No. 17 West Virginia Prepped for 2014-15 Season
November 13, 2014 08:34 AM | General
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The 2014-15 West Virginia University women’s basketball team features a mix of veteran leadership and newcomers as the Mountaineers enter their third season in the Big 12 Conference. Coming off an historic season, WVU looks to recapture last year’s magic that led to the school’s first Big 12 title.
The Mountaineers open play this Saturday, Nov. 15 against Eastern Kentucky in the first round of the Preseason WNIT. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the WVU Coliseum.
In 2013-14, West Virginia produced a 30-5 overall record and won a share of the Big 12 regular season title with a 16-2 mark in league play. The 2013-14 squad had five seniors led by Asya Bussie that made a program-best fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and the school’s 10th postseason berth in 11 years.
This season’s squad has five returners coupled with six newcomers. The biggest transition from last year to the preseason has been consistency. Despite the numerous losses, the Mountaineers were predicted to finish third in the Big 12 Preseason poll by the league’s coaches. Only preseason favorite Texas and Baylor were slated to finish ahead. Just for the third time in school history, WVU was ranked 17th in both the Associated Press and USA TODAY Sports Coaches preseason polls.
“I think since day one until now, we have gotten better,” stated coach Mike Carey, now in his 14th season. “Are we where we need to be at? Certainly not. We have a long way to go. It’s just a matter of repetition. It’s going to be a process. We’re working hard. Attitudes are good. We’ll continue to get better.”
With the subtraction of five seniors, the Mountaineers have five players returning in 2014-15. Coach Carey will rely heavily on his upperclassmen to take control of their leadership responsibilities.
“Our veterans are going to have to carry us early in the season,” noted Carey. “They know what’s going on and what to expect. They know what I expect. They’ve done a good job of that so far. That puts a lot of pressure on our veterans returning. With that being said, if I am a veteran that’s what I want. I want to play a lot of minutes. I want to have that pressure on me. I want to be the go-to person. I think it’s a win-win for them.”
Among those key leaders is Big 12 Conference Preseason Player of the Year, Bria Holmes. Holmes averaged 15.2 points and a team-best 47 steals to lead the Mountaineers last season. Numerous preseason publications have named Holmes one of the nation’s best. Lindy’s Magazine tabbed the New Haven, Connecticut, native a preseason First Team All-American. ESPN noted that Holmes, who is team captain this season, was No. 16 on its top-25 countdown of the NCAA’s best players.
Three seniors will take a bulk of the leadership role this year. Averee Fields and Linda Stepney started in all but one game last year. Fields, a native of Murray, Kentucky, boasted 7.5 points and 5.2 rebounds last season. Stepney contributed with 5.1 points and handed out a team-leading 107 assists last year.
Crystal Leary has been the energizer for the team off the bench. Leary pulled in 3.7 boards and averaged 2.9 points in 35 contests last year.
“I think Linda Stepney has looked very good this preseason,” said Carey. “She has been a leader on the floor, getting the ball to the right people and looking to score more. I want her to be more aggressive scoring because I think she is going to have opportunities. I am very impressed with Bria Holmes taking her role on this basketball team. I think Averee Fields and Crystal Leary have stepped up tremendously.”
Center Lanay Montgomery takes an elevated roll this season after the graduation of star Asya Bussie. Montgomery, a native of Pittsburgh, saw limited action in 24 games last year. However, she has shown a strong work ethic during the offseason.
Lanay Montgomery is going to be a good player for us,” said Carey. “These returners are the ones that have to carry us early. The new players have to keep learning and getting better, so they can contribute later in the season.”
There are six new faces that will don the Old Gold and Blue uniform for the first time this year. Junior college transfers Jessica Morton and Kayla Montgomery are all coming from successful careers at Gulf Coast State. Bre McDonald, a transfer from Georgia Tech, will be eligible for the Mountaineers this season after sitting out a year due to NCAA rules. Forward Teana Muldrow gets her first action in 2014 after taking a redshirt. Meanwhile, WVU features two true freshmen in guards Dominique Simpson and Tyara Warren.
“For the new players, it’s a process,” said Carey. “Even for the junior college players, it’s a process. They are new to the system, just like the freshmen are. They don’t understand what we want defensively and offensively. It’s going to be a process with the JUCO players and the freshmen.”
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THE BACKCOURT
West Virginia’s strength this season will be the play of its backcourt. The majority of the Mountaineers points and returning minutes comes from the guard position. With Holmes returning as the mainstay in the guard position, this preseason’s focus has been the leadership role.
Stepney is expected to be the Mountaineer’s starting point guard, while the freshmen Simpson and Warren will contribute minutes. Coach Carey considers both senior leaders Fields and Leary as more of guards, even though they are listed as forwards.
“I expect them to control the game on both ends,” said Carey. “I expect our guards to be the leaders on the team right now. I consider Averee Fields and Crystal Leary as guards. The only ones that aren’t guards to me are the fives. Our guards have to lead us this year.”
One of the biggest challenges for the guards will be to execute the tenacious defense that coach Carey squads have been known for.
“There has been a lot of breakdowns during the preseason,” said Carey. “Our defense is a pressure defense. If there is one or two not doing what they’re supposed to do, it breaks down the whole thing. You get a lot of backdoors. You don’t switch, talk or communicate. It only takes one or two to mess it up right now. Defensively, it becomes an energy issue.”
THE FRONT COURT
The loss of Bussie has certainly been the top question asked during the preseason. Lanay Montgomery and Kayla Montgomery are both expected to garner valuable playing time this season.
This biggest challenge is providing an inside dominant presence that will set the tone for the Mountaineer offense.
“Our centers, Lanay Montgomery and Kayla Montgomery, have to be a force this year. Especially once we get into Big 12 play. We’ve got to be more physical. Our fours are physical, but right now we need our fives to be more physical.”
Crashing to the boards will be one of the team’s biggest emphasises in non-conference play. But rebounding isn’t just for the forwards, it’s an all-around effort from all five players on the court.
“It’s going to be a team thing this year,” said Carey. “We can’t count on one or two to do all the rebounding. It’s got to be five people boxing out and doing their job. The biggest thing in basketball is talking. Whether it’s on offense or defense, it’s all about communication. That’s going to be the key.”
THE SCHEDULE
West Virginia faces a tough challenge in the beginning with its participation in the Preseason WNIT. The Mountaineers reached the semifinals of the tournament in 2009, falling 92-69 at nationally-ranked Ohio State. WVU welcomes Eastern Kentucky to the Coliseum on Saturday, which was projected to place third in the Ohio Valley Conference. A win would setup a matchup against Rider or Seton Hall on Monday, Nov. 17. Matchups for the WNIT semifinals and finals will be determined as the tournament proceeds.
This season, the Mountaineers will play 10 teams that needed postseason a year ago. WVU faces four teams in its non-conference slate that made postseason play: Evansville (WBI), Fairfield (WBI), Duquesne (WNIT) and IPFW (WNIT).
Last year, the Big 12 had six teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Including West Virginia: Baylor, Iowa, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas all made the big dance. TCU earned a berth in the WNIT.
This weekend’s action begins on Saturday with the Mountaineers hosting the EKU Colonels in a 7 p.m. showdown at WVU Coliseum. Tickets are available by calling 1-800-WVU GAME or purchasing online at WVUGAME.com.
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