Fans are concerned because we are seeking titles, not S16

This team has a lot of talent and the FR-JR on the team are going to see one or more F4's again. The issue/debate is this specific season coming up:

1) Short of a miracle, this team does not have the component parts to make a F4 run.

They will make the NCAA and probably even find a way into the S16 -- but to this board, that's not considered a great year. With some key transfers -- we possibly could have taken it up another notch and skipped the rebuilding year.

2) They flat out do not have enough forwards on the team -- independent of skills or experience.

3) We had zero returning starters -- and then lost 2 of the 6 returning playuers we did have.

4) We did get two transfers to help plug some gaps -- but one of them has missed two seasons with injuries and is a wildcard if she actually will play at ND / break that trend

5) We have to have two freshman come in and be instant superstars at the level of Lloyd and Skylar to have any shot in hell of being a Top 5 level team.

Good news is Lloyd and Skylar did indeed do that -- so some have before. Bad neww is:

a) They BOTH didn't do it the same year
b) Neither of them were FR on a team that had zero returning starters
c) The #1 pick in the WNBA draft this year didn't follow that same path her freshman year. She was good for a FR, but she wasn't a super star from day one -- like we now need

We have two forwards that are long term projects -- that now need to be more than just average for us to hang with any top 5 level team. Top 5 level teams will have the balance we lack on our roster right now. Unlike our title year -- we don't have 5 WNBA draft picks that are SO or JR returning starters to fall back on to overcome a roster that's out of whack.

So, the sky isn't falling longer term. The sky did just fall in the short term because realistically we just lost our final shot at getting an instant impact forward to plug into our roster and give increased hope we can skip over the rebuilding phase this season.

It isn't hopeless though. There is a non-zero chance the 8 players we do have -- all or which were major stars coming into ND / their original college choice -- will jell very early, none will get injured, the freshman will come out of the gate on fire, and the two forwards will play at an elite level this year.