Post by TheLegacy on Sept 9, 2004 16:26:59 GMT -5
Kentucky Women's Hoops
Expectations?
Its a word thats been rarely associated with Kentucky women's basketball over its history, but with the # 6 recruiting class in the nation awaiting in the wing expectation may soon be the norm in Lexington. Ever since A.D. Mitch Barnhart first announced Mickie DeMoss as the next head coach of the university of Kentucky women's basketball team a new found excitement has echoed through the program, community, and fan base. There seems to be new heart beat around the program where just a season before you could hardly find a pulse. Season tickets sales which were dismal, dead last in the SEC just two seasons ago sky rocket to second just behind the Lady Vols. You may contribute that growth of about 205 percent to a decrease of season ticket prices , but in all honesty I think that Kentucky fans are just starving for a winner in women's hoop. In her first season as head coach Mickie DeMoss has witness first hand that Kentucky fans are just as passionate and loyal for there women's basketball as any in the SEC. Kentucky set a new single season attendance mark breaking the old one which stood for almost 21 years when Kentucky lead the nation in overall attendance and it hasn't stoped their. Kentucky has already sold over 1, 500 season tickets this season which is up 1,200 this time last year. This coming off a season where Kentucky finished in the cellar of the SEC once again and four games under .500. That leads me to the fascination and hype that has followed Mickie DeMoss from Tennessee and why everyone had bought into her vision so soon.
De-Hype On DeMoss
Its truly amazing the respect that surrounds Mickie DeMoss and her coaching staff. For a coach who has a career winning percentage of 32 % ( 56-85) and had failed to rebuild a Florida program with her only stint as a head coach you still won't find too many nay sayers who don't think its just a matter of time before the Cats are competing for a SEC title. The jury is still out, but one thing that DeMoss has in her corner is the connections she made recruiting wise as a assistant with the Lady Vols. Its already lead to sudden recruiting success as Kentucky landed the # 6 recruiting class by Blue Star coming off a season where they finished four games under .500 and last in the SEC conference. The key in my mind and the deciding factor for me to buy into all the Mickie DeMoss hype is to see how she follows up this class after she has separated her name fully from Tennessee. Its easy getting your foot in the door for recruits using the name Tennessee, but can she still get those same top prospects attention with the Kentucky's name. So far the answer is maybe ? Kentucky just lost a big recruiting battle to a big name school in Connecticut for Cassie Kerns. It looked like Kentucky really had a chance to land this big prospect after Cassie decided she would attend Big Blue Madness, but the tradition and ora surrounding Uconn was just to much to turn down. Kentucky also is in the top five for four more top 50 recruits in the 2005 class, but can they win some of these recruiting wars versus some of the more establish names in college women's basketball. Only time will tell, but one thing that I've learn so far is that don't sell DeMoss short.
Demand, DeMoss and Desire.
Its a very clever marketing slogan, but after watching her on the side lines last season I understand the true meaning of that slogan. Your not going to find too many head coaches who is as dedicated to her work and demanding as her. At times last season you could tell DeMoss was getting frustrated and the demand that she expected from every players every practice seem to hit a plato She even broke down into tears after a tough loss where Kentucky was so close, but once again made too many mental mistakes that there lack of talent couldn't over come. I'm not sure your going to find a coach who is a passionate and caring as her as her desire to win was painted on her face every night she paced franticly down that side line. I think DeMoss expectations for her team last season where never meet, but I think she was satisfied with the progress they made looking back realistically at the talent they had. She may have grown as coach more last season then any of her years at Tennessee or Florida. She's a brilliant X's and O's coach , but we all know handling of personal and players is a huge part of the success of a unit a team. I think the moment she shed those first tears for Kentucky she won the hearts and respect of her players. I know she won it from me.
A New Season On The Horizon
Youth, youth and more youth is the word that will ring through Memorial Coliseum this fall. With only one returning starter coming back in Sarah Potts and after the transfer of Jenny Phielfer to arch rival Louisville, Kentucky will be one of the youngest teams in the SEC. They will be young, but much more talented then last season team. If your excited about seeing these young talented freshman play your going to get your wish cause there more then likely going to be thrown to the wolfs opening night. Realistically you may see two freshman winning starting roles and almost all of them will be back ups and on the floor playing major roles. Sade Buley may be the best of the new comers, but Samantha Mahoney from reports has really had a terrific summer. With a very young team in a perfect world you would want allot of home games and a soft schedule early on to develop confidence and experiences Kentucky has both of those. They will play 17 homes game tied for the most in school history and 3 of those 17 will be a Rupp Arena So its safe to say you can kiss that attendance record they set last season goodbye. With a very demanding SEC schedule the softer out of conference games will really play dividends in how successful this team will be. Finishing above .500 shouldn't be a team goal , but for this team I think it will be a huge accomplishment and a move in right direction for the program. By march this team could be very scary in the SEC Tournament in South Carolina and a team that you don't want to play in the opening draw.
So what should Kentucky fans expect from this years team ?
Like going into ever season I expect a national championship, but being realistic we are not yet at the point to contend at that level. I think finishing above .500 should be a huge goal to show that there starting to get this ship turned around. I also expect another top ten recruiting class from DeMoss. You rarely will find any of the top tier programs in women's hoops out of the Top 10 in recruiting. So I expect us to be there ever season as well. I expect to see more fans in the seats and more then just one sell out. I expect to see Sarah Potts on the first team Sec team. I expect to see more interest surrounding the Kentucky women's basketball across the state. I expect us to make are mark and reach the top 25 in the polls at least once this season. I expect to upset one of the big three in the Sec in Georgia, LSU and Tennessee. A man once said " Higher expatiation is failure just waiting to happen " , but I think that man's a idiot ! Go Lady Cats.
