How Will Nebraska Fill Its Roster?

[HuskerFan86]

As time passes, I am becoming more and more concerned that NU isn't receiving any verbal commitments. The Huskers have received verbals from two players, Andrea Lightfoot and Kiera Hardy, but both were recruited by Paul Sanderford. Connie Yori has yet to verbal any new players, and this is a bit concerning. Maybe its because she has been busy cleaning up the shambles that were left by Paul, but nonetheless, Nebraska needs players.

Who will play next year, when the Huskers might be even thinner on talent than this year???

After this season the Huskers will graduate 3 or 4 seniors (depending on whether or not Keasha Cannon plays this year). Margaret Richards, Shah Roberts, and Amanda Cleveland are the other three seniors on the team.

Yori recently added two walkons to the team, so they can almost hold a 5-on-5 scrimmage.

This low number of players places a premium on quality newcomers for next season. But who is still out there for Nebraska to recruit?? Well, I have compiled a list of potential players, and here's what it looks like:

Andrea Lightfoot G 5'9" Omaha Marian HS, Neb.
Awesome shooter and all-around player. All-state guard the past 2 seasons for Marian. She will most likely play SG at Nebraska, and could provide some much needed punch from the perimeter.
Committed to Nebraska.

Kiera Hardy G 5’7” Kansas City O’Hara HS, Mo.
Reports sound good about this player. She has led her team in scoring for the past 3 years. She is most likely a PG prospect, but she can also shoot the three. She may be a little undersized, but so is Jina Johansen, and she’ll be the starter for the Huskers this year.
Committed to Nebraska.

Haley Fries G 5’8” Omaha Westside HS, Neb.
This girl is a demon on the basketball court. I haven’t seen this kind of competitiveness from a Nebraska girl in a long time. Haley also has incredible speed and strength to go along with her attitude, and is by far the best perimeter defender in the state. She would make a great floor leader for the Huskers and would fit in great with Lightfoot (they’ve played club ball together since grade school. Fries lacks a consistent jumper, but scores most of her points off of steals and drives to the hoop. In Class A, Nebraska’s largest class, she dominates the competition night in and night out.
Being Recruited by Nebraska (Basketball and Soccer), Creighton, and Others.

Jamey Chapman F 6’3” Millard West HS, Neb.
Chapman has a lot of Division 1 potential. She has great hands and nice touch around the basket. She also runs the court well, and if she hits the weight room, she could be a major force at Power Forward for the Huskers.
Being Recruited by Nebraska, New Mexico, OSU, Colorado State, and Others.

Katie Montgomery G 5’11” Lincoln Pius X HS, Neb.
Katie is a solid all-around player, and could contribute at any of the three perimeter spots. She is a good shooter, an excellent passer, and has good size. What Katie lacks in speed she makes up for in smarts, and seems to be a very stereotypical ISU player. Yori has had good success at Creighton with players like this, and hopefully that success can continue at NU.
Being Recruited by Nebraska, CSU, ISU, Creighton, and Others.

Several other Nebraska targets have recently committed to other schools: Jenni Flynn (South Dakota), Christina Hoguhtelling (volleyball) and Elisha Turek (Oral Roberts), and the players above are the only other recruits that I know Nebraska is actively pursuing at this time.

Does anybody know of any other potential Nebraska recruits??? Chipper said coming in that Connie’s weakest coaching attribute was her recruiting, and hopefully she will prove us wrong, but time is ticking…



[This message has been edited by HuskerFan86 (edited 10-24-2002).]

[carolann]

I'd bet that Yori will try to sign a couple of Juco players in the Spring and then concentrate her recruiting efforts on 2004 and beyond. It is hard for the average fan to know much about what's out there in JUCO world but there are always a few players out there.

[ChipperF1]

Who's gonna play next year? Dang good question.

"Andrea Lightfoot G 5'9" Omaha Marian HS, Neb.
Awesome shooter and all-around player. All-state guard the past 2 seasons for Marian. She will most likely play SG at Nebraska, and could provide some much needed punch from the perimeter.
Committed to Nebraska."

