University of Minnesota Athletics
Storylines for the Season
11/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Clippings:
Gopher women's team's toughest task: replacing Amanda Zahui B. (Pioneer Press)
Banham back to full strength (Pioneer Press)
Banham's return buoys Gophers' lineup revisions (Star Tribune)
The Golden Gopher women's basketball team brings back four players who started at least 10 games last year. The highly-decorated Rachel Banham returns for a fifth season, 107 points from a new Minnesota career scoring record, after an injury-shortened 2014-15 campaign. Seniors Mikayla Bailey (65 3-pointers) and Shayne Mullaney (7.5 assists per game) and sophomore Carlie Wagner (12.1 points per game) all started 28 or more games last year.
\With an experienced corps of guards, including transfer Allina Starr, who will be eligible to play after the fall semester ends, one of the Gophers' biggest questions is who will play in the frontcourt. Several newcomers look to fill the spots left open by All-Big Ten departures Shae Kelley (graduation) and Amanda Zahui B. (WNBA Draft). Head coach Marlene Stollings said nine days away from the season opener that the center position is still up for grabs.
"We're okay with that," she said. "We wouldn't mind if that competition continues even throughout the season.
"Any number of them could earn that spot. That (competition is) something we didn't really have last year at that position, because Amanda is clearly so talented."
Australian transfer Jessie Edwards, Canadian freshman Danielle Garven and Wisconsinite freshman Annalese Lamke are some of the current candidates Stollings named. Lamke is adjusting to a guard-centric team, and to a new level of basketball.
"Going from being the tallest and biggest player to now being in the mix with everyone is just a huge difference," she said. "My role has changed a lot from high school to college, but I'm willing to take that role."
Sophomore Josie Buckingham and two currently injured newcomers, Karley Barnes and Kynadi Johnson, will also look to have an impact in the frontcourt. Barnes, a highly-rated junior college transfer, is recovering from ACL surgery.
"I can't wait to get on the floor and go to work with my favorite team," she said. "All the returning players have had a great impact on me, so I know what they expect from me when I get on the court."
Stollings said she does not expect any one player to replace Zahui B. or Kelley's production. Rather, she wants guards to help take on some of those responsibilities. Wagner said there has been extra emphasis on rebounding and box-out drills in practice.
"The guards are going to have to step up this year," she said.
Stollings anticipates using a four-guard lineup frequently this season. This setup will not only allow for the fast pace of play Stollings loves to implement, but it will also bring out more creativity in Banham's game.
"We have the versatility with Rachel to play her at any number of positions, 1 through 4," Stollings said. "I think an exciting part of that is, from a defensive standpoint of our opponents, it makes it a little bit more difficult to match up with that much versatility on the perimeter."
All eyes will be on Banham as she nears the school scoring record and likely collects more conference and national accolades. But the influx of newcomers, the overall strength of the guards and the challenge of replacing the frontcourt will give Gopher fans additional compelling stories to follow this season.
The excitement is building...Thank you to our local media for a B1G turnout today! #HomeOpener #Nov13 #TheComeback pic.twitter.com/U6YLykCBQz
- Marlene (@Stollings) November 6, 2015
