Photo by: Big 12 Conference
Carey Hopes Stronger Non-Conference Schedule Will Boost His Team in March
October 15, 2019 11:33 AM | Women's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia was recently picked to finish third in the Big 12 this year, which you would think should be good enough to get into the NCAA Tournament.
But after finishing tied with Kansas State for fourth with an 11-7 league record last season, veteran Mountaineer coach Mike Carey isn't so sure.
Carey admitted Monday that last year's non-conference schedule really hurt his team when it came to NCAA Tournament selection time, despite its 20-10 overall record.
"It was mainly because of our RPI non-conference, to be honest with you. We did it to ourselves," he said.
When you look back on it, West Virginia's postseason fortunes were really determined during Thanksgiving weekend in the Bahamas when the Mountaineers were forced to pick up that tournament at the last minute.
West Virginia faced 12th-ranked Iowa in the first game and had the Hawkeyes down by 20 at halftime before falling 84-81. A win there would have been the red letter, non-conference victory last year's selection committee wanted to see.
To compound matters, instead of facing 25th-ranked Florida State a day later in the championship game, the Mountaineers had to play Eastern Kentucky in the consolation game – a 2-win team West Virginia already had on its non-conference schedule.
Those two blowout wins against The Colonels were really more harmful than helpful.
So Carey took a hard look at his team's non-conference schedule and decided it needed a little boost. If you look at the non-league slate West Virginia is playing this year, there are a lot fewer sub-300 RPI teams on it this year.
Based on last year's RPI, there are three non-conference opponents on this year's schedule with RPIs in the top 15 - No. 8 Mississippi State, No. 10 Syracuse and No. 14 Michigan State.
The Mountaineers are playing the Bulldogs in Starkville, Mississippi, on Dec. 8 as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
Michigan State and Syracuse are scheduled on back-to-back days on a neutral floor in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 21-22.
West Virginia is also facing Creighton and New Mexico in Cancun, Mexico, Nov. 28-29 as part of the Cancun Challenge.
Both were RPI Top 100 teams last year.
Radford, which West Virginia is playing in Beckley on Sunday, Nov. 17, could also be helpful to West Virginia's postseason resume. The Highlanders won 26 games last season and finished with a 77 RPI.
"We've corrected our non-conference schedule. If we can finish in the top four in our league we should get in," Carey said.
Beyond playing a somewhat soft non-conference schedule, Carey didn't believe his team reached its full potential. Key injuries, inexperience at certain positions and an overall lack of depth were also factors in West Virginia failing to reach the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season.
"It's a shame because they had to play so many minutes," he said. "You want that pressure and you want that intensity for 40 minutes, but let's be honest, if you're playing 40 minutes a game you just can't do it. You think in your mind you're doing it but you're really not doing it. It wasn't because of a lack of effort or they didn't care, they just didn't have the legs to sustain that."
Knock on wood, Carey believes he has much more depth and athleticism this year. He's also got some size in the paint to match up with Baylor, Texas and the other big teams in the league with the availability of 6-5 junior Blessing Ejiofor and 6-5 redshirt freshman Rochelle Norris.
That will enable 6-1 sophomore Kari Niblack to move out of the paint to her much more natural forward position.
Carey has also got an experienced point guard returning in sophomore Madisen Smith.
And don't forget, also on his roster are three exceptionally talented players in seniors Tynice Martin and Lucky Rudd and junior Kysre Gondrezick.
So you can see why the Big 12 coaches like the team Carey has returning, and the veteran coach believes he's put together a schedule that could really help the Mountaineers come March if they play up to their potential.
"To finish third in your league and to have a winning record in your league, they surely didn't go by the league," he said. "They went by non-conference schedule so we've upped it, and that's why we're playing Mississippi State away, we're playing Syracuse, we're playing Michigan State and we're playing New Mexico."
"Of course, they'll change back (to an emphasis) on the league this year because you never know what they're going to do when they get behind the door there, but hopefully we'll be okay in both areas."
West Virginia will play Salem in an exhibition game on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at the Coliseum before opening the regular season on Thursday, Nov. 7 against St. Francis at the Coliseum. That game will tip off at 7 p.m.
The Mountaineers open Big 12 play on the road at Kansas State on Sunday, Jan. 5. The Mountaineers' Big 12 home opener is Sunday, Jan. 12 against Texas.
