I'm excited about the men's team. Count me among those who think Mick Cronin is among the very best coaches in collegiate basketball. We have all the positions and needs covered. We have serious depth, across the classes now (what a relief after living through last season!) and maximum flexibility. Don't know if we have one-on-one the most dominant players by position so they are going to have to do it through a team concept but that's my favorite aspect of the game so I'm really looking forward to seeing that.
But the women's team - some things occur - what if one year all the top players in the nation in a single class all came together to play for a single school - how good could that be?
Of course it depends on the quality in that given year but we're watching the answer play out as our junior class includes the top three plus the number six member of that class.
We have an elite center - perhaps the dominant player in the NCAAs, certainly a candidate for becoming that.
We have an elite PG.
We have two 6'3"/6'4" forwards.
We have the Swiss Army knife of players who is also our Energizer Bunny.
We have an elite incoming freshman class.
We have a good HC - can she be an elite HC?
We're certainly a top ten team in the country.
Definitely have a good shot at being a Final Four team. What is their potential?
(And will the injury bug give us a break this coming season?)
It's a long off-season but it stacks up as potentially one to remember and celebrate.