked by the rating mavins? Will Aubrey Griffin make major improvements so that she will play more than around 10 minutes per game? Who will have the most minutes at center, ODO or Dorka Juhasz? Which player(s) will be on the floor most after Bueckers? Is Azzi Fudd as good as Paige Bueckers, and so on? Finally, when will certain Boneyarders give Nika Mühl the respect she deserves?
Such will be interesting to contemplate and, if anyone is interested, my favorite gum flavor is spearmint.
