On To Next Year

[BTownJack]

Here is an article from Terry in today's Argus. It summarizes their accomplishments through the transition period and gives a good outlook of next year. Really good article that is worth your time.

Rough start couldn't stop SDSU women
Injuries contributed to 6-5 start; Jacks lose only two seniors
Terry Vandrovec • tvandrovec@argusleader.com • March 27, 2008

Although recently removed from winning an NCAA Division II national title, the South Dakota State women's basketball program didn't know what to expect from the Division I reclassification process - only to emerge bearing great expectations.

The Jackrabbits went 88-29 during a four-year transition that, despite closing with a stinging home loss, included two WNIT bids, single-game and season attendance records and their first ever outright conference title. They also twice led the nation in team grade point average.

So much for the prevalent pre-jump concern about having nothing to play for.

"I'll be the first one to admit I didn't necessarily go into it saying we could win 20 games a year, we could go to two WNITs, we could win a Summit League championship; I really didn't," coach Aaron Johnston said. "We tried to figure out what our potential could be and I don't think we're there yet. We approached it as let's go out and play as many good teams as we can and see where we're at."

The simplest answer: In better shape than most. That became evident this season when the team won 23 regular-season games for the second year in a row even though little went as planned.

(read more)

[BTownJack]

Re: On To Next Year

More about Terry's article in his latest blog post:

Some follow-up thoughts that didn't make the SDSU women's basketball season wrap:

The Jacks shot exactly 43.1 percent from the field for the second year in a row. How's that for consistency? However, the club's defensive field-goal percentage jumped from 36.6 to 40.9 and its free-throw percentage dropped from 72.4 to 68.1. Keep in mind SDSU's largest margin of defeat was 10 points.

Four different players averaged at least 10 points per game this season, up from just one (Megan Vogel) in each of the previous two years. That foursome consists of a junior, two sophomores and a freshman. Also, 10 players averaged more than 14 minutes per game yet the team will have arguably more depth next year with just two graduations and four additions. SDSU figures to be maxed out on scholarship players at 15.

As of Thursday morning, the Jacks were No. 76 in the composite rankings. During the Division I transition, they played 24 of the 75 teams currently ranked ahead of them, going 11-16. (This year's encounters included single-digit losses at No. 24 George Washington and No. 25 Utah when shorthanded.) What's more impressive, the aggressiveness in scheduling or the success rate?

Freshman swing Kristin Rotert's thoughts on the season: Playing in front of large crowds is even more fun that she'd hoped, ....

(read more)

[22jack]

Re: On To Next Year

October 15th is just 6 1/2 months away.

[West-River_Jack]

Re: On To Next Year

October 15th is just 6 1/2 months away.

. . . and that includes a few weeks of football season which will fly by real fast!

[JackJD]

Re: On To Next Year

Time out! Don't go wishing my summer away! The women on the team need a break too!

(But, I do look forward to next year and the first chance at the post-season.)

[boxerboy]

Re: On To Next Year

Just some random thoughts as we look forward to next year. As disappointing as the loss to Creighton was I believe there is a silver lining. I actually believe it can be the motivating factor needed to become an even better team next year.
The womens team competed two years in the WNIT with varying degrees of success. Last year (06-07) with Megan Vogel things seem to be progressing very rapidly and the ladies experienced a great deal of success by eventually losing to the WNIT champ. This year on the other hand they had some adversity, no Vogel, injuries, new conference etc. All these things in many ways prepared them for the difficulty associated with Div I basketball. They then lose in the first round of the WNIT to a fine Creighton team. My point is they are learning what big time basketball is about. They will know next year that they will be the hunted in conference play. Yet if they're the team we all think they can be (with Jill Young and Vanessa Johnson and the other freshmen) with most players returning they have gained some invaluable experience especially during this last year of the transition.
I am glad they had a year to sort it out after the graduation of Megan Vogel. They now know they are a good team but also they now know they will need to take that next step to reach the level they need to be to compete in an NCAA tourny.
My hope for these girls next year is to win the conference, win one or two big non conference games and get a relatively low seed in the tourny (5-8 or so) then maybe we can see a win or two. I do not think they are athletic enough to compete in a Final Four, yet. However a Sweet Sixteen would be fantastic.

