Women's Basketball Season Outlook
October 12, 2000 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 12, 2000
Louisville, Ky. - Time. That is the one thing that Martin Clapp is hoping to have on his side this season. Time for his young point guards to mature. Time for his team to gel. And time to compete for a conference championship.
"We have a very young team at the point and post positions," warns Clapp. "When we mature at those positions, that will be when the team starts to gel and come together. How long that will take is the key question."
A question that Clapp answered by compiling one of the most challenging schedules the Cards have seen in a while. Jumping straight into the fire with some of the nation's best teams will force this young team to grow up in a hurry or get left behind.
The biggest question mark for the Cardinals will be the backcourt. While there is talent, there is no experience and big shoes left to fill by the graduation of All-American Jill Morton and three-year starter Jenny Knight.
Taking on this challenge will be freshmen Sara Nord and Marcia Alvarado. Nord, the 2000 Miss Indiana Basketball, has often been compared to Morton for her flashy passing and her three-point shooting ability. Last season Nord averaged 22.5 points and 7.1 assists per game.
As a senior in high school, Alvarado was moved to the point guard position. The Tampa Tribune Player of the Year, averaged 15 points and six assists last season. And with Alvarado's work ethic, she will most likely see time at the point and the shooting guard positions.
"We are excited to have both Sara Nord and Marcia Alvarado in our program," says Clapp. "I think most people know Sara and her capabilities than Marcia but with time both will be very good players."
The Cards strength will come from the experienced wing position. Heading up that group will be juniors Kara Kessans and Janelle Antoine. While Marju Sober and Kim Graham will give the Cards a lot of depth.
"The strengths of this year's team should be our wing play," explains Clapp. "With veteran players like Kara Kessans, Janelle Antoine and Marju Sober returning to the lineup."
After showing flashes of brillance last season, Kessans is expected to improve this season and provide much needed leadership. Kessans returns as the leading scorer and rebounder. She is also a lethal three-point shooter and drained seven from the arc last season against Kansas.
Antoine has seen signifcant action since her freshman season. Last year she scored a career-high 23 points in the Cards' season opener. She finished the season averaging 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds.
The most improved wing player is junior Marju Sober. Sober is known as a shooter and saw limited action last season but should be counted on heavily this season.
Newcomer Kim Graham should also see action on the wing. The first team all-state selection averaged 21.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per contest last season. Graham is also one of the best leapers on the team.
An added bonus on the wing could come from Kassidi Bishop. If her appeal goes through, Bishop will add maturity and an extra scoring punch for the Cardinals.
Another question mark for Louisville will be their unproven post play. But unlike at the point, the Cards return some experience players. Junior Shamika Ingram and sophomores Shanta Bowens and Carol Brown have worked hard in the preseason to make an impact this season. Also joining them in the post will be Tiana Ford.
"I think the experience of that Carol Brown, Shanta Bowens and Shamika Ingram gained last season will really pay off going into this season," explains Clapp. "Tiana Ford sat out last year and will add some much needed strength inside."
Ingram is the most experienced post player and figures to be a big contributor this season. After starting in 21 games last season, Ingram averaged 3.5 points and 3.5 rebounds. Look for those totals to improve this season.
Bowens really came on at the beginning of the season last year. She scored a career-high 12 points against Kansas in the Great Alaska Shootout. She started in four games and finished the season averaging 2.9 points and 3.2 boards per contest.
Brown showed significant signs of improvement during conference play last year. She started in four games and averaged 2.9 points an 2.9 rebounds per game.
Ford joins the team after sitting out last season as a nonqualifer. She was able to practice withthe team and knows Clapp's system. She should give the Cards an immediate presence in the middle.
The Cards will face one of their more challenging schedules in recent years. In addition to a grind of a 16-game conference slate, Louisville will go toe-to-toe with some stellar nonconference foes. Early in the season, the Cards will take on preseason Top 25 powers UC-Santa Barbara, Nebraska and Texas, in a nine-day road span. Soon after, Louisville will take on in-state rivals Western Kentucky and Kentucky. Also sure to test the youngsters will be a trip to Tucson to take on Pac-10 power Arizona.
"We will jump straight into the fire this season when we open up on the road against UC-Santa Barbara," warns Clapp. "UCSB is a preseason Top 20 team and they should be a great test for us. And don't forget Nebraska, which should also be a Top 25 team. Then, as if that wasn't enough, we get to face an outstanding Texas team in the Cancun Tournament. They are loaded with talent.
"We also renewed an old rivalry against Western Kentucky," Clapp says. "They return a very good team, with preseason all-american candidate ShaRae Mansfield. And the schedule doesn't get any easier with a home game against Kentucky and a trip to Arizona."
Conference USA returns a UAB team fresh off a Sweet Sixteen appearance. Tulane, Memphis and DePaul return most of their lineups from last season. And there are sure to be suprises.
"The conference will be the best it has ever been," claims Clapp. "Even though the conference lost some outstanding players to graduation, there is an even better group of new recruits coming into the league. UAB and Tulane would have to be the top teams going intot the season but Memphis and DePaul will also be knocking on the door for a conference championship."
The 2001 Conference USA Tournament will be held March 2-5 in Milwaukee Arena.
