I do not see Kayla starting this year but I can definitely see her getting a lot of minutes. She has lost a lot of weight and totally transformed her body. She seems very engaged and Nicki has said several times that she has a lot of talent. I hope it is a "break out" year for her.

Nicki has a lot of depth this year. I can also see her using some different line ups based on opponent.

Rambling thoughts:

1) don't think the staff knows the starting lineup at this point. Ideas, yes. Finished decision, no.

2) the staff is faced with modifying some D schemes with the addition of a jumbo sized 4. Koval's height and length will allow her to play a full step off of her player on the backside perimeter (think Lauren Cox) and thus be closer to delivering backside help. Also, Koval can play behind her player in the post. Buggs/Fontleroy/Nelms all had to 3/4 their player in the post.

3) until we see in game conditions whether Goryanova or Brow have elevated their games to a solid PG backup, the need to use Scott at the 1 for ten minutes a game remains unknown. That need impacts minute distribution at the two and three.
It also impacts whether Ross sees minutes at the three.

4) until a player shows that they have elevated their games, expect the core rotation to include: Scott, Jones, Awou, Abraham, Ross, Koval, Thompson and Turner. Add Johnson once she is fully recovered. Not including Nelms until she proves that she isn't lost on half her D rotations. Even then not sure she plays much.

5) the height of the core rotation is huge compared to years past.

6) three point shooting may be an issue. But size might create extra O possessions and decrease opponents possessions. Both O and D rebounding should improve tremendously.

7) We will not run as much. We likely won't have to run that much.

8) reasonably expect this team to be the top D team in B12. Hopefully one of top 4 teams offensively.

9) Historically team has mixed d on ball screens with ice, hard hedge, soft hedge, and drop coverage. Expect more icing than ever due to size at the 4 and 5. Trying to pass over those players will be tough.

10) with depth, not only expecting more rotations but also expecting shorter runs. Quite a bit of four minute runs and nothing over six minutes. D energy should increase and cheap fouls should plummet.

11) expecting Scott's usage to drop by 5-6 mpg. Scott's Late February swoon should disappear.

12) Expect a ton of high low and side to side screening from post players.

13) the cross the lane diagonal entry pass that Mulkey loved should reappear.

14) Horn Set with these players will be interesting. Barcelona, Spartan, etc. will be effective since WBB sees Horn actions so rarely.

15) Koval as the entry point on press breaking will be interesting.

16) with this many new players, D install will be continuing into early February. Full O install might be completed after season ends.

17) hoping the annual "first time we see Zone D" meltdown skips this year.

18) getting Johnson fully back(and healthy) by early February might prove to be a big determining factor for a March run.

19) again, we jump from one of the smallest B12 teams to one of the tallest.

20) do we have enough talent and effort to win until the installs are complete and players fully understand the O and D rotations? Maybe.

21) FT percentage may increase and that item is huge.

22) this team is so much taller.

23) will we incorporate zone D as a change up?

24) we will shoot 125+ more FTs than our opponents.

25) average attendance will jump by 1400 people.

25) average attendance will jump by 1400 people

That is a big jump, I hope you are right!

Adriacus Peratuun said:

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Maybe folks should believe Johnson's own ACL vlog.

https://www.instagram.com/marcayla.johnson/

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This may be hard for you, but don't be a d!k. You could have just shared the link and said, "She confirmed it here."