Owls Coach Williams Likes Depth at Point Guard
HOUSTON, TX (TUDOR FIELDHOUSE) -- The Rice Owls have held three practices thus far; and, I've managed to catch the last 30 minutes of one session (I was at Hofheinz Pavilion seeing the Coogs' practice) and all of another session.
This year's Owls team will be interesting to watch. Five of the 13 players on the roster are freshmen (4) or new to the program (Jackie Stanley, 6'2" post who sat out last season after transferring from Kansas State and injuring her knee).
Stanley is very solid in the low post with a variety of post moves and a consistent turnaround jumper.
Perimeter shooting is a question mark (just like last season); however, the 2009 - 2010 team should have improved play along with depth at the point guard position.
"We return our point guard who started last year as a freshman (4'10 3/4", D'Frantz Smart)," said Owls head coach Greg Williams. "I think we got a real good freshman point guard, Jessica Goswitz, (this season); so, we don't have to play D'Frantz until she drops this year. Amenemope McKinney, who was playing well last year until she missed the last 14 games last year with her health issues; so, we're probably deeper at the point than we've ever been."
Point guard and starting post should be strengths for the Owls this season; however, the wing positions (shooting guard and small forward also known as three guard) remain a question yet to be answered.
"We might be a little thin on the wing with Memri Carmon being out this year with the torn Achilles' tendon," Williams added. "So, we're kind of a work in progress at the wing because we're playing four players that were looking at playing the three (small forward) / four (post) (instead of playing the two (shooting guard) / three) -- Zoe Rogers a freshman; Lacey Neu a freshman; Megan Elliott, who started at the four last year and Morgan Mayse. We're seeing who can do that and who can be comfortable there because we're probably going to need some wing depth. Although Amenemope and Jessica can both play the one and the two."
One person who seems to have the inside track at playing key minutes at the wing is sophomore Brianna Hypolite.
"Brianna Hypolite is playing extremely well. She had a really good summer. She probably played basketball all summer; and, it's nice to see her carry that over to fall practice."
The Owls will tip off the '09-'10 season on the road versus Texas-Arlington, Friday, November 13, at 6:00p.m.
This year's Owls team will be interesting to watch. Five of the 13 players on the roster are freshmen (4) or new to the program (Jackie Stanley, 6'2" post who sat out last season after transferring from Kansas State and injuring her knee).
Stanley is very solid in the low post with a variety of post moves and a consistent turnaround jumper.
Perimeter shooting is a question mark (just like last season); however, the 2009 - 2010 team should have improved play along with depth at the point guard position.
"We return our point guard who started last year as a freshman (4'10 3/4", D'Frantz Smart)," said Owls head coach Greg Williams. "I think we got a real good freshman point guard, Jessica Goswitz, (this season); so, we don't have to play D'Frantz until she drops this year. Amenemope McKinney, who was playing well last year until she missed the last 14 games last year with her health issues; so, we're probably deeper at the point than we've ever been."
Point guard and starting post should be strengths for the Owls this season; however, the wing positions (shooting guard and small forward also known as three guard) remain a question yet to be answered.
"We might be a little thin on the wing with Memri Carmon being out this year with the torn Achilles' tendon," Williams added. "So, we're kind of a work in progress at the wing because we're playing four players that were looking at playing the three (small forward) / four (post) (instead of playing the two (shooting guard) / three) -- Zoe Rogers a freshman; Lacey Neu a freshman; Megan Elliott, who started at the four last year and Morgan Mayse. We're seeing who can do that and who can be comfortable there because we're probably going to need some wing depth. Although Amenemope and Jessica can both play the one and the two."
One person who seems to have the inside track at playing key minutes at the wing is sophomore Brianna Hypolite.
"Brianna Hypolite is playing extremely well. She had a really good summer. She probably played basketball all summer; and, it's nice to see her carry that over to fall practice."
The Owls will tip off the '09-'10 season on the road versus Texas-Arlington, Friday, November 13, at 6:00p.m.
posted by Kris Gardner @ 9:10 PM
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