12B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
SPORTS
MONDAY. AUGUST 15. 2005
Higher expectations
BY MICHAEL PHILLIPS
mphillips@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWRIVER
Marija Zinic will arrive on campus this week and try to adjust to the college life. However, Zinic's adjustment will be different than that of most freshmen.
She's never set foot in the United States.
This fall Zinic, a forward, and fellow Serbian Ivana Catic, a guard, will help provide much-needed depth to the women's basketball team.
"It's a difficult transition for any freshman," coach Bonnie Henrickson said. "The fact that they have known each other for years is a good thing."
Henrickson will enter her
Kansan file photo
Coach Bonnie Henrickson waves off a call during a game during last season. The women's basketball team opens regularseason play this fall against Binghamton on Nov. 20 and have included 19 home games on the schedule.
second year as coach after leaving Virginia Tech in 2004.
Last year's team finished 12- 16 and placed eighth in the Big 12 — the Jayhawks' best finish in five seasons.
This year's team will look different than last year's, with six newcomers joining six returnees.
Mosley was named the 2005 Junior College Player of the Year, and was invited to the USA Basketball National Team Trials this summer.
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"The returning kids are realizing they're going to have to get better to play," Henrickson said.
The new faces include five freshmen and Shaquina "Shaq" Mosley, a junior college transfer from Central Arizona College.
Henrickson said last year's team lacked depth, which hurt them late in the season.
"We had three or four kids that would play 35 minutes a night, and that's just too much in this league." Henrickson said.
The Big 12 is annually one of the toughest conferences in women's basketball.
Fans looking to see the team will enjoy the nonconference schedule. The Jayhawks only leave Lawrence once, to play in the University of New Orleans Lady Privateer Tournament, in New Orleans.
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Senior guard Erica Hallman will have to readjust to a position, as well. She played point guard last year, but will move back to the wing — where she played as a sophomore — once freshman guard Sophronia Sallard is ready to take over the point.
Including exhibitions, the team will play 19 home games.
Henrickson viewed that as a positive, and thought it would give her young players a chance to get more experience in game situations.
The team's biggest challenge will be finding a replacement for outgoing senior Aquanita Burras, who averaged 10.1 points per game in addition to her defensive presence.
"When you look at your nonconference schedule, you want some games that you feel like you can win, but also some
Sallard, a 5-10 guard from Syracuse, N.Y., was named a top-25 player by recruiting services.
The team is not allowed to practice until Late Night in the Phog, on Oct. 14, but the players have been working out and playing pickup games together during the offseason.
Henrickson said she would place emphasis on offense this year, and on training the players to not just be shooters, but play-makers as well.
games where you are going to have to play hard to have a chance," Henrickson said. "I think we have a great mix of both."
Four Jayhawks are on the preseason award watch list. College transfer Shaquina Mosley, junior guard, will be up for Newcomer of the Year, freshman guard Sophronia Sallard is on the Freshman of the Year watch list, and returning players Crystal Kemp, senior forward, and Erica Hallman, senior guard, are candidates for All-Conference honors.
Junior Alicia Rhymes left the team in the offseason with a bad back. Coach Bonnie Henrickson said Rhymes will remain on scholarship and stay involved with the team, but doctors advised her against playing.
Henrickson knows the Jayhawks' success this year will be dependent on the performance of the newcomers, but is still willing to set high goals.
"I don't think it would be farfetched to try to reach the post-season," she said. "I think there were just too many nights where we just weren't ready."
Everyone stayed
All returning players stayed in Lawrence this summer for at least one session of summer school. Hallman played league ball in her home state of Kentucky.
She'll have one month of practice to correct before the Nov. 6 exhibition opener against Pittsburg State.
Several players on preseason watch list
During the summer, the University self-reported NCAA violations in the
Putting probation behind them
Coach will rely on newcomers in second season
women's basketball program As a result, scholarships this year will be reduced from 15 to 13. The change will not affect any of the players on the team.
Rhymes out with injury
"It's an obligation and a responsibility we have," Henrickson said, "I think the most encouraging thing is it shows the commitment we have to compliance and to doing things the right way."
— Edited by Jonathan Kealing
. Using men's team as an advantage
Speaking at the Edwards Campus last Thursday night, Henrickson told supporters she was proud to use the success of the men's team to her advantage.
"If that's what a recruit wants to talk about, then what's what we will talk about," she said. Henrickson added that the national recognition helps in scheduling good opponents.
Smith ioins team
Joining the team as a walk on this year will be the freshman guard Katie Smith. The Omaha, Neb., native followed high school teammate Jen Orgas to Kansas.
Michael Phillips
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