SEC Media Day Recap and Response

Posted on October 21, 2024 by David Griggs

CLICK HERE For All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content

SEC MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:

  1. Alabama
  2. Auburn
  3. Tennessee
  4. Arkansas
  5. Texas A&M
  6. Florida
  7. Texas
  8. Kentucky
  9. Ole Miss
  10. Mississippi State
  11. South Carolina
  12. Georgia
  13. Missouri
  14. LSU
  15. Oklahoma
  16. Vanderbilt

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-SEC 1ST TEAM:

-Mark Sears – Alabama
-Johni Broome – Auburn
-Walter Clayton Jr. – Florida
-Zakai Zeigler – Tennessee
-Wade Taylor IV – Texas A&M

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-SEC 2ND TEAM:

-Grant Nelson – Alabama
-Jonas Aidoo – Arkansas
-Johnell Davis – Arkansas
-Matthew Murrell – Ole Miss
-Josh Hubbard – Mississippi State

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-SEC 3RD TEAM:

-Chad Baker-Mazara – Auburn
-Alex Condon – Florida
-Jaxson Robinson – Kentucky
-Collin Murray-Boyles – South Carolina
-Tramon Mark – Texas

.

COMMENTS FROM DAVID:

-My overall thought is that it is insane how good this conference is this year!!

-Alabama won 25 games a year ago and made it all the way to the Final Four. This followed up a 31-win season where they were expected to make the Final Four, but lost earlier in the NCAA Tournament. This year, the Tide are once again a team that looks to be good enough to go back to the Final Four and perhaps win it all. They are tasked with replacing three key starters, including Aaron Estrada (who was a big key for them last year), but Mark Sears is back as one of the top players in the country. Like last year, they have some guys transferring in who should fit right into their system, like Clifford Omoruyi from Rutgers. This is a stacked team that will likely be high in the rankings all season long.

-Auburn is not ranked quite as high to start the season as their in-state rivals, but I personally like them as much as Alabama, and perhaps even a little more. Three starters return from a 27-win team a year ago, and while they lost early in the NCAA Tournament they still had a phenomenal season, and I think the way their talent and experience fits in with their style of play makes them one of the most dangerous teams in the country. They have a strong center in Johni Broome who can score, rebound, and defend. They have outstanding athletic guards in JP Pegues who can score, pass, defend, and shoot. JP, along with Denver Jones/Miles Kelly, make up one of the best backcourts in the country for the Tigers. I think Auburn can win the SEC this year and make quite a bit of noise come March.

-Tennessee has won 25 or more games the last three seasons and made it all the way to the Elite Eight last year. This year they have another strong team despite losing four key starters and the expectations are once again really high. Zakai Ziegler returns to run the point, and he will be joined by Chaz Lanier (who was a big time player at North Florida) and Igor Milicic Jr. (who was a standout player at Charlotte). I do not want to doubt this team given their recent history, but the one question I do have is: while they have a lot of really solid players, can they adjust to playing at the level of what the SEC will be this year?

-The John Calipari era has begun at Arkansas!! The Razorbacks were an underwhelming 16-17 last year and were just 6-12 in SEC play, but with an influx of talent including DJ Wagner from Kentucky, Johnell Davis from Florida Atlantic, and Adou Thiero from Kentucky, they have a roster stacked with guys who were standout players on high-level teams. We have seen Calipari’s ability to have talent gel together, and if he can do that this year then Arkansas should be positioned to earn a protected seed and go far in March.

-Texas A&M won 21 games a year ago and made it to the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament. With three key starters back, the expectations are even higher this year for the Aggies. They do lose Tyrece Radford, but Wade Taylor IV is back at PG, and is one of the better guards in the country. Zhuric Phelps transfers in from SMU and helps complete what should be an incredibly strong backcourt. They have a fairly solid frontcourt as well, so Uncle Buzz and Co. should have another strong year this year!

