Proud to be a fan of Illini women's bball after today's gritty win against a tournament team.
Back in November, I was expecting a better regular season. By the second week in January, when we were 0-4 in the conference and 6-8 overall, I had drastically downgraded these expectations. For the team to fight so hard to the end of the season--getting to 8 conference wins and a .500 record--proved a great deal of mental strength and is very respectable.
We proved ourselves a solid middle of the pack team that can give a game to even the best in a very tough conference (Ohio State, Indiana). It's not completely implausible that the team could win the conference tournament to earn a tourney bid.
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I hate to be pessimistic about players' potential, but to be at the top of the conference next year might require some on the current roster to move on. Others here have suggested as much. Hoping to have back Bostic (already said she will), Cook, and Bryant; and looking at Ndour, Jackson, and Dewey--players whom we didn't see much this year--whose departures would open up spots for transfers to include at least one plug-and-play high level center to replace Hobby.
I can be happy with a backcourt depth chart that includes: Cook, Bryant, Rhodes, Dolan, Allen, McKenzie, Wallace. Curious whether we'll find more lineups in 2024-5 that have only one of Cook or Bryant on the court at a time in order to have a bit more size on the floor. A second-year Dolan and a McD's All American, Wallace, might help to afford us such an opportunity.
A frontcourt depth chart highlighted by Bostic, Bollin, and Schoup-Hill is lacking. First-year Hayven Smith may need development time. Give me a starting-caliber center and another strong rotation big, please.
Wonder if any of Rhodes, Allen, or Schoup-Hill are considering entering the transfer portal, and what Cook and Bryant (seniors with another year of eligibility) plan to do...
Anyway, on to Minneapolis for the conference tournament. Clear goals: beat Maryland for the first time, and then hold a lead against Ohio State and knock them off!