UCLA 2025

[Bone Dog]

Also, with Barker leaving that might leave more consistent minutes available for Gardiner. I realize there are other front court options available. Just seems like neither Barker or Gardiner thrived last year, maybe with only one of them there it will work out better.

At the time, I thought bringing in Barker as a transfer was Cori’s mistake. But it was probably just as much Janiah’s mistake too. It’s not just a question of fit, but also of clogging the roster with too much talent, and Timea may have been the one who suffered for it.

Now in the aftermath, I hope transferring to Tennessee is a good move for Janiah. I have a feeling it will improve Timea’s situation for this season. And if there’s still some rehab to work through I hope she can resolve that without too much difficulty.

 

[jake0414]

Janiah recruited herself to UCLA and not the other way around. Close was hesitant but Janiah persisted and the other team members persuaded Cori that the team needed someone with Janiah’s athleticism and grit to compete with physical teams such as LSU and South Carolina. I believe Janiah’s then partner had moved to Los Angeles so that made UCLA attractive as well.

But as you mention it created was a logjam at the forward and post positions. Janiah did best in the games Lauren sat out injured. Will be interesting to see how things work out with Coach Caldwell’s entire lineup substitution patterns.