Could tired legs be a factor in March?

[BEAR SKIN]

The Big 12 schedule seems to favor ISU this year; however, could that advantage be offset by fatigue?

Check out the interactive stats for "average minutes played per game". ISU has all three of the players with the most minutes per game:

Wilson 36.6
Gahan 35.9
Welle 34.3

With only 3 - 5 minutes rest each game, will teams with deeper benches have a significant advantage, especially in late Feb. and in March? Almost all other teams are giving their star players at least ten minutes rest per game.

Any knowlegeable analysis or opinion?

[schooner2]

Yes, but this is nothing new for ISU players. This was the case last year and the year before that.

[mred]

I'm not too worried about Gahan and Wilson. I would be worried about Welle, except that her numbers are inflated by Bremer's suspension. ISU has five good players to share the PF/C positions: Welle, Bremer (suspended for 6 games), Kriener (a freshman), Cizek, and Gahan (the starting 2-guard and backup PG). Gahan can't play PF very much because she's needed elsewhere, but with Bremer back ISU now has four players playing those two positions. Kriener is the only true center ISU has to backup Welle, but she's been starting at PF recently. I expect Bremer to become the starter again and Kriener can give Welle more rest than she has been getting.