-Florida had a very good year last year in Todd Golden’s second year as head coach, and with three starters back from a 24-win team that made the NCAA Tournament, expectations are high again this year. They do lose a very good player in Zyon Pullin, but Walter Clayton Jr. is a fantastic PG and Alijah Martin will be strong at the #2 position, so the backcourt is solid. If some of the guys in the frontcourt can step up and contribute this year the Gators will once again be very dangerous and likely in the Top-25 throughout the season.

-Texas lost their entire starting lineup from a year ago, but expectations are still high for Coach Rodney Terry and the Longhorns after how hard they hit the portal. Jordan Pope, who was a fantastic player for Oregon State, will be the starting PG this year. Tramon Mark comes in from Arkansas and is a really good shooter and scorer. Arthur Kaluma is a strong post player and scorer from Kansas State, so they have managed to restock the cupboard. The question is whether or not they can they gel and play together as a unit.

-Kentucky fans were demanding an overhaul! Well, they got one. Mark Pope replaces John Calipari as head coach, and the Wildcats will have a completely new starting lineup this year. It is a lineup that is heavy on graduate transfers. Lamont Butler from San Diego State is a solid PG, Jaxson Robinson is a solid perimeter player who followed Mark Pope from BYU, Andrew Carr was a solid PF from Wake Forest who can score and rebound, and Amari Williams is another one coming in from Drexel. The Wildcats have proven experience and maturity. The question is how much better are these guys than the ones that left? And, while they are certainly solid, are they as good as some of the rest of the teams in this league? Kentucky looks to me like a very solid top-25 team…but they have been a top-25 team for the last three years. The fans did not think that was good enough. I think they are a long way from being as good as Auburn, or Alabama, or Tennessee, and when they go on the road to places like Clemson, and Gonzaga, Texas, Ole Miss, and Alabama, they are almost assuredly going to struggle. To win just one of those games would be a pretty big accomplishment. What will the attitude of their fanbase be if the season ends and they’re not any better than what they have been the last three years?? Because, well, I do not think they will be.

-Ole Miss showed quite a bit of improvement last year under 1st year coach Chris Beard with a 20-win season. With three starters back from that team, including Matthew Murrell (who opted to stay rather than enter the NBA Draft) and Jaemyn Brakefield who is a strong player in the frontcourt. They also add five very strong-looking transfers to the roster, four of whom were double-digit scorers, so Ole Miss looks to have their strongest team in a while. I think they can make the NCAA Tournament this year, and are good enough to land in the top half of the bracket. It has been a while since we have said this about Ole Miss…but they are good!

-Mississippi State was an NCAA Tournament team a year ago, and Chris Jans is a really solid coach. It seems odd to see them picked to finish as low as 10th this year, but I think that says more about the teams that are ahead of them than it does about the Bulldogs. Josh Hubbard and Claudell Harris Jr. are both prolific scorers, and Kanye Clary is transferring in from Penn State as another great scorer/shooter. I think they are an NCAA Tournament team again this year! It would not shock me at all to see the SEC get as many as ten teams inside the bubble.

-South Carolina had a great season last year with 26 total wins and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Lamont Paris is a fantastic coach, and considering they have two starters back and are adding some guys from the portal who could contribute they should be able to win some games this year. Having said that, I do think they have digressed somewhat and will not be quite as good as they were a year ago, but last year the expectations were almost nonexistent and they ended up having a great year.

-Georgia won 20 games a year ago, which was Coach Mike White’s 2nd year and the best season the Bulldogs have had in a while. With three starters back and given how they finished the season last year there is reason to be excited this year. I like this team, I like what they have coming back, and I think they have added some very strong transfers. Here’s the problem, though. This league is SOOOO good! I think they will win their share of games, and I think they will be very tough to beat at home, but as good as they seem to be, you just get the feeling that on a lot of nights they are going to be swinging over their heads.