I'd agree. Good perimeter player who can fit into Connie Yori's system well. You can't go too wrong with an Omaha Marian guard, the only caveat is that Andrea Lightfoot could be a step slow for a high Division I level, and she is somewhat weak defensively, but her offensive game is very solid.

"Kiera Hardy G 5’7” Kansas City O’Hara HS, Mo.
Reports sound good about this player. She has led her team in scoring for the past 3 years. She is most likely a PG prospect, but she can also shoot the three. She may be a little undersized, but so is Jina Johansen, and she’ll be the starter for the Huskers this year.
Committed to Nebraska."

Kiera is a lot like Jina, she puts the ball in the hole, or at least she does in high school. Hardy often keep a deficient High School team in games with her ability. She need to be more consistent outside and work on her defense. For her speed she can be weak defensively, but she is a good pick up who can be a contributor with work.

"Haley Fries G 5’8” Omaha Westside HS, Neb.
This girl is a demon on the basketball court. I haven’t seen this kind of competitiveness from a Nebraska girl in a long time. Haley also has incredible speed and strength to go along with her attitude, and is by far the best perimeter defender in the state. She would make a great floor leader for the Huskers and would fit in great with Lightfoot (they’ve played club ball together since grade school. Fries lacks a consistent jumper, but scores most of her points off of steals and drives to the hoop. In Class A, Nebraska’s largest class, she dominates the competition night in and night out.
Being Recruited by Nebraska (Basketball and Soccer), Creighton, and Others.

Haley's the backcourt version of former Westside standout Carla Bennett. A player who got geometrically better each year. Calling her a dominating player is a bit of an oversell. She is very good, but dominant? I'm not buying that 100%. She is one of the best players in the state however although in my mind her skills are more MVC-Mountain West mid-major level in my view.
Upsides: Has good speed, court savvy, and is an agressive, athletic threat.
Downside: Streking shooter, and not as a good a ballhandler as you'd like to see in a player her size. Plus, Haley has a tendency to try and play too fast and make impulsive decisions with the basketball when a more deliberate approach would pay off.
Overall: A solid pickup, but I have a feeling she'll end up at Drake, SW Missouri State or Creighton.

"Jamey Chapman F 6’3” Millard West HS, Neb.
Chapman has a lot of Division 1 potential. She has great hands and nice touch around the basket. She also runs the court well, and if she hits the weight room, she could be a major force at Power Forward for the Huskers.
Being Recruited by Nebraska, New Mexico, OSU, Colorado State, and Others.

We can dream about this one, but Don Flanigan at New Mexico is rather high her ability. I don't see Connie winning a recruiting battle unless UNM's interest cools off.
Nonetheless Chapman is a solid player. Imagine, Carla Bennett on an accelerated leaning curve.

"Katie Montgomery G 5’11” Lincoln Pius X HS, Neb.
Katie is a solid all-around player, and could contribute at any of the three perimeter spots. She is a good shooter, an excellent passer, and has good size. What Katie lacks in speed she makes up for in smarts, and seems to be a very stereotypical ISU player. Yori has had good success at Creighton with players like this, and hopefully that success can continue at NU.
Being Recruited by Nebraska, CSU, ISU, Creighton, and Others.

I like Katie! She's a grinder who can make plays. Unfortunately she'll be making them in a Cyclone uniform.

"Chipper said coming in that Connie’s weakest coaching attribute was her recruiting, and hopefully she will prove us wrong, but time is ticking…

I don't think the clock is ticking yet. It will be in the third and fourth year when Connie's really going to be under the microscope, but this year and next year is a building period. We're going to have go a tier down in recruiting and then work more on preparing them for battle on the court. The Huskers will not be in a position to recruit the "sneaker pimplicious Red-White-And-Blue Star Oh Hot Diggity-No Diggity Top 100" for the next few years, unless they are willing to see a 20-loss team as an opportunity.
On a positive note, Connie has a knack for finding some small-town gems especially in Iowa and the Dakotas. It served her well at Creighton. Amy Stephens as an assistant can help get the outstate Nebraska talent and mountain state talent in.
One player I hope the lasses can get is Crystal Howard from Omaha Central, assuming she stays the course in her last two years in high school. She's one of the better young players I've seen in sometime, but has some development work ahead.