But after finishing tied with Kansas State for fourth with an 11-7 league record last season, veteran Mountaineer coach Mike Carey isn't so sure.
Carey admitted Monday that last year's non-conference schedule really hurt his team when it came to NCAA Tournament selection time, despite its 20-10 overall record.
"It was mainly because of our RPI non-conference, to be honest with you. We did it to ourselves," he said.
When you look back on it, West Virginia's postseason fortunes were really determined during Thanksgiving weekend in the Bahamas when the Mountaineers were forced to pick up that tournament at the last minute.
West Virginia faced 12th-ranked Iowa in the first game and had the Hawkeyes down by 20 at halftime before falling 84-81. A win there would have been the red letter, non-conference victory last year's selection committee wanted to see.
To compound matters, instead of facing 25th-ranked Florida State a day later in the championship game, the Mountaineers had to play Eastern Kentucky in the consolation game – a 2-win team West Virginia already had on its non-conference schedule.
Those two blowout wins against The Colonels were really more harmful than helpful.
So Carey took a hard look at his team's non-conference schedule and decided it needed a little boost. If you look at the non-league slate West Virginia is playing this year, there are a lot fewer sub-300 RPI teams on it this year.
Based on last year's RPI, there are three non-conference opponents on this year's schedule with RPIs in the top 15 - No. 8 Mississippi State, No. 10 Syracuse and No. 14 Michigan State.
The Mountaineers are playing the Bulldogs in Starkville, Mississippi, on Dec. 8 as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
Michigan State and Syracuse are scheduled on back-to-back days on a neutral floor in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 21-22.
West Virginia is also facing Creighton and New Mexico in Cancun, Mexico, Nov. 28-29 as part of the Cancun Challenge.
Both were RPI Top 100 teams last year.
Radford, which West Virginia is playing in Beckley on Sunday, Nov. 17, could also be helpful to West Virginia's postseason resume. The Highlanders won 26 games last season and finished with a 77 RPI.
"We've corrected our non-conference schedule. If we can finish in the top four in our league we should get in," Carey said.
Beyond playing a somewhat soft non-conference schedule, Carey didn't believe his team reached its full potential. Key injuries, inexperience at certain positions and an overall lack of depth were also factors in West Virginia failing to reach the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season.
"It's a shame because they had to play so many minutes," he said. "You want that pressure and you want that intensity for 40 minutes, but let's be honest, if you're playing 40 minutes a game you just can't do it. You think in your mind you're doing it but you're really not doing it. It wasn't because of a lack of effort or they didn't care, they just didn't have the legs to sustain that."
Knock on wood, Carey believes he has much more depth and athleticism this year. He's also got some size in the paint to match up with Baylor, Texas and the other big teams in the league with the availability of 6-5 junior Blessing Ejiofor and 6-5 redshirt freshman Rochelle Norris.
That will enable 6-1 sophomore Kari Niblack to move out of the paint to her much more natural forward position.Carey has also got an experienced point guard returning in sophomore Madisen Smith.
And don't forget, also on his roster are three exceptionally talented players in seniors Tynice Martin and Lucky Rudd and junior Kysre Gondrezick.
So you can see why the Big 12 coaches like the team Carey has returning, and the veteran coach believes he's put together a schedule that could really help the Mountaineers come March if they play up to their potential.
"To finish third in your league and to have a winning record in your league, they surely didn't go by the league," he said. "They went by non-conference schedule so we've upped it, and that's why we're playing Mississippi State away, we're playing Syracuse, we're playing Michigan State and we're playing New Mexico."
"Of course, they'll change back (to an emphasis) on the league this year because you never know what they're going to do when they get behind the door there, but hopefully we'll be okay in both areas."
West Virginia will play Salem in an exhibition game on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at the Coliseum before opening the regular season on Thursday, Nov. 7 against St. Francis at the Coliseum. That game will tip off at 7 p.m.
The Mountaineers open Big 12 play on the road at Kansas State on Sunday, Jan. 5. The Mountaineers' Big 12 home opener is Sunday, Jan. 12 against Texas.
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballMark Kellogg, Meme Wheeler & Riley Makalusky | UCF
Wednesday, February 11
Mark Kellogg, Sydney Shaw & Gia Cooke | Arizona
Saturday, February 07
Mark Kellogg | Colorado
Thursday, February 05
Mark Kellogg,Jordan Harrison & Meme Wheeler | Baylor
Sunday, February 01