-Missouri was awful last year. They won just eight games, and you have to wonder if Dennis Gates is on the hot seat this year. I am not expecting things to be a whole lot better for the Tigers this year. They went winless in conference a year ago, and while I think they will at least win a couple of SEC games, I do not see them competing with any of the top-12 teams in the league.

-Coach Matt McMahon has had a rough two years since coming over from Murray State. They were playing a little better down the stretch at the end of last season, and while two starters are back, I still do not think they can compete with the top-12 teams in the conference. Although, I do think they may be the best out of the remaining four.

-Last year, Porter Moser had a much better second season as head coach than he did in his first season, and won 20 games a year ago. It seems a little strange seeing Oklahoma picked this low. While they are not a basketball blueblood, they have certainly had their share of success. Two starters are back, and there are some guys they got in the portal with solid D-1 experience, and perhaps they can do a little better than finishing just one from the bottom, but…not much better I do not think.

-Mark Byington takes over as Vanderbilt coach after a very successful run at James Madison, and he has his work cut out for him. They were not all that good a year ago, the entire starting lineup is gone, and he has to rebuild in a conference that is unbelievably strong. Wins will likely be very tough to come by this year. He did go into the portal and seems to have a roster that is better than what Vandy has had in a while, so maybe they will not be the doormats of the league.

Posted in Conference Preview, News and Notes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on SEC Media Day Recap and Response

The Hoops HD Report: AAC, A10, MWC, and WCC Previews

Posted on October 20, 2024 by David Griggs

CLICK HERE For All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content

It’s one of our favorite podcasts of the entire preseason!! Because it’s actually FOUR podcasts!! It’s the four conferences that aren’t quite good enough from top to bottom to be considered to be at the level of the Power Conferences, but certainly aren’t Under the Radar Conferences Either. All four leagues typically have at least one or two teams inside the bubble, and in the case of Gonzaga we feek they are as good as anyone in the country and a potential Final Four team. UAB and Memphis have high expectations out of the American, we think there are as many as five teams that could make a run at the NCAA Tournament out of the Atlantic 10 with Dayton and VCU leading the way, and the Mountain West, who sent six teams to the NCAA Tournament last year could be in position to get several teams in again.

AMERICAN ATHLETIC:

ATLANTIC 10:

MOUNTAIN WEST:

WEST COAST:

And for all you radio lovers, below are the audio only versions of the shows…

AMERICAN ATHLETIC:

ATLANTIC 10:

MOUNTAIN WEST:

WEST COAST:

Posted in Conference Preview, Hoops HD Report, Podcasts, Videocasts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Hoops HD Report: AAC, A10, MWC, and WCC Previews

West Coast Conference Media Day Recap and Response

Posted on October 20, 2024 by David Griggs

CLICK HERE For All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content

WEST COAST CONFERENCE MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:

  1. Gonzaga
  2. Saint Mary’s
  3. Santa Clara
  4. San Francisco
  5. Washington State
  6. LMU
  7. Oregon State
  8. Portland (tied 8th)
  9. San Diego (tied 8th)
  10. Pacific
  11. Pepperdine

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-WCC TEAM:

-Michael Ajayi – SR, G – Gonzaga
-Adama-Alpha Bal – SR, G – Santa Clara
-Cedric Coward – SR, G – Washington State
-Nolan Hickman – SR, G – Gonzaga
-Graham Ike – SR, F – Gonzaga
-Augustas Marciulionis – SR, G – Saint Mary’s
-Ryan Nembhard – SR, G – Gonzaga
-Jevon Porter – JR, F – LMU
-Mitchell Saxen – SR, C – Saint Mary’s
-Carlos Stewart – SR, G – Santa Clara
-Marcus Williams – SR, G – San Francisco

.

