chuck.bentjen

Does anyone know whether Rachel will be able to play more over the next couple of seasons? She obviously made some improvement over the course of the season. It still looked difficult for her to run up and down the court. Just wondering.

Both Jessica and the Huskers are better off for the decision Jess made to transfer. I'm not sure she would have ever really been coachable here. Amy wanted her to post up, which Jess essentially refused to do.

Definitely well deserved. In the stretch, teams were really keying on her defensively. She did a great job under a lot of pressure. She will only continue to get better.

I noticed on the game notes for the shootout that the only player listed as injured is Janay. Does that mean Maddie’s back? If so, is she still limited by her ankle? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I believe that’s coach Love. I love the swim move. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for responses! Arkansas defeated Stanford. I have no idea how good Stamford is though. Hannah is averaging 9 assists per game and Bria is averaging 4 per game - 4-5 is considered good. Overall, we’re averaging 19.5 assists per game. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Silly me - they played Samford not Stanford

It’s early in the season and we haven’t face the likes of U Conn yet, but I really like this team very much. Everybody has improved. Bria is everything I expected her to be. Hannah is not only skilled but heady as well. Taylor and Kate have to be among the best freshman combos in the B1G. This team seems disciplined and they play like a team! I can’t wait to see what Nivea and Janay add to the mix. So bravo coach Williams - bravo. Finally, I wish Jessica Shepherd well, but I think the team chemistry is much better now. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've known Brian a long time and did get to meet him several times. May he rest in peace.

I pretty much expect the following players to be the starters: 1 - Bria 2 - Hannah 3 - Nicea 4 - Rachel 5 - Kate With that lineup, we will play a lot like we did last year, but I believe with a little more discipline. I suspect Kate to play lower than Jessica did, which I know was something Coach was trying to get Jess to do. I suspect Janay, Taylor, and Maddie to be the first off the bench. Maddie was really starting to get it at the end of last season and was gaining some confidence. She's a very good athlete overall. I believe that Grace will play some 4 again this season, although she really sees herself as a 3. I think we will see her get some opportunities there. It just depends on how her development progresses over the summer. I think she too showed some improvement toward the end of the season. DW will play the same role she did last year. Jazz and EW will get some playing time. I suspect, like last season, Coach will design some plays to get her some open looks at 3s. I also suspect there may be times when we play pretty our fastest and most athletic players and run it up and down the court. So I'm thinking Bria, Janay, Hannah, Maddie or Taylor, and Nicea -- but that sort of thing I think would be limited to pretty specific situations. I doubt we try that at UConn, for example. I'm really, really looking forward to the season. I think Coach has done a pretty good job of starting to turn things in a different direction. We'll see how far she can take us.

I agree that we're likely going to run up and down the court next season. We certainly have the players to do that. If Rachel Blackburn is totally healthy, she will be a solid presence down low. Grace is really a three, but I thought she came a long way down the stretch last season. With a year under her belt, I expect her to provide some solid minutes. Adding Janay and Bria will help the uptempo a lot. Coach loves to run and gun, but didn't have the personnel to really do that last season. I can't wait for the season to start. I think we are going to surprise some folks!

It's interesting that Sam McKewon recently shared the same delusions in a recent World Herald article. Ok -- so it was a stretch to say Darrien improved significantly. She did have some good minutes down the stretch (very few). I like pretty much everything else I wrote in my original post. I'm not predicting we'll be in the top of the league by any means, but I think we are going to be better than we were this season for several reasons: 1) we will add four players to the floor who are proven scorers: Janay averaged 13 PPG her last season of play, Bria averaged 13 PPG her last season of play, and Rachel averaged 9 PPG during her freshman season, and Taylor Kissinger is plainly and simply a shooter -- Bria also averaged 4 APG 2) Janay and Bria both have Nicea like athleticism and are good on the ball defenders 3) Rachel is a very, very solid player -- whether she can hold up to the grind of a long season and the B1G is certainly a question -- which is why we need some help there -- I will acknowledge she has to work very hard in the offseason 4) Maddie has not yet lived up to her potential but showed some flashes down the stretch. I think she will continue to grow and thrive in this system. 5) I totally disagree with you on Grace Mitchell -- she's going to be very good because she's very solid fundamentally. She wasn't too sure she belonged out there at first but again started to show some flashes down the road. We have to remember she played out of position this season as well. I feel that will be the nucleus of next year's team. Jazz, RCJ, and Woody will contribute but will strictly be role players. Finally, without saying more, I believe team chemistry got a shot in the arm this week. It's easy to predict failure and fun if you're wrong. I've never taken the easy road and never will.

