University of Minnesota Athletics
2006-07 Golden Gopher Season Preview
10/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Golden Gophers are a team on a mission. The 2006-07 edition of the Minnesota women’s basketball program is a work in progress, but without a doubt, these Gophers have a goal in mind. The last five seasons have provided this program, the University and the entire state of Minnesota a plethora of thrilling, memorable moments. These Gophers not only want to continue their tradition of success, they expect to, and their work ethic, firm belief and team chemistry have solidified its foundation. When this season’s Gophers take to the court, eight of them for the very first time donning the Maroon and Gold, expect one thing – expect a feeling of pride in these young student-athletes.
Before the jump shots, the defensive drills, the hours in the weight room and even preseason workouts, the Gophers’ program is built around a pledge, a mission statement, if you will. Call it a creed. Think of it as a promise. It is the cornerstone of Golden Gopher women’s basketball.
The Gophers’ mission statement is as follows, “The University of Minnesota women’s basketball program is committed to both athletic excellence and academic achievement. We will strive to develop a nationally competitive program with student-athletes that conduct themselves like champions on and off the court. We expect our student-athletes to represent themselves as leaders in the classroom, on the court, and in the community. We are committed to helping develop our student-athletes into the best students, athletes and people they can be. We will do this while also sharing with our fans, community and alumni not only our talent on the court, but also our time and appreciation for their support of our program. We will pursue this mission with the resolve and integrity fitting the champions we aspire to become and the type of representation the people of Minnesota deserve.”
One of Minnesota’s own, Kelly Roysland of Fosston, is the Gophers’ only senior this season. She is also the team captain and has taken extreme pride in making this team her own. She’s a proud, hard-working and trustworthy role model, who leads not only in words but by her actions as well.
Roysland, who is Minnesota’s top returning scorer at 8.9 points per game, 11.9 when she was in the starting lineup, has adapted well to her new leadership role this season. The 5-9 guard spearheaded a summer workout program for her teammates, including most of the incoming rookie class. The results have been apparent early on. Roysland’s efforts have been rewarded with a tight-knit group of Gophers.
“Kelly’s leadership starting even over the summer has been priceless,” said Borton. “She has led by example off the court and that leadership will carry over on to the court.”
Roysland started nine games a year ago and played her best basketball late in the season, showcasing her talents with a career-high 23 points in the NCAA Tournament game versus Washington. Roysland is a versatile offensive player, who can drive to the basket, pull up for a jump shot or fire from long range. In fact, Roysland led the Big Ten in shooting percentage from three-point range during conference play hitting on an impressive 51.2 percent from behind the arc.
“She played her best basketball at the end of last season and we expect she’ll carry that over to this year,” added Borton. “She played with confidence in her role as a scorer last season.”
Look for Roysland to play the majority of her minutes at the shooting guard position, after splitting time with the small forward position in years past. Roysland, as well as the entire Gopher team will benefit from the play-making talents of Gopher point guard Emily Fox.
Fox, a world record holder in sport stacking with her feat listed in the Guinness Book of World Records, brings a high-octane brand of basketball to the court that Gopher fans quickly learned to appreciate last season. Fox not only brings a reliable playmaker to the Gophers’ offense, she is also a great scorer, making her a threat to pass or score. Most of all, she has that desirable quality of making the players around her better.
“Emmy is an electrifying point guard and an exciting player overall,” said Borton. “She’s going to be able to direct a team playing an up-tempo game. I think last year everyone got a glimpse of what Emmy is going to mean to this team and program.”
After sharing minutes with a backcourt loaded with seniors last season, Fox is expected to see plenty of court time to show off her talents. In the seven games a year ago that she played over 15 minutes, Fox averaged 5.9 points and 3.0 assists. Perhaps the best game of her rookie season came against nationally ranked Michigan State, where she tallied 13 points, six rebounds and three assists playing against one of the most veteran backcourts in the Big Ten.
With the point guard and shooting guard starting positions virtually locked up with Fox and Roysland, the third spot on the perimeter – the small forward slot – is a position there for the taking. Likely candidates are redshirt freshman Katie Ohm and true freshmen Korinne Campbell, Breanna Salley and Brittany McCoy.
Gopher fans have had to wait a year for the highly anticipated collegiate debut of Ohm, the all-time scoring leader in Minnesota high school basketball history with 3,694 at Elgin-Millville High School. A stress fracture in her foot made a redshirt season necessary, and Ohm now comes into her freshman campaign stronger and with a much better understanding of what it takes to be successful at the collegiate level. Borton has watched, noting that Ohm has become a solid all-around player.
