valleychamp wrote:It certainly is not a stretch to say that UNI can still win the league this year. UNI was virtually untouchable last year, and still brings back a lot of talent, despite the loss of Kalin. Certainly, the gap is narrowed with an injury like this though.
But when you have KK Armstrong, who is one of the best players in the league in her own right, backing up Kalin you are still in great shape at PG.
I don't dispute that UNI will still be very relevant in the 2011-2012 MVC race. However, I don't believe it is quite as simple as just plugging KKA in as point guard. Granted KKA is a very fine player. However, it is the chain-reaction of losing a Jacqui Kalin that can effect you. Yes, KKA can step in for JK, but then who steps in to the spot/minutes KKA would have played with JK, then who steps in for whoever steps in for KKA, etc.
Jacqui would have played about 32 minutes per game had she not been injured. The question is not so much who replaces Jacqui at point but who absorbs those extra 32 mintues per game. Maybe you just spread those 32 minutes among your top 5 or 6 players. How does the additional wear and tear impact the team over the course of the season.
Losing a player the quality of a Jacqui Kalin will have a big impact.