Big 12 Women next year

[NoDakSt]

Big 12 was the premier conference this year and I see more of the same next year. However, I think that some of the faces will have changed, at least temporarily.

I think there will be two teams that will battle for the title next year: Texas Tech and Kansas State. Tech returns Jia Perkins who definitely makes things go. Additionally, Ritchie and Ayers are back to provide some solid support and GreenWalt at 6-5, has emerged as a solid presence in the paint. What is the word on Pierson returning? Even without her, Tech should compete, but she could be the determining factor if she has worked out the personal stuff.

Kansas State was a surprise this year and sometimes if a young team gets big thoughts too early, they may struggle to live up to the expectations. But a solid core of players return with Ohlde, Koehn, and Wecker. They remind me of Minnesota in the Big Ten. Should be fun to watch.

Iowa State will be substituting in some ready made components. Welle's loss will be tough, but Badger transfer Nina Smith has experience and if she has grown up a little bit, the attitude to make an impact in the Big 12. Trn. O'Neill is also capable of contributing to the CYclones offense. Wilson will be back to run the show and she was the second leading scorer on the team.

Colorado returns Bjorklund, who could be one of the best inside folks next year but their backcourt will be rebuidling what with Nightengale and Roulier graduating. Scott returns and she is a trooper.

OU will be rebuilding next year. They lose the backcourt which has been huge although with Hill and Jackson returning and a highle ranked class coming in, reconstruction could come quickly. Not sure on whether Cunningham will have another year of eligibility but if she does, OU should have a strong interior focus next year.

Baylor is rebuilding also, but Mulkey-Robertson has good things happening. She may have a more global view of recruiting then Ms. Sharp has at Tech meaning she can pull in some out-of-state talent.

Texas returns a strong interior game with Bowers, Schrieber, and Stephens all coming back and accounting for almost 40 points and 20 boards a game. The back court will be rebuidling, however.

Texas Tech an KSU seem to be the lead teams but like this year, I think the potential for upset will be high for every game. It should make for lots of great matchups week in and out.

[swok34]

Not sure on whether Cunningham will have another year of eligibility

Cunningham, after 4 ACL tears, decided last fall to "retire". Can't say I blame her. Although OU does have a transfer in Teresa Schuchnect...has a year of eligibility left. And is also bringing in 2 freshmen that are 6'-3.

[Jennifer]

Cunningham's playing days are unfortunately over.

OU does have 6'3 transfer Theresa Schuknecht, who will be a Sr. HOpefully she will add some experience along w/ Hill and Jackson.
Ahtletic Antoinette Wadsworth will be back, after tearing her ACL early this year.

[NoDakSt]

Sorry to hear about Cunningham. I know she is there with the team on this year's wild ride, though. Where does Schuknecht hale from? Exciting to have her in the midst. Also, new recruit Preston was getting some press on the Boneyard when UCONN was still looking for her. The Husky fans were glad to see her wind up at OU with Coales. The keys to a successful rebuilding are definitely in camp.

[Jennifer]

Schuknecht was Pac10 Freshman of the year at AZ State several years ago. She is married and her husband is now stationed at Tinker AFB in Midwest City, OK. She played last season at NAIA powerhouse SNU and was Kodak Player of the Year.

OU's two local recruits both missed the latter part of the season with knee injuries. I know one was an ACL (Erin Higgins), never heard for sure what the other was, though she (Laura Andrews) missed her team's appearance in the state tourney. I believe both are shooting guards.

[This message has been edited by Jennifer (edited 03-26-2002).]

[elfdenmom]

They way I see it at this point is that TTU, UT, And KSU will be battling for the top spot with KSU having the advantage of a weaker North half.

I don't think you can count out OU and Baylor, though. KMR has some solid talent and she is an inspirational coach. Personally I think the real threat will come from OU again. It is true that their seniors will be gone, but they have experienced being a nationally dominant team. The pride is there, the nucleus is there with Hill and Jackson, they know what team chemistry can do for them, most of all the coaching is there. The X factor is will the leadership be there?

[YCN]

There's been little mention of Theresa Schuknecht on this board anytime recently, as far as I know, but she is certainly a potential "secret weapon". I borrowed her bio from Soonersports.com (pretty sure they won't mind the extra publicity) to repost here.

