I Guess Sooner or Later This Would Happen

[huskyd]

Is it fair? It's a question I've been asking myself for quite a while.

I was thinking just last night how much Brady has improved. I noted KK's improvement, and I believe that Ice is solid as, well, ice. Brady battled strongly with Mt. Crooks, who is more of a shot-putter than a basketball player. I also liked Ice's occasional offense. If anyone is questionable, it's the Lady from the Levant. There's no coherent shape to Jana's game: one moment she looks good, the next she misses another bunny or ft. I don't see any real growth, though having tall timber in the middle is a good thing compared to the alternative.
Let's keep the faith in Ice; she's on the up-swing and a nice piece going forward. I see you, Ice.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Not from me.

Ice started slow last year but played pretty good towards the end of the season. I'm willing to give Ice that opportunity again. Not sure why other BY'ers don't feel that way.

As it stands right now Ice is serviceable.

Seems like Geno is dipping into the Hurley bag of tricks in the way he's handling rotating bigs with different skill sets... He got what he needed at the 5 last night with Ice's defense and Jana's rebounding.

 

[Dixiedog]

the loss of nika's heart has been terribly apparent so far this year. this team clearly has much superior talent to last season but it's been missing something: nika's leadership.

paige hasn't replaced it, though she is an incredible player and person. neither have kaitlyn and kk, who have assumed nika's role -- and exceeded her in some ways but don't provide her inspiration and spirit.

the most promising chance for an approximation of nika is morgan. she has got the spark, i think, even though she is just beginning her college career. nika did far less when she first arrived.

if i'm right about morgan, she'll make an enormous contribution to husky glory as the season progresses. BTW, the importance of that contribution seems to be badly overlooked by fans. i think geno's well aware of it -- but you cannot teach it. it's innate. he only can encourage it and thank god he had/has such a kid.

Paco totally agree with your observations as per Morgan - just not what I bolded in post. We all remember Nika's 0 for America start her freshman year but we tend to forget the very early impact she had on a pretty guard heavy team. Through 11 games, which is where Morgan was at the time of your post these are Nika's stats: She just made her 4th start ( which would continue for the balance of the season until her injury against High Point), and had compiled 32 assists, 18 blocks, 21 rebounds and had 49 points.

Morgan's shooting percentages are higher but that's about it. She needs to work on her scowl and intensity of her chest bumps to be the second coming of Nika

. I have my hopes that Morgan can bring, even a good measure, of what we've lost with Nika's departure. As with you and others, I've seen glimpse of Nika in Morgan and as you pointed out it is something we are missing this season, thus far. As Geno said (paraphrase) you have to have a player or two like Nika to win it all. But he also pointed out that Nika was unique and he has only had a handful of players like her over his career. I'm on board with you hoping Morgan adds another one to that list.