KENTUCKY
2017-2018
WOMEN’S
BASKETBALL
PREVIEW
continued from page 38
weaknesses emerge and the level of competition gets tougher. Kentucky
basketball fans have become used to seeing every year how Calipari goes
from 10 or 11 players early to a nucleus of seven or eight in the cauldron
of the real season. But Mitchell has indicated just the opposite tendency,
especially with this team.
Without a breakthrough, dominant player – like Dunlap, Mathies or
Epps – he’s counting on the strength of this team being its depth. The
ability to bring in fresh legs without losing competitiveness. It’s a factor that
always plays well against less-deep teams, who begin gasping for breath
and tugging on their shorts, especially in up-tempo games. It’s what he
expects to see this year.
But is that how it will play out? Coaches who preach depth and balance
are always hoping that somebody steps up and claims superstar status,
providing the bulk of minutes, points and leadership to take their teams
deep into the NCAA tournament.
Does Mitchell have that superstar? Might it be Murray, or Morris, or
maybe Wyatt, or Cann, or Harrison? The beginning of every season is
always rife with unknown possibilities. The fun of the season is seeing
how all that plays out.
Even more fun than one of Mitchell’s stank legs or hammer-time dances,
baggy Hammer pants and all.
LOUISVILLE
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2017-2018
WOMEN’S
BASKETBALL
PREVIEW
continued from page 39
Louisville entered the season ranked 9th in the first preseason
Associated Press poll. Personally, I believe they are a top 5 team, but it
doesn’t matter what I think because they will have a chance to prove it.
They face a very tough schedule with six non-conference opponents who
reached the NCAA Tournament last year, five of them before conference
play begins. The other being nemesis UCONN, whom the Cards will play
on Feb. 12 in Connecticut.
If the Cards want to make a run to Nationwide Arena in Columbus,
Ohio, for the 2018 NCAA Final Four, they must have their stars be stars,
they must develop the sophomores, they must cut down the turnovers
(14.2 per game last season), improve free throws (69.2 percent last season)
and, finally, they must bring it every game.
I feel very confident about the stars and the sophomores. Improved
guard play will help cut down on the turnovers, and word on the street is
that they have been in the gym working hard on their shooting. If Coach
Walz can convince them to bring it every game, then this team is on the
verge of something special.
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