-----------------------------------
Theresa Schuknecht

Class: RS Senior
Hometown: Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
High School: Medicine Hat
Last College: Arizona State University
Height: 6-3
Position: Center
Experience: TR

Career at Oklahoma
A transfer from Arizona State who will redshirt the 2001-02 season … a very skilled player who can play inside and out ... brings maturity and experience to the practice sessions ... will be expected to emerge as a key scorer and leader in the 2002-03 season.

At Southern Nazarene — 2000-01
Named the Kodak NAIA 2001 National Player of the Year by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association … averaged 21.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game as a junior … was an NAIA All-America first team selection … also earned Academic All-America honors.

At Arizona State — 1999-2000, 1998-99
Became only the second freshman in ASU history to receive All-Pac-10 Freshman honors … also earned all-conference honorable mention merits as a sophomore … was an Academic All-Pac-10 pick … twice named ASU’s Offensive Player of the Year … averaged a team-best 12.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game as a sophomore … also shot 52.4 percent from the field and 81.7 percent from the free throw line … missed the first 10 games of her freshman season with a broken foot … ended rookie campaign as the team’s leading scorer (10.9 ppg) and rebounder (6.0 rpg) … was the first rookie to lead the Sun Devils in scoring since Kym Hampton in 1980-81 … voted Pac-10 Player of the Week, Feb. 4, 1999 … was named a team captain as a sophomore … earned GTE Academic All-America first team honors for the Pacific Region in 2000.

High School
Averaged 29.5 points, 12.9 rebounds and 6.5 steals per game as a senior at Medicine Hat High School in Alberta, Canada … named “Miss Alberta Basketball” and league MVP for two straight years (1997, 1998)… led the South Zone league in scoring for three straight years and later became the school’s all-time leading scorer with 3,013 points … led team to four consecutive league titles … scored a school single-game record 55 points in semifinal game of the 1998 Medicine Hat Tournament …named the Medicine Hat High School Female Athlete-of-the-Year in 1998 … member of the Canadian First All-Stars in 1998 and the 1996 Western Canadian All-Stars team … 1996 League Rookie of the Year … participated on the Alberta League Team that won the bronze medal during the 1999 Canada Summer Games … also played softball and volleyball, making the Alberta All-Star softball roster in 1994 and 1998.

Personal
A business marketing major … born July 16, 1980, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada… married to Seth Schuknecht … husband is a Navy pilot stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City … maiden name is Theresa Jantzen … daughter of Mark and Sylvia Jantzen … has one sister, Erica (18), who plays college volleyball and a brother, Craig (16), who is a high school baseball and basketball player … father, Mark, played basketball at the University of Saskatchewan … husband, Seth, was an all-conference basketball player at Navy (1999) … father-in-law, Kory, was an All-American football player at Arizona State … enjoys playing the piano and watching ESPN Sports Center … favorite movie is A League of Their Own.

-------------------------
Pretty interesting bio, IMO. http://soonersports.fansonly.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/schuknecht_theresa00.html




[This message has been edited by YCN (edited 03-26-2002).]

[carolann]

RE: - ISU There have been hints that Nina Moore will not play for ISU next year due to academic problems. W/O Moore or a significant spring signing (Gillian Goring?), ISU's post game is a big question mark. The backcourt, though, could be tops with Wilson, Juneau, and O'Neil.

[mred]

Originally posted by carolann:
There have been hints that Nina Moore will not play for ISU next year due to academic problems.

You mean Nina Smith... http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

I personally suspect she'll be around next year, but I don't have any inside info on it. As I understand it, she's not at risk of being academically ineligible or anything. It's more a matter of if she wants to play or not.

[ChipperF1]

The very, very, very early "Oklahoma ain't even done yet" 2002-2003 Big 12 projection.

1. Texas Tech....J-J-J-Jia!!!! and Cisti, and hopefully Plenette Pierson has her head screwed on right.
2. Kansas State....They are young and ready, but now they've lost the license to sneak. Everybody's clue into the classy girls from Manhattan
3. Iowa State....With Lindsay Wilson in there plus some good young talent coming in, ICBM should be able to get back in the race. Memo to Bill Fennelly Give up on Nina Smith, NOW! She's overweight, out of shape, and doesn't care.
4. Oklahoma......They lose 4 seniors and have a lot of question marks, but the Defending National Champions have some handy replacement parts itching to play.
5. Texas.......When Jody gets a backcourt, they'll move into the order. She has everything else
6. Baylor......Next year, it becomes the Jordan and Steffanie show, or at least KMR hopes. They'll be young and green to be sure.
7. Colorado....It's hard to replace a backcourt like Mandy Nightingale and Jenny Roulier. But one thing they do have is Tera Bjorklund. She's the next great Buff center.
8. Texas A&M...Learned how to win this season and a WNIT year is possible, but can they do it without Toccara Williams' contribution and will Peg Gillom finally get some institutional support?
9. Kansas......A Manhattan Miracle...In Lawrence? If Marian Washington's new recruiting class bears fruit, they won't defend their Enron Cup from last season.
10. Missouri....Lost some key weapons in Unrau and Barr and replacements are heavily unproven.
11. Oklahoma State...This could easily be 12th if the rumors about the plans for the program are true. Cowgirl fans are going to miss Dick Halterman in a hurry.
12. Nebraska........Paul Sanderford's last Husker team will be an example of senior non-leadership. He'll have 6 seniors and 5 of them are worthless.

[This message has been edited by ChipperF1 (edited 03-26-2002).]

[This message has been edited by ChipperF1 (edited 03-26-2002).]

[YCN]

Chipper, did I miss something? Is Toccara Williams planning to transfer or something?

[Jennifer]

Hey CHipper, I think Unrau and Barr will be back next year--Unrau as a Jr and Barr as a Sr.

[Bevo]

I hate to be a naysayer, but I don't see the conference as a whole being as strong next year. I just think the combinations of Dales/Caufield, Lambert/Crockrom, Welle/Gahan, and Nightengale/Roulier will be very, very hard to replace. I do have high hopes for a conference title for the Longhorns next year.

Chipper, don't Tocorra Williams, Evan Unrau, and Kerensa Barr all return next year?

[ChipperF1]

My bad...all three do return is this a great conference or what...seeing as how I graduated some players early.

1. Texas Tech....J-J-J-Jia!!!! and Cisti, and hopefully Plenette Pierson has her head screwed on right.
2. Kansas State....They are young and ready, but now they've lost the license to sneak. Everybody's clue into the classy girls from Manhattan
3. Iowa State....With Lindsay Wilson in there plus some good young talent coming in, ICBM should be able to get back in the race. Memo to Bill Fennelly Give up on Nina Smith, NOW! She's overweight, out of shape, and doesn't care.
4. Oklahoma......They lose 4 seniors and have a lot of question marks, but the Defending National Champions have some handy replacement parts itching to play.
5. Texas.......When Jody gets a backcourt, they'll move into the order. She has everything else
6. Baylor......Next year, it becomes the Jordan and Steffanie show, or at least KMR hopes. They'll be young and green to be sure.
7. Colorado....It's hard to replace a backcourt like Mandy Nightingale and Jenny Roulier. But one thing they do have is Tera Bjorklund. She's the next great Buff center.
8. Missouri....Get another solid guard or a post player and develop a bench, they could move into first division and perhaps the NCAAs
9. Texas A&M...Learned how to win this season and a WNIT year is possible, Toccara Williams will make a contribution, but can the school kick in to help Peg Gillom?
10. Kansas......A Manhattan Miracle...In Lawrence? If Marian Washington's new recruiting class bears fruit, they won't defend their Enron Cup from last season.
11. Oklahoma State...This could easily be 12th if the rumors about the plans for the program are true. Cowgirl fans are going to miss Dick Halterman in a hurry.
12. Nebraska........Paul Sanderford's last Husker team will be an example of senior non-leadership. He'll have 6 seniors and 5 of them are worthless.

[carolann]

Originally posted by carolann:
There have been hints that Nina Moore will not play for ISU next year due to academic problems.

Friendly Correction from MRED
You mean Nina Smith...

I think I'm ready to be a telvision anaylst now. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

[Press]

You qualify Carolann, you got half of it right. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/biggrin.gif

[JK]

In reference to these predictions for next year, I'll be my same old self and not say much. It's better to show than to tell. Elfdenmom - - you and I are right on target once again! The rest of you, I have a feeling I'll be smiling like the cat that swallowed the canary next March. We've got something for ya!!!