As far as the JUCO issue. Connie Yori rarely recruits JUCO players, that is one policy of hers that will change.

[HuskerFan86]

Good analysis. Maybe dominant is a little bit of a stretch for Fries, but she has improved leaps and bounds each year she has played. Haley may end up in a Husker uniform, but it might be a soccer uniform.

One encouraging thing, is the Nebraska players that I have seen Connie bring into Creighton over the past years. Ever since Christy Neneman's junior season in high school, I knew Paul was making a mistake by not taking a look at her, she would be a very solid Big 12 player. Yori was also wise to pick up Omaha Metro area players like Spanheimer. Even this past year, Creighton reeled in Kristi Woodard and Angie Janis, two potentially dominant MVC players who would've been ready for the Big 12 a lot quicker than a few of Nebraska's 'projects'. In an article by the OWH, CU coach Jim Flanery said that Janis and Woodard were very impressive in practice and would be strong contenders for playing time this year.

I'm actually very encouraged by what Connie has done in her first months as coach, and everybody I talk to is behind her 100%. I think Yori is a very good coach who will eventually right NU's ship, but even great coaches need players to coach.

Recruiting will probably start to pick up after the initial two or three seasons, but it's hard for me to look that far down the road. Nevertheless, I think Bill Byrne hired the right person for the job, and I'm willing to wait for the Huskers to get back to prominence, because once a Husker womens' basketball fan, always a Husker womens' basketball fan...unlike those fair weather football guys.

[ChipperF1]

"I think Bill Byrne hired the right person for the job."

This is where we disagree. I believe Bill Byrne made a risky hire, and perhaps the wrong hire.

Connie Yori will get this program back to competitiveness, maybe. I see her doing what she did at Creighton. They'll be competitive, good for 17-19 wins a year, but more often than not they won't win the conference championship or go far in the NCAA tournament.
Connie is good people, and a capable head coach. She'll get you to competitiveness but not necessarily to prominence.

[HuskerFan86]

Hey, competitiveness sounds pretty tempting at this point, doesn't it?

I'm just hoping that Yori hasn't seen her best years as a coach, and maybe with the help of Nebraska's resources, she can revitalize this program. Deb Patterson's credentials weren't all that sparkling when she arrived at KSU, but look where they are now. A lot of things will have to change at Nebraska before we can even fantasize about that kind of success, but I agree that signing Crystal Howard is a major start in the right direction...

Do you know of any other players that NU has a good shot at? I think the four previously mentioned players are the cream of the crop in the Cornhusker State, but perhaps I'm over looking someone. Maybe we can find some of those 'under the radar screen' players that other schools seem to be thriving on.

[ChipperF1]

"Deb Patterson's credentials weren't all that sparkling when she arrived at KSU, but look where they are now."

True, Kansas State had an awesome year. But it was only one year. Can they continue that success? That is the big question. In 1998, Nebraska had a big year at 23-10. The next five season were 22-11, 18-13, 12-18, 14-16..and next year will possibly by something like 8-20 or worse.
We've been "competitive", and I put that quotes because Nebraska womens basketball has been between average and mediocre. When is the last time, Nebraska has beaten a marquee team? You have to dig a ways for it.

I'll admit it, I want to see a winning effort and by winning I mean conference championships, tournament bids and success in March. When you get right down to it, that's what its about. But for now, I will settle for effort, or at least a sign that the kids care because I didn't see that the last two or three seasons.

Recruiting next year? Who knows. It's an uphill fight for Nebraska. Nobody of "ranking" wants to risk four years where they aren't going to win anything. Christina Houghtelling said it best. She wants to win a National Championship. With volleyball she has a fighting chance. With basketball she could go 4 years and not play in a single NCAA tournament game.