[MontanaRabbit]

Re: On To Next Year

Just some random thoughts as we look forward to next year. As disappointing as the loss to Creighton was I believe there is a silver lining. I actually believe it can be the motivating factor needed to become an even better team next year.
The womens team competed two years in the WNIT with varying degrees of success. Last year (06-07) with Megan Vogel things seem to be progressing very rapidly and the ladies experienced a great deal of success by eventually losing to the WNIT champ. This year on the other hand they had some adversity, no Vogel, injuries, new conference etc. All these things in many ways prepared them for the difficulty associated with Div I basketball. They then lose in the first round of the WNIT to a fine Creighton team. My point is they are learning what big time basketball is about. They will know next year that they will be the hunted in conference play. Yet if they're the team we all think they can be (with Jill Young and Vanessa Johnson and the other freshmen) with most players returning they have gained some invaluable experience especially during this last year of the transition.
I am glad they had a year to sort it out after the graduation of Megan Vogel. They now know they are a good team but also they now know they will need to take that next step to reach the level they need to be to compete in an NCAA tourny.
My hope for these girls next year is to win the conference, win one or two big non conference games and get a relatively low seed in the tourny (5-8 or so) then maybe we can see a win or two. I do not think they are athletic enough to compete in a Final Four, yet. However a Sweet Sixteen would be fantastic.

I think the Jacks could do very well in the NCAA Tournament. Can we consistently beat the top ten teams in the country.......no. But, I believe on a given night we could upset one which could help us make a run in the tournament. Look at George Mason and Davidson. They have both made runs in the NCAA tournament and I don't think anyone would say they are among the top ten teams in the country. When it's one and done....crazy things can and will happen.

[State_fan]

Re: On To Next Year

Just some random thoughts as we look forward to next year. As disappointing as the loss to Creighton was I believe there is a silver lining. I actually believe it can be the motivating factor needed to become an even better team next year.
The womens team competed two years in the WNIT with varying degrees of success. Last year (06-07) with Megan Vogel things seem to be progressing very rapidly and the ladies experienced a great deal of success by eventually losing to the WNIT champ. This year on the other hand they had some adversity, no Vogel, injuries, new conference etc. All these things in many ways prepared them for the difficulty associated with Div I basketball. They then lose in the first round of the WNIT to a fine Creighton team. My point is they are learning what big time basketball is about. They will know next year that they will be the hunted in conference play. Yet if they're the team we all think they can be (with Jill Young and Vanessa Johnson and the other freshmen) with most players returning they have gained some invaluable experience especially during this last year of the transition.
I am glad they had a year to sort it out after the graduation of Megan Vogel. They now know they are a good team but also they now know they will need to take that next step to reach the level they need to be to compete in an NCAA tourny.
My hope for these girls next year is to win the conference, win one or two big non conference games and get a relatively low seed in the tourny (5-8 or so) then maybe we can see a win or two. I do not think they are athletic enough to compete in a Final Four, yet. However a Sweet Sixteen would be fantastic.

Good post. I agree with everything you've said, and have been thinking a lot of the same things myself. Given our tournament ineligibility this season, it was an excellent year to make it through the situation with a new conference and overcoming the loss of Vogel. We handled the adversity from injuries quite well, allowing us to break in quality freshmen like Rotert, Michelson, and Schuttloffel. This year of ineligibility also gave Young the chance to really excel by redshirting and also not losing any potential tourney time in the future.

Looking forward to next year. Lost two good seniors, but we've got the ammunition to reload.

[SDHoops]

Re: On To Next Year

I think the Jacks could do very well in the NCAA Tournament. Can we consistently beat the top ten teams in the country.......no. But, I believe on a given night we could upset one which could help us make a run in the tournament. Look at George Mason and Davidson. They have both made runs in the NCAA tournament and I don't think anyone would say they are among the top ten teams in the country. When it's one and done....crazy things can and will happen.

Good points. Also, Oral Roberts stayed "close" with Tennessee for almost 30 minutes. When I say close, I mean like around the 10 point deficit margin. When a Tennessee and Oral Roberts meet, (1 vs. 16) people expect it to be a blowout from the get go yet it took Tennessee a while to get going. Wyoming women from the MWC hung close with Pitt also.

I also hope the Summit League will be better next season. You look at a team like IPFW and how they can help the conference RPI. They return three starters, their sixth man in O'Connell and a Big East transfer who will be eligible this fall.

[bigticket1]

Re: On To Next Year

Just some random thoughts as we look forward to next year. As disappointing as the loss to Creighton was I believe there is a silver lining. I actually believe it can be the motivating factor needed to become an even better team next year.
The womens team competed two years in the WNIT with varying degrees of success. Last year (06-07) with Megan Vogel things seem to be progressing very rapidly and the ladies experienced a great deal of success by eventually losing to the WNIT champ. This year on the other hand they had some adversity, no Vogel, injuries, new conference etc. All these things in many ways prepared them for the difficulty associated with Div I basketball. They then lose in the first round of the WNIT to a fine Creighton team. My point is they are learning what big time basketball is about. They will know next year that they will be the hunted in conference play. Yet if they're the team we all think they can be (with Jill Young and Vanessa Johnson and the other freshmen) with most players returning they have gained some invaluable experience especially during this last year of the transition.
I am glad they had a year to sort it out after the graduation of Megan Vogel. They now know they are a good team but also they now know they will need to take that next step to reach the level they need to be to compete in an NCAA tourny.
My hope for these girls next year is to win the conference, win one or two big non conference games and get a relatively low seed in the tourny (5-8 or so) then maybe we can see a win or two. I do not think they are athletic enough to compete in a Final Four, yet. However a Sweet Sixteen would be fantastic.

