I'm going out on a limb. If Sarah played with full passion, freedom, and confidence, she would be a more effective weapon than Van Lith. Sarah has another gear which she exposes in flashes, but has not yet fully embraced. But if she just goes for it next year, free to be her best self. Free in her own mind. She could dominate. I hope the coaches find the keys to unlock her potential. So far, we get moments of greatness while I want a steady diet of her best. Could have huge future implications for her and the team. She has to go for it every game.

Is she staying? Half our team has hit the portal and I heard rumors Sarah was considering it.

That was put to bed I believe. Poster had saw something on Twitter or Instagram and jumped the gun thinking she might transfer

Half our team has hit the portal? I know of two. Are there more I've missed?
Agree with Iowabear…that rumor was put to bed.
I want to believe that SA could be better that HVL…will take a leap.

BUatbirth said:

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Half our team has hit the portal? I know of two. Are there more I've missed?

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Ignore - MAJOR TROLL

Sarah played hurt most of last year. For the final 4 or 5 games she could not even practice and wore a boot except for game time. Any of you who have dealt with Plantat Fasciatis know how painful that is. She was always guarded by the opposing teams best defender with help from another defender when she touched the ball. With our present roster if they defend Sarah that way they will get burned by other players that can both shoot and distribute to the open player. She is finally getting healthy and should be at full speed by the end of summer. She is looking forward to her trip to Italy and Greece snd to playing with her new teammates. If we can stay healthy we have an incredible upside this coming year.

Actually only two, predicted players "hit the portal" at the end of the season, seeing incoming transfers were of the quality to take their playing time. I'll take the portal process this year for sure. BU came out the winner. Also work on your math, 2 bench player equal " half the team" ? Troll for sure.

fredbear said:

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Actually only two, predicted players "hit the portal" at the end of the season, seeing incoming transfers were of the quality to take their playing time. I'll take the portal process this year for sure. BU came out the winner. Also work on your math, 2 bench player equal " half the team" ? Troll for sure.

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Some people are praying, hoping that the program goes into the tank. Success doesn't fit the agenda they want to play out.

blackie said:

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fredbear said:

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Actually only two, predicted players "hit the portal" at the end of the season, seeing incoming transfers were of the quality to take their playing time. I'll take the portal process this year for sure. BU came out the winner. Also work on your math, 2 bench player equal " half the team" ? Troll for sure.

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Some people are praying, hoping that the program goes into the tank. Success doesn't fit the agenda they want to play out.

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Who is praying/hoping the program tanks?

No one is hoping the program tanks. That accusation is trotted out as a go-to mindless way to smear people, kind of like the way "racist" is so often used nowadays.

I count 3 in the portal instead of 2. Jaden Owens, Erika Porter, and Kendra Gillespie. Of those three, I think only Jaden was likely to be a significant contributor next year. And of course in the ordinary course of things, this would have been her last year anyway, and just has the Covid year left.

Kendra left mid season.

I agree she just has to release that inner dog!!! once she does that she can be one of the top guards in the country!!!!! If we get that Sarah every night and with these additional pieces I do not know many teams that will be able to handle us. We have a mastermind of a coach when it comes to looks that they are able to get on the offensive end. Like, imagine if a player like Denae that was a knockdown threat was getting those looks. The system is there we just have to get the players that fit it and I think we have just that this year.

Bone Squad said:

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No one is hoping the program tanks. That accusation is trotted out as a go-to mindless way to smear people, kind of like the way "racist" is so often used nowadays.

I count 3 in the portal instead of 2. Jaden Owens, Erika Porter, and Kendra Gillespie. Of those three, I think only Jaden was likely to be a significant contributor next year. And of course in the ordinary course of things, this would have been her last year anyway, and just has the Covid year left.

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From a leadership standpoint, I agree Jaden was likely to be a significant contributor next year. However, after the influx of talent coming in now at the guard position, it was unlikely she'd contribute as much on the court.

Kendra has been gone. So yes, 2 is correct as stated for end of season.

Bone Squad said:

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No one is hoping the program tanks. That accusation is trotted out as a go-to mindless way to smear people, kind of like the way "racist" is so often used nowadays.

I count 3 in the portal instead of 2. Jaden Owens, Erika Porter, and Kendra Gillespie. Of those three, I think only Jaden was likely to be a significant contributor next year. And of course in the ordinary course of things, this would have been her last year anyway, and just has the Covid year left.

