Like the old adage says, you have to crawl before you can walk.
The 2008-09 basketball season was testament to the truth in these words for the Missouri State Lady Bears. Despite returning just one starter from the previous year and relying on a rotation that included six freshmen, MSU served notice that the future is most definitely bright for head coach Nyla Milleson's program. On the other hand, going up against one of the most-difficult schedules in school history coupled with the inexperience and inconsistencies that go hand-in-hand with the learning process resulted in an up-and-down 10-20 campaign for the young Lady Bears and their second-year mentor.
"All you have to do is look at the numbers to see that it certainly bodes well for our future," Milleson says. "When you're in a rebuilding process you have to take small steps."
Those numbers include 68.0 (the percentage of MSU's offense accounted for by freshmen) and 476 (the total number of points scored by the nation's top true freshman scorer, Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year Casey Garrison). Further evidence of the building process and baby steps taken in 2008-09 can be seen in a negative number (-6.3). That's the net change in average points per game given up by the Lady Bear defense compared to the previous season. MSU also led the league by averaging 9.4 steals per game, its best mark in six seasons.
It's figures like these, as well as the promise of a talented crop of newcomers and the continued maturation of several key veterans that have Milleson and her staff confident that this year's Lady Bear squad is poised to not only walk, but sprint back into contention for the MVC's top spot.
"A lot of people will still look at us as a youthful team," Milleson continues. "Obviously, 10 of our 13 players are going to be freshmen or sophomores. But at the same time, we picked up invaluable experience last year, gaining an incredible amount of playing time in big-game situations. So, I feel the term 'experienced youth' is more fitting."
One area in which Milleson sees marked improvement that should pay dividends immediately is strength and conditioning.
"We've upped our performance in the weight room and in conditioning, areas I've felt were not real strong points for us at times over the last two years. We're quicker, faster and stronger than we were a year ago, no doubt about it."
Another improvement for the Lady Bears is the boost in depth at nearly every position on the floor, which has come in handy during the preseason following a rash of knee injuries over the summer months.
The schedule, which includes a number of postseason qualifiers, as well as the always-deep MVC pool, will also present a sizable challenge for Missouri State.
But again, Milleson thinks her club is up for the task.
"Despite the injuries, we've had a pretty good summer," she states. "We're going to have to find a way to get through them for the next few months, but I think we're going to have more mental stability and toughness to overcome those obstacles than we've had in the past."
The Backcourt
There's no debate about the fact that the Missouri State offense flows through Garrison, a first-team All-MVC selection as a freshman. The Bolivar, Mo., product was a four-time MVC Newcomer of the Week honoree and became the first Lady Bear freshman to lead MSU in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocked shots over a complete season. Garrison completed the 2008-09 campaign as the school's second-leading freshman scorer (476 points/15.9 ppg.) and third-leading freshman shot-blocker (22), while also ranking among MSU's all-time rookie leaders in assists (91), steals (63) and rebounds (184). She led MSU in scoring 20 times, assists 16 times, steals 13 times and rebounds 12 times over the course of the season.
"It's got to start with Casey Garrison," Milleson says. "She had one of the best years in Lady Bear history (last year), and that says a lot, because there have been a lot of good ones come through here. I think she is, without question, the leader of this team, but I also feel good about her supporting cast."
One of Garrison's cast mates, Jaleshia Roberson, also enjoyed an all-conference caliber year as a freshman last season. The Grandview, Mo., native was an MVC All-Freshman Team pick after recording the second-highest scoring and assist totals on the club during the regular season. Roberson completed her freshman year with an 8.4 ppg. average, as well as a 2.3 assist per game mark. She led the club in scoring five times, posted the top steal total nine times and the highest assist total on eight occasions.
Sophomore Jasmine Malone also posted a solid debut season in Maroon and White in 2008-09. Malone started 28 of 30 games, contributed solid debut season in Maroon and White in 2008-09. Malone started 28 of 30 games, contributed 7.0 points per game and, more importantly, was MSU's defensive MVP. The 5-11 San Antonio product was second on the team in blocks (18), while ranking eighth in the MVC in steals (1.6 spg.).
Senior three-point specialist Melissa Busby is healthy for the first time since her freshman year and the 6-1 Oklahoma native should help stretch opposing defenses while also bolstering the Lady Bears' efforts on the boards. Busby's 98 career triples ranks 10th all-time at MSU.
Another returner, sophomore Morgan Harrington, gives Milleson stability at the point after leading the club with a 1.1 assist-turnover ratio as a freshman.
A pair of newcomers are also expected to play impact roles for the Lady Bears on the perimeter.
