OSUCowgirls
10-19-2006, 01:36 PM
http://www.newsok.com/article/2958178
Budke sees bright future ahead for Cowgirls
By Mike Baldwin
Staff Writer
As losses mounted, Oklahoma State women's basketball coach Kurt Budke took solace that better days were ahead. He already had signed a high school All-America point guard. Two transfers already were on campus.
It still wasn't easy finishing 6-22. That's more losses than Budke experienced in seven seasons at Trinity Valley (Texas) Junior College, where he established himself as one of the nation's top juco coaches before continuing the success at Louisiana Tech.
Even more difficult to swallow was the Cowgirls became just the second team in Big 12 history to finish conference play winless (0-16). At media day on Wednesday at the Cox Center, Budke said six newcomers should provide instant help.
"I don't know how many games we'll win, but the days of coming to Stillwater and having a walk through are done," Budke said. "You'll see a quicker team, a stronger team, a bigger team. It won't take anyone long to see we've upgraded the talent."
The newcomers will be part of a nine-player rotation. Freshman point guard Andrea Riley; Central Arizona College transfer Danielle Green; 6-foot-2 senior Rashidat Sadiq, a Connecticut transfer; and 6-3 juco center Maria Cordero could all wind up starting.
Junior college All-America forward Rita Kollo and guard Natasha Doh, a transfer from Oklahoma City University, also are vying for key roles.
Riley, a 5-foot-5 Nike high school All-American, averaged 17.8 points and 3.8 assists at Dallas Lincoln, the same school that produced Cowboy sophomore point guard Byron Eaton.
"Andrea Riley probably is the key to our team," Budke said. "She's going to remind people of Byron Eaton. She'll have nights she makes freshman mistakes, but she'll be exciting. She gets the ball down the court as quick as anybody in this conference, as quick as anybody I've had in my coaching career."
Part of the rebuilding problem at OSU is half of the conference games are against Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Texas and Baylor, the four schools picked to finish first, second, third and fourth in the conference this season.
All four are in the top 20 in at least one preseason publication. Three of the four have been to a Final Four this decade. And that doesn't include Texas Tech, a former national power that is discovering it's difficult to stay on top.
"This is the best women's basketball division in America," Budke said. "It's not a division where you can go from last place to first in one year. But from here on out, people will know when they play Oklahoma State it will be a game."
Budke owned a career 353-47 record before he arrived at OSU. He feels better days are ahead.
"We have the type of athletes this year that can battle you," Budke said. "I don't know what that means in wins and losses. I really don't."
http://www.okstate.com//pics12/640/ES/ESDLZCKPGGLBXXY.20061012213756.jpg
(From L to R: Rashidat Sadiq, Christian Hood, Brisa Silva and Destanie Sykes)
Budke sees bright future ahead for Cowgirls
By Mike Baldwin
Staff Writer
As losses mounted, Oklahoma State women's basketball coach Kurt Budke took solace that better days were ahead. He already had signed a high school All-America point guard. Two transfers already were on campus.
It still wasn't easy finishing 6-22. That's more losses than Budke experienced in seven seasons at Trinity Valley (Texas) Junior College, where he established himself as one of the nation's top juco coaches before continuing the success at Louisiana Tech.
Even more difficult to swallow was the Cowgirls became just the second team in Big 12 history to finish conference play winless (0-16). At media day on Wednesday at the Cox Center, Budke said six newcomers should provide instant help.
"I don't know how many games we'll win, but the days of coming to Stillwater and having a walk through are done," Budke said. "You'll see a quicker team, a stronger team, a bigger team. It won't take anyone long to see we've upgraded the talent."
The newcomers will be part of a nine-player rotation. Freshman point guard Andrea Riley; Central Arizona College transfer Danielle Green; 6-foot-2 senior Rashidat Sadiq, a Connecticut transfer; and 6-3 juco center Maria Cordero could all wind up starting.
Junior college All-America forward Rita Kollo and guard Natasha Doh, a transfer from Oklahoma City University, also are vying for key roles.
Riley, a 5-foot-5 Nike high school All-American, averaged 17.8 points and 3.8 assists at Dallas Lincoln, the same school that produced Cowboy sophomore point guard Byron Eaton.
"Andrea Riley probably is the key to our team," Budke said. "She's going to remind people of Byron Eaton. She'll have nights she makes freshman mistakes, but she'll be exciting. She gets the ball down the court as quick as anybody in this conference, as quick as anybody I've had in my coaching career."
Part of the rebuilding problem at OSU is half of the conference games are against Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Texas and Baylor, the four schools picked to finish first, second, third and fourth in the conference this season.
All four are in the top 20 in at least one preseason publication. Three of the four have been to a Final Four this decade. And that doesn't include Texas Tech, a former national power that is discovering it's difficult to stay on top.
"This is the best women's basketball division in America," Budke said. "It's not a division where you can go from last place to first in one year. But from here on out, people will know when they play Oklahoma State it will be a game."
Budke owned a career 353-47 record before he arrived at OSU. He feels better days are ahead.
"We have the type of athletes this year that can battle you," Budke said. "I don't know what that means in wins and losses. I really don't."
http://www.okstate.com//pics12/640/ES/ESDLZCKPGGLBXXY.20061012213756.jpg
(From L to R: Rashidat Sadiq, Christian Hood, Brisa Silva and Destanie Sykes)