Friday, November 6, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
Preseason basketball
Baylor women look to improve this year
Women's team hopes to make school's first NCAA Tourney bid
By Sam Mellinger
Kansan sportswriter
Call it a product of the return of junior guard Lara Webb, a preseason All-Big 12 Conference selection. Call it a product of respect for coach Sonja Hogg. Call
it due process for a team returning its top three scorers from a 20-11 team that made it to the finals of the WNIT.
Whatever it was, Baylor,
just two years removed from an 11-19 season,
was picked to finish third in
Webb: Returns as junior to help lead women's team.
the preseason Big 12 coaches' poll. "everybody has to be ready to step up to the plate now," said senior Kacy Moffitt. "It's all talk right now, we've got to prove it and live up to the expectations."
Those expectations are most likely a combination of all of the above. Webb and Moffitt form one of the Big 12's best duos, and Hogg's coaching resume includes two national championships and 307 wins in 11 seasons at Louisiana Tech.
"I'd rather have high expectations than no expectations at all," Hogg said.
Doing it means making it to the first NCAA Tournament in the school's history. And that goal seems more attainable than ever for the Lady Bears with Hogg at the helm.
"Things are beginning to roll," Hogg said. "What has me believing the things that this team can possibly do, we've come along quicker than we anticipated."
One of the most personable coaches in the conference — Hogg's press conference at Big 12 Media Day was punctuated by one-liners — Hogg has the confli-
dence of her players.
"She has molded everyone on this team." Webb said. "Off the court, she's like your mom, she always has our best interests at heart."
Baylor will look for Moffitt and Webb to handle the bulk of the scoring load, and junior Toya Ellis also returns after scoring 13.3 points per game last season.
Baylor's roster this season includes seven freshmen. Danielle Crockrom and Tara Eackles may make the biggest impact of the incoming group.
Monica Arnold, 6-2 sophomore, will likely be asked to fill the starting role of Tasia Wright, a senior last year.
The arrival of the 6-6 Eackles after a medical redshirt last season is especially anticipated in Waco because it should free Moffitt from having to play around the basket.
"You make your own minutes," Hogg said. "I told her the other day, 'sweetheart, if you don't play defense you're going to sit next to me.'"
That doesn't guarantee Eackles any playing time, though.
Hogg was quick to point out that Eackles has made a lot of
improvements since a year ago.
Preview
"Honest to goodness." Hogg said, "she literally cried after our first practice last year. If you print that, she may quit on me, but this year she's made it through just fine."
Hogg: Has high expectations for team this season.
The Bears will need Eackles to play against some of the league's taller players, such as Kansas State's 6-6 Olga Firsova.
"I was just telling the girls," Hogg said, "I saw that girl from KState, and she's so tall I told them that we're going to have to put rockets in our shoes in order to be able to compete in this league."
Baylor plays Kansas in Lawrence on Jan. 5.
Replacement, change challenge Bears team
Coach confident about season despite loss of key player
By Kevin C. Wilson
Associate sports editor
Baylor head coach Harry Miller has been asked the same question all summer: How can you replace Brian Skinner? Despite losing the school's all-time leading rebounder and third all-time scorer, Miller remains optimistic about his first season without the services of his All-Conference center.
"There is life after Brian Skinner." Miller said. "I think we're going to play well. We've got the deepest, most experienced, most athletic team that we have had at Baylor University."
Although the Bears must replace threestarters and more than 63percent of last season's team scoring, Miller has something that was missing from last year's team experienced depth.
Miller: Thinks that team will survive without Skinner.
Eight letter-winners are returning, including two starters, and Miller plans to make some alterations to better suit this year's personnel.
"We're really excited about this team," Miller said. "I think you'll see us do more pressing, we have changed our offense to accommodate the type of players we have. We've got a lot of long, lanky greyhoundish type of players that can really run and jump. We have geared our offense to fit those type of players."
game last season, said at times he struggled last year.
One of those players is junior Jamie Kendrick. After showing flashes of brilliance last season, the 6-foot-8 inch forward is expected to raise his game to the next level.
Kendrick, who averaged 6.0 points and 3.9 rebounds per
"I think the expectations got to me," Kendrick said. "I felt uncomfortable on the court, at
times I would hesitate to shoot. This year I have to play more consistent.
Miller said that he is expecting more than consistency fr o m Kendrick this year.
Skinner: Was Baylor's all-time leading rebounder.
"I think you'll see a
breakout season for players like Jamie Kendrick," Miller said. "He's really playing extremely well. I think he's one of the better players in the league."
Another player that will be expected to step up his game is junior Leon Morris. The 6-6 guard is the Bears leading returning scorer and rebounder from last season, with averages of 6.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
Junior Kish Lewis, standing at 6-7, will have the daunting task of replacing Skinner at center this season, after averaging 5.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 18 games last season. Forward Gabe Ramirez will join Lewis and Kendrick on the Bears front line. The 6-7 senior started 14 of the 25 games played last season and contributed 5.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Newcomer Tevis Stukes is expected to challenge junior B.J. Sellers for the starting point guard position.
Despite being picked to finish in a tie with Texas A&M for last place in the Big 12 Conference, Miller said that the preseason rankings rarely are correct.
"The first year in the league, we finished eighth or ninth and we were picked to finish last." Miller said. "Last year, we were picked eleventh and we finished fifth. I'm not saying we're going to continue up the ladder, but I do think we will be a lot more competitive than people think."
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