mitigate taking 6 ?
I think we need to be pretty careful because the next 2 classes are loaded
with talent we would be going after. You have Fudd, Olivia, Wiggins the
Canadian Post, Adams, the Indiana players and so on.
...As much as I would like to see us take the right 6. I would be concerned
in not having room for someone in the next 2 classes that has mutual
interest in ND.
SEG/Chief
..whom we've offered already. And Michaela is apparently following Payton Verhulst, Citron and Mile's backcourt partner on the National Team.
Most of the regulars on the Bench know MM likes to have 12 or so on her roster. Regardless of the transfers, I don't think she's going to deviate from that number all that much. Rather address that via recruiting (getting the right people) and retention (staying in touch a lot). Hopefully, Michaeala will help on both fronts, given her relative youth.
Playing time and other factors (MM's coaching style, fit with ND) will still come up but will still come up, but I think she's not going to build a cushion of more players into it to alleviate it....same issues will rise with any top players.
As a guy who follows her recruiting, I think she still goes after the right 5 and then hits hard in 2021.
As a fan, I can't see doubling up on smaller guards (Hayes and Kelly) when she's expressed preference for taller guards in most instances. It's good to have speed to trace players like Carter or Dangerfield, but not across the board, in my opinion. If you're going to do that, why not look at Van Lith? She's around the same height as Hayes and Kelly?
In any case, I think the crux of the matter is still Clark. I believe hings will fall out after her visit. Would love to have Maddy, too, but there are options if she does not come (Brunelle, Campbell, a 2021 prospect).
Dang old age did it again. I forgot about Citron and Van Lith. There has to
be something going on that we have actively gone after other sub 6 ft guards
but not Van Lith. Is there not that mutual interest between her and ND, I
wonder.
...Agree about Clark being the key. Good thing is signing period is next
month. So it should not be long after her visit we know where she is
heading. My old thought pattern in my older brain tells me if she really
wanted to stay closer to home. She would have at least silent committed
to one of the Iowa schools by now. I really think Michaela is key in
closing along with MM. As mentioned, her youth, her thought pattern,
interest, energy will be mutually understanding. Another key about
Michaela she is a recent grad from ND. The recruits will still have
her playing career fresh in their minds. Plus their questions could start
out like "When you played at ND". That will get their interest and
attention pretty quickly. Plus the trust in the info Michaela provides
will be quicker to believe and not a game to get them to commit. One more
strong point about the importance of Michaela. They will immediately see
the true love she has for ND and present her info accurately.
...Thats All Folks.
SEG/Chief
And expecting/planning for transfers (the UofL model). Might Muffet be increasing her recruiting number just to get to her roster number? In other words recruit/sign 13-14 to have 12 on the roster?
Just think of this past year - we expected Jackie to be back and we didn't expect Jordan & Danielle to transfer - 3 somewhat unexpected losses. Unfortunately that seems to be becoming the norm.
Mikayla could be back for medical redshirt.
Hemp has a good point. If we sign 6 this year, we could have as many as 12 on the roster already for 2021 leaving not much room at the inn for new 2021 recruits based on Muffet's optimum roster size.
Granted, based on past years, there will probably be a transfer or two, an injury or two, and we don't know Mikayla's status - hopefully she plays well enough that the WNBA wants her (but she comes back anyway like Brianna).
But the numbers for 2021, make signing too big a class for 2020 a concern. For this reason, I think 5 might have to be the biggest number.