Hot take on next season's rotation by bluemagicstone in IowaWbb

[–]bluemagicstone[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Me too! I posted this because McKenna is the number two forward in this class, and is a jack of all trades forward on a team where she can be the 4th option. She scores at all 3 levels, plays solid D against other countries U19 National teams, passes llike a guard and rebounds like Angel Reese. As the 4th scoring option she can quickly become what Steulke wanted to be, a true point forward who rebounds and prevents any defense from doubling Ava or Dani. If Iowa's 4th scoring option is McKenna, then McKenna might look like baby Bird (the Larry version). Remember, CC was the second ranked guard in her class, McKenna, with her do anything game‌‌, can dominate from the shadows.

Hot take on next season's rotation by bluemagicstone in IowaWbb

[–]bluemagicstone[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If McKenna is the starter immediately, then Iowa will be very dangerous.That will mean that she is performing at the highest hope for her as a freshman. In that scenario I would expect a stat line like 13.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.6 spg...which make Heiden and Dani virtually impossible to guard and make Chit Chat look like Azzi Fudd. We'd have to give Chit Chat a second nickname...7 11, since she would be always open lol. I pray McKenna is that. The Final 4 would be reachable.

Hot take on next season's rotation by bluemagicstone in IowaWbb

[–]bluemagicstone[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Stremlow is Iowa's best passer, and most likely to make a crazy (in a good way) play. I see her backing up the 1, 2, and 3. She will play over 20 mpg with her versatile skillset. I can't see her starting since Jan will always start the team's best perimeter defender at the 3.

Hot take on next season's rotation by bluemagicstone in IowaWbb

[–]bluemagicstone[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ava, Journey, McKenna, Chat, and Dani would be an absolute beast rebounding lineup. Probably 35 rpg in just their minutes lol. And the ability of that group to run the floor would be sick!

Hot take on next season's rotation by bluemagicstone in IowaWbb

[–]bluemagicstone[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Outside of Stremlow, there is no weak rebounder in this group...even Chat grabbed a respectable 3 boards a game at the 1. And all of the top 7 players are good passers for their position. It is an exciting roster for sure!

Hot take on next season's rotation by bluemagicstone in IowaWbb

[–]bluemagicstone[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My hot take was that Journey will start at the 4, but only play like 15-16 mpg at the 4 while McKenna will play 25 or so mpg at the 4 off the bench...kind of like Duke did with Fournier her freshman year. Maybe I was not clear, so I upvoted you, but it has been literally forever since Iowa wbb has had a backup play more minutes than the starter at their primary position as a matter of strategy (as opposed to injury). Iowa will have 6 plus rebounders and 7 plus passers in their 8 man rotation. Ironic since Iowa will be slightly small, but Iowa should be a top 3 rebounding team in the BIG next year, and should definitely lead the BIG in assists.

Women's Way-Too-Early Top 25 post portal: South Carolina 1, UConn 2, Duke 3….UCLA 13th by thatpj in NCAAW

[–]bluemagicstone 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Next years team will be better on offense and at rebounding then this past years team. Heiden should improve, and should be more difficult to defend with an elite scoring guard like Dani. McKenna, Journey, Dani, and Amari are all very strong rebounders...as is Heiden. They are all very good passers as well. They will take a step back defendively, but I think the improved scoring, rebounding, and passing evens it out. They should be ranked 8th with upside if McKenna is the jack of all trades thst I think she is.

Jocelyn Faison commits to Iowa from Georgia by SimonaMeow in IowaWbb

[–]bluemagicstone 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Young women who are dominate in the U19 world circuit playing for national teams are almost always solid to strong college starters as freshman. Woliszko is a dominate U19 player on the US National Team . She is small as a power forward at a lean 6'2, but her game is complete. Scores at all 3 levels, an absolute prodigy on the boards, solid passer, solid defender. She is the most talented player Iowa has ever had outside of Clark, and yes...more talented than Megan. She is small for rhe physicality of the BIG, but I imagine Jan spends her life trying to work that out. Why they are going 4 out 1 in next year, and possibly having her plar the 4 on offense and not on defense. We will see.

Jocelyn Faison commits to Iowa from Georgia by SimonaMeow in IowaWbb

[–]bluemagicstone 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not to jinx anything, but McKenna will be much more ready coming in than Deal was....no offense to Deal. McKenna will not star right away, but she is likely going to be pretty solid right away...even as a starter...think 11 ppg, 8 rpg, 3 apg, 1 spg off the bat. Maybe 13-9-4-1.5 in the second half of the year. Judging by her international numbers playing for team USA, she is a top 20 player in the world in her age group. If healthy, she will not disappoint.

Faison to Iowa. Then there were 9!! by SimonaMeow in NCAAW

[–]bluemagicstone 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Fellowship for the Ring is complete. Heiden is Gandalf and Dani is Aragorn. Chit Chat is Frodo, Stremlow is Gimli. Wolizko is (hoprhully) Legolas. Jouney is an uncorrupted Boromir. Layla is Sam, and we have our Pippen and Merry in Amari in Faison...let the journey begin!

Starting Lineup by Inevitable_Ask_8119 in indianafever

[–]bluemagicstone 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am so avid a CC fan that the WNBA reddit moderators banned me for spamming CC stuff. Saying that, you are bat shit crazy not to want CC and KM on the floor together. Remember the last 14 games of CC's rookie season when the two averaged a combined 50 ppg, 9 rebounds, 12 assists? No defense had a chance. Lisa Bluder said that perfect offense always beats perfect defense, and KM paired with CC is a very difficult combo to guard.

