Greetings from previous years banter.
Mulkey has a HUGE decision she's going to have to make before mid season. She's doing everything she can to keep the two young BIGS (plus Cave and Higgins getting minutes) on the court so they can grow up during the season AND at the same time keep Nina Davis on the court. To do that, she's playing Davis at the #3.
It ain't gonna work. Talented as she is, she's not a ball-handler, she doesn't create off the dribble unless she's driving across the paint to get to the 6'-8' shot, and she's not a natural 3-pt shooter from the corner. The "magic" that earned her All American status as a 5'11" post as a soph is her ability to position, rebound, and then find the tiniest of openings against other BIGS for the put back shot.
When pushed out to the #3 spot, she's not finding her natural spot on the baseline 10' either side of the basket.
I trust Kim. But by tourney time our best five will be Johnson, Jones, Davis, Brown, and Wallace--all five fairly capable of 36-40 minutes per game, which means we have a tremendous opportunity to wear down almost anybody else's BIGS simply by throwing fresh, rested bodies at them every 3-4 minutes. We should NEVER lose a rebound stat. So, professor of theology and prophet that I am, whenever Kim gets around to calling me to interpret the rustling of the leaves at Delphi, I will whisper one very direct statement as the oracle, . . . . "KEEP YOUR ALL-AMERICAN where she thrives (at the #4 spot) and find SOME OTHER WAY to rotate the young BIGS.
Kim and I are good friends. But I don't expect to get that call from her any time soon.