It seemed every word she said Thursday at Big 12 Conference Media Day reflected that attitude. The first-year KU women’s basketball coach talked endlessly and willingly with media from all over the region about big plans in store for KU women’s basketball — a competitive team that has been given resources to bring in the best players around.

So far, she has earned cooperation from the athletic department, which hardly is a surprise considering that was the reason athletic director Lew Perkins paid big bucks to bring her to KU in the first place.

Among the changes already taking place were the upgrading of the team’s locker room, the expansion of the coaching staff’s offices and the women’s inclusion into Late Night in the Phog. The women played a scrimmage in front of 16,000 fans Oct. 15, years after other schools — including Henrickson’s last stop, Virginia Tech — already had started the trend.

“It shows the respect we’re getting, They wouldn’t do that for a podunk program,” senior Blair Waltz said. “They’re doing it because Bonnie’s for real. Bonnie’s big-time.”

Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo

Waltz, by the way, followed rule number one when speaking of Henrickson: Don’t you dare call her “Coach” or “Coach Henrickson.”

It’s Bonnie, by golly.

So goes the unique transition from former coach Marian Washington, one of the pioneers of women’s collegiate sports who retired after 31 seasons, to a team learning the intricacies of Bonnieball.

The growing pains are expected because, well, Henrickson is different from Washington. Bonnieball is a cutting-edge combination of lofty expectations no matter the circumstances and an environment filled with eye-to-eye relationships between coaches and players.

“It’s basically going back to being a freshman again,” Waltz said. “We were all there at one point. It’s just going back to the basics and doing the best we can. As long as we go out and work hard every day, we’ll make it easy on the coaching staff.”

Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo

The work has begun to pay off already. Despite KU having just 10 scholarships and no one taller than 6-foot-2, Henrickson admits she’s been surprised with the level of play at practice.

“We have issues about depth and size, but we don’t have issues with heart and effort,” Henrickson said. “What’s encouraging right now is that it doesn’t matter what you coach or where you coach, when you get great effort every day, you’ve got a chance.”

Bonnieball in full effect (10-13-04) 2004-05 roster and bios 2004-05 schedule