Battle-Tested Rookies Back For More

Eight UK freshmen, four of whom would earn 84 starts between them, zoomed from green to experienced as fast as an Indy car in 2001. And while no green flag was dropped to start the season, Coach Bernadette Mattox’s rookies must have felt as though they were on the fast track from beginning to end as the Cats played the sixth-toughest schedule in the nation.Those rookies are now battle-tested sophomores. And their experience was earned on the Southeastern Conference’s unforgiving circuit, without benefit of a caution flag. Yes, the schedule is similarly grueling this season, but the Cats intend to stay the course.

“They learned they had to compete for 40 minutes,” Mattox said. “They learned they had to get stronger in the weight room. They learned they had to go through the tough experiences together in order to get better.”

After fielding her youngest team in her six-year coaching career at UK, Mattox anticipates an exciting season with five returning starters and a roster that features eight letterwinners, along with four players launching their collegiate debuts. This group is athletic and eager.

“We have everybody back, but like I have told the team, the starting five is wide open,” Mattox said. “I think they understand it’s not important who starts the game but how we blend together and play hard together. When you walk into that game you are just as valuable as the player who came out.

“Everybody on this team has something valuable to give and I think those different things create a nucleus of something special.”

The proven veteran to whom the younger players can look for leadership is All-SEC candidate, LaTonya McDole. The Cats’ lone senior with game experience at UK, McDole has led the team in almost every statistical category the past two seasons and needs only 55 points to become the 22nd Wildcat to join the 1,000th-point club.

“She brought to the team an intensity level last season that helped those freshmen understand how to play the entire game,” Mattox said. “She helped them to learn how to compete for 40 minutes because they watched her do it.

“LaTonya’s role is a silent one. She’s not a vocal leader, but leads through the example of intensity and hustle.”

The candidates for McDole’s supporting cast include junior Rita Adams and the aforementioned sophomores. The Cats also have newcomers Sara Potts and Keiko Miller-Tate. Sophomore Danyelle Payne and senior Shareon “Niecee” Patterson returns to the squad after a year’s absence. Payne did not see action last season as a partial qualifier while Patterson sat out with a knee injury.

While last year’s young team ran off course and experienced some near-crashes, they emerged from the season as strong survivors. As they strap on their belts for another furious ride, the Cats have adopted a slogan for 2001-02: “No Boundaries, No Limits”.

Backcourt

Mattox hopes to make good use of the dynamic guard tandem of Adams and sophomore Dasieka Hawthorne. Hawthorne, a 5-6 powerhouse who experienced a baptism of fire in the tough SEC last season, started in 23 of the Cats’ 27 games at the point, averaging 5.9 points and 2.7 assists.

“Dasieka gained tremendous experience in her first year,” Mattox said. “She worked hard over the summer and improved her perimeter shooting. I look for her to better serve the team as a floor leader.”

Adams, who has played both the one and two positions, started in 18 games and averaged 9.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. She also owns one of the quickest first steps in the country and has incredible leaping ability.

“Rita has great explosion both offensively and defensively,” Mattox said. “After working on her skills this summer, Rita will bring more of a complete game to the team.”

Sophomore Kristin Connolly served as a key reserve last season and saw action in all 27 games with three starts. She averaged 5.0 points, scoring in double figures four times with a career-high 17 coming against Miami, Fla.

“Kristin showed us that she has scoring ability,” Mattox said. “She has extended her three-point range and become more of a solid shooter which is necessary for that wing position.”

Sophomore Danyelle Payne makes her debut after missing last season as a partial qualifier. She averaged 26 points and 8 rebounds per game as a senior at Paul L. Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C. Seven times she scored 30 points or more in a game en route to being named Player of the Year by the league coaches.

“I think Danyelle is the best play-maker on the floor,” Mattox said. “She has tenacious skills and game savvy which will help develop both inside and outside scoring for the team.”Freshman guard/forward Sara Potts possess the size and shooting ability to be a versatile player for the Cats.

“With Sara’s size, shooting ability and three-point range she will create a lot of mismatches for the opponent,” Mattox said. “And being left-handed also creates an advantage because most defensive players don’t face a left-handed opponent in practice.”

Walk-on guard/forward Jenerrie Everette adds depth to the talented backcourt group.