Please expound -- why?

Anyone know whether there's any chance Simone Goods comes back home to finish her college career? She had an outstanding year at Kirkwood. I don't know much about her, but Kirkwood went 37-0 and she was MVP.

It's a good question. How will Rach and Derrian hold up? Grace needs to be at the wing if possible. We really need to add one more post player.

It's a good question. How will Rach and Derrian hold up? Grace needs to be at the wing if possible. We really need to add one more post player.

With the departure of Jessica Shepherd, I'd like to talk about what next season might look like. I honestly expect us to be much better than this season. Coach Williams likes to play an up-tempo fast-paced game. She likes her teens to shoot more shots than the other team. Last season she didn't have players. In my opinion, that changes in the coming year. We will certainly be guard/wing heavy, but that suits coach Williams' style of play. Hannah and Nicea are now seasoned veterans. Janay and Bria also bring a lot of experience to the court. Further they now have a season of experience in coach Williams' system. We all know how hard Emily works and plays. Maddie really started to come on at the end of the season. Taylor Kissinger is an excellent shot, and I'm confident Riley will continue to grow. Jazz is solid as well. We obviously won't have much of a presence down low; however, Rachel Blackburn is one of the hardest working players I've ever seen. She reminds me a lot of Kelsey Griffin in that regard. I'm also pressed by Grace Mitchell. She really started to come on strong at the end of the season. Finally, Darrien showed significant improvement last season, and, if she works hard in the off-season, I think she can play some significant minutes. It certainly wouldn't hurt us to add a couple of players. That might be difficult at this juncture, but not impossible.

No -- I had a press pass for one game

And another favorite -- Hannah shows how to stop and pop a shot

Another of my favorite pics -- Nicea shows how one should play defense!

One of my favorite pictures of Grace Mitchell I took at the last home game of the season -- preparing to rebound.

It is sad. I remember Coach Williams after one game was talking about the importance of Jess catching the ball lower in the block. Yet, how many times did we see Jess hanging out around the 3 pt. or the top of the key demanding the ball?

I was trying to be kind -- it's just my nature. I think we all could see the tension out on the court this season. I'm still excited for the future of this program. Janay and Bria will bring the same kind of athleticism we saw from Nicea this season so I think we can play faster. I think Grace Mitchell was really starting to get her feet under her at the end of the season. Hannah will come back a seasoned veteran. Rachel Blackburn has to be hungry to get back out on the court. If her surgery was a success, I think she can have a great season. She certainly plays hard enough.

I actually think this is best for both parties. Jess is a good player no doubt, but she has a lot of growing to do in my opinion. I kind of get the feeling that Jess is a little difficult to handle and kind of wants to call the shots. Kissinger will come in ready to play. JMHO

I'm excited about the future. Nicea and Hannah are very solid and heady freshmen with huge futures. RCJ had some good moments as well. And, itseems the players are starting to sync into coach Williams' system. But I look at who's sitting on the bench this season. You throw those three into the mix and we have one heck of a team. GBR

I cannot remember the moniker for Nicea's parent on this site -- sorry about that -- but I want to compliment you on raising an incredible young woman. She is definitely already a special basketball player, but her potential is so incredible. She's playing way beyond her freshman status. Just her positioning and some of the little things she did last night caused problems for Colorado State. Her athleticism and understanding of where she needs to be when she needs to be there can't be coached. It's instinct! To top it off, I know about Rampart. My cousins sons both graduated from Rampart and both are headed to medical school. It is very demanding academically, so Nicea has to have some real smarts. I just want to say that I'm a huge fan of your daughter, and, understanding that kind of stuff doesn't happen on its own -- of you.