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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Women's basketball team adds trio of new point guards
SCOTT CHASEN
@SChasenKU
The Kansas women's basketball team will be booking to get back to the NCAA tournament this season, and the Jayhawks will have the added boost of talented newcomers on the team. They managed to nab three talented point guards, including freshman Terriell Bradley, who ranked as the No. 56 recruit according to ESPN. Bradley is joined by 3-star recruit Lauren Aldridge and junior college transfer Timeka O'Neal, both of whom are very capable shooters and above average ball handlers.
"The good thing about [the point guards] is that they can really shoot the ball, so you can play two of the three together," coach Bonnie Henrickson said. "They understand the pace and intensity of the game and they are committed to competing."
The addition of these skilled players should allow the layawhacks some versatility in the ability to play small, using two or three point guards on the court at the same time.
This will be Henrickson's first year without a returning point guard, but other players on the roster have already stepped up and taken on leadership roles. Senior guard Natalie Knight has worked to mentor the younger guards, and she credits a former Jayhawk with teaching her how to work with the freshmen.
"I learned a lot from Angel [Goodrich], and I think that was really good preparation for us as far as [leading as] seniors," Knight said. "I've tried to help them with any questions that they've had in practice, or even outside of practice."
In the first exhibition game, the new point guards played solid by combining for 23 points and shooting 50 percent from 3-point range. However, after the game, coach Henrickson said the most impressive thing about the point guard play wasn't reflected in the stat sheet, but rather that the point guards had no problem calling their own plays, rather than looking to her to do it for them.
"[The point guards] have done a much better job of knowing what we should run on a miss and what we run on a make," Henrickson said after the first exhibition game. "They didn't try to do too much either."
While there is some uncertainty that comes with relying on newcomers, the Jayhawks will have a few games to get acclimated before their first real test. Unlike the men's team, which faces off against top-ranked Kentucky in the second game of the season, the women's basketball team won't see a ranked opponent until the seventh regular season game against Notre Dame, which should provide them ample opportunity to work out all the kinks.
Edited by Drew Parks
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
Coach Bonnie Henrickson gives the team encouragement during the second half of the match against Southeast Missouri State Redhawks Nov 14, 2013. Henrickson hopes veteran players will be mentors for freshmen.
Henrickson counts on veterans for leadership
KIRSTEN PETERSON
@KeepUpWithKP
Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson arrived in Lawrence 11 years ago and completely transformed the Jayhawks, who were in their fourth consecutive losing season at the time. Since then, Henrickson has advanced the Jayhawks to seven postseasons and led the team to consecutive NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 rounds in 2012 and 2013.
"The goal for us is to go to the NCAA tournament," Henrickson said. "We're working hard every day to make that happen and there's a lot that goes into that."
Last season, Kansas lost five out of six one-possession games. Having the aggressiveness to get one more 50-50 ball could have had significant impact on its overall record. Henrickson
commented on how there were certainly a lot of offensive and defensive issues last season. She sees a change in her team for the upcoming season.
"We're not where we need to be... But we're certainly working every day to try to get there."
BONNIE HENRICKSON Kansas coach
"I think from a toughness standpoint we've made some progress," she said. "I think our young kids have been really well coached before they got here, so their transition to help us early has been exciting."
With four freshmen and one junior college transfer, the jayhawks have a variety of fresh faces. The upperclassmen have the chance to act as mentors for these young players.
things."
There may be a point when some of the new Jayhawks experience a high-intensity situation they have never been in before, and the upperclassmen can help out their younger teammates with their own past experiences.
"Sometimes they're going to have to talk through some things on the fly and if we don't have a timeout or we don't want to use a time out, that'll be important," she said. "That's when you speak to chemistry, the trust they have for each other and the relationship they've worked hard to build."
Henrickson relies on the chemistry between her players in order for them to succeed this season. She wants the competitive edge to stay consistent and to have her team focus on being better than they were last year. She says her team will get better if they commit to competing and getting more comfortable on the court.
"We're not where we need to be," she said. "We're not where we were, but we're not where we need to be yet. But we're certainly working every day to try to get there."
"Sometimes they underestimate the impact they have on young people," Henrickson said about the seniors. "Sometimes when you get to be seniors you lose sight of how important that is for freshmen. It matters when I say things, but it really matters when seniors you respect say
— Edited by Lyndsey Havens
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1. Kansas will make the NCAA tournament
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL:
5 SEASON PREDICTIONS
Following a disappointing 2013-2014 campaign, the Jayhawks will be looking to reach the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the last four years. With four returning starters and two years of NCAA Tournament experience, Kansas has a foundation to build upon. The team seem to have made great bonds both on and off the court to have the chemistry they need to make it to the Big Dance
2. Chelsea Gardner will log more double doubles this
more double-doubles this season than she did the last Last season, Gardner had 12 double-doubles. With Gardner off to a fast start after beginning the season with 23 points and 10 boards, she can surpass that total easily. Gardner will again be a key asset this season and someone to be feared by toes.
3. Kansas will finish above .500 in Big 12 play
Last year the Jayhaws went 5-13 in the Big 12, but 10 of the 13 losses were by 10 or fewer points, and four of the losses were by three or fewer points. With the addition of a few talented freshmen, as well as the growth of players like Chelsea Gardner, the Jayhawks should be able to win at least half of their games in the conference.
4. Lauren Aldridge will exhibit poise well beyond that of a turfical freshman player
typical nonslam player
Aldridge started in the
layhawks' exhibition opener,
playing alongside four seniors:
Chelsea Gardner, Natalie Knight,
Asia Boyd and Bunny Williams.
Aldridge seemed to fit right in,
and had no problem running
the offense. Her initiative in
calling plays led to coach Bonnie
Henrickson praising Aldridge in
the post-game press conference.
While she may not blow you away
with her numbers, Aldridge has
the potential to be a key player
this season.
5. For the second straight year, Kansas will upset a top-10 team
Last year, the Jayhawks defeated the No. 7 Baylor Bears in Allen Fieldhouse, despite 31 points and 12 rebounds from Baylor's Odyssey Sims. This year, the Jayhawks will have a few opportunities to make their mark, with five games against current top-10 teams prior to the Big 12 tournament.
— Scott Chasen and Kirsten Peterson
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