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I think most fans could see enough positives changes in the team in Jody's inauguaral season that they feel pretty good about the future.
However, we still have a long way to go and next year, Jody's real first year, will see as many as 8 new faces on the roster while also losing 2 very key pieces of ths year's team as Marcy and Daria graduate.
It is interesting in looking at the MVC that the 3 teams that lose the most firepower from this year IMHO are the bottom 3 teams SIU, Evansville and WSU.
Marcy and Daria could hold their own against about any other 5/4 combo in the league, but I think SIU and Evansville lose even more. SIU loses their top 2 scorers (Jasmine Gibson and Erica Smith and their top 3-point threat (Kaci Bailey). Evansville loses their top 3 scorers (Ashely Austin, Shannon Novosel and Robyn Jennings) which includes their point guard.
I can see WSU passing Evansville and SIU and moving up to 8th place, but it is hard to project much more improvement than that with so many new faces being added to the mix, even if they are highly touted freshman. Not sure what Jody will be able to do in the late signing period but that will interesting and a big key to how next year goes as I assume the late signees will have a strong JUCO flavor. But still they will be new to D-1 basketball and new to Jody's system.
Add another solid recruiting class plus a year of experience to next year's big group of newcomers, plus sprinkle in more losses to graduation for the top teams at the end of next year and I can see the Shocks in position to make a strong move up the ladder in the following year (2010-11).
Next year I see as a foundation building year. If Jody and staff can get that right, and I think they will, then we will be ready to make some noise, but just a little more patience is warranted I believe.
Just my initial thoughts about next year. However, I will admit there are many, many unknowns about next year's team which makes evaluating that team a very iffy proposition at best.
However, we still have a long way to go and next year, Jody's real first year, will see as many as 8 new faces on the roster while also losing 2 very key pieces of ths year's team as Marcy and Daria graduate.
It is interesting in looking at the MVC that the 3 teams that lose the most firepower from this year IMHO are the bottom 3 teams SIU, Evansville and WSU.
Marcy and Daria could hold their own against about any other 5/4 combo in the league, but I think SIU and Evansville lose even more. SIU loses their top 2 scorers (Jasmine Gibson and Erica Smith and their top 3-point threat (Kaci Bailey). Evansville loses their top 3 scorers (Ashely Austin, Shannon Novosel and Robyn Jennings) which includes their point guard.
I can see WSU passing Evansville and SIU and moving up to 8th place, but it is hard to project much more improvement than that with so many new faces being added to the mix, even if they are highly touted freshman. Not sure what Jody will be able to do in the late signing period but that will interesting and a big key to how next year goes as I assume the late signees will have a strong JUCO flavor. But still they will be new to D-1 basketball and new to Jody's system.
Add another solid recruiting class plus a year of experience to next year's big group of newcomers, plus sprinkle in more losses to graduation for the top teams at the end of next year and I can see the Shocks in position to make a strong move up the ladder in the following year (2010-11).
Next year I see as a foundation building year. If Jody and staff can get that right, and I think they will, then we will be ready to make some noise, but just a little more patience is warranted I believe.
Just my initial thoughts about next year. However, I will admit there are many, many unknowns about next year's team which makes evaluating that team a very iffy proposition at best.
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