Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="oldhusky, post: 4770302, member: 9844"] I think you are right that Geno won't play someone who has not performed well in practice, at least for important minutes in a contested game, but he will of course for mop up minutes at the end of a blowout, and for sure we would need 60 minutes a game to keep all the fans satisfied that their favorites were getting enough minutes. Like hoophuskee I think some of Geno's expectations for expanded roster use is because of more blowouts, but I also think he intends to go further down his bench in the big games too. Sometimes I think fans think well this player has to play, and that one has to play, and they don't actually do the math, because that probably means you have to leave out someone you want to give minutes to. We have 14 players, which is a lot, but of course lost Jana for the season, so 13 available. Geno has shown if he is not happy with his bench options he can stick with a 7 player rotation. Now this year he should have many more quality and hopefully healthy options, so I consider 9 to be my minimum expectation, I am hoping for 10, and would be thrilled if 11 earned his trust and forced him to play them, but I think that many is unlikely. For me the first 7 names are easy, Paige, Azzi, Aaliyah, Nika, Aubrey, Caroline, and Ice. My best guess is KK and Ayanna are the next two. KK may be too good not to play, despite our loaded PG options, and I suspect Geno wants to use her in some pressing defenses. In Ayanna's case her first year was disappointing, but she played injured, and we need another big in the rotation. At this point if it comes down to Ayanna or Amari, I think Ayanna has the edge. That's 9 and that could be it. If so Amari, Q, Ashlynn and Ines are DNP coaches decision in games against top teams. If he does go to 10 or even 11, I think Amari has the next best chance, partly because she is the only big time shot blocker with height. Q might fulfill a 3 and D type role at the 3 and could be next up with a injury to any of our perimeter players. It is a little hard for me to see a regular role for Ashlynn or Ines against ranked opponents, but I see them performing well when given a chance in blowouts of which there should be many. We pretty much know we are loaded at positions 1-3, and even at the 4 if you use Aubrey mostly there behind Aaliyah. The 5 has talented candidates in Ice and Amari, but both are coming off injuries and are unproven, and Ayanna will need to play important minutes at the 4 if Aaliyah has to play the 5 because Ice or Amari isn't ready or healthy. In the backcourt all we need is health. At the 5 we need some players to live up to their potential which I fully expect from Ice and hope for regarding Amari. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach