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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Women's Basketball Readies For Curt Miller Era
October 24, 2001 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 24, 2001
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University women's basketball program should feature a blend of old and new in the 2001-02 campaign. The Falcons return a total of 11 letterwinners from a season ago, but have a change at the top.
Curt Miller makes his head-coaching debut this season, after over a decade's experience as an assistant coach. Miller, who took the BGSU helm on May 8, 2001, spent the previous three seasons as an associate head coach at Colorado State. Along with CSU head coach Tom Collen, a BGSU alumnus, Miller helped the Rams to a record of 81-20 during his time in Fort Collins.
Miller also helped each of those CSU teams won at least 23 games and advanced to national postseason play. Now, though, Miller is the man in charge. The Girard, Pa., native will make his head-coaching debut on Nov. 17, when the Falcons play at Youngstown State.
"I'm excited about the season," said the new head coach. "We have a core group to build upon, and I am anxious to put in and run my system, and run my style of play.
"I'm encouraged because I'm inheriting a program that is built on skilled guards on the perimeter, and I come from a program that tailored to guard play.
"Our system here at BGSU will continue to incorporate guard play as our strength and emphasis, and improve our low-post game in the process."
IT'S NOT THE SIZE OF THE DOG IN THE FIGHT...
The team Miller inherits certainly does not lack for talented guards. The 2001-02 Falcons, however, have a small number of post players. Once again, BGSU will be one of the smaller teams in the MAC, and most nights will find the Falcons outsized by their opponent on the court.
Despite the apparent disadvantage, however, Miller believes the size differential could work to BG's favor.
"I'm not hung up on size, and never will be," said Miller. "I don't think size equates to wins.
"We have to maximize our talent level and improve fundamentally with the post players we have.
"As long as they are competitive, and will go to battle every night, size isn't going to be the difference between who wins and loses. We do need to improve fundamentally, and we need to take advantage of their weaknesses.
"As we have to guard bigger, stronger post players, they have to guard players who are smaller, but perhaps more versatile. We are just as hard to guard.
"They have to guard us, we have to guard them, and see who will better exploit the other team's weaknesses. It will be a chess match in the post, night-in and night-out, for us."
LEARNING TO WIN
As mentioned, the Falcons return 11 players from last year's team, and eight of those players started at least one game. BGSU experienced some success last year, starting Mid-American Conference play with a 4-0 record, and posting a win over the eventual league champion in the process. At season's end, however, the win total was not as high as the tradition-rich Falcon program is accustomed to seeing. BGSU finished 11-18 overall and 6-10 in MAC action.
Miller believes that success will come once the team learns how to win. He has a plan in place that is relatively simple, but has no shortcuts to success.
"Our goal, as a program, this year is to teach (the players) how hard you must work in order to win," he said. "After we learn how to work hard enough to win, then we have to teach them how to win.
"Then, once we start to win, we have to teach them how to win with expectations. So, it's an evolving process.
But, I have said since day one that, night-in and night-out, I want us to be considered the hardest-working team in the MAC. That's our first goal. If we can learn how to work hard enough to win, then we can begin to teach them how to win games."
Miller and his new assistant coaches, Jennifer Roos and Brandi Poole, inherit a pair of freshmen that will combine with the 11 returnees to comprise the 2001-02 team. A 14th player will sit out this season after transferring into the BGSU program.
The following is a position-by-position look at the Falcons:
POINT GUARD
The Brown and Orange will have a youthful group at the point-guard position, as two sophomores and one freshman will battle for time.
Sophomore Lindsay Austin is the incumbent, having started 28 of the Falcons' 29 games last winter. Classmate Emily Pohl, like Austin, played in every game in her first year with the Falcons.
Austin provided the Falcons with a well-rounded game, averaging 6.8 points per contest and leading the team with 3.6 assists. She also had 1.4 steals per contest.
Austin averaged a team-high 28.7 minutes per contest as a freshman, and had 10 double-digit scoring games.
"Lindsay Austin has good athleticism, is good going to the basket, and has a chance to be a special defender," said Miller.
"She has worked hard to continue to improve her outside skills. Lindsay has a chance to have a very good year and, potentially, to be a four-year starter for the Falcons."
When Austin headed to the bench, Pohl proved to be a capable complement. She averaged 1.8 points and 1.2 assists per game, and displayed a fundamentally-sound game.
