I wasn't sure where to put this and didn't want to create a new thread that would blow up the arguments again, but I've had some time to think after watching (and listening) to the game yesterday and reflecting on the Princeton game and wanted to vomit some of it out.
We clearly did not hit the mark that we thought we would to begin the year, or that was possible. I agree with many that we should throw out preseason expectations. Realistically, we should've been closer to the 18-23 range rather than 7-10. Maybe not #1 in the Big 12, but #3-4 was reasonable. But we didn't even really come close to that either. That doesn't mean this year was an abject failure, but it surely is disappointing both to us as fans and to the players and coaches too.
Coaching is an issue. I don't know if it's not as big of a deal as some make it out to be, or even more than others, but usually those kinds of things fit somewhere between both ranges. Outside of Kelsey, no one really made a big step forward from last year. I wouldn't say they stagnated, because I believe in our players more than that, but there was no noticeable leap. This has become somewhat of a par for the course in our program. We need more development. Look at Iowa - look at what Bluder/Jensen were able to build Affolter and Stuelke up to after several years in that program. And now they've got a crop of promising freshmen that are taking strides even within a year. I trust our AD and admin to make the call on whether you take a risk or not. Because, regardless of your position on Fennelly/the staff, it is a big risk. Outside of Villanova, for example, or teams of that caliber, you aren't getting a P5 lateral move to Iowa State. So, you take a risk on a high-ranking mid major? It could work out, but it could blow up in your face too. Be willing to take some risks, but be cautious about it, would be my ultimate hedge on that. Because like some have pointed out, if you make the wrong hire, we could easily lose more into the portal than we might already.
And that brings me to what I feel strongest about: our core group is fine. It's good, in fact. Many have said it, but our priority right now should be making sure our players don't go into the portal. We have good players. It seems like every year people go "we need a sharpshooter" or "we need a quicker guard" and we go and get someone, everyone cheers that it's a great move, and then it happens again next year. So it's not the players necessarily that are the problem there. Jackson is quick, we've all seen it. She can really move when she wants to, but she doesn't have the plays/skill set yet to take advantage. I'd take another year of building up the players we have rather than going in the portal to try to build again. Because we saw what that looked like a few years ago and it's tough to replace that leadership going forward, especially with no Emily Ryan now. If we can keep our sophomores+Hare+Harris, I think we have a good core group going forward.
I am extremely proud of our team and I think we have the pieces in place to move forward again next year, barring any transfer portal news that we don't want to hear. I want all of our current Cyclones to stay Cyclones and win in the cardinal and gold. I'm not smart enough to know for certain what to do next, but I just want to keep cheering and supporting our players as best I can.
