kansashusker

In the next couple of weeks we will start hearing about lots of kids at schools all over the country transferring. I read a couple years ago in womens basketball that 38% of d1 kids transfer at some point in their career. Just a microcosm of society in general. People jump jobs more than they used to. Loyalty is less important than it used to be and more people focus on "me". I am not judging, just reality. Lots of reasons behind the transfers -- usually PT, location, unhappy kids, unhappy parents, lack of patience, grades, etc. We live in an immediate gratification culture.

Rachel T; Anya; Jas, Nat, Allie and Woody.

I agree NU is the better school than MU but I am a homer. Big is also a better conference than SEC for womens bball. (they might have the edge in football. lol) That said, Mu has it rolling right now and has a freshman class that is really good like ours which after a redshirt year she would be joining at either school as a jr. Sophie Cunningham was SEC freshman of the year and is at least as dominant as Jess, and they have a freshman post Cheadle I think is her name who some think may be a pro some day also. I do think we will get a visit which gives us hope. Somebody told me she and Woody know each other, and I think she knows Kendyl also.

Mitchell is very likely going to play a lot of stretch 4.

Revising my number to 70% chance its MU

She is a good player and a GREAT competitor/leader. However, don't get too excited as 98% chance its MU.

Grace Mitchell's Wellington team won their first round game today v. De Soto.

All the recent posts about the new 2016 recruits along with the fact that tomorrow is sr. day and Rachel T's last home game as a Husker have me thinking about where our team is in the cycle of team building. The reality is that the Lindsey Moore years through the cady/hallie/brandi/T years were a great cycle. However, at the end it created a large gap 2 seasons ago between the sr battle tested experience of those 4 and the younger players. As a result our predominantly young team this year is in transition in phase 2 or the early "forming" stage of the next cycle. Rachel T is really the only major carry over peace from the prior cycle. yeah nat played a lot as a freshman, and allie some on the 14-15 team and both did well but nat is the leader of the next up cycle identify wise as a super experienced and talented soph now. The reality is that after Rachel T's departure there will be complete turn over from the Lindsey Moore thru cady groups. Leaving us in the late "forming stage" of the next cycle. That forming stage will largely be complete when the 2016 class arrives and any other late addition we add this spring (5th year, juco, etc). After that we will truly be in the next phase of team development which is "storming". We will have predominantly jrs, sophs and freshman in fierce "storming" competition for PT primarily among 3 spots (based on my belief that if healthy Jess and Nat won't be displaced). This competition should make for a great practice environment, youthful hungry energy, and some bumps along the way next season with lots of less experienced players getting minutes. As next year progresses and kids get experience and the rotation settles in we should be back to "normal" with 2 budding stars in Romeo and Shepard, and some really athletic good kids rounding out the roster. At that point we will enter phase 3 which is "normal". If we stay healthy we should be able to ride that wave with great success through Jess' graduation.

Natalie is really really good. I think people take for granted how hard she has to work to get open with people hanging on her. Even more so now with our injuries to Rachel and Kyndal. Nat has had a great soph year that she should be very proud of.

She is a good player and good kid. Kansas hs basketball talent level is way down this year and her team hasn't played much meaningful competition but i would think they have a decent chance to make a run at state. Bishop Miege from KC would likely be the biggest hurdle for her team. Like all freshman there will be a learning curve, but Huskers fans will enjoy her.

I can't pull up link but it is a nice article about an outstanding young lady.

The blow out problem is a societal problem. The issue is the weaker team needs to get better not that the kids that have worked hard to learn a skill should be punished by not getting to play. Essentially the rule stands for "you haven't practiced hard and developed this skill but you want to play so we will let you and protect you from those awful kids that have spent their free time working at something." They would never have a rule like this in boys sports. Double standard for poor little sally an her parents so they don't get their feelings hurt. Kansas has a running clock in second half if ahead more than 35 I think. That rule is bad enough. Having said that there are things that are implied in coaching when you are the dominant team. Don't press after up 15; don't guard outside 3 pt line when up about 35; and don't leave starters in the 4th qtr. Beyond that quit babying kids and let them play.

