Simon isn't the same type of player as Addie, but she is a quality replacement. We may have to play a little bit differently offensively, but she will be solid enough. But I too am worried about replacing Hill. And Jimenez. And Alston. Our perimeter defense really all left!
Hill was such a perfect fit for us as that 5th starter. Tough, gritty, high basketball IQ and she did just enough of everything to make both offense and defense run smoothly. Not a great defender, but tough and smart and could hold her own. Not a great shooter, but good enough that you couldn't leave her alone. Not a great ballhandler, but good enough that you could count on her for pressure relief etc. Jiminez was extremely underrated in my mind. Probably because she wasn't here long and she bounced in and out due to some injuries. But she really added a dimension. She was an really excellent perimeter defender at the wing spots which we did not have absent her. She could step up and cover really good perimeter players. We didn't always need that, but against the better teams we did. Its no accident that she played more NCAA minutes than Sweeney or Hill. We needed that lateral quickness dynamic she provided! And she could do just enough offensively, that the offense could still run normally with her out there. And Alston played extensive minutes late in the season for much the same reason as Jimenez. She could defend quicker more athletic lead guards in a way Ally couldn't.
When we look at this year, I worry about our defense. Budnik was an A-10 Defensive Player of the Year; Jimenez was an excellent defender; Hill was the 2nd best defender amongst the starters and Alston was a defensive complement to Ally. And the pieces fit together so well because we were very long across the board defensively (save for Ally). Collective length helped hide some of our individual defensive shortcomings. Simon is a good defender for sure. And I think Newell can maybe do a lot of what Alston did for us last year. But I don't know where the perimeter defense that Hill and Jimenez gave us is going to come from. And not sure we will have the same collective length on the wings either. Hard to count on a freshman for defense - - that's a big step up for newbies who are usually noted for their offense in high school and will likely need lots of adjustment time to major college defense. Take just as an example Rayne Wright as she seems the most likely freshman to play meaningful minutes early. I don't know a ton about her, but I do know that the difference between who is was covering in high school last year and the college juniors and seniors on the better teams we play that she might be asked to cover this year is HUGE. HUGE. Its almost unfair to ask a freshman to be a step up defensive player! You usually are just hoping with freshman (especially perimeter ones) that they don't kill you on defense!
I was VERY surprised we didn't get an established defense first perimeter defender in the portal (i.e. someone just like Jimenez). Very surprised. WE have roles and minutes available on the wings that we are going to need someone to step up and fill if we are going to be even what we were last year much less better! And I haven't heard much in any of the little dribs and drabs we are getting from practice to make me any less worried! My big hope is that Roussel is obviously very good and knows his team and I guess he wasn't worried about it enough to have to get some help!
