If I remember right we had a couple of games in our injury plagued years where we had the absolute minimum number of players available of 7. If we only had 12 on the roster to start with, we would have had forfeited games per NCAA rules and I think we had at least 14 on the roster at that time.
When Paige got injured and was out for the next season, we were vulnerable behind the now starter Nika, and basically went into desperation last second recruiting mode to get Ines. The high school players had already committed, the portal movement was over, and the only option beyond walk-ons, were foreign players who already had visas that were willing to commit in a few days to coming here, with no time even for a visit. Under those circumstances Ines was a good solution to a one year problem.
My point is if there ever was a fan base that should be well aware of the need for a large roster because of injuries, it is ours. IMO staying at 12 is too dangerous, even if the new addition has close to a zero chance of breaking a healthy rotation and even if that player was clearly the worst of the 13.
Now I would hope to get a player that was rotation possible, even if just very few minutes behind Sarah. Better yet a player good enough to play significant minutes and allow Sarah to play more at the 3. But even if we can't get that, at a minimum I think we need to pursue the best backup 4 we can get, if only for the purpose of being injury insurance. If we wind up pursing just injury insurance vs. a real difference maker if healthy, then a one year rental would not adversely affect our portal or HS recruiting possibilities.
