Kentucky Women's Basketball Looking for Team Effort in 2021-22
The Kentucky women’s basketball team will get lots of attention this season, much of which will be focused on All-American, and National Player of the Year candidate, Rhyne Howard. And rightfully so. However, for the Cats to accomplish the goals of the team, it will take more than just Howard.
There’s no denying Howard’s greatness. Through three seasons at UK, she has scored 1.655 points. Just six players in Kentucky women’s basketball history have scored more. And that list is a who’s who of UK women’s basketball history (Valerie Still, A’dia Mathies, Victoria Dunlap, Leslie Nichols, Makayla Epps and Maci Morris).
Howard should pass all of those players except Still by the end of the season. Howard also has a chance to become the school’s leader in three-point shots made. She’s currently third, behind Sara Potts and Morris.
But if the Cats are to compete for an SEC championship and are to earn their first Final Four appearance, it will need to be a team effort. Even Howard knows this is the case, and she’s ready to be the team leader.
“I feel super prepared,” Howard said about leading the Cats. “With this team, it’s not hard to lead them because they are so willing to work hard.”
The Cats do return several key pieces, all of whom should be able to lighten Howard’s load this season.
Dre’una Edwards was third on last year’s team in scoring (9.7 points per game) and second in rebounding (6.1). Edwards showed the ability to play with her back to the basket as well as facing the hoop last season.
Robyn Benton, who had seven double-figure scoring games last season, is also back for the Cats. She averaged 6.6 points per game last year.
Blair Green also returns for this year’s Cats. She scored 6.0 points per game last year, including back-to-back big games where she scored 22 against Vanderbilt and 18 against Auburn.
Point guard Jazmine Massengill is back to run the offense for UK this season. She had 62 assists in just 19 games last season, while averaging 5.1 points per outing.
All of these players will be expected to contribute this season. Howard is confident in their abilities to do so.
“I’m a very unselfish player, so I’m going to find them,” Howard said. “I know they can knock the shots down.”
After a tough year of dealing with COVID-19 and all of the necessary restrictions last season, Howard thinks the team is in a better state of mind for the 2021-22 campaign.
“It definitely feels a little bit more relaxed,” Howard said. “I think everyone is more comfortable. We all get along so well, there’s nothing to worry about.”
While Howard may garner most of the attention on this year’s Kentucky team, the fate of the Cats will likely be determined by the other players on the floor. Howard and her teammates are confident that they are prepared to meet that challenge.
