KB?s Newest Handle: One Tough Competitor

Huskers Run Past Buckeyes into Big Ten Title Game

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By Randy York

Kaitlyn Burke is such a multi-faceted person, her basketball reputation has never caught up with everything else she is … smart because she’s a regular academic all-conference selection … leader because she’s the President of Nebraska’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee … respected because she’s one of two Big Ten women’s basketball players among the 30 national candidates for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award … talented because she’s a former child actress who has appeared in movies and TV shows … sharp because she can dress for success with the best, sports-wise, business-wise and otherwise … reliable because she ranks second all-time at Nebraska in games played … and dangerous because she also ranks among the top five Huskers of all-time in three-pointers made.

KB is the name Nebraska coaches, players, staffers and a growing number of fans use to describe Kaitlyn Burke. It’s a term of endearment, and after Nebraska’s 77-62 Saturday night win over Ohio State in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament, the world can add another two-word description to KB’s constantly building resume … tough competitor … tough because she stepped up when the pressure was highest and her team needed her most … and competitor because she must have taken it personally when Ohio State, one of the league’s two most talented teams, chose to ignore her offensive capabilities.

In her post-game radio show on the Husker Sports Network, NU Head Coach Connie Yori said, in effect, that in losing to Nebraska a second time in seven days, the Buckeyes chose to guard her team’s top three players, leaving two with the freedom to roam. KB made them pay, scoring 20 points in Indianapolis to match her career high.

“She was tough,” Yori said of Burke, who played well both offensively and defensively. “Nobody’s in better shape than KB. She’s in phenomenal shape. What do you call that ever-ready thing?”

“The Energizer Bunny,” Nebraska women’s play-by-play man Matt Coatney said to help Yori paint yet another powerful word picture that seems to fit Burke.

Call Saturday one of those nights that turns out best for someone who always seems to make the best of the way things turn out

A great college player once said that talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. Another great player said the best teams have chemistry. They communicate with each other, and they sacrifice personal glory for the common goal.

I mention those quotes because they speak to the five areas that KB exemplifies, even though none of them ever show up on a stat sheet – teamwork, intelligence, chemistry, communication and sacrifice.

A great college coach once said that a basketball team is like the five fingers on your hand. If you can get them all together, you have a fist, and that’s how certain coaches want their teams to play … with toughness … toughness like Yori craves … toughness that Burke shows and delivers.

The thing is every coach, player, announcer and staffer that supports Nebraska women’s basketball has known that about KB for years. Now that the Huskers are going to their first conference tournament championship game in 20 years, I just thought the rest of us should know that, too, especially when we watch Nebraska’s rematch with Purdue in Sunday’s nationally televised Big Ten title game on ESPN2. All Nebraska did in the first game against the Boilermakers in West Lafayette, Ind., was win 93-89, in double overtime.

Sounds like the Huskers may need someone in phenomenal shape to answer the bell again.

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Voices from Husker Nation

Thank you so much for all of the articles you write about our Husker players.  They're always excellent and contain information I can't find elsewhere. Such was the article on Ms. Burke, and her child acting career, and the fact that she's the president of the student advisory committee. What a game this senior had against Ohio State.  She has always been such a steady contributor to the team, but to see her elevate her play to the highest level today was breath-taking and, I believe, propelled our women to the win. I don't remember when I've anticipated a game as much as tomorrow's meeting with Purdue. The warning I'd give the Boilermakers? Shut down Hooper, Moore and Cady, and we'll fire back with Burke, Jeffery, Laudermill, Williams, etc., etc., etc. Honestly, Mr. York, has there ever been a more entertaining women's team to watch than this one? And one more thing...the BTN announcers went on ad nauseam about the "fact" that the Nebraska women's basketball team has never won a conference championship, not in the Big Eight or the Big 12. How could we go undefeated in 2010 until the Sweet 16 of the
NCAA Tourney and not win one?  Am I missing something? Thanks and keep up the stellar work. Pat Frazer, North Loup, Nebraska

Editor’s note: In 2009-10, Nebraska went 30-0 before losing to Texas A&M in the semifinal round of the Big 12 Conference Tournament in Kansas City. The Huskers then beat Northern Iowa and UCLA in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Kentucky at the Sprint Center in KC and therefore missing the Elite Eight. The 32-2 season is a school record.