Emely and things that make you go, "Hmmmmmm?"

[tampabayhawk]

This off-court season is a mystery to me and perhaps this is Iowa's plan. I'm not a conspiracy theorist and generally accept the answer..........such as it is given. My passion for Iowa women's hoops program makes me go "Hmmmmmm?" I want the truth. I can handle it. Emely, by Jan's presser remarks a couple games ago, has an injured back. No speculation on return. We all know how difficult are back injuries to diagnose and treat. It's clear to me from Jan's demeanor when asked, she cannot or will not expand. The media in room doesn't ask Jan to expand on "injury." (Kinda like Hannah's "upper body injury" of this week. Only more vague answer would be "she's hurt.") I understand privacy of student. Why isn't media asking about possible redshirt for Emely? Is a medical redshirt possible? If Emely has decided to portal (Open April 6-20) and had this talk with Jan, she probably wouldn't be in Iowa City........she would have "left school for personal reasons." I suppose if Emely is going to portal she would have announced. Would you play Emely if she's going to portal because it makes your team better and your bench deeper? If your answer is "Yes," then you don't believe she's hurt. Some games Kennise is wearing a brace and some not. The Teagan tonsillectomy is the biggest non-game mystery of the season for me. She's being treated by arguably the best medical teaching hospital west of the Mississippi and it takes a month for her to return from a tonsillectomy ?!?!?! Come on. This doesn't pass the stink test. Yes, I want answers. I would settle for some conversation. All this said, in Jan I trust. My pre-season prediction was Top 4 conf finish and it's at hand. Great job Jan! On Iowa!

 

[guffus]

I don't know what's wrong with Em-Rod but something definitely seems off with Mallegni this year. In her limited minutes she has not looked good at all. I wonder if she is still hurt somehow.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Yeah whatever the truth is with Emely we haven't heard it... I'm not sure if those in the media know off the record more then they report or not but nobody seems to be saying anything on it publicly. The programs media department put out pics of their trip out to LA and showed her on one of those E bikes. If ones back hurts too bad to be practicing or playing I wouldn't think riding bikes should be encouraged.

As far as Teegan goes she just hasn't played well when given opportunities. Maybe that's partially injury related and having missed time but regardless she just hasn't played well and doesn't deserve much floor time frankly.

 

[guffus]

Maybe its time for Jan to have one of those famous heart to heart talks with Mallegni. But whatever the problem, its hard to work it out without any minutes. Maybe she just needs a fresh start. Not sure.

 

[judzeehawk]

Emely seems to be engaged in the game sitting on the bench. She had some very big smiles during and after the game. Clapping and yelling for her team during and after the game. I am hoping she is going to red shirt and stay with the Hawks for next year. How could you not enjoy your team and the atmosphere after what she just saw and heard.

 

[CP87]

Emely seems to be engaged in the game sitting on the bench. She had some very big smiles during and after the game. Clapping and yelling for her team during and after the game. I am hoping she is going to red shirt and stay with the Hawks for next year. How could you not enjoy your team and the atmosphere after what she just saw and heard.

A healthy Rodriguez, Houston, and Woliczko (sp?) would be a great starting point for the 3/4 rotation. I would still like to see a 3-and-D wing to back up the 2 and 3, and a backup PG. Maybe Strem or Deal could be the backup PG, but I would rather let them focus on the wing. It is always great to have secondary ball handlers and creators on the wing.

 

[tampabayhawk]

Emely seems to be engaged in the game sitting on the bench. She had some very big smiles during and after the game. Clapping and yelling for her team during and after the game. I am hoping she is going to red shirt and stay with the Hawks for next year. How could you not enjoy your team and the atmosphere after what she just saw and heard.

Being engaged from bench is always a good sign to me.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

A healthy Rodriguez, Houston, and Woliczko (sp?) would be a great starting point for the 3/4 rotation. I would still like to see a 3-and-D wing to back up the 2 and 3, and a backup PG. Maybe Strem or Deal could be the backup PG, but I would rather let them focus on the wing. It is always great to have secondary ball handlers and creators on the wing.

This is where not landing Bjorn hurts... She woulda been a fantastic 2/3 player. I had delusions of grandeur that we coulda seen a lineup that looked something like this the next yr couple yrs. We'll be winning a lot of games regardless but man I could see them knocking on the door of final 4s with this group

Chit-Chat-Stremlow
Deal-Levin
Bjorn-Houston
Wolizco-Houston
Heiden- Hays

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

I don't know shit about shit, but my guess is that Emely did something to land herself in the doghouse initially. I'm not going to speculate on what. But by the time she was out of the doghouse, she had a nagging back issue pop up. And at some point, the coaches maybe realized it would be difficult to work her back into the rotation. But also realized, hey, we might be able to get her a medical redshirt for this season if she doesn't play again.

So my guess is she has been out of the doghouse for a long time, and that she is also relatively healthy. But there is no reason for Jan to say anything that might hurt the case for the medical redshirt petition. Nor does she want to go on record lying about what may now be a non-injury. So best to not really comment on anything.

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

This is where not landing Bjorn hurts... She woulda been a fantastic 2/3 player. I had delusions of grandeur that we coulda seen a lineup that looked something like this the next yr couple yrs. We'll be winning a lot of games regardless but man I could see them knocking on the door of final 4s with this group

Chit-Chat-Stremlow
Deal-Levin
Bjorn-Houston
Wolizco-Houston
Heiden- Hays

I do not see a lineup where Houston does not start next year. She is an absolute gamer and killing it right now. Same with Stremlow.