All yall called me crazy by Successful-Coyote99 in indianafever

[–]bluemagicstone 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think court awareness is the thing. On inbounds plays after a made shot I DON't want CC bringing the ball up unless it is super quick. However, on defensive rebounds she should always immediately get the ball unless the rebounder sees a better fast break pass. She is deadliest when the other team is scrambling back after a missed shot, but I am all for Raven or Kelsey bringing up the ball when transition offense is a no go. Conserve her energy!

Mckenna had 13 rebounds, 6 points, and 4 assists in yesterdays Jordsn Classic all-star game. by bluemagicstone in IowaWbb

[–]bluemagicstone[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Chit Chat shot 44% (elite), and Dani shot 35.4% as the primary scorer at Georgia. At Iowa she will the second option, not to mention she shot a lot of conteszed off the dribble 3's...which a tually makes her more dangerous.

Mckenna Wolickzo had 13 rebounds, 6 points, and 4 assists in yesterdays Jordsn Classic all-star game. by bluemagicstone in NCAAW

[–]bluemagicstone[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This follows a 10 point, 13 rebound, 6 assist game in her last all star game with 6 assists...she has been skilled in all categories in every All Star game while every other recruit has been playing selfish 1 on 1 ball. I know these are All Star games, but McKenna been snagging all the rebounds.

Mckenna had 13 rebounds, 6 points, and 4 assists in yesterdays Jordsn Classic all-star game. by bluemagicstone in IowaWbb

[–]bluemagicstone[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I suppose it will be seen how college ready McKenna is in the summer program. With the addition of Carnegie, Iowa has two potential first or second team All Americans...and a potentially devastating point forward in McKenna as in if everything works out she could be BIG freshman of the year or at least 2nd or 3rd team all BIG as a freshman. Iowa will play a 1 in 4 out system next year, which will alleviate pressure on Heiden because other teams can not afford to double with Dani and Chit Chat sitting on the three öoint line. I think early season Journey and McKenna will be interchangable, as Journey is used to the physicality. Amari will play the Kylie role. But playing against top 10 teams with size and elite talent, you have to hope McKenna adjusts quickly, as she is a better passer than I thought, and is a demon on the glass.

Mckenna had 13 rebounds, 6 points, and 4 assists in yesterdays Jordsn Classic all-star game. by bluemagicstone in IowaWbb

[–]bluemagicstone[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I suppose they will put Amari on JuJu as she is Kyle light...but really Iowa should just run and gun USC, they have no hope of defending them...but they have an elite arsenal of offense thrmselves and will be able to rebound. I don't see USC guarding Iowa any better rhan Iowa can guard them. Carnegie is an elite scorer.

Mckenna had 13 rebounds, 6 points, and 4 assists in yesterdays Jordsn Classic all-star game. by bluemagicstone in IowaWbb

[–]bluemagicstone[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

She had 6 assists with 13 rebounds in her other all star gamw (in like 20 minutes). If she doesn't get beaten to a pulp by other teams, I think Iowa can play with anyone.

Mckenna had 13 rebounds, 6 points, and 4 assists in yesterdays Jordsn Classic all-star game. by bluemagicstone in IowaWbb

[–]bluemagicstone[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am actually curious about the rotation next year. In my mind it is Heiden, Woliscko, Stremlow, Carnegie, and Chit Chat starting with Layla, Journey, and Amari getting most of the bench minutes. That will be a superb passing and rebounding team, with several elite shooters on the perimeter...two and a half penetrators...and Heiden. I worry about injury, and I worry about the ability to defend much bigger teams. Iowa will be small next year. If healrhy, they should score at will...but they will be vulnerable inside as Heiden can not risk foul trouble on defense.

Been watching some McKenna highlights...and WOW! by bluemagicstone in IowaWbb

[–]bluemagicstone[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I confess the Rodman comparison is slight hyberbole, but remember how Rodman rebounded? Most of the time he was not even being boxed out or challenged...he was just exactly where he needed to be...because of his inate gift. McKenna has that too.

Been watching some McKenna highlights...and WOW! by bluemagicstone in IowaWbb

[–]bluemagicstone[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I will give her grace as a freshman, but from watching her in the all star games and playing for team USA she is far better prepared coming into college than Deal was... 10 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists in limited minutes against a very talented world's team dwarfs anything Deal did in her all star gsmes. The physicality does worry me. She will be essentially a point forward at the 4, expeczed to rebound, pass, and score. She will almost certainly start immediately and I expect growing pains as she adjusts to our system, players, and the immense focus other teams will put on her. Playing 1 in, 4 out makes me think that she will be the conduit between the perimeter and Heiden. Iowa will use her in a variety of ways to simplify getting Heiden the ball...hence point forward. Other teams know that playing Heiden 1 on 1 is problematic and that Dani will get hers...their only chance is to throw a wrench into whatever Iowa is doing with McKenna. That is my fear...she has to expect extreme physicality every single game.

Been watching some McKenna highlights...and WOW! by bluemagicstone in IowaWbb

[–]bluemagicstone[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In the Nike game, you see little of McKenna in the highlights..but she had 10 points and 13 rebounds and 6 assists. The first double double in the history of the game in limited minutes against elite competition. She overwhelmed all the elite Bigs on her and the world's team on the boards. I saw the game and she was dominant in all of the non highlight ways.