Deb's problem, IMO, has been recruiting. The last 3 or so years she has missed out big time. There is no way you should field a team in the Big 12 w/out a girl over 6'0. When Childs and Brown were Jr's (both were listed at 6'2"), they should have had recruited girls over 6'0", but got none. Then we they were Sr's, Deb got none. Well, guess what...they both graduated and you still had no girls on the roster 6'0". That is full-out recruiting fail! 3 full recruiting classes w/ out a girl with height.
Now this year they landed 3 over 6'3". I would prolly give that credit to Lehning, but I don't know. But one of those girls never played, the other hardly played, and the Lewis girl will have a good future. A little late. So, the talking heads about giving her another year cause she has all of these frosh, well, that is just cause they didin't recruit w/ a squat the last 3 years.
You do roll the dice w/ this firing though, as I think a number of the recruits were very close to Lehning, including our best player, the point guard from Spain. Lose her, and things will not get much better--short term...