"Emily is arguably the most fundamental guard on our team," said her new head coach. "She is a steady, calming influence for the team.
"Emily will be a good floor general for us, and will get us into the offenses. She will push Lindsay, day-in and day-out, for minutes throughout the season."
Freshman Tene Lewis will be in the mix for time at the point as well. Lewis averaged 10 points and 10 assists last year at Detroit Communication & Media Arts (CMU) High School.
"Tene Lewis brings to the table the ability to be the team's defensive stopper, and should thrive in our up-tempo and pressing style," said Miller. "She will be looking to gain consistency with half-court play."
A fourth player, Giani Bowles, will sit out this season. Bowles is a transfer from Big East program St. John's University.
Bowles had a three-year career average of 7.6 points per game at SJU, including a season-best 12.1 points during the 1999-2000 season.
Bowles, who has one year of eligibility remaining, will be eligible to play in the 2002-03 season.
"Giani is a talented combo guard," said Miller. "She will provide tough competition for our small guards during her year of residency."
WINGS
It should come as no surprise to Falcon basketball followers that Miller considers the wings to be the strength of the BGSU team. Senior Francine Miller and junior Kim Griech have combined to make 189 three-point field goals in their Falcon careers, and both have an array of other offensive options, too.
"With a backcourt of Francine Miller and Kim Griech, the Falcons have arguably the best two-three combination in the MAC," said Curt Miller. "Both players have the ability to score multiple ways on the court. Without question, though, both players have tremendous three-point shooting ability."
Francine Miller enters her senior season looking to solidify her place among BGSU's all-time greats. She became just the fifth player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points as a junior, and currently ranks 13th on the BG scoring list.
Despite battling numerous injuries during nearly all of last season, Miller averaged a team-best 14.3 points en route to All-MAC Second-Team honors.
Miller has been honored by the conference in each of her first three years. Two years ago, she became just the second sophomore in school history to be named to the first team. The year prior, she made the league's all-freshman team. Miller was named to the Preseason All-MAC Team for the 2001-02 season.
Perhaps the highest testimony to her accomplishments, however, came last March. In a survey of team captains around the MAC, Miller was cited as the "best finisher" in the league, as well as the player who is tops in the clutch, with the game on the line.
Coach Miller will look to player Miller (no relation) to provide leadership to his squad, as well.
"We will rely on Francine's leadership, both on and off the court, as we have seven players who are either freshmen or sophomores in terms of eligibility," he said.
Griech blossomed into a key member of the Falcon squad last year, averaging 7.8 points and sinking 46 shots from beyond the arc. More than nearly anyone else on the Falcon squad, Griech has the potential to put a great deal of points on the board in a short time.
Perhaps the best example of her scoring talents came in BGSU's MAC Tournament quarterfinal game vs. top-seeded Toledo. In that contest, she had 19 points in just 21 minutes, including 16 points on 6-for-6 shooting (four from three-point land) in the first half.
Griech seemed to be most comfortable coming off the bench last winter, starting just eight of her 28 games. This year, however, she is likely to be in the starting lineup on a regular basis, and the coaches will look to her to take her game up yet another notch.
"We will look for a little more consistency from Kim this year," said Miller. "That would enable her to be a high-level player in the MAC."
Another junior, Megan Jerome, will look for playing time after seeing her 2000-01 season cut short by an injury. Jerome averaged 3.6 points in 11.3 minutes per game, seeing action in 15 contests.
Jerome missed the final month of the year with a back injury. Her best outing of the year came at nationally-ranked Auburn, as she doubled her previous career high with 18 points.
Against the Lady Tigers, she went 4-of-4 from the field, making three three-pointers, and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line.
"Megan Jerome brings versatility to the floor," said Miller. "She is able to play the two or the three, and will push Griech for minutes at the two."
Sophomore Stefanie Wenzel played in 16 contests a year ago, averaging 2.3 points. Wenzel, who had a season-best seven points in the Ohio State game, will back Francine Miller at the three spot.
"Stefanie is an outstanding stand-still shooter, and is the best-conditioned athlete on the team," said the head coach. "She has worked hard in the off-season to improve other areas of her game, and will be relied upon as a solid backup to Francine at the three."
