Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="Dillon77, post: 2985585, member: 6620"] Tony: Excellent post. The points I've quoted are the types that you can read/see over at McGraw's Bench (obviously with different players). As you know, ND is losing four starters after this season. Recently, when the lead gets large enough for her, Coach McGraw is often inserting four substitutes -- sophomore forwards Mik Vaughn and Danielle Patterson and freshmen guards Jordan Nixon and Abby Prohaska -- to play with one of the seasoned Irish guards (usually Mabrey or Jackie Young, who will be back next year). The scoring might drop a bit and the winning margin often reduced, but the intent is obvious: this will be their team next year and it's never too early to put "young 'uns" in the lead positions and work on their chemistry. Often the other team leaves their starters in, which is good for the 2nd unit. On defense, they have to learn subtle things, like beating opposition posts to the spot so they can't seal it or be in the perfect spot to get off their prime shot. And on offense, who will pull the trigger or hold off and make the right next pass? Invariably, this cuts down on the winning margin but that's a small price to pay for getting experience for next year's prime-time players. [/QUOTE]