KU women hope to build momentum, starting at TCU

Kansas guard Angel Goodrich (3) drives past Brooke Hampton (4) during Kansas' game against West Virginia, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013 at Allen Fieldhouse.

By this point in the season, most college basketball coaches expect to be dealing more with answers than questions.

But that has not been the case for the Kansas University women’s basketball team, which will look to snap its second losing skid in the past five weeks at 7 tonight at TCU.

On the heels of one of the more disappointing efforts of the season, a 16-point home loss to West Virginia last Saturday, the Jayhawks are facing questions about mental toughness, defensive fundamentals and even the rotation, given the season-ending injury suffered by starting guard Natalie Knight and the voluntary departure of starting forward Tania Jackson a couple of weeks earlier.

“I wouldn’t say it’s same old, same old,” said senior guard Monica Engelman. “But it is a little more frustrating that we’re struggling with certain things. Because of what we were able to do last season, our expectations were a little higher, but I still have the same expectations and I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll be able to do what we are capable of.”

In order for that to occur, Engelman said the Jayhawks must get angry. Not angry to the point of playing out of control or losing sight of what’s important on the floor, but miffed.

“Even if we’re winning we need to play with a chip on our shoulders and start separating ourselves in the Big 12,” she said. “We need to get on a run and we need to start climbing up the ladder and start positioning ourselves for the postseason.”

A match-up with the Horned Frogs may be just what the Jayhawks (14-8 overall, 5-6 Big 12) need to get back on track. In the first ever meeting as conference foes, TCU enters tonight having lost all 11 Big 12 games this season and 7-15 overall.

Despite the sub-standard record, KU coach Bonnie Henrickson sang TCU’s praises, particularly its defense.

“They play almost exclusive 2-3 but they’re good at it,” Henrickson said. “It’s their primary defense. They do a good job of bumping and rotating and do a good job of defending teams’ scripted sets.”

KU has struggled at times this season when opponents have gone to zone defenses, so facing it for a full 40 minutes could represent a challenge. Still, Henrickson’s experienced squad comes into this one averaging more points (68-60) and giving up fewer (63-64) while also out-shooting (44 percent to 35 percent) and out-rebounding (plus-1.5 to minus-4.5 per game) the Horned Frogs on the season.

While the tale of the tape seems to favor Kansas, the players themselves do not plan to take that mentality into the battle.

“The game against TCU is highly important,” Engelman said. “We need to be desperate.”

Goodrich honored by Big 12 Conference

Kansas senior guard Angel Goodrich was named to the Academic All-Big 12 women’s basketball team for the fourth straight season, the league announced Tuesday.

Goodrich, who leads the Big 12 in steals and is third in assists, earned a first-team nod for the second year in a row.

Student-athletes qualify for the teams by maintaining a 3.00 GPA or higher while participating in 60 percent of their team’s games.

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MinnesotaJay 3 months, 1 week ago

Per my favorite player Monica Engelman, "Because of what we were able to do last season, our expectations were a little higher..."

Uh, yes, you're not the only ones who had higher expectations. Still lovin' ya, ladies, but now would be a good time to kick it into gear.

Cairo_Jayhawk 3 months, 1 week ago

I'm not generally a negative poster but there comes a time for change and I am being realistic.

Coach Henrickson seems to be a terrific person, but the Lady-Jayhawks are 14-8 and 5-6 in the Big 12 Conference. I feared that last years tournament run would give Bonnie another year without actually improving the team and it looks that way. I cannot think of a single reason why we should not have a perennial power in Women's Basketball. We have the history of basketball right here in Lawrence. We have the number 1 venue in college basketball. We have some pretty good players. We have moderate recent success.

Unless something dramatic happens, I hope to see a change at the coaching helm next season. This would be a VERY attractive position for the best women's coaches out there.

I'm not educated enough on him to speculate like this, but... Terry Nooner?!?!

Cairo_Jayhawk 3 months, 1 week ago

As per my above post... It comes from being a fan and not an A-Hole. I attended many women's games in my days at KU and want to see them be the team they should be. She just doesn't seem to be the person for the job.

no_fan 3 months, 1 week ago

Momentum? IF they win against the last place team in conference? WOW that is something to be proud of. The ONLY reason we made it to the tournament last year was because most of the BIG 12 schools were rebuilding their teams except for BU, not because HCBH did such a spectacular job. Due to injuries and athletes leaving she HAD to make changes that gave other players a opportunity to contribute. Don't be surprise if transfer Donielle Breaux who also left in the middle of the season last December does not show her talent tonight who is now attending TCU.

big12ku 3 months, 1 week ago

Quit dwelling on last season...This is a new Year ! This team wants to keep blaming the losses on injuries, etc. Lets be real, NK averaged 8+ points a game and was not the force that Davis and Goodrich has to be day in and day out and frankly they have been struggling too. Other players have stepped in and have picked up that scoring slack. Other teams move past that, so time for KU to move past it too. Funny how the player that has struggled the most, especially on defense keeps saying we need to change this, need to change that, and has not changed one thing! There are players on this team with mental toughness and quite frankly, I think that is the ones that are being held back. TCU may be the last place team but tonight will tell all...Lets hope that I don't have to turn my internet off before the end of the game, like I did last game. GET ANGRY....lol

wakeupcall 3 months, 1 week ago

Get angry, we need to do more than get angry ! The season is winding down and we are sitting on the bubble again. Better get in gear !

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