Frontcourt

After an impressive freshman season that resulted in All-SEC freshman honors, center SeSe Helm’s play on the front line will be critical to the Cats’ success this season. The 6-4 sophomore was just behind scoring leader McDole (12.8) with an average of 12.3 points per game. McDole and Helm each averaged 12.2 points in conference play.

“SeSe has the mentality to dominate inside,” Mattox said. “Her outside shooting is also getting better, but I would like to see her be more of a physical force.”

Helm was one of only two freshmen to rank among the top-20 in scoring in the SEC and finished the season at No. 2 in free-throw percentage in the conference (86.1 percent).

The Wildcats enjoy their best depth at the small forward and power forward positions, where there are several players who can step in at the three or four spots.

Two players, Shambrica Jones and Stephanie Stoglin, impressed the coaches during the team’s summer tour of Europe.

“Shambrica created havoc on the court in Europe and I think was the biggest surprise to the coaching staff,” Mattox said. “She commanded double teams and it was evident she felt confident to make things happen. She attacked the rim and passed well, she also defended well on the perimeter.”

Stoglin, who started in 13 of 27 games and was the Cats’ fourth-leading scorer and rebounder, exhibits a deadly jump shot and ability to drive to the basket.

“There is not a day that goes by that somebody doesn’t tell me they see her in the gym,” Mattox said.

Senior Shareon Patterson should see action at the three position if she can remain healthy. Patterson suffered a torn MCL last season and was forced to sit out. Because she transferred to Kentucky after one year at Charleston Southern and another at Pensacola Junior College, Patterson was not eligible for a medical hardship. However, she showed glimpses of her abilities during the European tour.

If preseason workouts are any indication, look for rookie Keiko Miller-Tate to battle for either the four or five spot.

“At 6-2, Keiko has that long wing span and long arms,” Mattox said. “I’m excited about her ability to defend and her sweet turnaround jumper.”

Schedule


The 2001-02 schedule opens with a first-time meeting against Temple and head coach Dawn Staley. The Wildcats’ schedule also features matchups with North Carolina, Western Kentucky and Miami (Fla.) The Cats could face 14 opponents that advanced to postseason play last March, including eight teams ranked in the national polls.

“Opening the season with Temple and Coach Dawn Staley, a WNBA All-Star, will be an early test for our team,” Mattox said. “Our schedule is tough, but we try to make it that way in order to get ready to play in the Southeastern Conference. We are excited about our non-conference slate with the renewing of the matchup with Western Kentucky. In addition, our series with Louisville and Cincinnati are always exciting to watch.”

After two exhibition games in early November, UK opens its demanding non-conference slate with a home game versus the Temple Owls on Nov. 17. The Cats will spend the Thanksgiving Holiday at the Lady Tiger Classic in Memphis, Tenn., facing Sam Houston State in the first round. Following the tourney, the Cats will travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., to face the Tar Heels on Nov. 28. The game will mark the teams’ first meeting since 1993.

UK returns to Lexington for a matchup with Miami (Fla.) on Dec. 1 before embarking on a three-game road trip to Miami (Ohio), Western Kentucky and Virginia Commonwealth. The Cats have not met the Lady Toppers of WKU since UK’s nail-biting 66-64 overtime win in 1997.

“The Western Kentucky game will be special, not only because of the renewal of the state rivals, but because SeSe (Helm) will have a chance to return to play in her hometown,” mattox said. “It will be special for us and her family in Bowling Green.”

A two-game homestand against another state rival, Louisville, and first-time opponent Evansville will take place on Dec. 19 and Dec. 22, respectively.

The Cats will travel to Hanover, N.H., on Dec. 28-29 to face Southern Mississippi in the first round of the Blue Sky Classic.

On Jan. 3, Mississippi State will visit Memorial Coliseum to open conference play for the first time since 1993. UK has new home-and-home Southeastern Conference partners this season in Vanderbilt and Alabama. UK also will play host to Auburn on Jan. 13, LSU on Jan. 24, Georgia on Feb. 3 and South Carolina on Feb. 10. The Cats will mix in non-conference opponent Cincinnati on the road on Feb. 19.

The past two seasons Kentucky’s schedule has been ranked in the nation’s top 10 with last year’s schedule rated sixth.

• UK’s schedule features first-time games with Temple, Evansville, Southern Mississippi and Sam Houston State.
• Fourteen of UK’s opponents advanced to postseason play, including six teams who won their first-round game in the 2001 NCAA Tournament.