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Message: [QUOTE="oldhusky, post: 4258691, member: 9844"] I understand to a degree that the four year player is good for players and coaches, and should be a higher priority than a rent a player. But in the current world **** happens, players leave, or players you thought you had a good chance of recruiting go elsewhere etc. In some cases filling a temporary need with a RAP can actually be respectful of existing and incoming players. We thought we had a decent chance at Kiki Rice. In my opinion if she had committed to us we wouldn't be clamoring so much for Abby Myers. At that point there were no more Uconn level high school recruits to be plan B. We had 6 guards this year, and for a number of games, 3 of those were out at the same time and we didn't have anybody to give our starters there a rest. Next year we only have 4 (I count Aubrey more as a big), and clearly we need at least one more and the portal is the only option. In some ways I believe pursuing a player like Abby for just one year is showing respect for existing and future players. Consider it from the perspective of KK or Ashlyn. The year after next, they come on board and we have plenty of guards again. Adding Abby or a similar player for just one year doesn't interfere with them at all. As for existing players, the one most potentially affected is Nika. Nika is a point guard, not a SG or SF. At a minimum I think she will get Paige's backup minutes even with a good player from the portal. The main benefit from a portal pickup would be to help at the 2/3 and be more of a scorer than Nika, who could provide a defensive alternative for spot minutes there. In essence that would be a very good 5 player rotation for the 1,2 &3 and then when the 2023 guards come on board the rent a player is gone. I think with the current situation, a RAP fitting a specific need for one year, that improves the team, saves a role in the rotation for players that are there now, and doesn't impact our 2023 guard recruits at all is actually pretty respectful of current and future players. Now if we pursue someone with three years of eligibility remaining, that is different, but I don't think we will do that. [/QUOTE]

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