#102: Where will Audi Crooks finish her collegiate career?

There's a lot that's happening today within the world of women's basketball. The WNBA, who has had months to plan and coordinate, even with the delayed CBA negotiations, made the … we'll call it a brilliant move to put the expansion draft for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire at 3:30 p.m. today – the same day as the Final Four begins.

Just terrible planning.

But, that does mean that we have a few hours to break everything down before we adjust our attention to South Carolina vs. UConn and Texas vs. UCLA.

It's a big weekend, and I have the most amount of FOMO right now for missing out on everything that is happening on the ground in Phoenix.

But despite both of these huge events, plus the start of free agency ahead of the WNBA Draft, I can't stop thinking about the NCAA transfer portal.

As I'm writing this on Thursday afternoon, there are 524 names in the transfer portal so far. We've had some good names – the Barbot sisters, Addy Brown, Zam Jones, Talaysia Cooper – but we haven't had the big names like we did last year with Olivia Miles, MiLaysia Fulwiley, and Gianna Kneepkens.

We do now, as Audi Crooks joined nearly her entire Iowa State team by entering the portal.

This, right here, is a game changer.

Crooks has been one of the most dominant offensive presences in college basketball over the last few years, finishing in the 99th percentile in scoring since her freshman year at Iowa State. She's expanded her game, too, so that it isn't just low-post moves, but developing a jumper and turnaround J, as well.

After her insane performance against Iowa in December, I broke down her film here for the newsletter.

As mentioned, it isn't just Crooks who is leaving Iowa State. There are 10 – yes, 10 – players who played at Iowa State last year who are transferring. So, while thinking about Crooks transferring before last season seemed like an impossible situation, it's really no surprise that she's leaving Iowa State for her final season.

But now, of course, the question is which program will she land at?

It's complicated.

Because as dominant as Crooks is offensively, she still has limitations to her game.

With so many athletes, programs are able to fit them into their system. But with Crooks, you need to be able to have your system fit to them instead.

That's where it gets tough. Because with Crooks, you know that she's going to clog the paint. It'll be tough to have another high-level operator in the paint who isn't able to stretch the floor offensively.

You also need a defense that is quick, can switch and recover, and play at a high level when it comes to ball-screens and helping out defensively.

Against Baylor this season, the Bears unlocked the secret to taking down not just the Cyclones, but Crooks, too.

Taliah Scott hit the game-winning shot against Iowa State off of a ball screen, leaving her isolated against Audi on the final possession.

Audi defaults to drop coverage – as I broke down in my post above in her game against Iowa – and she left too much room for Scott to hit the midrange J to knock off the Cyclones.

I chatted with Taliah about that moment after the game and about the read that she made.

I say all of that to say this: you really need to have the right defensive fit for Audi with players who are able to overcome her defensive limitations when it comes to hedging, lateral quickness, and recovery.

That's why I keep coming back to one team: Michigan.

See, it's really hard to narrow down where Audi would fit the best since there are 524 names and counting in the portal. Teams are going to look a lot different next year than they did this year.

But with Michigan, we know that they are building something special. The sensational sophomore Big Three of Olivia Olson, Syla Swords, and Mila Holloway led the Wolverines to the Elite Eight this year before being run off the court by Texas.

They're an early pick for me to make the Final Four next year – as things stand now – but one thing that they've missed is an interior presence. As great as Olson, Swords, and Holloway are offensively – and Brooke Q. Daniels is defensively as a perimeter on-ball defender – they are undersized.

This is where Crooks can come in and make a difference.

Daniels, Olson, Holloway, and Swords are able to offer the spacing that can complement Crooks' game offensively. The Wolverines ranked in the top quarter of teams in the country this past year for three-pointers attempted, which is a vital part of the offense planning to integrate Crooks into an offense.

Crooks is a high-level passer from the post, so being able to have three players who are able to be threats from the outside and are quick decision makers to make the extra pass is crucial for the next landing spot for her.

With Audi operating in the paint, too, it allows for all three players to drive into the lane with Crooks offering the ability to clear the lane at a high level, opening up high-percentage looks at the rim. Michigan ranked No. 30 last year in effective field goal percentage, and finding the best shot is a staple of its game.

Then there's the defense. Daniels is the best defender that they have, but the team, collectively, played at a high level defensively last year. Michigan had its best defensive rating as a team in two decades last season, and it's because of how active the players are.

High-ball screen, trap.

Back screen, switch.

Entry pass on the low block, double and rotate.

Watch their film against Louisville in the Sweet 16. It really, really stands out.

With Crooks being a liability on defense when it comes to being targeted on the ball screens, being able to have the help defense from the players on the wings to offer help if the player can't get through the screen and still have the ability to recover out to their assignment is the biggest key to success with having her on your team.

There are few teams who are constructed in this way who can not only have Audi fit with them, but fit their style to Audi.

Because she's one of the most dominant players in the country. But the more tape that you have on you, the more and more that teams are able to exploit your weaknesses.

With Michigan hungry for a return trip to the NCAA Tournament next year and another deep run, it's a risk bringing in a player when you've built a foundation around the sophomores. But they not only have title aspirations for next year, but they have the ability to win the title next year.

Audi's that missing piece for them, just like the Wolverines are the missing piece for her.

Until Next Time

We'll be back here on Monday with a breakdown of the expansion draft, a look ahead at free agency, and more WNBA coverage, as well as some thoughts on the new wave of young players in MLB and takeaways from the Final Four.

Enjoy your weekend.

I love you awesome nerds.