Point Guard:    McCallie somewhat used a point-guard-by-committee in 2005 and may well do so again this season.  While that is not ideal, it’s not as bad as it sounds.  Senior Rene Haynes and junior Courtney Davidson should form a more than average duo.  Haynes is a veteran who was overshadowed by Lindsay Bowen for her first three years.  She has shown that she is an excellent all-around player with better than average ball-handling skills.  She understands McCallie’s offense.  While she’s not a true point guard, she will likely do just fine at running the team. 

Baking her up is Davidson.  She’s a typical 5’4 water bug.  She played about 8 minutes a game in 2005, and the team didn’t suffer when she was on the floor.  She hit some big three’s and was an excellent defender.  She will be one of the top backup point guards in the conference. 

Wing Positions:  For the past several seasons, McCallie has had a solid rotation of players at the 2/3 spots.  That is not likely to be the case this year.  Victoria Lucas-Perry is the team’s top returning player and will start at one of the spots.  She averaged 10.2 points and 4.8 rebounds a game in 2005 and she is an excellent individual defender.  She has the potential to have a break-out senior season and become one of the top players in the league.  The Spartans will need her to do that. 

The small forward will be sophomore Aisha Jefferson.  Her numbers as a freshman were not eye-popping, 6.6 points and 5 rebounds a game, but anyone watching her could see that she has the potential to be a very good player in the Big 10.  She is a very strong athlete who doesn’t have a three point shot in her game.  But she’s excellent at penetrating and can hit a jump shot from closer in.  Like, Lucas-Perry, she will have all the opportunity she could want to contribute more for he Spartans. 

Beyond those two, there is little proven talent.  Tiffany Shives and Maggie Dwyer both had the potential to contribute but both transferred after the 2005 season.  The top reserves are likely to be newcomers.  Junior college transfer Jenn Jones is a post player but she can play facing the basket and will likely get minutes at the three spot.  Freshman Amanda Piechowski is a proven scorer who should also contribute. 

If any of these players are injured or do not perform as expected, McCallie will have a significant problem. 

Posts:  If McCallie wants to keep her program on the national stage, she must find a way to shore up the post positions.  The graduation of Liz Shimek, likely the best player in MSU history, leaves a huge hole on a team that has yet to replace Kelly Roehrig.  Unfortunately for Spartan fans, there are no returning players who look ready to step into key roles. 

6’3 center Laura Hall will get the first opportunity to start.  She was given the first opportunity to replace Roehrig and her performance was underwhelming.  She was not able to handle the physical play and put up below average numbers.  She does have the best combination of size and talent of any returning player so the Spartans will give her another chance and hope that she grows into the role. 

Lauren Aitch is an undersized but scrappy post who brings great energy to the floor.  She can contribute off the bench and will do so.  Senior Myisha Bannister was showing signs of coming around last year until she tore her acl.   

The starting power forward was to be junior college transfer Jenn Jones, but she never arrived at the MSU campus.  Her loss means that either Aitch or Bannister will likely have to start.   The only newcomer to this group is 6’8 Allyssa DeHaan.  She is fairly athletic and, obviously, very tall, but she is very, very slender.  Her ability to contribute will be directly proportional to her ability to withstand the physical play of the league.  It’s too be seen just how long it will take her to get to that point. 

Summary:  If McCallie is going to keep her team near the top of the standings, it has to start in 2006.  The Spartans have a solid perimeter group and that will be the strength of the team.  The inside game, on the other game, is full of question marks.  Several players are going to have to step up and contribute.  MSU has been strong on the boards and rebounding looks to be a weakness.