If Connie Yori gets Nebraska to new height unseen, I will be the first to give credit, but I have some doubts because of the past track record.

This year will tell a lot about what the team has and what Coach Yori has. If she can make something happen with this poor hand she was dealt, then I'll get excited.

[ldlbfn]

Concerning Jamey Chapman ,I haven't heard anything other than Flannagan is still recruiting her. One comment she made to the reporter who covers the Lady Lobos sounds like she was very impressed with the workouts being done on fundamentals. Sounds like Flan does want to sign a post and a PG.

[This message has been edited by ldlbfn (edited 10-25-2002).]

[ChipperF1]

Scratch Haley Fries...She's decided to combat the Fighting Sioux and the Bison.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg=38&u_sid=544666

[HuskerFan86]

I'm a little surprised that so many of these girls with Division 1 potential are choosing to play D2, but whatever works for them. So assuming that Chapman signs with UNM and Montgomery chooses ISU, that leaves the Huskers in even hotter water. I just don't see that deep of a talent pool forming in Nebraska over the next couple years, so it hurts when these in-state prospects don't become Huskers. Aside from junior star Crystal Howard and talented freshman Chavelle Hering, I don't see a lot of developing stars in the Cornhusker State, and without a recruiting base, I don't see how the Huskers will ever get over the recruiting hump. I guess they will have to beat some people they aren't supposed to and Yori will really have to sell the program to these girls. Former Husker recruit Catherine Anderson isn't looking so bad anymore, she may be as good as it gets...

[ldlbfn]

Reports in Saturday mornings(Oct. 26) Albuquerque Journal that Katie Montgomery is here this weekend for a visit with New Mexico. I'll post story or update on the visit.

[ldlbfn]

Article on Katie.

MHall: Scrimmage tonite! Nebraska recruit will be there; Grear won' t Reply

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lobo Women Aim To Put on a Show

By Mike Hall
Associate Sports Editor
Katie Montgomery, a 5-foot, 11-inch point guard from Pius X High School in Lincoln, Neb., will be among the interested spectators tonight for the first unveiling of the 2002-2003 University of New Mexico women's basketball team.
Montgomery, a Street & Smith honorable-mention All-American and a Nebraska all-state player, is in Albuquerque taking an official recruiting visit.
"She's definitely Division One," says her coach, Bill Rice. "She has good size, gets up and down the court well, is a smart player and will be a good addition to a college program."
Montgomery averaged 17.3 points and 5.4 assists a game last season.
"She's started every game since her freshman year," Rice says, "and she's led the city in steals all three years."
Montgomery, an honor-roll student, also is looking at Nebraska, Santa Clara, Drake and Iowa State, where her brother, Bob, is a three-year starter on the offensive line in football.
Montgomery missed this past summer's basketball season while recovering from a torn ACL suffered in soccer.
She says some schools have backed off since the injury.
"They've said they want to wait and see how I look right now," Montgomery says.
Because of that, Montgomery says she might not sign during the early November period.
Montgomery says she's interested in UMM because "the coaching staff seems really down to earth. You can talk to them." She adds that the big crowds at the Pit are impressive.
Accompanying Montgomery on her visit was her father, Dick, who notes that his family isn't native to Nebraska, so there's no strong allegiance for Katie to stay in state.
In tonight's scrimmage, Lobos coach Don Flanagan will divide his squad into two seven-person teams. Senior Chelsea Grear, who's expected to make the switch from the 3-guard to the 2, will miss the scrimmage because of a class.
Jenny Shetters, a 6-4 center transfer, and Judy Vogt, a 6-1 guard transfer from Fort Lewis (Colo.), will be allowed to play in the scrimmage. Vogt was a Sandia teammate of current Lobo Lindsey Arndt when they helped lead the Matadors to the 2000-01 Class 5A championship.
Tonight's scrimmage also will provide fans with their first extended look at freshmen Abbie Letz and Tiana Johnson — both 2- and 3-guards — and 6-3 post Jana Francis.
While the team has appeared in practice to be further along than in recent years, Flanagan says, "I don't know that we are. (Tonight) I'm looking for some offensive execution.
"I expect the defense to be ahead of the offense a little bit. When we do offense in controlled situations in practice, we do it quite well. But as soon as we start going up and down, we're getting a little sloppy."
Flanagan says Grear's classroom work "might be a blessing in disguise." Grear had arthoscopic knee surgery in late July and has been in a bit of pain the last few days.
"I've seen Chelsea, so I'm not really worried about her," Flanagan says.

