Huskers to Feature Fresh Faces in 2007-08

As Connie Yori addressed the room of reporters at the Big 12 Women's Basketball Media Day at the Marriott Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, she made it crystal clear the challenges the Nebraska women's basketball team faces in 2007-08.

"We return just one player who has ever started a game at Nebraska," the sixth-year Husker head coach said. "We have one senior in our program. We have one returning junior. We're extremely inexperienced. We haven't been through the wars of the Big 12 yet and the battles of some of the non-conference opponents we're going to see."

Despite the Huskers' inexperience, Yori is more than a little optimistic about the chances of her young team in 2007-08. Nebraska, which is coming off one of the best seasons in school history after finishing with a 22-10 record and a trip to the 2007 NCAA Tournament, is still clearly in the hunt for its fifth consecutive postseason tournament bid.

Although the Huskers have five freshmen, five sophomores and one junior college transfer to go along with All-Big 12 junior forward Kelsey Griffin and senior forward Danielle Page, they were still the preseason pick to finish seventh in the always-loaded Big 12 Conference race.

"In most leagues, being a preseason seventh-place pick means you're in for a long year," Yori said. "In the Big 12 it means your fellow coaches expect you to be in the thick of the race and in the hunt for an NCAA Tournament bid. I like this team because I think we're talented and we work hard. They always say there's no substitute for experience, but we're going to have to find a substitute. We're going to have to work harder than other teams, and we're going to have to have chemistry."

The Huskers completed their first official week of practice on Thursday morning at the Devaney Center, and the coaching staff seems excited about the progress the young team has been making.

"We are getting better every day. We still have a lot of ground to cover and a lot of catching up to do, but our players have been out here every morning at 6 a.m. focused on improving and they are doing it," Yori said. "I think we have a chance to be a much better defensive team than we were a year ago, and it all starts with defense, so we are pretty excited about the future here at Nebraska."

Putting the "Big" in Big Red

Along with being improved on the defensive end, the Huskers also expect to featured one of the league's best interior games. In fact, you might say the Huskers hope to put the "big" in Big Red this season.

The Cornhuskers will return one of the most potent low-post games in the Big 12 Conference in 2007-08, anchored by the return of first-team All-Big 12 forward Kelsey Griffin.

The 6-2 junior forward from Eagle River, Alaska, is the third-leading returning scorer in the Big 12 this season, trailing only National Player of the Year Courtney Paris at Oklahoma and Colorado senior Jackie McFarland.

Griffin averaged 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for the Huskers as a sophomore in 2006-07, when she helped carry Nebraska to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2000.

"Kelsey has been a warrior for us inside her first two years," Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said. "She has a tremendous attitude and work ethic, and we will count on her to lead by example on and off the court."

While Griffin will be looked to for leadership as a junior this season, she will not be alone in providing a big presence for the Huskers on the block.

Senior Danielle Page could provide big minutes down low for the Huskers in her final season.

The 6-2 forward from Monument, Colo., is hoping to earn her first starting job in the NU lineup after providing strong minutes in 96 games off the bench during her first three seasons in Lincoln.

Page enjoyed her best season by averaging 7.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game to go along with a Nebraska junior record 60 blocked shots.

Page, who has climbed to the No. 2 spot on Nebraska's career block chart with 129 in three seasons, appeared in all 32 games for the Huskers as a junior despite suffering an ACL tear that required surgery in late-June of 2006.

"Danielle is ready to be a leader on our team. She has overcome adversity and been a major contributor for us," Yori said. "We are expecting that Danielle will have a memorable senior season."

The Huskers will look to Griffin and Page to provide a sizable one-two punch inside, but those two players form just the beginning of Nebraska's size and experience in the post in 2007-08.

Forward Cory Montgomery showed flashes of explosiveness during a solid freshman campaign. The 6-2 sophomore from Cannon Falls, Minn., averaged 5.3 points and 2.2 rebounds per game as the only NU freshman to appear in all 32 contests.