Junior Kendra Roberts will have to wait until at least January to make her Missouri State debut after sustaining a torn ACL in July, but the Milleson expects big things from the Arkansas transfer once she sees the floor. Freshman Whitney Edie won't have to wait to make her mark. The 6-1 Exeter, Mo., product brings a diverse tool set to the
MSU lineup, including the ability to shoot from long range, handle the ball on the perimeter and use her size to gain an advantage on the blocks.
The Post
Size was a liability for the Lady Bears in 2008-09, with just one returning interior player on the roster entering the season and another who spent the majority of her career on the perimeter. Not anymore, Milleson contends.
"Our post play is definitely going to be greatly improved," she projects. "It's been an area we've needed not only greater size, but depth and experience as well."
Milleson's 2009 recruiting class addressed those needs, bringing four players measuring 6-1 or better into the Lady Bear fold.
Among MSU's three returners, sophomore Lacey Boshe is back after surprising many with a solid rookie campaign in which she averaged over eight points and four rebounds per outing. In many ways, Boshe was MSU's most-consistent performer as an undersized post and she should benefit the most on an individual level from the Lady Bears influx of size and depth inside.
Junior Jacque Griggs also enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2008-09, more than doubling her scoring average to 6.1 ppg. The Kansas City native also showed marked improvement shooting the basketball, hiking her field goal percentage to .458 (from .318, as a freshman). She was also one of MSU's most dependable free throw shooters, hitting on 78.2 percent of her tries.
Sophomore Regan Soldner gave Milleson quality minutes off the bench a year ago, playing key roles with her rebounding, defense and all-out effort in several critical home wins. This year, she'll be vying for time with newcomers Christiana Shorter, Kelsey Smith and Aly Stock. An athletic 6-1, Shorter is versatile enough to step out on the floor and play several different spots for Milleson, while Smith (at 6-2) and Stock (6-4) immediately give the Lady Bears a legitimate low post presence that they've been missing. Additionally, Milleson holds the option of using Edie inside as well, depending on match-ups and depth on a given night.
The Schedule
Once again, the Lady Bears will be challenged by a difficult schedule that includes five non-conference home dates and 14 contests in all at JQH Arena.
Missouri State will kick off the 2009-10 season with a formidable non-conference slate that includes nine regular-season contests against clubs that earned postseason bids last year. The Lady Bears will play a total of three games against a pair of NCAA Tournament qualifiers, as well as six games against teams that earned WNIT bids in 2009.
After exhibition games against Missouri Western (Nov. 1) and Arkansas Tech (Nov. 7), the Lady Bears will open their 41st season with a trio of home dates, beginning with a Nov. 14 match-up with Big East power Georgetown at JQH Arena. Coached by former Lady Bear assistant Terri Williams-Flournoy, the Hoyas are coming off a 20-14 campaign that ended in the quarterfinal round of the postseason WNIT. Next, MSU will take on Saint Louis (Nov. 18) before concluding the home stand against Southeast Missouri State (Nov. 21).
The Lady Bears embark on a two-game road trip over Thanksgiving weekend, meeting Arkansas State (Nov. 27) in Jonesboro, then traveling to Ypsilanti, Mich., where they will square off against Eastern Michigan (Nov. 29) for the first time in program history.
Missouri State will wrap up the road trip and begin the month of December with their appearance in the Commerce Bank Wildcat Classic (Dec. 4-5) in Manhattan, Kan. A solid UTEP squad that went 18-12 in 2008-09 awaits the Lady Bears in their tourney opener, followed by a match-up with either host Kansas State or Grambling. Last year, KSU was a solid 25-8 in the ever-difficult Big 12 to earn its seventh NCAA tourney bid under head coach Deb Patterson and its sixth in the last eight seasons.
Next, MSU will welcome Tulsa to JQH Arena for the first time on Dec. 8, marking the sixth consecutive season the two schools will have met. Murray State, the reigning Ohio Valley Conference champions, will come to Springfield on Dec. 16 to close the home portion of the non-conference season. The Racers are coming off a 23-9 season and WNIT appearance, their third straight postseason entry.
To put the finishing touches on the non-conference season, the Lady Bears will venture back onto the road for a pair of contests. Missouri State will continue its series with Oral Roberts with a Dec. 19 game at Mabee Center in Tulsa, Okla. Finally, MSU will renew its series with SIU Edwardsville (Dec. 22) after a 26-year hiatus.