COMMENTS FROM DAVID:

-So here is an incredible stat. Gonzaga has made it to the Sweet Sixteen or further in every NCAA Tournament they have played in since 2014. In 2020, when we did not have an NCAA Tournament, they would have likely been a #1 seed. That is amazing. Maybe someone else has accomplished that, but if so I cannot think of who. This year, they are once again expected to be among the ten best teams in the nation, and will likely again earn a protected seed. In an era where teams cannot seem to retain their talent, four starters are back from last year’s Sweet Sixteen team. Graham Ike is still on the roster, after being a standout player at Wyoming for a couple of years. The Zags are stacked. Again. And they look like they have the kind of team that can make it to the Final Four. Again. The only knock on Gonzaga is that they have never won it all, but they are still one of the most accomplished programs of the last decade and by all accounts that success will continue.

-Saint Mary’s is picked to finish 2nd, and while it is likely a very distant second, the Gaels still have a fairly strong roster. They are tasked with replacing Aidan Mahaney (who transferred to Connecticut), and that is a setback, but two other starters are back who averaged double-figures a season ago and I still think they have what it takes to safely make it back to the NCAA Tournament.

-Coach Herb Sendek has won 20 or more games in each of the last three seasons for Santa Clara, but they cannot seem to break through to where they are a regular participant in either the NCAA or NIT Tournaments. Expectations are somewhat high this year as three starters are back from last year’s team, including Adama-Alpha Bal who averaged over 14ppg a season ago. Some other solid D-1 and JUCO transfers also join the roster, so Santa Clara should easily be in the top half of the standings. The question is do they have enough pieces to make the NCAAs?

-San Francisco also returns three starters from a team that won more than 20 games, and also have high expectations this year. Chris Gerlufsen enters his 3rd year as head coach, and he has Marcus Williams/Malik Thomas making up a talented and experienced backcourt. They also add what appear to be some high-level freshmen to the roster, so the Dons look to be heading toward another really solid season.

-Washington State had a great year last year with 25 total wins and a trip to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. The problem is that virtually everything has changed…including their conference. This is their first year in the WCC, David Riley’s first year as head coach, and they will need to replace their entire starting lineup from a year ago. Cedric Coward, Dane Erikstrup, and Ethan Price all transfer in from Eastern Washington, and all were key players for them a year ago, but they will have to perform at a much higher level to have success in WCC.

-LMU won just 12 total games last year, and while they were not bad in the first half of conference play, they were pretty weak down the stretch. With just two starters back, it could be a rough year for the Lions this year. They were able to score last year as all five starters averaged double figures, but their defense was somewhat lacking.

-Since an unexpected (and almost unprecedented) run to the Elite Eight in 2021, Oregon State has been…well…awful. They did win 13 games last year, which was a bit of an improvement, but they have just one starter back and will have to overhaul their roster. Coach Wayne Tinkle has proven he can win, and they do add some solid transfers from UTR schools who should be able to contribute, and there are a lot of teams in this league that I think they can compete against. Having said all that, I do not see them finishing near the top and think the middle of the standings is their ceiling.

-It is hard to get too excited about a Portland team that lost over 20 games last year and has just two starters back, but they do have a couple guys on the roster who were double-digit scorers a year ago who should be able to contribute this year.

-Like a lot of teams, San Diego is tasked with rebuilding after just one starter is returning from last year’s team. They were a respectable 18-15 last year, but given how they are tasked with rebuilding expectations are rather low this year. They do add a couple of guys who were standout JUCO players, so if they can contribute we may see them finish a little further up from the bottom than where they are being picked to finish.

-Pacific won just six games last year and will replace their entire roster this year. Dave Smart takes over as head coach and he has his work cut out for him. They were one of the worst teams in all of D-1 last year, and while they do have some solid JUCO standouts that should step in and contribute and make the team a little better, I still do not see them finishing anywhere near the top.

-Pepperdine is also having to replace all five starters and just does not seem to have much of anything in the way of strong personnel this year. It will likely be a long year for the Waves. Ed Schilling takes over as head coach, and he has his work cut out for him.

