Life After Aycock
All-American departure won't leave Kansas flat
After playing the past two seasons at point guard, Kansas junior Tamecka Dixon can expect more playing time at the shooting guard position this season with the addition of point guard Erin Reed. Reed transferred from Iowa where she played in 22 games.
Paul Kotz/ KANBAN
Women's team focuses on improving defense, quickness and strength
By Bill Petulla
Kansan sportswriter
To some skeptics, the departure of Angela Aycock is equivalent to the Kansas women's basketball team lining up on a rug, pulling it from under the players' feet and watching them fall on their faces.
After all, Aycock led Kansas in scoring and rebounding, was a Kodak All-American and had a list of other honors.
But many Jayhawks say they won't fall on their face. Instead, they will stand taller, and some members say, play better.
"I think we're better this year," Kansas senior guard Charisse Sampson said. "I know we can do it without Aycock. She was a great player, and she will be missed, but that's in the past, and we have to look to the future."
Although she is weary of saying Aycock can be replaced, Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington said she would need a more consistent effort from Sampson — the team's only fourthyear senior.
"I expect Charisse Sampson to set up for us," Washington said. "We've got to have her step up and be a consistent performer for us this season."
In addition to senior leadership, the Jayhawks hope to come out with an improved defensive effort.
"What we've really focused on is our defense," Washington said. "We feel that we can be a better defensive team this year than last year, and we're going to try to create some scoring opportunities off our defense."
To build on its defensive effort, Kansas has a taller incoming class.
Freshman Nakia Sanford from Lithonia, Ga., and Patience Grayer, who transferred from Central Florida College, will bring more size to the Jayhawk lineup. Last season, 6-foot-1 juniors Jennifer Trapp and Shelly Canada had the assignment of securing the low post.
Adding depth to the Kansas roster will be Iowa transfer Erinn Reed and former Australian national team member Suzi Raymant. Reed, a point guard, played in 22 games with the Hawkeyes and averaged 7.8 minutes a game. Raymant competed in the Continental Basketball Association and the Victorian Basketball Association while in Australia.
The Jayhawks also say they will be stronger this season.
"This season is probably, physically,
the strongest we've ever been," Washington said.
Other changes will be seen and felt from the frontcourt to the front office.
With the addition of Reed, junior guard Tamecka Dixon will see more playing time at her natural shooting guard position. With Reed, Dixon and Sampson on the perimeter, Kansas expects to run more this season.
"I believe there's going to be a lot of running this year because we're quick," Sampson said. "We've got Erinn, Tamecka and me at the one, two and three guards and post players that run as fast as we do."
Underneath, newcomers Grayer and Sanford will join senior forward Keshana Ledet, sophomore forward Tamara Gracey, sophomore forward Koya Scott, Canada and Trapp.
Last season, Trapp averaged 4.9 points and 4.2 rebounds a game. Canada contributed 5.6 points and 2.7 rebounds a contest.
Guard Angle Halbleib will be called on to give a spark from the behind the three-
point line. The junior is listed second in Kansas' record books for career three-pointers with 115.
Sophomore forward Cynthia Hogg and sophomore guard Jennifer Dietierich will come off the bench this season as well.
Because of the one-year leave taken by Kansas assistant coach Renee Brown, who left to be an assistant coach with the U.S. Women's National team, Kansas has hired a new assistant coach. Misty Orat
Opat, a native of Dighton, comes to Kansas from Bethany College where she spent one year as an assistant coach.
Although Kansas had a difficult schedule last season, which included eventual national champion Connecticut, this season should be more challenging, Washington said.
Even with a tougher schedule, which includes six preseason top 25 teams, some Kansas players are welcoming the challenge.
"I love our schedule. If we only had 25 games, I wish they all were against top 25 teams," Sampson said. "I think it makes us come together as a team."
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