12B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
THURSDAY, APRIL 7. 2005
Coach
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again, the players' mindset was the kev. Henrickson said.
"Their mentality coming in allowed us to go up to Minnesota and start the game on a 19-4 run." Henrickson said, referring to the Jayhawks road game of the season against the nationally-ranked Golden Gophers. "We had a couple nights where we didn't have any focus or energy, but we never played scared."
Had Kansas won close games against ranked teams Minnesota, Texas, Kansas State and Iowa State, it could have been doing the unthinkable playing in the postseason.
"Down the stretch, these kids thought they had a chance to make a run and go into the post-season as far as the NIT." Henrickson said. "We didn't sit
there and shake our heads and say the kids aren't realistic and they don't understand. We realized that if they believed they could be successful, we needed to teach them how to be successful and what it takes to be successful."
For a successful coach, enduring a season like this past one could have been tough, but Henrickson said the Jayhawks achieved the goals she set out for them before the season began. She said she set general goals for the program, not a set number of victories.
"It's hard for me to ever say we're going to lose a game before the game even starts," she said. "As far as the number of wins I thought we could get to, I really don't know. We just wanted to change the culture of the program and get better every day. We wanted to change the attitude of everyone involved, and get everyone believing in the
system and style of play that we play, and I think we did that."
Expectations are much higher for next year's team.
"We were very pleased with the amount of growth we made this season," Henrickson said. "Our players need to understand, though, that we need just as much, if not more, growth next year if we want to be successful."
The Jayhawks appear to be a team primed for success, even the possibility of postseason play. Henrickson sent her Virginia Tech teams to the postseason seven years in a row, and she looks well on her way to leading the Jayhawks there again.
The next time her phone rings in February, Henrickson hopes she will be able to accept the invitation to take her team dancing in March.
Edited by Ross Fitch
Following the 0-4 Big 12 start, back-to-back victories against Missouri and Colorado gave the team confidence and restored hope for the season.
Schedule
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Eventually, the strength of schedule won out and Kansas closed out the season with a losing record. At one point, Henrickson saw an opportunity for an NIT berth.
"I think we've made progress," Henrickson said. "We went through a stretch down at the end where we felt like there's a chance for us to be in the NIT.
Even though they mounted strong performances against top conference foes Baylor and Iowa State, the Jayhawks fell short of qualifying for the tournament.
"The growth we've had this year isn't enough, obviously, because we're not postseason."
In the Big 12 tournament, Missouri spoiled a Kansas attempt to complete the three-game season sweep as the Tigers bounced the Jayhawks out of the first round. 62-57.
Henrickson said. "We don't have a winning record."
Starters were forced to log heavy minutes throughout the season. Senior guard Aquanita Burras, junior guard Erica Hallman and Kemp all ranked in the Top 10 in conference in minutes played.
Burras carried the burden of guarding some of the league's most explosive scoring guards, and developed a reputation of being one of the best defenders in the conference. The 2004-05 season marked the end of the line for Burras and Blair Waltz.
"We're losing two great players in Aquanita and Blair." Hallman said. "We're going to miss them a big deal."
Down low, the post presence
of Kemp and freshman forward Taylor McIntosh was left to battle the Big 12's best front courts. Kemp responded by leading the team in scoring and rebounding, while McIntosh proved she was a force to be reckoned with on the offensive boards. McIntosh snared an average of more than three offensive rebounds per contest, good for fifth in the Big 12
Hallman led the scoring from the outside, notching a second-best 13.1 points per game to go with five assists.
For their efforts, Hallman and Kemp were named Honorable Mention All-Big 12. The tandem was the first Kansas duo to earn All-Conference honors since the 2000-01 campaign.
Bonnie Henrickson's first year did not have a storybook ending, and the team is left with much room for improvement in the off-season.
— Edited by Lisa Coble-Krings
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