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Message: [QUOTE="Dillon77, post: 2884557, member: 6620"] [COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Regarding transitions[/COLOR], I completely agree with you: both ND and UConn like nothing more than to get out on the run and force the issue, either for hard drives to the basket or kick-outs for open 3's. I would imagine fans of the respective teams each think their teams do it better, but there's a lot to like about both teams. One element not to discount about the Irish on the break: First, ND group rebounds pretty well and they've got Turner back, who is superb at defense and rebounding. Plus, Turner, who often will be igniting the break with a rebound and outlet pass, runs the floor extremely well and will hustle down to join the break. And Jess Shepard is surprisingly nimble in the open court. [COLOR=rgb(184, 49, 47)]Zone. [/COLOR][COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 0)]Now that would be a reversal! Last year, after Mik Vaughn and Lili Thompson went down with the last of the ACL injuries, ND went almost exclusively to some kind of zone (usually a 2-3). In the first half, that was a kind of "sit back" zone so the team wouldn't get in foul trouble. It only "came to life" in the 3rd quarter. But still ND's mission was to outscore the opponent. Coach MM wants to get back to man-to-man, play some zone and even throw in some zone, perhaps using the four freshmen and two sophomores coming off the bench. [/COLOR] A lot of fans on numerous boards have brought the chemistry issue, both as a blessing last year and a challenge this year. It's very legitimate in some respects, particularly in the early part of the season. Some thoughts, specific to your points: - Of the four injured players, only two come back to the squad, Bri Turner and Mik Vaughn. And they both play center. And make no mistake, Turner is the starter and Vaughn the sub. A talented one, but a sub nonetheless. No worries about roles there. - The interesting element is how Shepard and Turner interact on the court together. Will Shep go to the high post exclusively to demonstrate her mid-range jumper, passing ability and drives to the hoop? Or will they mix it up? Turner has allegedly been working on a mid-range jumper, so we'll see. - Outside of that, you still have four starters returning and Turner is hardly an outsider, so I don't imagine there will be too much trouble there. - As for the sophs (Vaughn, Danielle Patterson) and frosh (Jordan Nixon, Abby Prohaska, Katlyn Gilbert, Danielle Cosgrove), their time will be earned. I'm hopeful they'll all get chances to try to break into the rotation, but... - By the time the playoffs arrive, I be there will be very well-established rotation that is not all that large. (Betting Vaughn and Nixon are two of those in what will probably be 7 or 8 players.) Fully expect that Geno will have a similar rotation by the time the NCAAs start. It's kind of what these coaches do.... Can't wait! [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach