The SDSU women's basketball team forced the nation to take notice last season with their run into the second round of NCAA Tournament. And the Jacks have four starters from that team coming back. But the one who isn't, Jennifer Warkenthien, has left some big shoes to fill. And coach Aaron Johnston has made finding a new go-to player his number one priority.

SDSU landed four players on the preseason all-conference second team: Maria Boever, Ketty Cornemann, Kristin Rotert, and Jill Young, with nobody on the first team. Does that speak to impressive depth, or the lack of a go-to player? Johnston says both.

"I've never seen that before," Johnston said.  "I think a big part of that is people don't really know who the top players are going to be yet. We've got some good returners and some good players back, but we really haven't established that there's a go-to player."

That was Jennifer Warkenthien's role last year. Averaging more than 15 points a game and nearly nine rebounds, she was the Summit League player of the year. Johnston says it's very important for someone to emerge as the Jacks' next go-to threat. 

"I do know that every great team we've ever had here has had one or two players that can get something done in a big moment," Johnston said.  "And I think we have great potential to have those players. But until they step up and prove it, it's really hard to know."

"I think it's important to have go-to players step up for us, during the season and during our games," said sophomore guard Jill Young.  "I think you always want that player you can go to in the crunch time of a game and step forward and lead us." 

"I think a lot of that, establishing a go-to player, has to play itself out," Johnston added.  "In my mind, I might feel like this player or that player can do it, but unless they're ready, it's hard to throw somebody into that spot."

Johnston says if that doesn't happen, the Jacks can still be successful. But it wouldn't be his preference.

"I think we can. I think kind of by committee, you can get a lot done and we still did that last year," Johnston said.  "But we need someone kind of in crunch time, is the big thing. And we got that with Jen quite a bit."

Who they get it from this year is one of the only questions marks on a team with tremendous potential.

With so many good perimeter players back, Johnston says the Jacks might play four guards with just one post player. He says he'll let that experiment play itself out, and it might change from month to month.