TODAY:
New Mexico basketball: Cherry-Silver scrimmage, 6 p.m., the Pit; admission is free


* * * Go LLobos!!!

[ldlbfn]

From a couple weeks ago on Jamey Chapman visit.

MHall: 6-3 post finds UNM concentration on fundamentals 'unique' Reply

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Nebraska Prep Star Pays Lobos a Visit

By Mike Hall
Associate Sports Editor
Jamey Chapman, a 6-foot, 3-inch post from Millard West High School in Omaha, Neb., is in Albuquerque this weekend taking a look at the University of New Mexico women's basketball program.
After spending most of Friday on campus, Chapman said she was impressed with what she had seen.
"I like the coaches a lot; they have a unique style of coaching," Chapman said Saturday morning.
She was observing the Lobos squad with her father, Jim. The players were involved in a game of pickup at the Pit.
By "unique," Chapman said, "I was watching the individual workouts (Friday), and they really concentrated on fundamentals."
Chapman, who might major in secondary education, said she also "liked the school a lot."
She mentioned the UNM fan support and that "the players seemed to like each other a lot. They seem really close."
Chapman, who averaged 14 points, six rebounds and two blocks a game last season, also is looking at Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana and Oklahoma State. She was on the OSU campus in Stillwater last weekend. Chapman said she had been talking with UNM since last year, her junior season.
This past summer, the Nebraska all-state player was named to the Dakota Showcase all-tournament team while playing for Nebraska's Daubert-Pinnacle All-Stars. The tournament was comprised of teams from seven states.
Chapman is the second pure post player to visit the Lobos, who have five scholarships to give this recruiting period. The other post is 6-3 Jenna Lohse of Richland High School in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She visited UNM last weekend.
The school also has had a visit from 6-1 Kylee O'Dwyer of Limon, Colo., who can play post but is more likely to play the wing in college.
The Lobos have one verbal commitment at this point: 6-foot guard Julie Briody of Tecumseh High in Lynville, Ind.
Briody, an Adidas All-Star who has averaged 27 points a game in high school, still plans to take an official visit Oct. 11-12.
* * * Go LLobos!!!

[ChipperF1]

I hope Coach Flanigan signs them both, that would be awesome. Although one of two wouldn't be bad.

Also one more salt in the wound to Nebraska's recruiting problem. Lets not forget that team that won 24 games last year.

You know, Nebraska's REAL Division I basketball program?
Creighton.

[HuskerFan86]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg=38&u_sid=548953

Nebraska has gained a commitment from Heather Kephart, an AAU All-American from western Oklahoma. Kephart is Yori's first player recruited to Nebraska.

It also says that former Millard North graduate and Pacific recruit, Jess Runty has decided to walk on at NU. If I remember correctly, this girl can really shoot the three. She will offer some assistance this season.

[ChipperF1]

Another 5-6 to 5-9 guard??? Connie dear, if these kids can't shoot, who rebounds...

We desperately need some size.

Memo to Jess Runty. I have three letters for you:

UNO

[HuskerFan86]

I think at this point that Connie should recruit the highest level of talent she can get, regardless of height. True, the Huskers will be hurting in the paint for the next couple years, but if we can bring in guards who can shoot and handle the ball, it will be a huge improvement over past years. I rather see the huskers recruit small but talented player over an unskilled big girl any day. I would never trade an All-American guard who averaged 30 ppg in high school for a player like Catherine Anderson, just based on size. I think this could potentially be a very good pick up for Connie. I guess we'll hafta wait and see...