 

[thedukeofearl]

I don't know shit about shit, but my guess is that Emely did something to land herself in the doghouse initially. I'm not going to speculate on what. But by the time she was out of the doghouse, she had a nagging back issue pop up. And at some point, the coaches maybe realized it would be difficult to work her back into the rotation. But also realized, hey, we might be able to get her a medical redshirt for this season if she doesn't play again.

So my guess is she has been out of the doghouse for a long time, and that she is also relatively healthy. But there is no reason for Jan to say anything that might hurt the case for the medical redshirt petition. Nor does she want to go on record lying about what may now be a non-injury. So best to not really comment on anything.

This makes sense, there seemed to be a bit of talk about her being in the dog house, perhaps attitude

It is a very good sign that she is active and enthused on the bench cheering the team to victory

 

[guffus]

I can understand wanting to keep things private and not wanting to destroy the rep of a very young adult girl, but i would rather the coaches dont lie about anything. If she really has been hurt, then sure they should say that. But if she is not hurt, dont lie about it.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I do not see a lineup where Houston does not start next year. She is an absolute gamer and killing it right now. Same with Stremlow.

Maybe.. I could certainly see her starting over Wolizko early on at the 4. I just don't see her keeping ahold of that spot from her for too long. I also don't see her as a wing 3 type of player so much. She gives me Syd Affolter vibes. Maybe Houston will get a little quicker and be able to some But I think she's more of an undersized 4 that plays phenomenally well off the bench. Either way she's going to have a huge role going forward.

And yeah Stemlow may have just had her best game yesterday she's really coming into her own. She keeps having 9 assists to 0 TOs type games and she'll be making national waves.

I think Stremlow be starting next yr for sure with her and Chit-Chat in the back court and either Deal or Houston will be at the 3 with Wolizko and Ava up front. I think the 3/4 spots could be fluid and what we do in the portal will be interesting

 

[guffus]

Maybe.. I could certainly see her starting over Wolizko early on at the 4. I just don't see her keeping ahold of that spot from her for too long. I also don't see her as a wing 3 type of player so much. She gives me Syd Affolter vibes. Maybe Houston will get a little quicker and be able to some But I think she's more of an undersized 4 that plays phenomenally well off the bench. Either way she's going to have a huge role going forward.

And yeah Stemlow may have just had her best game yesterday she's really coming into her own. She keeps having 9 assists to 0 TOs type games and she'll be making national waves.

I think Stremlow be starting next yr for sure with her and Chit-Chat in the back court and either Deal or Houston will be at the 3 with Wolizko and Ava up front. I think the 3/4 spots could be fluid and what we do in the portal will be interesting

Layla Hays had a good game against Wisc so I can see her working into the post rotation next year with a consistent 10 to 15 minutes a game. Not sure how well it would work with Hays and Heiden playing at the same time, but Hays would probably have to play the 5 with Heiden at the 4. Heiden has shown she can hit that 17-ft jumper occasionally. But when you got McKenna and Journey as options for the 4, that seems like the better option. Which makes me think Hays will mostly be playing as Heiden's backup.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Layla Hays had a good game against Wisc so I can see her working into the post rotation next year with a consistent 10 to 15 minutes a game. Not sure how well it would work with Hays and Heiden playing at the same time, but Hays would probably have to play the 5 with Heiden at the 4. Heiden has shown she can hit that 17-ft jumper occasionally. But when you got McKenna and Journey as options for the 4, that seems like the better option. Which makes me think Hays will mostly be playing as Heiden's backup.

Hell just last yr Jan was hesitant to have Heiden and Stuelke out there at the same time much. They kinda forced that here and there and it didn't work all that great. This yr it'd been damn near unstoppable down the stretch for others to stop.

I doubt we'll see much of a twin towers look with Hays and Heiden. Neither can really defend anyone outside the paint. There'd have to be some wacky circumstances leading to it if we ever do. And it wouldn't be for a long stretch if they did.

 

[tampabayhawk]

This is where not landing Bjorn hurts... She woulda been a fantastic 2/3 player. I had delusions of grandeur that we coulda seen a lineup that looked something like this the next yr couple yrs. We'll be winning a lot of games regardless but man I could see them knocking on the door of final 4s with this group

Chit-Chat-Stremlow
Deal-Levin
Bjorn-Houston
Wolizco-Houston
Heiden- Hays

I don't see Mckenna Woliczko starting. I did Deal. Wrong again. Unless you're Hidalgo or Chavez it's a BIG leap from high school to college hardwood. Hope I'm wrong again again.

 

[tampabayhawk]

And now we deal with the mystery elbow. Hmmmmmmm.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I don't see Mckenna Woliczko starting. I did Deal. Wrong again. Unless you're Hidalgo or Chavez it's a BIG leap from high school to college hardwood. Hope I'm wrong again again.

Your guess is as good as mine. The biggest reason I think there's a chance Woliczko might start even as soon as day 1 is just the fact that the 4 spot is going to be wide open. Houston is her only competition for it and Woliczko has 3 inches of height on her and I bet her arms are longer. Rebounding seems to be her best attribute. So if she can shoot those mid range jumpers as good as Houston then that's just where my mind goes.

Yet Houston will be going into yr 2. She'll know the offense/defense better and be more comfortable with everything that having gone through her freshman yr already would entail. So I put it at almost a coin flip between them who starts initially. I just think Woliczko has a higher ceiling and once she's comfortable be it early in the yr or later it'll be tough to keep her off the floor.

 

[guffus]

Woliczko is having a great senior year in high school. McDonalds All American and Ca-Hi player of the year. I don't know if she will start on day 1, but I have a good feeling it won't take long. If Jan can get 15 minutes a game from Hays off the bench, that may free it up to try Houston out at the 3 spot.