Montgomery's rookie season included an 18-point outburst against Texas-Pan American and a 16-point, eight-rebound effort in a run past Nicholls State. She added 16 points and five boards in the season-opening weekend against Florida Atlantic and a 15-point performance in the Huskers' home-opening victory over Cal State Fullerton.

Montgomery has enjoyed a strong offseason and spent extensive time improving her strength, conditioning and skill levels.

Montgomery continued to build momentum into the start of fall practice and could battle for a spot in the starting lineup to give the Huskers a formidable presence in the paint.

"With only one returning starter, we will be looking for Cory to provide us with some offensive punch this season, whether she is a starter or coming off the bench," Yori said. "Cory runs the floor extremely hard, can score on the low block, shoot the three, block shots and rebound. She had a pretty solid freshman season and a good offseason."

Another sophomore adds even more size to the mix for the Huskers. Nikki Bober, a 6-4 center from Murdock, Neb., is a true post player who gives Nebraska the ability to provide the opposition with different looks on the block.

Bober is a throw-back center who can use her size to her advantage. Like Montgomery, Bober enjoyed a strong offseason and is poised to see more playing time after appearing in nine games as a freshman.

Although Bober's playing time was limited as a freshman, primarily with the presence of four seniors who each started all 32 games in Nebraska's lineup during the 2006-07 campaign, she showed her effectiveness on several occasions.

"Nikki loves Nebraska basketball and she loves being a part of this team," Yori said. "She is a terrific teammate and she brings a great attitude to the court every day, which is allowing her to improve as a player. She had a great offseason and has made major improvement since last season."

Along with the quartet of experienced returning post players, the Huskers have the luxury of sprinkling in 6-4 center Jessica Periago and 6-3 forward Catheryn Redmon.

The two freshmen should add variety to an already potent post game. Redmon was ranked as the No. 14 post player in the nation coming out of high school last season and brings an explosively athletic presence to the table.

"Catheryn is a very athletic post player who runs the floor extremely well for her size. She is a true low-post player who can defend, rebound and score on the low block. She has a huge upside."

Periago also brings impressive credentials to the Husker program, after earning a spot on the 2007 French Senior National Team.

"Jessica is very mobile and runs well. She also has long arms," Yori said. "She is skilled with the ball, especially away from the basket."

While Nebraska's six post players have experienced various degrees of success during their careers, they all bring one common element to the court - the ability to run the floor well.

Young Guards Bring Defensive Strengths

That strength should fit in well with the young and athletic nature of the Husker backcourt, which will offer NU fans a whole new look in 2007-08.

The Huskers will replace their entire starting backcourt from a team that went 22-10 overall and finished with a 10-6 record in the Big 12.

Gone is three-time first-team All-Big 12 guard Kiera Hardy, who closed her career as the No. 4 all-time leading scorer in school history. Hardy, who was also the Huskers' career three-point leader, was a third-round pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft.

Jelena Spiric, the 2005 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, also graduated and went on to a professional career in Turkey.

Lincoln native Ashley Ford also closed her Husker career after joining Hardy and Spiric in the starting lineup for all 32 games last season.

Sophomore guard Yvonne Turner returns as Nebraska's most experienced backcourt player.

The 2006 WBCA High School All-American out of Bellevue East in Omaha appeared in 28 games as a true freshman and averaged 2.3 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. Turner's playing time increased throughout the season, as she appeared in all 16 Big 12 Conference games, the Big 12 Tournament and the NCAA Tournament for the Huskers. She averaged 2.8 points per game in league competition.

Turner's length and athleticism allow her to guard big backcourt players while making life tough on smaller guards.

"Vonnie works hard on both ends of the court," Yori said. "She enjoys playing tenacious defense and is extremely good guarding the ball in the open court. Our style of play fits hand-in-hand with Vonnie's strengths. We are hoping she can make a major step in her second season in our program."

