2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
Young women's basketball squad ready to play
Spencer Schubert
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: Sports
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They're young.
It's one of the most noticeable features of this year's edition of Nebraska women's basketball, and for good reason.
Of 13 players, the Cornhuskers boast just one senior: forward Danielle Page.
"I was kind of scared," Page said of being the lone senior. "I didn't know what the difference was going to be and I was a little anxious about it. Summer came though, and I really enjoy it. It's really not that much of a difference."
There will be a change for the team, however, and it will be its composition. There are only two juniors. The other 10 members of the 2007 roster are split evenly between the sophomore and freshman class at five apiece.
It's quite an adjustment from a year ago when four seniors supplied most of the highlights for a team that made the NCAA Tournament. The leader of the senior pack was former point guard Kiera Hardy, who led the team in scoring, free-throw percentage and assists.
Page knows she has to fill eight shoes with just two feet and said nothing will come easy for her.
"You can't replace someone with the offensive skills (Hardy) had," Page said. "It'll be tough. It was a safety net for us. If we needed a score, we knew who we needed to get the ball to. I think it puts more pressure on us offensively."
NU Coach Connie Yori agreed with Page. She said losing Hardy will be an offensive burden for the team, but she feels the Huskers are up to the challenge of filling that void.
And some challenge it should be. Yori said the 2007 Nebraska schedule might be the toughest schedule that's ever been put together. It features 15 games against 2007 postseason qualifiers. Ten of those will be against teams that made the NCAA Tournament.
One game NU will have its eyes on early will be a showdown in the Bob Devaney Sports Center against Mississippi, a team that reached the Elite Eight last season. Although there's several big-name opponents slotted against the Huskers for their 2007-08 season, the game Page looks to the most might be somewhat unexpected.
It's one of the most noticeable features of this year's edition of Nebraska women's basketball, and for good reason.
Of 13 players, the Cornhuskers boast just one senior: forward Danielle Page.
"I was kind of scared," Page said of being the lone senior. "I didn't know what the difference was going to be and I was a little anxious about it. Summer came though, and I really enjoy it. It's really not that much of a difference."
There will be a change for the team, however, and it will be its composition. There are only two juniors. The other 10 members of the 2007 roster are split evenly between the sophomore and freshman class at five apiece.
It's quite an adjustment from a year ago when four seniors supplied most of the highlights for a team that made the NCAA Tournament. The leader of the senior pack was former point guard Kiera Hardy, who led the team in scoring, free-throw percentage and assists.
Page knows she has to fill eight shoes with just two feet and said nothing will come easy for her.
"You can't replace someone with the offensive skills (Hardy) had," Page said. "It'll be tough. It was a safety net for us. If we needed a score, we knew who we needed to get the ball to. I think it puts more pressure on us offensively."
NU Coach Connie Yori agreed with Page. She said losing Hardy will be an offensive burden for the team, but she feels the Huskers are up to the challenge of filling that void.
And some challenge it should be. Yori said the 2007 Nebraska schedule might be the toughest schedule that's ever been put together. It features 15 games against 2007 postseason qualifiers. Ten of those will be against teams that made the NCAA Tournament.
One game NU will have its eyes on early will be a showdown in the Bob Devaney Sports Center against Mississippi, a team that reached the Elite Eight last season. Although there's several big-name opponents slotted against the Huskers for their 2007-08 season, the game Page looks to the most might be somewhat unexpected.
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