"We've got a good mix of non-conference opponents," Milleson says. "Our home opener against Georgetown will be a good challenge, and the K-State tournament will be a great experience for our kids. We've got some strong regional rivalries with Saint Louis, Arkansas State, Tulsa, Oral Roberts and SEMO, as well as a couple of quality opponents that we haven't seen before in UTEP and Eastern Michigan. We're just excited to get the year underway and hopefully build on the experience of last season."
The Lady Bears will kick off their 18th season in the Valley with home games against Bradley (Dec. 31) and UNI (Jan. 2), before hitting the road to take on a pair of clubs in Creighton (Jan. 7) and Drake (Jan. 9) that are expected to compete for the league's top spot.MSU returns to Springfield to entertain Illinois State (Jan. 16), Indiana State (Jan. 18) and Wichita State (Jan. 23), then wraps up the first half of the conference slate with a two-game road swing through Evansville (Jan. 28) and Southern Illinois (Jan. 30).
MSU returns home to host Creighton (Feb. 4) and Drake (Feb. 6) and follows that up with its longest road stretch of the conference season. The Lady Bears will take on Indiana State (Feb. 11) and Illinois State (Feb. 13) to kick off the trip, then head to Wichita State on Feb. 21. Evansville (Feb. 26) and Southern Illinois (Feb. 28) will pay JQH Arena a visit the following weekend to close out the home portion of the schedule before MSU closes out the regular season with games against Bradley (March 4) in Peoria and UNI (March 6) in Cedar Falls.
For the third consecutive year, the State Farm MVC Tournament will be played at a neutral site. The 10-team tournament will once again be held at The Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo., beginning Thursday, March 11, and concluding with the championship game on Sunday, March 14.
The 2009-10 basketball season will conclude with the NCAA Women's Final Four in San Antonio, April 4-6, at the Alamodome.
The Valley Race
The Missouri Valley Conference race figures to be wide open in 2009-10, with each of the top seven regular-season finishers from a year ago returning at least three starters.
"The league is going to be talented again," Milleson says. "It was junior heavy last year, so a number of teams are going to have a lot of experience, a lot of senior leaders."
While two-time defending champion
Illinois State lost the key cog in its machine with the graduation of three-time league MVP Kristi Cirone, the Redbirds bring back four starters and should once again enter the preseason as a favorite. Leading the way for Robin Pingeton's club will be a trio of seniors who have formed the foundation for ISU's recent successes. Guard Maggie Krick, averaged better than 12 points per game in 2008-09 en route to earning her second straight all-conference nod. Fifth-year center Nicolle Lewis will return for her final season, already the Redbirds' career blocks leader. Forward Ashleen Bracey just over nine points and six boards per outing last season and forms a solid one-two punch with Lewis on the blocks.
"Illinois State returns everybody but Cirone, and I know that's a big piece of the puzzle," Milleson adds, "but they've had a tremendous amount of success."
Another club the Lady Bears should expect to see near the top of the Valley standings is Creighton. The Bluejays were beset by injuries last year, yet still managed to pile up 22 wins and came within a last-second shot of possibly capturing the MVC tourney title and automatic NCAA Tournament bid. Like Illinois State, CU also returns four starters, led by arguably the league's top all-around player in Megan Neuvirth. The 5-11 senior was a first-team all-conference pick and the MVC's Defensive Player of the Year in 2008-09. She should get plenty of support from senior guard Chevelle Herring and junior guard Kelsey Woodard, who each averaged around 13 points per outing.
"I'm not sure you don't have to start with Creighton," Milleson continues. "What they got accomplished with a very short bench last year was remarkable and I expect them to be even better this year."
Drake and Bradley, the MVC's third- and fourth-place finishers last year, respectively, also return strong lineups and will look to unseat the top dogs.
"Bradley returns everybody but (Monica) Rogers and (Skye) Johnson, and Drake gets nearly everybody back," Milleson observes. "So there's your top four teams from last year and they, for the most part, all lose only one or two players."
Two of the conference's youngest squads in 2008-09, UNI and Indiana State, surprised many with their middle-of-the-pack finishes last year. Both return more experienced and hungry teams looking to move up further in the league standings in 2009-10.
Reigning MVC Tournament champion Evansville caught fire at the right time, reeling off four straight wins in March to claim an improbable NCAA bid. The Purple Aces will once again be a factor despite returning only two starters and six letter winners.
New faces will also be plentiful at Southern Illinois and Wichita State. The Salukis welcome a new coach (Missy Tiber) and seven newcomers, while the Shockers return just three veterans from last year's squad.
"If you look at what we did in the conference last year, other than a game or two, we were in nearly every game, both home and on the road with a very, very young team," says Milleson.
"With the experience we gained, we hope we can climb into that top part of the conference. It's not going to be easy, though."
