Bulldogs Ready For 2008-09 Season To Begin
November 10, 2008 | Women's Basketball
A new era is upon Gardner-Webb University and the student-athletes on the women's basketball team, having moved into the Big South Conference on July 1, 2008. However, it is a league that head basketball coach Rick Reeves is familiar with, having coached at Liberty where he took the Flames to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
Although the Bulldogs do not have a senior on the team, with the abundance of playing time that everyone earned during the squad's last season in the Atlantic Sun Conference, the team could be considered as having a multitude of juniors and seniors despite the core of the team being sophomores and juniors.
With the departure of just one starter from a season ago – LaToya Carter – Gardner-Webb has a bevy of starting talent returning to the line-up a year older and wiser. As many people dismiss the Bulldogs as a contender in its first year of competition in the league, Reeves and his staff have put the team into a position to win every time out on the court last year and look to do the same this year.
The squad possesses unlimited potential, but the potential will have to be realized early on if the Bulldogs are to be successful in the league. Apart from two schools – UNC-Asheville and High Point – no member of GWU's team has played an official game in a Big South venue. Should the Red and Black play well away from Paul Porter Arena, GWU could have a very successful and memorable first season in the Big South Conference.
"I feel like we could challenge for the league's title," Reeves said. "We could be anywhere from the middle of the pack to winning it all. We are excited about moving into the Big South. Winning the regular season might be tough to do, but we could be poised to win the Big South Tournament. We could definitely be right there and in the mix for the title.
"Nine of our top 10 student-athletes are back this year and we are excited about the recruits we have here now as well," Reeves said. "How we will fair against the Big South teams remains a question since all of the teams in the league have virtually everyone back."
CENTERS
Redshirt-junior Sherika Montgomery returns to the Bulldogs for the second season. Having become more accustomed to the offense over the last year, Montgomery should slide into the starting spot that was occupied by Carter a season ago. Montgomery has worked tirelessly on her offense as she already brings a nose for the ball anytime there is a missed shot. In each of her five starts last year, Montgomery grabbed at least five rebounds. She was equally as impressive coming off the bench at Cornell, grabbing a career-high 11 rebounds in just 14 minutes of work.
"Sherika needs to be more of an offensive threat," Reeves said. "She is a good defensive player and a great rebounder, but she has to score points for us. Hopefully Sherika will step up her offensive ability. She has the skills to be a solid contributor and has the potential to be a tremendous force for us. Sherika makes us a much better team with her in the line-up."
Freshman Breynna Winkler should see quality minutes throughout the year and will cause match-up problems for opposing teams. Winkler comes from a winning program, having led Union H.S. (Tulsa, Okla.) to an undefeated state championship a year ago. With good quickness and a superb outside shot, Winkler can post up or draw the defense away from the basket for some easy looks.
"We expect Breynna to step in and play," Reeves said. "She is so good from the high post and fits our system perfectly. She doesn't have the collegiate experience yet, but we know she will compete and play hard. Once Breynna learns the collegiate game, she will be extremely productive for us."
Junior Atlantic Sun Conference selection Margaret Roundtree could see a little bit of time at the center position, but Reeves mainly wants to keep Roundtree at the accustomed power forward slot.
"If the other two centers are productive, we won't have to play Margaret at the center spot," Reeves said.
Newcomer Andrada Cornea, who has solid footwork, could also see time at the center spot.
"Andrada has unlimited potential, but we might redshirt her this season," Reeves said. "She shoots the ball well and we are impressed with her fundamentals. We have to see how quickly Andrada adapts to the physicality of the college game, which will determine how much she will play."
FORWARDS
Roundtree had a tremendous impact on the squad during her sophomore year, which earned her a spot on the all-conference team. After averaging 12.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game during her second year with the team, Roundtree will once again have to prove herself to a new league and new competition. However, she scored eight more points per game and grabbed three more rebounds per contest her sophomore year than her rookie campaign, and those numbers will surely increase in the 2008-09 season with all the hard work that Roundtree has put in during the off-season.
"Margaret could play at the professional level if she dedicated herself," Reeves said. "She has all the tools and she's getting better every day. Last year, she did a great job for us, but played too many minutes. This year, she will have to be more productive so we are able to pull her out some to keep her fresher. There are not a lot of players like her at the power forward position. Margaret is strong and she can put the ball on the floor while also being able to shoot the perimeter shot.
Sophomore LaTroya Pope will also see increased playing time from a season ago. Pope was able to go against extremely physical threats from the opposition, including A-Sun all-conference team selection Marlena Murphy, and hold her own. Pope has continued to work on her game and has the ability to hit the outside shot as well as drive the lane.
"LaTroya is an undersized power forward but she has a lot of offensive ability," Reeves said. "She has to learn to play with her back to the basket and do a better job defensively. LaTroya can step out and shoot the perimeter shot. She should come back a more confident player, which she wasn't at times last year.
At times, Reeves could put Cornea at the power forward spot. Laura Povilonyte could also see the floor at the power forward position, but he would like to keep her predominately at the small forward slot.
"I don't want to have to play Laura at the four, but it depends on how LaTroya does when Margaret isn't in the game."
Povilonyte, who came back from an injury that forced her to miss the entire 2006-07 season, played extremely well for the Bulldogs a year ago. Povilonyte always seemed to find a way to get the big rebound or hit the shot that picked the team up. While getting her confidence back over the course of the season, Povilonyte will once again be looked at to step up and lead the team.
"Last year we physically wore Laura down because we had a young team," Reeves said. "This year, we want her playing less minutes, but that will be because we are successful. Every day she is improving and getting better and we are ready for her to be a leader for us."
Also playing the small forward role will be sophomore Ashley Falknor. An offensive threat coming out of high school, Falknor saw her playing time increase dramatically near the end of the season last year. Once she understood the collegiate game, Falknor was able to get her shot off with ease while also locking down the opposition.
"Ashley had to work a lot on technique last year and had to focus on getting her shot off quicker," Reeves said. "We need her playing 15-20 minutes a game this year. We will move her around a lot defensively because of her versatility, but she is best as a small forward. Ashley's potential is unlimited and her best basketball is still ahead of her."
Sophomore Courtney Epps will also step in and play minutes as a small forward.
GUARDS
Junior Meranda Burnett has been at the starting point guard spot since her first collegiate game and has started virtually every one since then. Burnett brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding about what Reeves and his staff want out of every possession. She has also seen and thrived in virtually every situation and will look to guide the Bulldogs to the top of a new league.
"This past summer, Meranda played against Spain's national team, which will help her that much more because it gave her more confidence," Reeves said. "She gives us a lot of leadership. Meranda takes care of the ball and is a leader.
Sophomore Dominique Hudson will back Burnett up at the point guard position. However, with Hudson in the line-up, the Bulldogs don't lose much, if anything. Hudson picked up her game near the end of the season a year ago and has unbelievable talent.
"Dominique has a ton of potential," Reeves said. "With her on the team, we could potentially play two point guards in the system. She can play a lot of minutes and helps prevent a lot of problems. We just need her to communicate and make sure everyone s in the right spots."
Sophomore and reigning A-Sun Freshman of the Year Monique Hudson had a superb rookie campaign and will look to build on it this year as the shooting guard. She was third on the team in points per game and dished out the third-most assists on the squad. With a year of playing time under her belt, Hudson will continue to improve and make things happen for the Bulldogs.
"Monique has so much potential," Reeves said. "She has to learn the game and get out of her comfort zone. Monique needs to be able to score off the dribble and get to the free throw line more. We think she's going to be a very solid player. When Monique plays relaxed, she is a more dominating player."
Epps will see a lot of time at the two spot this season. A tenacious defender, Epps came into games and at times single-handedly gave GWU the spark it needed to get back into the game or widen the lead. Epps began understanding the collegiate game in the second half of the season and with her continued work, she could be a major factor for Reeves again this year.
"Courtney will challenge for a starting position," Reeves said. "We changed her game last year and this year we will see her playing a couple of positions. Look for her to do a great job. Courtney is a productive player and she now understands her role and looks for it to expand."
Rookie Teonika Webb will be able to comprehend the game a little easier than it was for last year's freshmen since GWU has depth it hasn't had since Reeves came to the school. A tremendous athlete, Webb brings versatility to the line-up.
"She may be the best athlete on the team," Reeves said. "Teonika was an excellent offensive player in high school, but she will now have to not depend on athleticism. Teonika will have to focus on technique. There isn't a lot of pressure for her to produce immediately, but by the end of the year I think she'll be an asset for us. Once Teonika learns to put technique together with her athleticism, she'll be a phenomenal player."
SCHEDULE
Due to the change in conferences, Reeves and the staff had some trouble scheduling non-conference games that they used to, since High Point and UNC-Asheville are now conference foes. However, that didn't stop Reeves from scheduling games at Houston, at East Carolina, at Georgetown in addition to getting his team in the Dayton Classic, which features the likes of the host Flyer, Bowling Green and Lipscomb.
"We have a real tough schedule," Reeves said. "It is a lot more difficult than it was last year. I take it as a compliment to us that no A-Sun team wanted to play us.
"From a conference standpoint, the schedule is really tough for us. Our players won't get back into a routine on the road until the 2009-2010 season. We are playing in new venues and are unfamiliar with the gyms. This year, we still have some traditional non-conference teams like Wofford, Appalachian State and South Carolina State, but we were also forced to pick up some small schools for home games (UVA-Wise, North Carolina Central, Tennessee Temple)."
Should GWU play well in the non-conference portion of the
schedule, it will give them a much-needed boost when January comes
around. The Bulldogs play their first four conference games on the
road, but if the team becomes as familiar with the opposition as
Reeves has been in his years in the league, GWU will not only be in
the mix for a league title, but could bring home the conference
crown in its first season.