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I don't think anyone who frequents these boards (save a couple of obvious trolls) have deliberate, intentional desires for the program to tank.

I do, however, think everyone on this board is eager for their opinion on Mulkey's exit to be validated, regardless of what that opinion is.

ctxbear said:

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Bone Squad said:

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No one is hoping the program tanks. That accusation is trotted out as a go-to mindless way to smear people, kind of like the way "racist" is so often used nowadays.

I count 3 in the portal instead of 2. Jaden Owens, Erika Porter, and Kendra Gillespie. Of those three, I think only Jaden was likely to be a significant contributor next year. And of course in the ordinary course of things, this would have been her last year anyway, and just has the Covid year left.

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I don't think anyone who frequents these boards (save a couple of obvious trolls) have deliberate, intentional desires for the program to tank.

I do, however, think everyone on this board is eager for their opinion on Mulkey's exit to be validated, regardless of what that opinion is.

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Perhaps my use of the word "tank" was a little strong, although I think it certainly applies to the bolded above. I apologize for using it. But, I really think ctxbear's last statement carries a lot of truth in it.

I guess here is where I sit and how I feel. Simply stated, we (the team and the fans) got gutted and were left to pick up whatever pieces we could find. How it came about at this point is totally irrelevant. We are where we are.

What I have hated, and perhaps it is coming from trolls, are threads or comments that refuse to look at the progress this program is making now towards getting back to where it was a few years ago, and then go on to tell us that the program is mediocre because we don't have the coach we had three years ago and that without that coach this program cannot be successful. Well, I don't buy that.

There are dozens of successful, highly successful programs out there and the name of the coach there is not Mulkey, Auriemma, Van deVeer, or Staley. None of the coaches those other schools have come anywhere close to the success of those coaches just mentioned, without doubt. But, you know what....some of those programs have coaches that one day will be the new names of the sport. I don't think it likely that they reach the status of the coaches just mentioned because I think parity will not make it possible for anyone else to reach those levels. But you have to start somewhere.

So, my opinion of Mulkey's exit is not relevant at this point. What is relevant is how this program moves forward. I guess people can live in the past if they want, but the future is all that matters and it looks to me that we have still got a pretty good one. Why can't we focus on that? This is starting to look like a pretty dang good roster. The players coming in obviously believe the future for them here will be good. They believe in the staff and what they bring to the table or they wouldn't be coming. Why not focus on them?

We have lost:
Bickle
Asberry
Owens
Gillespie
Porter

We add:
Blackwell
Edwards
Walker
Felder
Fritz
Bartley
Vasconcelos

With due respect and appreciation for our outgoing players, we're getting a pretty serious upgrade in talent for the next year.

R3G said:

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Sarah played hurt most of last year. For the final 4 or 5 games she could not even practice and wore a boot except for game time. Any of you who have dealt with Plantat Fasciatis know how painful that is. She was always guarded by the opposing teams best defender with help from another defender when she touched the ball. With our present roster if they defend Sarah that way they will get burned by other players that can both shoot and distribute to the open player. She is finally getting healthy and should be at full speed by the end of summer. She is looking forward to her trip to Italy and Greece snd to playing with her new teammates. If we can stay healthy we have an incredible upside this coming year.

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Two years ago she played with a bad shoulder, and a bad hand(?). Last year it was he foot. She still managed to be All Big-12. If she stays healthy I expect Sarah and the transfer guards, along with our returning guards, to run people into the ground and still have fresh legs. Sarah made numerous inspired drives to the basket and with this line up we are set to do much more of that which should lead to open 3 point shots.

Hopefully the addition of the three guards from the portal will lessen the load a bit for Sarah and help keep her healthy for the full season next year

Leonidas said:

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Hopefully the addition of the three guards from the portal will lessen the load a bit for Sarah and help keep her healthy for the full season next year

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If we can avoid major injuries at guard we will have the talent and depth to keep everyone fresh and wear down most opponents. It will be harder to focus on Sarah because of the increased scoring threats from the portal and the experience gained by the returning cast. I expect we will make serious improvements in scoring and defense. Caitlin will be almost impossible to replace; however, we could be stronger up front given the new upfront player from the portal as well as a healthy Aijha and an eligible Dre. We will rebound much better considering new and returning players.