ISU's backcourt depth (or lack thereof) gets even smaller...

[mred]

Seirra Dawson, who sat out Sunday's exhibition, is out indefinitely as she needs surgery for bone chips in her elbow. The extent of the problem isn't known yet, hence the uncertainty of the return date. This leaves ISU with only three healthy scholarship guards. Fortunately, those three are Medders, Ronhovde, and Ezell. This also brings ISU down to 9 healthy scholarship players.

Medders and Ronhovde were already expected to play nearly 40 minutes every game (except blowouts), but this shifts ISU into a 2-out, 3-in offense for long stretches of the game. ISU started three posts (Wilkins, Pierson, Wieben) against Grand View, and I think this could be a common starting lineup for the Cyclones.

It's clear that Medders, Ronhovde, and Pierson will start every game with Wilkins, Wieben, and Ezell filling the other two spots. All six of these players will get a lot of PT. The three remaining scholarship players (Nisleit, Bjerke, and Bildeaux) will provide F/C depth, with Nisleit more of a wing player, Bildeaux more of a post player, and Bjerke, from what I understand, able to play either. How well they play will establish how much PT these three will get. Someone who actually watched the exhibition games might be able to more accurately explain their roles.

http://www.zwire.com/site/tab6.cfm?newsid=15579672&BRD=2700&PAG=461&dept_id=554517&rfi=6

[ISU3PointLand]

I don't think that Seirra's injury was going to play a big role in how Fennelly was going to run the system. Lyndsey and Megan will be playing a lot of minutes, but they knew to expect that. What has me breathing a lot easier over the exhibition games is how the freshmen have truly stepped up and impressed me. Heather Ezell is a very good ball handler and will be a great backup to Lyndsey. She reminded me of Megan Taylor a couple of times on Sunday when she would shoot the ball and then get her own rebound.

Inside, Nicki and Rachel are both skilled in different ways. Nicki reminds me a lot of Angie Welle, but she can also put the ball on the floor and has made some wicked passes from the perimeter. Rachel is very much a "power" forward. She can run the floor very well and has a lot of strength. Amanda and Gillian are going to be very good at filling in when players need a breather.

The freshmen are showing A LOT of maturity and as the season goes on, I see them only getting better and more confident.

:isu: