THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2009
SPORTS
21
MCCRAY (CONTINUED FROM 19)
ists who began training on June 18 in Colorado Springs, Colo., at the U.S. Olympic training center.
McCray said the training center was a lot like a college campus.
"Everything is close," McCray said. "The cafeteria, the place we stay at. Everything is within walking distance."
McCray said she thought she had an
advantage doing summer workouts for two weeks with her teammates, including Kansas' incoming freshmen, before starting the intense training for Team USA.
"I was worried at first because certain coaches want you to do certain things differently..."
"We have practice at 9 in the morning and at 5:30 p.m. for two
DANIELLE MCCRAY Senior guard
and a half hours," McCray said. "It's been really intense practices, but I feel like I'm in good enough shape."
McCray will play with 11 of the top players in women's college basketball. Her teammates include fellow Big 12 guard Danielle Robinson from Oklahoma University and center Tina Charles, guard Tiffany Hayes and forward Maya Moore from the
"I was worried at first because certain coaches want you to do certain things differently, but it all came together," McCray said.
McCray said she looked forward to playing with great athletes and taking her experiences from this summer back to Kansas for the upcoming season. Henrickson said she thought McCray's experience would be beneficial for the team.
"Her experiences will help her gain on both ends," Henrickson said. "It's an opportunity for her to challenge herself with the USA team and her experiences with that she can bring back to her teammates."
University of Connecticut, the 2009 Women's National Champions.
McCray will play under Coach Charli Turner Thorne of Arizona State. McCray said that at first she was worried about playing under a different coach, but that Thorne
was similar to Henrickson as far as intensity of coaching.
Junior guard Danielle McCray jumps for a basket during the second half of Saturday's WNIT Championship game against the University of South Florida. McCray recently made Team USA.
Ryan McGeeneey/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Edited by Annie Vangsnes
MONTEMAYOR (CONTINUED FROM 19)
spearheaded by Xavier Henry, water cooler chatter this summer and fall will contain a good deal hardwood speculation at an institution never for want of basketball buzz.
A beautiful spring evening in 2008 gave the players, coaches and fans a taste of victory not experienced in two decades. A rare return of its two stars — combined with the addition of a future one — in this "Here Today Gone Tomorrow" era of early exits bolster more expectations than perhaps that of that special season.
What are the early projections
from those that pride themselves as "experts?" Well, short answer is that if you took the number one, multiplied it by the X number of analysts/ blogs/magazines and then divide that total by that same number then you won't likely be far off.
The Big Lead: "There could be some offensive struggles at times, but there's no doubt this is the best team in the nation."
ESPN's Andy Katz: "They were my No. 1 in April, and I found no reason why the Jayhawks shouldn't stay there. They have too much returning to knock them off their
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perch. Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich each have a shot to be Big 12 Player of the Year".
ESPN's Pat Forte: "KU isn't just the favorite; it's a big favorite — almost as big as North Carolina last year. Sherron Collins can be coach Bill Self's Ty Lawson, and Cole Aldrich can be his Tyler Hansbrough."
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