“Katie is a proven scorer. She’ll be a great shooter and just an all-around solid player for us,” said Borton. “She’s healthy and she’s been very focused.”
Campbell, Salley and McCoy are members of a large true freshman class that Borton and her coaching staff recruited with emphasis on securing size, length, speed and athleticism to the Gopher perimeter.
Campbell is a highly touted recruit from Notre Dame High School in New Jersey. At 6-0, Campbell has the size to play inside and out at the small forward. Borton calls her, “an exceptional athlete.” How that translates on the court begins with defense and rebounding, but in Campbell’s case, also extends to her offensive game where she has the ability to get to the rim.
Salley is another of the growing lineage of Minnesota’s top instate talent who stay home and join the Golden Gopher program. The St. Francis graduate is a mentally tough competitor ready to test her wares at the next level. She will contend for playing time at the small forward position.
Brittany McCoy and Jordan Barnes add more than depth to the Gopher backcourt. Barnes is a junior, who played one semester of Division I ball at Winthrop University, but has attended Minnesota for the last two years. Barnes will compete at the shooting guard position. For years, Gopher fans have become accustomed to a player who displayed an uncanny tenacity on the defensive end of the floor. Barnes, bolstered by an endless work ethic, is that type of player.
“Jordan has been an unbelievable addition to our program with her work ethic, her expectations, her values and her leadership,” Borton added. “It feels like Jordan has been with us for a couple of years.”
McCoy is one of the most versatile players on the Gopher roster with the potential to impact the lineup at any of the three perimeter spots. Perhaps her most valuable asset will be her ballhandling, making her a natural fit at any guard position. The prospect of having McCoy and Fox on the court at the same time is an intriguing, play-making combination.
The Minnesota frontcourt may be inexperienced, but the Gophers have talent and potential in their candidates.
The only veteran of the group is junior Leslie Knight. Knight has returned to her natural power forward position after training at the small forward spot in her first two seasons in a Gopher uniform. A successful summer stint playing abroad with the Big Ten Foreign All-Stars, where she averaged 7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds a game, has provided Knight with a solid dose of confidence heading into her junior campaign.
“Leslie’s work ethic and conditioning is outstanding,” said Borton. “She returned this fall in great shape, extremely focused and excited to return to her natural position. She has always put the team first.”
Ashley Ellis-Milan will be a major player in the mix on the Gophers’ low post. Ellis-Milan, the niece of Gopher Hall of Famer Linda Roberts, suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the first official practice a year ago but has worked hard to be ready to contribute this season. Ellis-Milan has the ability to play at either the strong forward or center position. She is a great rebounder, a talent the Gophers will need to take full advantage of.
“Ashley’s an energy player,” stated Borton. “She’s passionate about everything she does. Ashley has worked very hard over the summer, and I am excited about getting her back on the floor.”
Completing Minnesota’s frontcourt are two freshmen international student-athletes, the first from their respective nations to play for the Golden Gophers. Canadian Tanisha Smith is a power forward with excellent instincts and athleticism. She reminds the coaching staff of another international player from a Gopher squad not too long ago – Kadidja Andersson.
Australian native Zoe Harper will look to make her presence known in the low post at the center position. Harper at 6-3 has the size and power to hold her own in the rugged paint play of the Big Ten.
While the Minnesota fans get to know their new Golden Gophers, they will also see a more up-tempo playing style than they have seen in past years. “We now have the personnel to play a more up-tempo style. As a coach, you put your kids into a system where they can be the most successful and we now have the ability to do that.”
What will remain a constant, however, is the Gophers’ emphasis on defense and Borton’s defensive philosophy. “Oh, no,” exclaims Borton when asked if up-tempo would change her defense-first philosophy. “Defense still wins championships. Defense is the only thing you can hang your hat on every single night. Your offense or shooting percentage may be off on any given night. You need to have consistency with your defense.”
Several new faces, an up-tempo style, the same trademark defensive tenacity…it still all comes down to the mission. The Gophers refuse to lose their grasp on the rope that the mission provides.
“We have a great group,” Borton concludes. “We have individuals who have a great work ethic, play with heart and passion, play for each other and put the team first. That is all you can ever ask as a coach.”
