BabHorn
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Horns will kick off the 2014-15 season with an exhibition game against the Stars from Oklahoma City University this Sunday. The Stars will take on Texas one day after a game with Texas A&M. The Stars are the defending NAIA national champions. They are picked #1 in the preseason national polls. They are the preseason favorites to win their conference for the sixth year in a row. A Texas connection: the Stars’ home court is the Abe Lemons Arena, named for their former men’s basketball coach, who also coached at two schools I attended: UT-Pan American (before the UT) and Texas. Among his famous quotes is this one from the story about the arena: “Doctors bury their mistakes, mine are still on scholarship.” That’s pretty mild, really.
OCU returns three starters from their national championship team last year. Among the six new players are four transfers from Division 1 schools, including one from Oklahoma State.
The Stars have two players at 6-2 and one at 6-0. All others are 5-8 or shorter. Four are listed as Cs or Fs. The other seven are guards. The three returning starters are: Yvonte Neal (#22, 5-7 Sr. G), Markeisha Johnson (#23, 5-8 Jr. F) and Ouleymatou Coulibaly (#21, 6-2 Sr. C). The two others returnees from the 2013-14 team are: Cetoria Petties (#14, 5-3 Sr. G) and Albany Anderson (#10, Soph. G). Two potential newcomers that could end up starting: Temple transfer Rateska Brown (#3, 5-6 Sr. G) and Catherine Kruschke (#24, 6-0 Jr. F), transfer from Midland JC.
Neal was a second team NAIA All American last season. She was their leading scorer, the leader in FGs attempted, FGs made, 3pters attempted and made, and second in FTs attempted and made and a team leading 82.2% from the FT line. She was their third leading rebounder, second in assists and third in steals. Coulibaly was the leading rebounder and second in blocks. But she had only 11 blocks last season.
Look for Neal to be their offensive leader although Coulibaly averaged 11.9 ppg to Neal’s 17.1 ppg. Last November, the Stars lost to Baylor 91-49 & A&M 103-60. Neal averaged 13 pts against those two. So expect her to be able to score against the Horns.
This will be the first game of a highly anticipated season for the Texas team and their fans. This is the third season since Coach Aston took over and much is expected of the Horns by fans and the media. Texas has been named the preseason favorite to win the Big 12. They are ranked 12th in the USA Today/ ESPN coaches poll and 9th in the AP poll, spots they haven’t been at since 2012 (coaches) and 2009 (AP).
With the western part of Lot 108 history due to the construction of the Medical School, parking has shifted to the garages and UT parking lots for many. For this game only, parking will be on a first come first choice basis. I’m heading out early to find me a spot on the last part of Lot 108 remaining as this will likely be the last time I can park there this season.
Horns return ten letterwinners from last season. Six players who started at least 13 games return. The main loss is Chassidy Fussell, a four year starter at G. The Horns return two of three double digit scorers: Nneka (12.0 ppg) and Imani (10.8 ppg) who ended up as the top two leading scorers. They were also the leading rebounders at 8.6 rpg and 7.3 rpg, respectively. Unfortunately, Imani is one of two Horns being held out due to injury. She and freshman F Diani Akigbogun are out indefinitely. Both are actively rehabbing so it seems a matter of how they heal as to when they will return.
The Horns are deep in the backcourt with 8 of 14 players listed as Gs. That leaves 6 Fs & Cs but with Imani and Diani out, the depth in the frontcourt is down to four players: Nneka, Kelsey, Lilley and Nekia. Look for Brady and heralded frosh Ariel Atkins, the preseason Big 12 freshman of the year, to rotate inside at times. The three headed frontcourt monster I anticipated this year (Nneka, Kelsey and Imani) will have to wait til later to materialize. Hopefully, it will show up full strength by league play. In the meantime, Lilley and Nekia should get additional valuable playing time until our walking wounded return.
The competition at practice has been fierce the times that I have had the opportunity to attend. The drop off at the various positions is minimal and I would expect to see numerous combinations during this game. The most impressive freshman so far has been Brooke at PG. Nneka and Kelsey look ready to challenge for Big 12 honors. And the team seems to practice with Brady’s passion and all out effort.
My best guess at the starting lineup:
Nneka, Brady, Empress, Kelsey and Brooke. Depending on who did best at practice this week, that could change. I expect all 12 active players will see the floor. The Horns will face three top 25 teams before the month is over with only one being at home: Tenn on 11/30/14.
Some links to OCU stories:
OCU WBB
Eyes will be on defending national champion Stars
OCU Stars to face Tx A&M day before game with Texas
OCU-Texas exhibition to be telecast on Longhorn Network
Defending national champs OCU Stars #1 in preseason NAIA Division I women's basketball rankings
5 time consective conference winners OCU top SAC preseason conference poll
Game time is 2 PM Sunday. The game will be on the LHN with Fran Harris and Nell Fortner calling the shots. KVET 1300 will carry the game on radio. No Bevo’s Bargains for this team. I would guess the White Squad is the cheer squad that will attend. Some members of the Pom Squad will be there, or maybe starting at the first regular home game.
