Didn’t know basketball was still in her future but if so makes sense to drop down and find somewhere to contribute more if that’s the goal. You can respect a player and consider her great teammate and cyclone representative while also admitting this level isn’t for her if wanting to make an on court impact
Maggie transfer portal
- Thread starter barometriclow
- Start date
Maggie started 22 of 28 games as a freshman at Iowa State and averaged 8.6 pts.
I’ve been told Maggie is a free spirit who wants to enjoy the university experience. Bill loves the gym rat who arrives early during the offseason while Maggie wants a life away from hoops. She’s been one of my favorites from the beginning and I wish her nothing but the best!
I agree it shouldn't be considered a scandal but I am a bit confused over how the media has depicted her very limited PT being impacted by injury. A couple of weeks ago, I got the impression her PT this season was reduced by her leg stress issues. Then I noticed this in today's Register: "She averaged 5.1 points per game in 94 career contests. Espenmiller-McGraw's best season came as a freshman when she averaged 8.6 points, 3.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game. Injuries limited her playing time the next few seasons but Espenmiller-McGraw has been fully healthy this season and has shown in the past that she can be a threat as a career 36% 3-point shooter."
My primary point here is that even with Soares healthy for a full season, the glaring lack of perimeter depth was going to put a ceiling on the team's results with Soares and that lack of depth clearly impacted results with Soares out. What is frustrating is that this issue was not addressed at all prior to the season with HS or portal recruiting, especially after the Aubrey J departure to OU. A big part of the team's sporadic 3 pt shooting was that if the starters were struggling, Bill had no alternatives off the bench due to his usage of MEM and no one else available. The lack of depth also impacted defense as well due to fatigue and foul aversion issues. For whatever reason, Bill has always been averse to building sufficient depth and using that depth to his advantage. And that will always put a ceiling on results IMO along with his lack of offense diversification.
And given that the B12 has already flamed out in the NCAAs with no Sweet 16 teams and the obvious weakness of the B12 during the regular season, it magnifies the missed opportunity the team had to win or at least position themselves better to have contended for the regular season conference title. While the losses of Jordao and Soares impacted post depth, there is no one to blame but the staff for the lack of perimeter depth.
I think Bill was trying to protect MEM with his comments about the injury limiting her minutes - the reality is that she did not play well all year. 18.8% 3 pt and under 25% total FG % and below average defender. He gave her an out instead of calling out her play.
M&M averaged ten minutes per game. Last two seasons she averaged the same and had much better performance. Why is that? WE don’t know. I find it befuddling that posters make claims that Bill WANTS things like limited depth and DOESN’T want M&M to do better. I guess it’s coach bashing season.
Quite the overreaction here.
I pointed out two things not directly involving MEM that even you would have to agree with. One is that lack of perimeter depth negatively impacted results this season and it is fair to criticize Bill for lack of off season roster management to have addressed that issue. Second is that Bill has a recent history of being averse to utilizing depth to his benefit whether it be proper usage of available depth or not building quality depth through roster management and schollie usage.
Maybe. I like Maggie. I love her being an Iowa State-o-phile. She is doing what is best for her. If she is going to Drake it will be for the basketball and kinship. If she is going to firm up her academic goals Drake may not be the best fit. We'll see.
Maggie was always a favorite of mine. We wish her the VERY best.
It’s all relative is your point I assume. I agree. MEM will do great at a drake/UNI. SHe was a half step too slow for P5 defense.
Didn’t mean to be a smart ass. Just trying some lightheartedness after trudging through the WaPo headlines thread, trying to understand some thought processes.
Bill may be hoping positive news in Soares. In any event he has 3 players worth a damn - Lexi, Ryan and Fritz. Rest are but players and he needs the scolis
I wondered what happened with Vick, a 6'2" top 100 recruit on a team that clearly could have used more depth in the front court. But I wish her well, and hope she finds a good fit for her future two years. She must be pretty athletic as she also excelled at VB.