High Expectations
October 21, 2009 06:55 AM | General
October 21, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia women’s basketball coach Mike Carey inherits a relatively youthful squad this season. But the ninth-year coach also understands that this year’s team could be his most athletic and versatile group to date.
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| Mike Carey is beginning his ninth season at West Virginia.
Chuck LeClair photo |
Up and down the roster all 12 players are in fantastic shape, giving many of them the option of playing multiple positions. The idea of moving around players from spot to spot is appealing because it can make this year’s squad much harder to match up against, which is another byproduct of how hard each player has worked in the offseason.
“We have several players who can play several different positions, and I like that,” Carey said. “It gives us flexibility to put players in different positions. That will be nice this year also.
“I think this is the hardest our players have worked – this is my ninth year at West Virginia and I saw our players work harder as a team this summer than I have in any of my nine years. I’m very pleased with the way they worked out, their work ethic and what they have done in the classroom.”
What makes this group unique to Carey is the instant cohesion that has developed. Five fresh faces have joined the team this season, led by Top 50 recruit Asya Bussie, who has enough talent to crack the starting lineup by the first regular season game on Nov. 13 against Towson. Two Top 100 recruits in guards Antishia Wright and Akeema Richards bring plenty of quickness, while transfers Ayana Dunning (LSU) and Tonia Williams (South Carolina) add more depth to the team but will be forced to miss this year due to NCAA transfer rules.
Despite the youth, Carey has been extremely happy with how well the team has grown together through a relatively short period of time.
“I love this group,” Carey added. “I think this group can do something special because of their work ethic and because of their attitudes and because they want to get better. As a coaching staff we’ve really enjoyed coaching this group so far.”
Having a team decimated by several injuries last season, Carey never was able to see the full potential of his squad in 2008-09. Guard Vanessa House, and forwards Jessica Capers and Madina Ali were all lost to season-ending injuries, putting players who were further down the bench into a quick-learning role.
With a fully healthy roster and a great amount of depth at all positions, the 2004 Big East Coach of the Year has plenty of options to work with. Because all 12 athletes are in great physical condition, the concern for injury is far less this year.
“I’ve said that if it’s going to happen it’s going to happen,” Carey said of having injuries. “Our girls stayed in better shape this summer, and didn’t get out of shape, especially our returning players. I thought that was a key for preventing some injuries early. We really didn’t have any pulled muscles or anything, so it’s been great. Over the years we’ve had some injuries, so hopefully things will work out this year.”
This year’s team is guard-heavy once again, with returning second team all-Big East player Liz Repella and Big East Most Improved player Sarah Miles leading the way. But Carey believes his team will be much improved in the post, an area that separates many of college basketball’s haves and have-nots.
“We’re going to be a little more inside this year. We’ll run our four-out stuff but we’re also going to run some of our power game inside and inside-out,” Carey said. “Defensively we’ll change up a little bit more this year than what we’ve done in the past, because we do have some numbers and we do have some size. We’ll still play the man as our main defense, but we’re going to extend a little bit to the 1-3-1 and 1-2-2 and extend a little more than we have, just to give people different looks.”
For the first time in his career, Carey will be coaching a team that has no seniors. The concept is a double-edged sword for many coaches, and Carey understands the advantages and disadvantages of having a youth-laden group.
“The disadvantage is some of these players have not been in a college setting, and the last minute of a basketball game on the opponent’s floor and their screaming and yelling and you can’t hear and communicate – that’s a disadvantage because they haven’t been there and done that,” Carey added.
“The advantage is they come in here hungry. They come in and want to learn, they’re excited to be here and get started and excited to learn what the Big East is all about. It’s exciting for me as a coach. I’ve told the players that I’m very excited about this group. Attitude-wise, work ethic-wise, as a whole it’s been the best group since I’ve been here.
“I’m glad Liz and Sarah are not seniors. Madina would have been a senior had she not gotten injured. Heck, I wish all of them were sophomores or freshmen.”
As for how many players he can get into his rotation, Carey wasn’t reluctant to say that all 10 who are eligible can get some time on the floor. He is confident that this year’s team is so deep that he can keep fresh legs and prevent any fatigue from his already-athletic bunch.
“As a whole number, I think all 10 can play,” Carey said. “In the past I’m usually five or six deep and when we go to the bench we usually go way down. I think this year’s different because people can play different positions and because all 10 of our players can play.”