Fellow sophomores Kala Kuhlmann and Nicole Neals also contributed to Nebraska's lineup as freshmen and will be looking to make larger contributions in their second seasons.

Several newcomers could also see immediate playing time in the Husker backcourt.

Tay Hester, who comes to Nebraska after earning MVP honors at the 2007 California State Junior College Tournament, averaged 12 points, six rebounds and 1.5 steals for Mt. San Antonio College in 2006-07.

Hester, a graduate of Perris High School in Moreno Valley, Calif., attended UTEP as a freshman in 2005-06. She averaged 4.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game for the Miners before transferring.

"Tay is a great rebounder and an outstanding slasher," Yori said. "She played on a very good junior college team that was well-coached and played with great discipline, which we also expect will help her make the transition to Big 12 basketball."

Another leading contender for starting time in the Husker backcourt is true freshman Dominique Kelley. The 5-7 guard from Lincoln Northeast High School was an honorable-mention WBCA and McDonald's All-American as the Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year. Kelley averaged 24.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.0 assists as a senior for the Rockets.

"Dominique is going to bring energy to the court each and every possession," Yori said. "She also has great leadership skills for a young player."

Another rookie guard with leadership potential is Kaitlyn Burke. The only true point guard on the Husker roster, Burke is one of the top young players coming out of Canada. The 5-7 native of North Vancouver, British Columbia, was a starter on the Canadian Junior National Team at the FIBA Under-19 World Championships this summer and brings solid credentials to the court.

"Kaitlyn has played at a high level in the Canadian Junior National program, where their offensive and defensive systems are similar to ours," Yori said. "She is going to bring a maturity and experience to our team that you might not expect from most freshmen."

Rounding out the rookies in the Husker backcourt is 5-10 freshman guard Monique Whittaker from Onalaska, Texas. Whittaker joined fellow Texan Catheryn Redmon as a participant in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-Star Game after earning all-state honors in 2007.

Whittaker averaged 20.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per game at Livingston High School near Houston.

"Monique's best basketball is ahead of her," Yori said. "She is a very hard worker who could fill a huge need for us at the three position."

Scintilating Schedule

Nebraska's youthful roster that contains a total of 10 freshmen and sophomores will be expected to grow up fast against one of the toughest schedules in school history.

The Huskers' non-conference schedule features traditional powers such as USC, Mississippi, Florida and Ohio State, along with 2007 NCAA Tournament teams Marist and Robert Morris. Two other Husker non-conference foes, UTEP and Denver, produced 20-win seasons a year ago, while Utah advanced to the postseason WNIT.

During the Big 12 season, the Huskers will invite defending Big 12 co-champions Texas A&M to town, along with 2007 NCAA Tournament teams Iowa State and Oklahoma State.

Nebraska's battle with the Cowgirls will be featured nationally on ESPN2, while the Huskers will also play a nationally televised home contest with Kansas on Jan. 12.

The Huskers open Big 12 play against traditional power Texas on Jan. 9, and will also host Kansas State, Missouri and Colorado at home. The Wildcats and Tigers advanced to postseason play in 2007.

Nebraska's first four conference road games will come against 2007 postseason clubs, including Big 12 co-champions Oklahoma, Iowa State and Baylor, before playing a nationally televised game at Missouri on FSN on Feb. 3. The Huskers wrap up road league play at Colorado, Kansas, Texas Tech and Kansas State, before heading to Kansas City, Mo., for the Big 12 Championship, March 11-15, at Municipal Auditorium.

Although Nebraska must replace 80 percent of its starting lineup from a year ago, NU's four 2006-07 senior starters only accounted for 47 percent of NU's scoring and just 38 percent of the Huskers' rebounding a year ago.

"We lost some great seniors who provided our school with one of the best seasons in our history," Yori said. "They helped us lay the foundation for our program, but we actually started transitioning into this season last year. I think this year's club has a lot of potential and we hope we are one of the surprise in the Big 12 this season."