I do agree that its pretty tough to win without a couple of six footers on the court, because rebounder is probably the most important aspect of the game.

Maybe there just aren't many talented post players out there at this time. What about Ashlee Schneider from Centura?? She was a freshman when Jina Johanson was a senior at Centura, and after Jina left, her scoring tripled. She was the class C-1 POY last year as a sophomore. Maybe she could potentially develop into a D1 post. Other than her, the Nebraska high school scene is seriously lacking in skilled big girls.

Sandy Creek HS features 6'7" Katy Reiger, but she wants to play volleyball for the Huskers, not basketball. Imagine a girl in Nebraska choosing vollleyball over basketball!?!

[ChipperF1]

"I would never trade an All-American guard who averaged 30 ppg in high school for a player like Catherine Anderson.

In the last four seasons, Nebraska has recruited two high school "All-Americans" and a JUCO All-American.

What do they all have in common? They were all inept in Nebraska uniforms.

Maybe Kephardt bears fruit, maybe she's the Oklahoma version of Paige Sutton. We'll see. Until she's winning ballgames in a Nebraka uniform, I'm a skeptic, and that's the way I see all newcomers and freshmen.

But if there is a good post player out there, we'd better find the kid, because the fact of it all is, without rebounding we can't ICBM State our way up the standings.

[b-ball fan]

I think more fans and players should give Yori a legitimate chance to prove what she can do. If more players could look into the future a couple of years -- they would see that they could be a part of something big!! They could be responsible(ALONG WITH THE COACHING STAFF)for a HUGE turnaround in Nebraska women's basketball!! It will take players with a lot of HEART and DETERMINATION to make it, but it CAN be done!!! Yori's doing a great job trying to "weed-out" the bad seeds and "plant the right ones for great chemistry(which is where a great team begins-without it, you can't win anything)! Wouldn't it be wonderful to say that you helped MAKE a super team what they are, instead of saying you just stepped into a team that someone else already took the credit for? I think coach Yori and Staff are the right people to get the job done if the right players will take PRIDE in themselves enough to make a DREAM happen. It will take a VERY SPECIAL group of girls who will be well rewarded in the end just by being able to say that they MADE it all happen!! That would be about the greatest accomplishment a woman basketball player could have--knowing that they helped a little piece of history take place in women's college basketball by taking a chance and believing in a coach enough to take a team from last in the Big 12 right to the top and BEYOND! I've seen it happen before and I'm POSITIVE it will happen again!! http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/nu.gif

[elfdenmom]

If Coach Yori can find a couple of good JC posts, I say more power to her! Angie Brazile and Aleah Johnson were both valuable additions to our program, and let us not forget that Sheryl came to our program from South Plains JC.

[b-ball fan]

I noticed there's more info on Coach Yori's first recruit at the site that HuskerFan86 posted on 10-30-2002 11:05a.m. after the article on the comments(I think one comment got posted twice). Some pretty good things posted about her from OK people. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/biggrin.gif http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/biggrin.gif http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/biggrin.gif

[swok34]

I've never understood the hesitancy about signing JUCO's....
we would have never met Rosalind Ross otherwise, and how she got skipped over by DI is beyond me.......and then there was Nola Wanahu, who you ask?, even OU fans ask me that question...she was a promising looking JUCO at the start of the season who wilted away rather quickly and was no where to be seen by season's end. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[HuskerFan86]

If Kephart is brreaking LaNeisha Caufield and Wendi Willits' records for most points scored in high school, she must be a very quality player. Willits and Caufield are still two of my all-time favorite women's basketball players.

I agree with b-ball fan that Connie just needs time. If she can assemble a Creighton team that can beat Drake twice in the same season, she's definately a legitimate coach. With the resources at NU, the sky could be the limit for this program. But before we can start dreaming of the better things to come, the team simply needs to make it through these next couple of years. I agree with Chipper, that if the girls play hard, stay together, and improve, this season will be a huge step in the right direction.

[dem]

I might add that Yori, in addition to her success against Drake, was able to get Creighton to play VERY tough against Iowa State several years in a row, twice falling just short of victories against ISU teams ranked in the top 15.

