I’ve long said this very thing. The experiment phase of the season, ie November until beginning of February, is the most entertaining, for me at least, and apparently for you too. February-March is more about satisfaction as we watch what Geno has been building come together.
Or January or most of February. You have 5 players (positions) at 40 minutes each or 200 minutes in each game. If Azzi and Sarah play 30+ minutes each in any given game, that is 30% of the minutes. What is the purpose of Azzi or Sarah playing 30+ minutes against Georgetown, Providence etc.? Sure you want to develop chemistry, tag teams like Paige and Sarah last year, and combinations for offenses and defenses, but we don't need those players on the floor for that amount of time to do that and to win overwhelmingly against almost everyone we play this year. We have that much talent, power, depth and size. Many of these games are going to be over in the first quarter.
I can't tell if you're agreeing with me or disagreeing, @BBallF . But you replied directly to me, so that leaves me in a quandary. In a thread about what the next season might hold for Ice, your post goes pretty far afield, but it's reasonable to think there will be limited minutes. And I doubt there's much disagreement on the BY about how many minutes Azzi and Sarah will be on the floor.
Yeah, but then the moaning starts - missed layups, excessive turnovers, poor defense….
And don't forget how devastating it is to get outscored by 2 in the 4th qtr of a 40 pt blowout.
“If we keep giving up so many points in the 4th quarter to bad teams like (whatever), we’ll….”
An unmentioned detail is that Ice's primary injury last year was to her shoulder. Agree that when you are on a potential National Championship Team that the overall conditioning of every player is key. On a Geno coached team, with the emphasis on going all out every practice, this is even more critical.
Also, in Late February/March, if Geno has found a group/rotation/a few lineups that really click together, the playing time may not be there. He'll still rest people when they are up big. But as the tourney gets closer, a lot of rotations shrink to keep the momentum going and keeping the fitness up.
Ice's role will be as much a function of the way the team unfolds as anything else and that is why a larger team discussion provides context. I don't think you can fully predict her role without seeing the full team on display. This is a very unique year for Geno and I do not subscribe to the viewpoint that Geno will simply employ previous patterns for this team. He completely went outside the box last year with small ball and it was brilliant. The most exquisite example of that for me was watching Chloe Kitts trying to defend against KK's drive in the NC game.
You’ve done it to me again, @BBallF. Now you explicitly say you disagree with me, but on the point you cite you’re actually agreeing with me. Yes, the final rotation will not be settled until February — I feel like I’ve said that a few times already. Before then, it’s typically tinkering and experimenting, and that will certainly be true this year too. My only conjecture here is that the experimentation will be even more variegated (!) than previous years, and this will be especially marked in December and January.
It was a big deal, really big, that as other teams got gimpy and tired at the end of the regular season that the Huskies got stronger, primarily because Geno had the luxury of resting key players as needed. Azzi getting mauled? Put Ash in. Jana getting banged up? Ice can give her a breather. Other teams’ stars/starters didn’t have the same stamina in the tourney that we saw in the Huskies and their getting some breaks was a big part of that.
I agree completely Nan about both Geno and his depth last year(wait until this year when it is crazy) and Ice. Let's not forget how Ice played 2 years ago in the BE tourney when she was a freshman and sorely needed when Aaliyah was out and made the All Tourney team. She proved right then and there that she was a step up player. She is being undervalued in my mind. Only a few improvements for her like a stronger put back, a little quicker first step, and more confidence in the 15 footers and you have a real force from her natural 4 position.
Since this is an Ice thread, let's discuss her first. I totally agree that she sets the best screens, probably in years, on this team. Without any development over the summer by her such as in strength, stamina, speed, shots or quickness, she is still part of the solid rotation. With any improvements she becomes a force. Putbacks both on double pumping when necessary and simple straight ups, drive moves left and right, consistent 15 footers and some 3s, and a stronger right hand would transform her into a very different player. Really, I will just take her the way she is no matter what. I think she has an intestinal fortitude that we never recognize and never really laud. She has shown it several times while everyone was too busy watching the marquee stars we have. So yes, I am an Isenuh fan and I am very hopeful for a big year from her.
Good point about the non-starters spelling the starters to keep good energy available for latter parts of games. But as regards Ice tipping balls to teammates, why isn’t she just grabbing them? How often did Sarah or Jana tip rebounds to teammates as opposed to snagging them? Yes about her screens- I love them!
"Ice - the girl so nice they named her twice."
As long as they’re well spaced out by class, everyone can expect to have a fair shot at getting good minutes eventually. Of course, the superstars like Paige and Sarah can create a bit of a logjam because they start all four years.
I don’t see Ayanna playing the 3 this season. She’s not a good enough shooter and she’s too good as a rebounder to mover her out to the wing. Serah could conceivably play the 3 but why would anyone want her to? Obviously, on offense any or all of them could conceivably set up away from the basket. But on defense it’s a very different story.