BIG WING/SMALL FORWARD
A pair of players will fill the big wing/small forward role for Miller. Senior Dana Western-Schuka played in every game, making 13 starts, a year ago. She had 6.8 points and team-high totals of 4.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocked shots per game. She also had 43 assists on the year, and made a total of 29 three-pointers.
Western-Schuka, a co-captain along with Francine Miller, will be looked upon for leadership by her younger teammates.
"Dana is a tough matchup for MAC opponents," said Miller. "She has the ability to play a face-up, power-forward position or a big wing position.
"Dana will thrive in our perimeter-oriented offense when guarded by younger players."
Freshman Sakima Smith, a high-school teammate of Tene Lewis, was an all-state second-team performer last year. She averaged 16 points and nine rebounds as a senior, and her new head coach feels she has an opportunity to earn consideration for the MAC's All-Freshman Team come March.
"Sakima has a tremendous upside for her career," said Miller. "A gifted offensive talent, she will gain large minutes, both at the power forward and big wing positions.
"We have two talented players at this spot."
CENTERS
The Falcons have four candidates for the center position, and three of them gained starting experience last year.
Sophomore Kelly Kapferer played in every game, starting four. She averaged 3.6 points and 3.4 rebounds and her total of 13 blocked shots included a four-block night - the most by a Falcon in over five years - in a win over Ohio.
"Kelly has made the biggest strides of any player during the offseason," said Miller. "She has the versatility to play in the low post or at the arc from the center position, and Kelly will be given more touches in the 2001-02 season.
"She is going to be good."
Redshirt sophomore Pam Brown made 18 starts last season, and averaged 6.3 points per outing. Brown, who also had 4.9 rebounds per game, averaged 8.9 points over the season's last seven games, including a double-double in the team's MAC Tournament win at Western Michigan.
"Pam looks to continue her overall improvement," said Miller. "She ended last season strong, and has picked up where she left off.
"A rugged, unheralded post, she will score in the block or use her quickness in the perimeter. We will need her rebounding skills as well."
Junior Karen Stocz started two games last year. In somewhat limited action, she averaged 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds. Stocz had a chance to shine in the team's win over Fresno State, setting career bests in points (11), rebounds (seven) and steals (three).
"Karen has the ability to extend the court with her face-up shooting ability from 15-to-18 feet," said Miller. "She is arguably the most physical post player on the roster, and may fill an enforcer's role on defense.
"Karen, as a junior, will fill a leadership role as well, as many of her teammates look to her."
Junior Rachal Hamilton, a former walk-on, must recover from a injury in order to add depth in the post. Hamilton averaged 1.1 points in eight games last winter.
"Rachal is fighting back from a stress fracture," said Miller. "We look forward to getting her back in late December to fill out the post position."
THE SCHEDULE
In keeping with Falcon tradition, the 2001-02 schedule is a difficult and challenging one. BGSU, as mentioned, opens the season Nov. 17 at Youngstown State, and the team's first four games are away from home, including a Thanksgiving tournament at Colorado.
BG then plays four times at home in a five-game stretch to end the pre-Christmas slate. After the holiday, the Falcons play in a tournament in Miami, Fla., before diving into the MAC slate.
BGSU opens the conference schedule Jan. 2 by hosting defending East Division winner Kent State. Miller worked for a year on KSU coach Bob Lindsay's staff.
"The schedule that we've inherited is challenging, and, at the same time, very exciting," said Miller. "With our first four games on the road, we will look to our veteran players for leadership to get us off to a good start.
"We open up the Colorado tournament against the host team, and they are listed as high as 10th in the country in some preseason polls.
"Our home opener is against (2000 NCAA Tournament qualifier) Eastern Kentucky, beginning an important five-game stretch, in terms of confidence, for the Falcons.
"Conference play begins a whole new season for us, with four of our first five MAC games at home. The opener, against KSU, will be a mentor/pupil game, and will be a special day for me.
"Then, our conference schedule finishes tough, with five of our last eight games on the road.
"We will break the schedule down into three 'seasons' - the non-conference, the MAC season and the conference tournament - and we want to continue to improve in each. But, there are stretches throughout the schedule in which we have multiple games at home.
"Those stretches, for our ultimate success on the season, are very important to the Falcons."
Monday, Nov. 12, will mark the first chance for Falcon fans to see the team in a game setting, as BGSU will play the lone exhibition game of the season that evening at 7:00 p.m. at Anderson Arena.