[ChipperF1]

"I might add that Yori, in addition to her success against Drake, was able to get Creighton to play VERY tough against Iowa State several years in a row.

That statement is my one of my only points of contention with Connie. Her teams ALMOST win games.
It was wonderful to see those CU-ISU battles, but good efforts don't mean as much without final victory, and that is something Connie Yori coached teams did a great deal against meatier opposition. They'd give it a ride, but couldn't close the deal.

Perhaps it was a matter of talent level, perhaps it was strategic or just dumb luck or a combination of the three.
I'm optimistic about our chances with the new administration, but I'm wise enough to know the record of the people in the high command, and they are all coaches who have been solid, but also have finished out of money more often than not. Last year was an awesome year for Creighton. Connie did an excellent job coaching and team responded, but That is the exception, not the rule. Most years, Yori's Creighton teams played hard, won the game they should have won. When it cames to the money games against Southwest Missouri State or Drake, for example, the Lady Jays more often than not fell short and many times it was because of a questionable strategic decision made by the woman in charge.
Also consider the record of Connie Yori in non-conference games against ranked opponents. She has a losing record on those game. She has a losing record head-to-head vs. Nebraska. I most repeat again, all those valiant efforts against Iowa State went for naught. No wins.
There's a lot of questions for Connie to answer for and/or prove skeptics wrong. She has to show she can put together teams that can go out and not only scrap, but win the money games. She also has to show and prove some recruiting prowess. In her time at Creighton that is something I felt was Connie's achilles heel. The talent she brought in often was a tier down from Drake and SMS, and it shows at the end of the season. Drake and SMS are in the NCAAs, Creighton's kids are watching it on TV.
Also there is the perception that Coach Yori either can't recruit minority kids OR doesn't want to. How much truth there is to it is debatable, but the perception is out there. It was used against her in the MVC, and it will get used against her in the Big-12.
And not to put everything on Coach Yori, 50% of the turnaround will be her and the staff, and I like the high command of the staff. Coach will never roll out a sissified, quitting, worthless group like last years team. A Connie Yori-Amy Stephens outfit will NEVER quit games. However, she's got to bring in talent with a higher baseline of skills to go with the scrapiness, and that will be the $64,000 question in the next few years.

As for JUCOs? I'm 50-50 on them. A junior college transfer can help your team. Nebraska best player right now is a JUCO, but looking at Nebraska's experience with them, most of them aren't worth a box worn out athletic supporters.
When I think JUCO Huskers, I think of the never healthy Monet Williams and the unproductive Monique Whitfield. And, although she wasn't JUCO transfer, there are the poster-children/patron saints of transfers who don't help the team, Casey Leonhardt and Melody Peterson.
The thing about JUCOs are often times you are hard-wiring somebody into an established team identity. You trying to work somebody into a role that may or may not be something they do. The same happens with a true freshman, but with kid out of high school, you have the time to mold and shape and develop more. When you grab a JUCO player, you are trying to fill a need now as opposed to developing a solution with a time factor involved. In the case of Nebraska, I'm glad were not trying to induce a quick fix with JUCOs and that's the smarter play in my mind. Lets build with smart recruiting and bring in JUCOs not to be strategic centerpieces, but rather to fill a specific niche.

It may sound like I'm being negative, but I think we have an opportunity to put the bad memories of the last two years away and build a pretty fair team. But I'm also realistic about what the inning and the score is. There was an opportunity to hire coaches who've been solid consistent winners who have been around at money time, instead Nebraska hired a coach who's been solid, but a level below. Connie Yori may yet Nebraska's Sherri Coale. I hope she is. But the record shows that odds aren't in favor.

[HuskerFan86]

Article on Nebraska's three walk-ons:
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaw/news/uwire/20021101/uwire-nai-yorisnewnebraska.html

[HuskerFan86]

Article on Nebraska's three walk-ons:
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaw/news/uwire/20021101/uwire-nai-yorisnewnebraska.html