It will be extremely tough to get that high a seed.A team would have to be ranked in the top 30 to get an 8 seed or better.I don't think the Summit League has enough respect for the champion to get that high a seed,even with a number of quality non-conference wins.I would think an 11 or 12 seed would be a great accomplishment.

[boxerboy]

Re: On To Next Year

It will be extremely tough to get that high a seed.A team would have to be ranked in the top 30 to get an 8 seed or better.I don't think the Summit League has enough respect for the champion to get that high a seed,even with a number of quality non-conference wins.I would think an 11 or 12 seed would be a great accomplishment.

You may be right. That is why I put that I "hope". However let's take a look on the men's side. ORU was 23-9 they were 143 SOS and a 13 seed. My guess is that our strength of schedule will be similiar. Yet, what if we win a big non conference game in Cancun next season. What if we go undeafeated in conference play. What if we only lose say 2 or 3 games prior to the tournament. Then I believe we would have to be considered as a possible high seed (anything better than a 9). I am not saying it is going to happen or that it is probable. However, we only lost 2 conference games this year so it is possible, and not necessarily "extremly tough".

[packer_tattoo]

Re: On To Next Year

Creighton had one, USD has TWO...and we don't have any at all. What am I talking about? It's a B-I-G woman! We're a fast team, an accurate team and a GREAT team. It seems like that one component we don't have is a BIG butt in the paint. I wonder if Aaron is doing any recruiting in that "area".
That BIG butt that Creighton had was like having two players in the paint. In spite of losing in the National Championship game (snicker), USD had a couple too that were pretty valuable.
I hope I don't get beat up here for asking this question, but it's just a thought.

[West-River_Jack]

Re: On To Next Year

Creighton had one, USD has TWO...and we don't have any at all. What am I talking about? It's a B-I-G woman! We're a fast team, an accurate team and a GREAT team. It seems like that one component we don't have is a BIG butt in the paint. I wonder if Aaron is doing any recruiting in that "area".
That BIG butt that Creighton had was like having two players in the paint. In spite of losing in the National Championship game (snicker), USD had a couple too that were pretty valuable.
I hope I don't get beat up here for asking this question, but it's just a thought.

Yeah, butt IUPUI had one too (see her at http://www.iupuijags.com/index.aspx?path=wbball where there are a couple of pix of her in the slide show) and it didn’t do a lot for them against the Jacks. It has to be the right player and one that can integrate into both the offensive and defensive plan.

[jackmd]

Re: On To Next Year

Creighton had one, USD has TWO...and we don't have any at all. What am I talking about? It's a B-I-G woman! We're a fast team, an accurate team and a GREAT team. It seems like that one component we don't have is a BIG butt in the paint. I wonder if Aaron is doing any recruiting in that "area".
That BIG butt that Creighton had was like having two players in the paint. In spite of losing in the National Championship game (snicker), USD had a couple too that were pretty valuable.
I hope I don't get beat up here for asking this question, but it's just a thought.

Our frontcourt players would go around USD's "big butts", as you call them, in a flash. The girl inside for Creighton did a nice job shutting down Jen and Maria in the first half but we adjusted. Creighton made big shots the whole second half. Often times those big shots were 3's with under 5 seconds on the shot clock. A "big butt" in the paint wasn't going to make a lick of difference. Interesting thought however.

[bigticket1]

Re: On To Next Year

Creighton had one, USD has TWO...and we don't have any at all. What am I talking about? It's a B-I-G woman! We're a fast team, an accurate team and a GREAT team. It seems like that one component we don't have is a BIG butt in the paint. I wonder if Aaron is doing any recruiting in that "area".
That BIG butt that Creighton had was like having two players in the paint. In spite of losing in the National Championship game (snicker), USD had a couple too that were pretty valuable.
I hope I don't get beat up here for asking this question, but it's just a thought.

I would rather have posts like Maria that are in the 6 foot to 6'3 range with really good speed and quickness than a lumbering 6'6 post.I think the fact that Creighton's starting guards outscored ours 48-0 had way more effect than anything that happened in the post.Now if we could get a big player like those at Tenn.or UConn,that would be a different story,but I'm not sure we are ready to win those recruiting battles quite yet.