OCU returns three starters from their national championship team last year. Among the six new players are four transfers from Division 1 schools, including one from Oklahoma State.
The Stars have two players at 6-2 and one at 6-0. All others are 5-8 or shorter. Four are listed as Cs or Fs. The other seven are guards. The three returning starters are: Yvonte Neal (#22, 5-7 Sr. G), Markeisha Johnson (#23, 5-8 Jr. F) and Ouleymatou Coulibaly (#21, 6-2 Sr. C). The two others returnees from the 2013-14 team are: Cetoria Petties (#14, 5-3 Sr. G) and Albany Anderson (#10, Soph. G). Two potential newcomers that could end up starting: Temple transfer Rateska Brown (#3, 5-6 Sr. G) and Catherine Kruschke (#24, 6-0 Jr. F), transfer from Midland JC.
Neal was a second team NAIA All American last season. She was their leading scorer, the leader in FGs attempted, FGs made, 3pters attempted and made, and second in FTs attempted and made and a team leading 82.2% from the FT line. She was their third leading rebounder, second in assists and third in steals. Coulibaly was the leading rebounder and second in blocks. But she had only 11 blocks last season.
Look for Neal to be their offensive leader although Coulibaly averaged 11.9 ppg to Neal’s 17.1 ppg. Last November, the Stars lost to Baylor 91-49 & A&M 103-60. Neal averaged 13 pts against those two. So expect her to be able to score against the Horns.
This will be the first game of a highly anticipated season for the Texas team and their fans. This is the third season since Coach Aston took over and much is expected of the Horns by fans and the media. Texas has been named the preseason favorite to win the Big 12. They are ranked 12th in the USA Today/ ESPN coaches poll and 9th in the AP poll, spots they haven’t been at since 2012 (coaches) and 2009 (AP).
With the western part of Lot 108 history due to the construction of the Medical School, parking has shifted to the garages and UT parking lots for many. For this game only, parking will be on a first come first choice basis. I’m heading out early to find me a spot on the last part of Lot 108 remaining as this will likely be the last time I can park there this season.
Horns return ten letterwinners from last season. Six players who started at least 13 games return. The main loss is Chassidy Fussell, a four year starter at G. The Horns return two of three double digit scorers: Nneka (12.0 ppg) and Imani (10.8 ppg) who ended up as the top two leading scorers. They were also the leading rebounders at 8.6 rpg and 7.3 rpg, respectively. Unfortunately, Imani is one of two Horns being held out due to injury. She and freshman F Diani Akigbogun are out indefinitely. Both are actively rehabbing so it seems a matter of how they heal as to when they will return.
The Horns are deep in the backcourt with 8 of 14 players listed as Gs. That leaves 6 Fs & Cs but with Imani and Diani out, the depth in the frontcourt is down to four players: Nneka, Kelsey, Lilley and Nekia. Look for Brady and heralded frosh Ariel Atkins, the preseason Big 12 freshman of the year, to rotate inside at times. The three headed frontcourt monster I anticipated this year (Nneka, Kelsey and Imani) will have to wait til later to materialize. Hopefully, it will show up full strength by league play. In the meantime, Lilley and Nekia should get additional valuable playing time until our walking wounded return.
The competition at practice has been fierce the times that I have had the opportunity to attend. The drop off at the various positions is minimal and I would expect to see numerous combinations during this game. The most impressive freshman so far has been Brooke at PG. Nneka and Kelsey look ready to challenge for Big 12 honors. And the team seems to practice with Brady’s passion and all out effort.
My best guess at the starting lineup:
Nneka, Brady, Empress, Kelsey and Brooke. Depending on who did best at practice this week, that could change. I expect all 12 active players will see the floor. The Horns will face three top 25 teams before the month is over with only one being at home: Tenn on 11/30/14.
Some links to OCU stories:
OCU WBB
Eyes will be on defending national champion Stars
OCU Stars to face Tx A&M day before game with Texas
OCU-Texas exhibition to be telecast on Longhorn Network
Defending national champs OCU Stars #1 in preseason NAIA Division I women's basketball rankings
5 time consective conference winners OCU top SAC preseason conference poll
Game time is 2 PM Sunday. The game will be on the LHN with Fran Harris and Nell Fortner calling the shots. KVET 1300 will carry the game on radio. No Bevo’s Bargains for this team. I would guess the White Squad is the cheer squad that will attend. Some members of the Pom Squad will be there, or maybe starting at the first regular home game.
