This is the second in a series of four posts on the Lady Griz basketball team, discussing the past season and a look ahead to next season. Part 1 Season Wrap up, Part 2 Look ahead: Bigs, Part 3 Look Ahead: Wing players and Part 4 Look Ahead: Recruits.

Over the year’s I have watched Robin Selvig continually simply retool his teams from year to year. Losing all league players and replacing them as without hardly breaking a sweat. There always seemed to be budding stars just waiting in the wings ready to step right in and keep the lady Griz at the top of the Big Sky. With the big exception of Sarah Ena, though, I am not sure who those players might be. There seems to a lot of very talented very young players who will be freshman next year and then a group of juniors and seniors who look to be more role players than starters. Here are my thoughts.

The Big’s

Bigs might be a misnomer, when referring to the Lady Griz front line. They have only one true Center in the program right now, and that is 6-3 Shandra Robison but I see her filling Gaurdipee’s role next year, not a starter. Instead I see the Griz again going with more of a two power forward front line. The loss of 6-1 Britney Lohman, though will be a huge loss. Lohman averaged 7 points, and 7 rebounds while also contributing close to 2 blocks a game, but where she was huge, was in her ability to defend the other team’s best post player, and I do not see anyone returning on the Griz front line with that ability. Sarah Ena, though will be back at the power forward spot, and should be an all league player for the Griz. The 5-11 Ena is a load to guard underneath and reminds me of a more athletic version of former Griz, Ann Lake. Look for her to improve, big time on her 11 points and 7 rebounds averages from the 2008-09 year. Taking over for Lohman at the other spot should be 6-1 Jessa Loman Linford. Loman-Linford averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds last year. Along with Robison, possibly look for true freshmen 6-0 Alyssa Smith and 6-0 Katie Baker to make an impact next year. Both have star potential, with Smith being more of a physical rebounder, and Baker more of an offensive gifted player. Baker who is a very deep offensive threat could play some at small forward.