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Finally headed home

March 20, 2007

I think it's safe to say everyone who made this trip to Hartford is pretty disappointed. A lot of fans and members of the media couldn't get a Southwest flight out yesterday, so we're heading home today.

This one has to sting for everyone because it really is the one that got away. The team overcame so many obstacles, but nothing seemed to click Sunday.

Rather than rehash the loss, which really isn't going to make anyone feel better, I wrote a story for today's paper looking at next year's team. I think it's going to be a very interesting group. Lots of talent, lots of youth. UNM coach Don Flanagan said the lineup is going to force him to experiment a lot more. If experimenting means substituting, and I think it does, I think it will be very good for the group. Flanagan admits he has had too quick a hook with younger players. It''s something fans have been lamenting for a long time.

So let me know what you think of next year's lineup? Who should be the starters? Do you think any of the incoming freshmen will crack the top five spots?

Posted by ilimon at 08:14 AM |

Comments

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Posted by: ldlbfn | March 20, 2007 03:30 PM

Early starters guess: Amy, Brandi, Dionne, Amanda A., and Val. Christian and Georonika(assuming everyone is back)learned what it takes this year-they should see more time and help with athleticism. Eileen seems to have the attitude of wanting to do what it takes to see time. The freshmen-and we won't know until we see them how they are going to adjust to this level-sounds like a good group. On paper Kelsey sounds like she could battle for some PT with Angela and Morgan. Porsche and Amanda B.(again on paper and what we are able to read)sound as though they might be able to help soon. Jessica sounds like an intriguing player-Maybe a Lindsey Arndt type?? And Nikki-kind of want to see her handle the ball with what we have heard of her exhibitions. With the soph and frosh, can this team by the end of the season be better than this year's?? Time will show-but it does seem to be a team that could be overall more athletic and a little quicker.

Posted by: TiredOfFlanaghan | March 26, 2007 01:10 PM

I was just hoping that Flanaghan was going to announce his retirement this year. To his credit I think he did great things with the program, but where has it gone lately. I don't think he is capable of doing the part psychologist part of being a coach. You could just see/hear in the after game interviews of the losses that he didn't know what to do to get the players motivated.

Retire now, while the memories will still be good.

Posted by: gus | March 27, 2007 07:50 PM

Flanny retire? Not yet, please. He and his team just need to learn to deal with being (finally) better than anybody else in the conference. If they had had a year-long killer attitude they'd have lost maybe one conference game. Too smart, too nice, too often. For so long, all they had was discipline and spurts of self-confidence. Just wait - next year, if the freshmen are allowed to develop they will tear up the conference. Don't leave us yet, coach.

Posted by: ThickLobo | April 1, 2007 04:51 PM

I would not even venture a starters guess beyond the three obvious choices: Brandi, Dionne and Amy. There is a lot of talent coming in and it seems like every other year at least one of the new players finds themselves in the starting rotation.

Flanagan retire soon? I hope not. This last season may have been one of his better coaching jobs. I expected a big drop-off due to a lot of young, unproven players. Still made the NCAA's! Next year could be an even tougher assignment for the coach, but expect good results once again.

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