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Message: [QUOTE="oldhusky, post: 4568713, member: 9844"] It is quite possible, even probable, that we will have above average play at the 5 next year from either Ice, Jana, or both. Like you I don't think we can count on Amari, but there is still some hope there. As for Ayanna, I expect her to improve, but this year was below Uconn level standards for a good backup. So while there are three high level "prospects" including Ayanna with Ice and Jana, there is only one very good proven big in Aaliyah IMO. So my interest in the portal is not to just pick up another body, or injury protection with a big in the portal, but rather having my antenna out for that rare very good experienced C who for one year could start, and be as good or better than say Dorka this year or Liv her senior year. That type of player that is plug and play ready, could be significantly better than what we could realistically expect from Ice or Jana in their first year. I expect both of those players to be very good by the time they are juniors or seniors, but out of necessity we probably need one of those to start their first year, and the other to be the principle backup, unless we go small ball, which admittedly is a decent alternative but I don't think is optimal. So suppose another Dorka was out there, not a disgruntled freshmen with red flags, but someone who has had a good career elsewhere, who because of injury or the extra year granted from Covid wanted to experience something different, at perhaps the highest ranked school in the country going into next year, that is absolutely loaded at every other position but C, where they have promising talent but lack experience. That would be the cherry on top of a perfect lineup, a proven experienced star at the 5 and two talented newcomers to fight for the backup minutes and gain some experience for next year. Obviously there are very few players that would be like that, and they may not enter the portal, and if we run with Ice and Jana we will still be very good, but Covid, grad transfers and injuries create some unique situations. Just two years ago not just Dorka, but with Cardosa there were two C's that would meet that criteria. There may be none this year, but without naming names I could see a few possibilities due to the circumstances. For example there was a star at Kansas State that missed her senior year with a knee injury. She might have expected at this time to be looking forward to seeing her name called early in the WNBA draft. She could enter the draft, but probably would not be ready to play their season, but could be ready by the fall for another NCAA season. She could of course return to her existing school, or decide to experience something new, perhaps at a program way better than her existing one, filling a need, maybe like Lou for us this year. Other C's have had senior years disrupted by injuries that could affect their availability for the earlier WNBA season that could be ready for next year's college season. They may go pro or return to their existing team, but injuries that have recovery times beyond the upcoming WNBA season create a more interesting decision for them, and being a cherry on top for Uconn is a unique opportunity. Other schools with very good senior C's who missed time because of a season ending injury are Iowa State, Tennessee and Oregon. I'm not saying it is likely, but possible that a player in that position would consider Uconn for one year, a dream they couldn't pass up. Otherwise if you didn't think a transfer could be as good or better than first year Ice or Jana don't bother. [/QUOTE]

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