Posted in Conference Preview, News and Notes | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on West Coast Conference Media Day Recap and Response

Mountain West Media Day Recap and Response

Posted on October 20, 2024 by David Griggs

CLICK HERE For All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content

MOUNTAIN WEST MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:

  1. Boise State
  2. New Mexico
  3. Nevada
  4. San Diego State
  5. UNLV
  6. Utah State
  7. Colorado State
  8. San Jose State
  9. Wyoming
  10. Fresno State
  11. Air Force

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-MWC TEAM:

-Alvaro Cardenas – G – Boise State
-Tyson Degenhart – F – Boise State
-O’Mar Stanley – F – Boise State
-Nique Clifford – G – Colorado State
-Nick Davidson – F – Nevada
-Donovan Dent – G – New Mexico
-Nelly Junior Joseph – C – New Mexico
-Reese Waters – G – San Diego State
-Dedan Thomas Jr. – G – UNLV
-Ian Martinez – G – Utah State

.

COMMENTS FROM DAVID:

-Leon Rice has taken Boise State to the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three seasons, which is a great run, but he has yet to get past the Round of 64. This year they are the consensus favorites to win the league again, and when you see that Tyson Degenhart and O’Mar Stanley are back, it is easy to understand why. Both were standout players a year ago who could score and rebound. Emmanuel Ugbo is another double-digit scorer and strong rebounder, so the Broncos have an extremely capable frontcourt. Alvaro Cardenas transfers in from San Jose State and offers a lot of experience at the PG position, so the Broncos appear to have all the pieces they need to have another strong year, make it back to the NCAAs, and perhaps make it beyond the Round of 64.

-New Mexico won 26 total games a year ago, but were not inside the bubble going into the MWC Tournament after finishing a modest 6th place in the conference. However, the Lobos won the conference tournament and the automatic bid so their season ended on a high note. Donovan Dent returns to the lineup as the starting PG, but three starters are gone and they will need some guys to step up, play more minutes, and be bigger contributors this year.

-Nevada also made the NCAA Tournament last year, and with three starters back expectations are again high for Coach Steve Alford and Co. Nick Davidson is a solid scorer/rebounder, Trey Coleman is a solid defender, and they also have some key transfers with respectable D-1 experience coming in. I think this Nevada team can challenge Boise State for the league title.

-San Diego State made the Sweet Sixteen last year after a solid 20-win season, but much of that team is gone and the Aztecs are tasked with restocking the cupboard. While they have a few solid transfers coming in, and some guys that saw limited minutes last season, they do not look quite like they’re built for a return to the Sweet Sixteen. If Coach Brian Dutcher can get this team back to the NCAA Tournament, that would be a solid accomplishment.

-UNLV is one of those programs that seems to be slowly getting better, but at the same time it feels like they should be getting better a lot faster and be more accomplished than what they are. They were a very respectable 12-6 in conference play a year ago, but were nowhere near the NCAA Tournament. Dedan Thomas Jr. is a solid PG, and with solid transfers like Jailen Bedford and Jaden Henley coming in, and Jalen Hill returning after missing much of last season due to an injury, UNLV looks like they could possibly make a lot of noise and have a bit of a breakout year this year. Having said that, we have said that about them before…and it has not happened.

-Jerrod Calhoun takes over as head coach at Utah State, but while this is a transitional period for the Aggies, the cupboard is not completely bare. Three starters are back, including Ian Martinez and Mason Falslev, both of whom were double-digit scorers a year ago. Dexter Akanno joins the roster from Oregon State and should be a huge contributor as well. I actually like this Utah State team quite a bit and would pick them to finish quite a bit higher than where they are in the preseason poll.

