Here’s how three transfers could be game-changing for Indiana women’s basketball

After sustaining very comparable — if not nearly similar — beginning lineups for the previous two seasons, Indiana ladies’s basketball now has a plethora of potentialities for its beginning 5 heading into the 2022-23 season. Past a robust freshmen class, the Hoosiers may even be geared up with three skilled transfers.

Sydney Parrish, Sara Scalia and Alyssa Geary are all becoming a member of Indiana with at the very least two years of NCAA expertise. All three may very well be starters for Indiana, and all have the potential to deliver some huge adjustments.

It’s price noting another latest transfers who’ve introduced historic accomplishments to this system embrace Ali Patberg and Nicole Cardaño-Hillary. By the top of their Hoosier careers, each have been constant starters and a number of the most influential gamers in program historical past.

It’s secure to say there are some excessive expectations for Parrish, Scalia and Geary. However among the best issues about this switch class is all of them deliver in several issues to strengthen Indiana as a complete.

Sara Scalia – Guard, Minnesota

The most important family identify in NCAA ladies’s basketball final season was, arguably, Caitlin Clark. Clark constantly made headlines for her 3-point capturing.

However Sara Scalia simply might have, and maybe ought to have, been awarded that very same quantity of recognition. The senior was a large presence past the arc final season at Minnesota, capturing 41.3 p.c from downtown for fifth greatest within the Huge Ten. Her 111 made 3-pointers positioned her at second within the Huge Ten and third total within the NCAA.

For reference, Clark completed with 91 3-pointers, capturing at a 33.2 p.c clip. Scalia and Clark had nearly the identical quantity of makes an attempt from past the arc as effectively, as Scalia had 269 and Clark had 274. In opposition to Indiana in February, Scalia made 7 out of 12 3-pointers and scored a complete of 26 factors.

Scalia additionally shot 91.5 p.c from the free throw line and averaged 17.9 factors and 4.3 rebounds per sport final season.

There is no such thing as a doubt Scalia will add one other layer to Indiana’s offense and is ready as much as be the constant 3-point shooter the group has been missing for some time now. The “phenomenal pickup”, in keeping with Teri Moren, is absolutely anticipated to be within the beginning 5. One might say she’ll have loads to show, however her observe report to date speaks for itself.

Sydney Parrish – Guard, Oregon

Parrish, the 2020 Ms. Indiana Basketball, is a well-recognized identify among the many Indiana basketball neighborhood. The Fishers, Indiana native will return to her dwelling state after two years at Oregon, the place she began all 32 video games and averaged 8.8 factors per sport in 2021-22.

Whereas Scalia brings in an nearly unbeatable capturing vary, Parrish’s abilities are nothing to miss. In 2021-22, she shot 35.4 p.c from past the arc for a complete of 52 3-pointers and shot 38.5 p.c total from the sphere. At 6-foot-2, Parrish is one in all Indiana’s tallest guards. After averaging 3.3 rebounds per sport final season, she’ll be anticipated to carry out equally, if not higher, this season.

In each years at Oregon, Parrish was part of NCAA event groups, together with a Candy Sixteen run in 2020-21. These experiences will undoubtedly assist her slot in with Indiana’s tradition, which is closely targeted on successful the Huge Ten and making it to the Closing 4.

Moren cited Parrish’s competitiveness and toughness as her standout qualities, and that mindset might assist land Parrish within the beginning 5. She wouldn’t have the ability to substitute Patberg’s intense, unwavering sport face, however any gritty competitiveness is welcomed by this group.

Alyssa Geary – Ahead, Windfall

Geary is probably the most senior participant in Indiana’s switch class, coming in as a graduate pupil after taking part in a full 4 years at Windfall. She began in each sport in each her junior and senior seasons and averaged 9.6 factors, 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocked pictures per sport final season.

The lack of Aleksa Gulbe left a gap within the beginning ahead spot subsequent to Mackenzie Holmes, however the expectation is Geary will fill that with relative ease. She is the second tallest Hoosier, at 6-foot-4, and the tallest ahead.

Along with her peak and abilities, Geary will should be a stable contributor beneath the basket in each offense and protection. Whereas at Windfall, Geary additionally confirmed herself to be a robust defender and a talented passer. Passing close to the basket was one thing the Hoosiers typically struggled with final season, so a ahead with good passing skill would add one other dimension to Indiana’s offense.

The Huge Ten is thought for being one of many hardest conferences to compete in, however the Huge East may very well be argued to be one at an analogous degree. Groups like UConn, Villanova and Creighton reached the NCAA event final season and had the sport environments to again them up. As such, Geary is aware of what it’s wish to play towards high applications in huge arenas, which is essential expertise to have when taking part in for Indiana.

Greatest Takeaways

Moren and Indiana have an opportunity to alter up methods and reconfigure their entire gameplan with these three transfers. Some adjustments could also be noticeable to the common fan, and a few is likely to be minuscule to anybody exterior of this system. However so long as all three play — and are used — to their full potential, it received’t actually matter what followers choose up on, as a result of there’s a very good probability they’ll be seeing wins.

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