Bill recruited Williams out of H.S. She played little at LSU, and in my opinion is not a known quantity outside the coaching staff. If she is the answer for a backup 5, that leaves me wanting. We have seen this picture before.
2024-25 Roster/Rotation Additions
- Thread starter Cyforce
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We are barely into the "portaling" season and want to see things when the dust settles (by mid-late May?). The guards so far visiting may not be ALL that is going on in the shadows. I think Natabou never visited.
According to what we know. You could March the Iowa band through what we know and what actually is.
Williams herself talks in this video interview on n CF (at the end of this season) about playing the 5 position defensively and her learning and improvement while redshirting this past year.
Didn’t get much else out of this interview other than her good connection/relationahip with her teammates, benefit of now knowing the system and the point regarding playing the 5 position defensively is noted near the end of the interview.
She brings size and build to Iowa’s Stuelke (a very good smaller 5 player). She was a large school all state player out of Texas out of high school. Anyone know if she was ranked top 100 out of high school?
Current roster.
Crooks, Williams, Brown and 5 guards 6' or shorter. We need a back up center and a forward. Even if Williams or Brown are asked to play there at times we need a post if for nothing g else injury. Not sure why this concept is so difficult?
No one is dismissing the need for more frontcourt depth but previously dismissing Williams as a backup solution to Audi was ill advised on your end.
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Other than Natabou and Bristow who both played of the players that transferred who do you think should of got minutes and over who?
Having been a big follower of women’s basketball for over 35 years, i am simply challenging three things:
1) that there are a large number of 6’3”+ players out there to defensively play the 5 behind Audi. Natabou was the exception and we were lucky to have her last year. Additionally, across the Big 12 (or anywhere outside of the top 10 women’s teams), name a couple of schools with better back up 5s that are 6’3”+ and better than Natabou was? It’s very rare.
2) many teams — in fact most outside off the top 15 teams — often have someone defensively playing the 5 who are 6’3”/6’2” range. Why are people so quick to dismiss Williams and Brown playing minutes defensively at the 5? Both appear to have the physical strength
3). Athletic 6’2”-6’3” wing players are also very rare and definitely separate the top 10 teams from the rest. That is what stings the most about Bristow leaving is that she had such great length and athleticism and shows glimpses of special contributions on the court.
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All good discussion - and of course we are all speculating - just trying to add some research and insights. And to manage some expectations.
Look forward to hearing about who joins the team and let’s hope some of the commonly noted types of players — who are not that common — are found and join the team to make next year another special year.
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Back to back years (Soares and Notabu) our staff has found 5’s that were not really known by the general public that we had any interest until the last minute.
I would guess the staff has their eyes on a 5 that is likely under the radar.
I would guess the staff has their eyes on a 5 that is likely under the radar.
Addressing #2 we have three players on the roster over 6'. Why do you not see a need for depth? We have 3 6'2 or taller that played deperting this year. Again how can you not see a need?
Agreed - incredible finds.
Kudos to whoever is point person on finding and landing both.
Just hoping that our young talent and way-to-early top ten ranking for next year allows to compete to bring in top portal talent as well.
#2: Agreed - we definitely have a need for an athletic, wing player with good length and a back up defensively solid post. I think the athletic tall wing is the tougher find.
Perhaps Hansford (6’2”) could help meet that need and perhaps Williams could be a successful undersized 5.
As a poster just noted, coaching staff has found under the radar talented post players via the portal before (Natabou, Soares, and I would throw in Jordao in her junior year as another solid post portal find).
Just noting the incredible work of those who lead recruiting while trying to manage expectations. Happy to be wrong and have another amazing portal post find.
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This year was probably our deepest bench in years. According to ESPN the only players who averaged less than 10 minutes per game were Dawkins and King who, along with Ryan, were the only players who played in fewer than 30 games this year.
On the other end, only Brown and Belanger averaged over 30 minutes at 33 and 31.3 whereas last year Joens, Ryan, Donarksi, and Fritz all averaged over 30 minutes with J, R, and D all averaging over 35 minutes per game in each of the previous two seasons.
Looks like a solid option. Size to play inside and can shoot the three.
Iowa State has had a pretty good player from Australia before (Allison Lacey).
Here is a highlight video for Evans vs Maryland this past year:
Not sure if there's mutual interest. Just heard her name mentioned as a possibility.