-Colorado State has had a hell of a run in recent years. They have won 20 or more games in four of the last five season, and made the NCAA Tournament a year ago. This year, however, they may be in a rebuilding mode. Four starters are gone, and while Nique Clifford is a double-digit scorer that returns, and Keshawn Williams returns after missing last year due to an injury, they do not appear to have all the personnel they need to return to the NCAA Tournament this year. Having said that, we have seen this team overachieve before.

-After a 21-win season in 2022-2023, San Jose State won just nine games last year and seems to be reverting back to winning fewer than ten games. Just one starter is back, but the roster overhaul may not be the worst thing in the world for Coach Tim Miles. Miles has a proven history of being able to develop talent and build up programs, but in the transfer portal/NIL era can that be done at a place like San Jose State?? They are rather transfer-heavy, and brought in a slew of guys who appeared to be role players at D-1 schools a year ago, but no standout or go-to players jump out at me right now.

-No one gets higher than the Wyoming Cowboys!! Unfortunately, almost no one is back this year. Nick Whitmore takes over as head coach, and he will have to replace the entire starting lineup. Dontaie Allen was a contributor at Western Kentucky last year, but other than him they seem to be lacking in guys with critical D-1 experience.

-Fresno State also struggled last year, and is also tasked with replacing their entire starting lineup. They do have a few guys that were standout players at the JUCO level. We shall see if they can have success at the D-1 level.

-It is so hard to compete at Air Force. They do have a unique style of play, and they can be competitive against some top teams because what they do is so different than what most are used to seeing, but more often than not they finish closer to the bottom than the top. And, it looks like that’s how it is going to be this year.

Posted in Conference Preview, News and Notes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mountain West Media Day Recap and Response

Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Nebraska SR F/C Alexis Markowski

Posted on October 20, 2024 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE For All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content

We are still about 2 weeks away from the tip-off of a new college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage with Nebraska SR F/C Alexis Markowski, who talked about growing up in Lincoln and her expectations for this season.

You were born/raised in Lincoln: what made you choose Nebraska? My dad played here in the 1990s so I was always raised as a Husker fan. I always knew that I wanted to play college athletics, and I remember going to games/camps here as a kid.

In 2022 you were named Big Ten ROY: how were you able to make such a smooth transition from high school to college? I have always been a hard worker who will do whatever it takes for my team to win. I was fortunate to have upperclassmen/coaches who supported me as a freshman: they really helped me succeed.

In 2023 your 15 double-doubles were 2nd-most in the conference behind only national POY Caitlin Clark: how are you able to balance your scoring with your rebounding? The team needs me to be a good rebounder for us to have success and it is something that I am good at. My teammates are unselfish and get me the ball.

Take me through the 2024 postseason:
In the conference tourney title game you had 23 PTS/13 REB in a 5-PT OT loss to Iowa: where does Clark (34 PTS/12 AST/3 STL) rank among the greatest players that you have ever faced? I think she is the greatest player that I have ever played against. She is a generational player…so I am glad that she is no longer in college! She is very talented and makes everyone around her better.

In the NCAA tourney you scored 16 PTS in a 2-PT win over Texas A&M and 8 PTS in a 10-PT loss at Oregon State: what did you learn from your postseason run that will help you this year? Being able to win that 1st game was very motivating. Our program is going in the right direction…and we want to go even farther this year. The women’s tourney allows the top-4 seeds to host, which is a huge advantage, so if we have a good season then it would help us move forward. Last offseason I worked on facing post players who are bigger/stronger than me: we recruited some 6’8” scout guys to go up against, and I have been learning/improving.

Earlier this month you were named Preseason 1st-Team All-Big Ten: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor for the 3rd year in a row? I tend to not worry about stuff like that, even though it is a great honor. My focus is being a great leader for my team and doing everything I can to win.

You earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in each of the past 2 years and are a 4-time selection to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? I am very fortunate to play at a university where life beyond basketball is the focus. I have a lot of great resources to help me manage my time/do well academically.