THE LEGACY
Joel Yates
Expectations?
Its a word thats been rarely associated with Kentucky women's basketball over its history, but with the # 6 recruiting class in the nation awaiting in the wing expectation may soon be the norm in Lexington. Ever since A.D. Mitch Barnhart first announced Mickie DeMoss as the next head coach of the university of Kentucky women's basketball team a new found excitement has echoed through the program, community, and fan base. There seems to be new heart beat around the program where just a season before you could hardly find a pulse. Season tickets sales which were dismal, dead last in the SEC just two seasons ago sky rocket to second just behind the Lady Vols. You may contribute that growth of about 205 percent to a decrease of season ticket prices , but in all honesty I think that Kentucky fans are just starving for a winner in women's hoop. In her first season as head coach Mickie DeMoss has witness first hand that Kentucky fans are just as passionate and loyal for there women's basketball as any in the SEC. Kentucky set a new single season attendance mark breaking the old one which stood for almost 21 years when Kentucky lead the nation in overall attendance and it hasn't stoped their. Kentucky has already sold over 1, 500 season tickets this season which is up 1,200 this time last year. This coming off a season where Kentucky finished in the cellar of the SEC once again and four games under .500. That leads me to the fascination and hype that has followed Mickie DeMoss from Tennessee and why everyone had bought into her vision so soon.
De-Hype On DeMoss
Its truly amazing the respect that surrounds Mickie DeMoss and her coaching staff. For a coach who has a career winning percentage of 32 % ( 56-85) and had failed to rebuild a Florida program with her only stint as a head coach you still won't find too many nay sayers who don't think its just a matter of time before the Cats are competing for a SEC title. The jury is still out, but one thing that DeMoss has in her corner is the connections she made recruiting wise as a assistant with the Lady Vols. Its already lead to sudden recruiting success as Kentucky landed the # 6 recruiting class by Blue Star coming off a season where they finished four games under .500 and last in the SEC conference. The key in my mind and the deciding factor for me to buy into all the Mickie DeMoss hype is to see how she follows up this class after she has separated her name fully from Tennessee. Its easy getting your foot in the door for recruits using the name Tennessee, but can she still get those same top prospects attention with the Kentucky's name. So far the answer is maybe ? Kentucky just lost a big recruiting battle to a big name school in Connecticut for Cassie Kerns. It looked like Kentucky really had a chance to land this big prospect after Cassie decided she would attend Big Blue Madness, but the tradition and ora surrounding Uconn was just to much to turn down. Kentucky also is in the top five for four more top 50 recruits in the 2005 class, but can they win some of these recruiting wars versus some of the more establish names in college women's basketball. Only time will tell, but one thing that I've learn so far is that don't sell DeMoss short.
Demand, DeMoss and Desire.
Its a very clever marketing slogan, but after watching her on the side lines last season I understand the true meaning of that slogan. Your not going to find too many head coaches who is as dedicated to her work and demanding as her. At times last season you could tell DeMoss was getting frustrated and the demand that she expected from every players every practice seem to hit a plato She even broke down into tears after a tough loss where Kentucky was so close, but once again made too many mental mistakes that there lack of talent couldn't over come. I'm not sure your going to find a coach who is a passionate and caring as her as her desire to win was painted on her face every night she paced franticly down that side line. I think DeMoss expectations for her team last season where never meet, but I think she was satisfied with the progress they made looking back realistically at the talent they had. She may have grown as coach more last season then any of her years at Tennessee or Florida. She's a brilliant X's and O's coach , but we all know handling of personal and players is a huge part of the success of a unit a team. I think the moment she shed those first tears for Kentucky she won the hearts and respect of her players. I know she won it from me.
A New Season On The Horizon
Youth, youth and more youth is the word that will ring through Memorial Coliseum this fall. With only one returning starter coming back in Sarah Potts and after the transfer of Jenny Phielfer to arch rival Louisville, Kentucky will be one of the youngest teams in the SEC. They will be young, but much more talented then last season team. If your excited about seeing these young talented freshman play your going to get your wish cause there more then likely going to be thrown to the wolfs opening night. Realistically you may see two freshman winning starting roles and almost all of them will be back ups and on the floor playing major roles. Sade Buley may be the best of the new comers, but Samantha Mahoney from reports has really had a terrific summer. With a very young team in a perfect world you would want allot of home games and a soft schedule early on to develop confidence and experiences Kentucky has both of those. They will play 17 homes game tied for the most in school history and 3 of those 17 will be a Rupp Arena So its safe to say you can kiss that attendance record they set last season goodbye. With a very demanding SEC schedule the softer out of conference games will really play dividends in how successful this team will be. Finishing above .500 shouldn't be a team goal , but for this team I think it will be a huge accomplishment and a move in right direction for the program. By march this team could be very scary in the SEC Tournament in South Carolina and a team that you don't want to play in the opening draw.
So what should Kentucky fans expect from this years team ?
Like going into ever season I expect a national championship, but being realistic we are not yet at the point to contend at that level. I think finishing above .500 should be a huge goal to show that there starting to get this ship turned around. I also expect another top ten recruiting class from DeMoss. You rarely will find any of the top tier programs in women's hoops out of the Top 10 in recruiting. So I expect us to be there ever season as well. I expect to see more fans in the seats and more then just one sell out. I expect to see Sarah Potts on the first team Sec team. I expect to see more interest surrounding the Kentucky women's basketball across the state. I expect us to make are mark and reach the top 25 in the polls at least once this season. I expect to upset one of the big three in the Sec in Georgia, LSU and Tennessee. A man once said " Higher expatiation is failure just waiting to happen " , but I think that man's a idiot ! Go Lady Cats.
THE LEGACY
Joel Yates