[cycofan]

Regarding Nina Smith. An article in the Des Moines Register last week quoted Fennely as saying that it is "all academics. If she gets her grades in order she will be back."

Study hard, Nina! We could use you next year! http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[KSUron]

Hey NoDakSt, welcome to the board! For a North Central Conference fan you are sure tuned up on Big XII WBB. I hear the Bison went 18-10 this year and that was a "down" year for you. I used to follow the Bison a bit when I was in South Dakota and Iowa. That's a school with a proud athletic tradition.

Sorry to say I am not nearly as informed about the NCC and the Thundering Herd as you are about the B-12. Good luck up there in Fargo and keep on posting.

[Bball Girl]

The unexpected "success" of KSU this year has been a great lesson to us all. 2 conference wins last year to .... (I now forget) a terrfic year and a #3 seed in the NCAAs

While I would expect TTU, UT, and KSU to be expected to lead the conference, with this conference anything is possible.

Using the word *rebuilding* to describe ISU, OU, BU, and CU is dangerous...that guarantees that one of those will bite us all. All four coaches have proven their ability to recruit top notch talent and to mold that talent into something special.

[schooner2]

One thing can probably be said for certain....the Big 12 will not have 7 teams ranked in the Top 15.

[KSUron]

Originally posted by NoDakSt:
Kansas State was a surprise this year and sometimes if a young team gets big thoughts too early, they may struggle to live up to the expectations. But a solid core of players return with Ohlde, Koehn, and Wecker. They remind me of Minnesota in the Big Ten. Should be fun to watch.

According to the Associate AD for Development at KSU when he got to his office in Bramlage Monday morning at 7:15 he heard someone in the gym shooting. The team just returned from the tourney Sunday but sure enough it was Laurie Koehn. If these young women don't succeed it won't be for lack of effort.

I would add Megan Mahoney to that solid core also. I realize she has not been flashy and did not have a particularly good NCAA tourney but she is very important defensively and has a good offensive game in her including not only her already good assists but also scoring. She is going to be key for us.

Kari Hanson and Chelsea Domenico will need to develop and/or perhaps a new point guard will need to be added to the mix for us to really cook. Both Hanson and Domenico were hurt this year (Domenico Hand, Hanson Knee) and were not able to show us what they had. I think they are both quality kids and have the credentials and potentials to be quality D1 players.

KSU has a well regarded 6'2 recruit coming in and has one scholarship left to give. Rumor has it that KSU is after a very talented 5'9 point guard but who knows what will happen with that?

[NoDakSt]

Thanks for the welcome KSUron.

YEah, the BIson had a down year but hey, they beat the SIoux twice. That counts for a lot. Weird having the Div II tourney and not having either North Dakota team represented. It has been twelve years since the state of North Dakota has not been accounted for in the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. Oh the times they are a changin'.

Big fan of Womens B-ball all over. I'm a junkie for college sports and love hangin on message boards when the time permits. I gotta say that the this board and the Texas Tech board are my faves as the fans are more knowledgeable than anywhere else. The Boneyard has some knowledgeable fans but they are greatly overwhelmed by the posers and I left the family farm 15 years ago because I didn't want to sift through the s#*t.

[DblT81]

Originally posted by NoDakSt:
I left the family farm 15 years ago because I didn't want to sift through the s#*t.


http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/biggrin.gif LOL


ND, you are a great wcbb fan. I always enjoyed your posts on ESPN's board before it was overrun with people with so many *issues* that it is now a quagmire of mostly garbage now.

[NoDakSt]

Thanks DblTT,

Truth be told, I can't get on the ESPN webpage anymore. NEtscape gets choked up when trying to access it. SO I have been off the sight for over a year. BUt it sounds like I haven't missed much. I love getting on a sight where fans can talk b-ball and the game instead of prsonalities, unless those personalities effect the game.

[swok34]

I knew your name looked familiar, Nodak........

welcome aboard. I agree about the ESPN board, unless you want to wade through the Big XII is over-rated post, or talk about Tennessee, Duke or Louisiana Tech.......it gets rather boring.

[This message has been edited by swok34 (edited 03-27-2002).]