We have so many things we can and will improve on. The three freshman are sooooo talented it is crazy. And they all want to learn and help the team. Its just a big jump from hs to Big 10 and it is a process that takes time. Biggest thing is just learning how to compete hard every second of every game. For example, Jess shouldn't be twice as fast leading the break dribbling as she is getting back on defense. Difference is sprinting back every possession isn't important enough to her to fight through the fatigue yet. Watch some time, she only hustles enough getting back on defense to be in front of her person who is the trailing post. Never sprints to ball level in transition D to make sure ball is stopped and lane is plugged. Similar thing for Maddie who is our best athlete. She has to attack the basketball on rebounds. She is a foot taller than Esther and Woody and has played 3 times more minutes than them but has same number of rebounds as them on the season. Right now she is still "thinking" which creates a moment of hesitation which is the difference between getting the rebound and not getting the rebound. These are all very correctable things that are part of the process. People just need to be patient. They are all good kids that want to do well. -- If we can get that natural growth, and plug in some more competitive toughness as jess matures next year we should see tremendous improvement.

We probably aren't that far off the records we should have. Iowa loss at home haunts us a little. -- The frustrating thing for me is we are talented enough to be better. Your best players have to be your best leaders and competitors to be great and we have a unique mix of personalities in that regard. That is why when things go poorly for us, we rarely right the ship that game. Rather, it snowballs on us in a hurry. I do think Nat has made tremendous strides in this area from freshman to soph year, and hopefully Jess can too next season (if she does it will be a thing of beauty because she is so talented and skilled at her size it is amazing). I think RB being hurt has hurt us in the area of competitive toughness too as I think she is one of our better competitors. The emergence of Jas has helped in this area also. Still there is no question who our 3 best players are and we need ALL three (not just nat) to HATE losing and fight when its hard not just when its easy.

We are very lucky to have such great sports information employees at NU, and the coverage the girls get in the local paper is very good too. Additionally, Matt and Jeff are as good as it gets. If you haven't had a chance to listen to Matt's interviews with each of our players this year you are missing out. He is very good with the kids and it is a fun way to get to know more about each of them. I am guessing a person could find the interviews in the audio archives. May be links for those interviews somebody could post here also. Again, that is above my computer skill pay grade. lol

On the huskers website there is a well written article about Nat and Andrew White. Not sure I can get the link posted to this website, but somebody may be able to.

Nat and Jess did a nice job in the interview. We are very blessed to have some quality young women in are program.

well 6 games in and I have had the chance to go to a game in person, and watch some on TV. I really like our team. The chemistry seems to be very good, and I like our depth. The bench will keep shrinking in close games to probably 7 or 8 but the more we can rest Rachel T, etc. hopefully the better their bodies hold up later in the season from the pounding. I really have enjoyed the freshman, they are very talented, and Natalie Romeo is playing very well. She really looks confident at this point, and like a veteran. Kendyl will hit shots before its all said and done I think. She just lost her confidence a little bit and is trying to fit in and find her nitch. I love her smile and attitude. Hopefully we can stay healthy. Should be a fun year.

I enjoyed watching the videos. I appreciate you guys posting them.

NU has a lot to be excited about right now. Lets take the high road and not look down our noses at a 19 year old kid. Its water under the bridge. GBR

I agree huskercode. I think all kids take big lead that year, but with her athleticism her leap will be bigger than most.

But I agree Maddie had a tremendous game yesterday and is crazy talented. Sky is the limit for that kid. 6'3" and runs and jumps like a deer. I really think she will evolve into a nice scorer and tremendous passer because she can see over the top so well on the perimeter at her height.

jas is a really good defender also. They left her in a long time in the second half yesterday when the other teams guard had gotten hot. Jas had a great summer and has really improved. She was very good in Australia. She and Nat will both have great seasons for NU.

Nat is the best on the ball perimeter defender. She will continue to start and be a big part of what we do. jas and maddie will compete to figure out who will be the first perimeter player off the bench this year most likely

Read Winnona State is ranked 16 in preseason D2 national poll. Should be better competition that Kearny.