The Big Ten has added several new teams this year: any thoughts on conference realignment? I love it! The conference just got that much better with teams who bring different styles. We will spend a week in California over New Year’s to play 2 of the top-5 teams in the country (UCLA/USC). We want to play against the best and expanding the conference gave us the chance to do that.

Your father Andy was a 2-time basketball captain at Nebraska and your AAU coach: who is the best athlete in the family? That is a tough 1. I am a very confident person so I would love to say myself…but we are all pretty good athletes. I think it is my mom: she was a very good high school athlete, and that is where I get my competitive drive from. She runs pickleball in Lincoln!

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? This is my senior season, so I want it to be my best. We were SO close to being conference champs last year and it is still on our minds. We want to get back to the title game, bring home the trophy, and make it even further in the NCAA tourney.

Posted in News and Notes | Tagged , | Comments Off on Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Nebraska SR F/C Alexis Markowski

Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Kent State SR G Jenna Batsch

Posted on October 19, 2024 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE For All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content

We are still about 3 weeks away from the tip-off of a new college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage with Kent State SR G Jenna Batsch, who talked about being a great 3-PT shooter and her expectations for this season.

You were born/raised in Ohio: what made you choose Kent State? I was born/raised in Cincinnati, which is about 4 hours from Kent, so even though it is the same state I still felt that I was going far away. The whole coaching staff was really welcoming, and I liked what they had to offer.

You play for Coach Todd Starkey: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? He is very good at not dwelling on the negatives and just has a next-play mentality. Basketball is a game of mistakes, but it is very fast paced so you can quickly make up for it. He has taught us a lot of things that we can use in both basketball and as general life lessons. We will not play basketball forever, so he has really prepared us for life after basketball.

As a freshman in the 2022 WNIT you scored a season-high 11 PTS/4-5 FG in a win at Youngstown State: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most? That game was very good for me because it gave me a lot of confidence. I was always tentative and worried about making mistakes as a freshman, but I went into that game aggressive from the start, and when I saw my 1st couple of shots go down it was a big help.

After 2 years as a sub you started all 32 games last year: what is the biggest difference between starting a game vs. coming off the bench? As a starter you are responsible for being aggressive from the jump, whereas subs have the advantage of seeing how the game is going. Coach teaches us that pressure is a privilege, so I am happy to take it on.

You shot 38.9 3P% last year: what is the secret to making shots from behind the arc? I spent a lot of time the summer before that season working on my jump shot. I struggled a lot during my 1st 2 years but I have gotten much stronger, and seeing the ball go through the hoop really helped as well.

Take me thorough the 2024 postseason:
In the MAC tourney title game you scored 14 PTS in a win over Buffalo: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? It was amazing because the program had not won a title for more than 20 years. The locker room was very fun: everyone was happy to make the NCAA tourney!

In the NCAA tourney you scored 13 PTS in a loss at Notre Dame: what did you learn from that loss that you think will help you this season? Notre Dame was a very good team, but it is important to attack the toughest teams on our schedule because they will usually underestimate us. We could not knock down shots against the Irish and they were hitting everything…but we still hung around with them and proved that we are not afraid of them.

You made the Academic All-MAC team each of the past 2 years: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? Kent State does a great job with providing us resources and lots of study halls, but as a student-athlete it is important to not procrastinate so that you can focus on the game once it tips off.

You are 1 of 4 seniors on the roster: how much pressure is there on you to be a leader this year? There is an expectation on me to be a leader, but there is no pressure. I am a lead-by-example type of person so I will work on leading with my voice as well as my actions. We have a lot of leaders this year so it should not be a problem.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? Our goal every year is to win the MAC, and we would also like to win the regular season for the 1st time in a while. Winning the regular season shows how good you are: we lost some talent and have a target on our back, but we will try to prove some people wrong.

Posted in News and Notes | Tagged , | Comments Off on Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Kent State SR G Jenna Batsch