Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Season Outlook
October 28, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 28, 2004
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -
CHANGE OF PLANS
Curt Miller had a five-year plan when he took over the Falcons ... but, that plan has been altered somewhat as his fourth year begins
It's always good to have a plan.
When Curt Miller assumed the reins of the Bowling Green State University women's basketball team in 2001, he had a five-year plan for the program's future.
For Miller and the Falcons, though, things have not gone according to plan - and that's a good thing.
"When I got here and got a (coaching) staff in place, we talked multiple times about a five-year plan," said Miller, entering his fourth season at the helm of the Falcons.
"Lindsay Austin and Stefanie Wenzel, however, reminded me that they wouldn't be around for that five-year plan."
Clearly, Austin and Wenzel, along with their 2003-04 teammates, had other plans. The two seniors led the Falcons on a magical ride that culminated in a 21-10 record and a trip deep into the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
The Falcons, picked to finish sixth in the MAC's West Division a year ago, actually tied for second, just a game out of first.
When the tourney rolled around, the Brown and Orange won a first-round game for the first time in Miller's tenure, then picked up back-to-back buzzer-beating wins over Western Michigan and Miami. The dream season ended with a championship-game loss to Eastern Michigan, but the memories remain.
"We were very excited about the 2003-04 season as a whole," said Miller. "We got great senior leadership, and had a breakthrough season. Clearly, our program's goals have been accelerated. We have higher expectations entering year four than we envisioned back in 2001."
The good news is ... the Falcons got the attention of the rest of the league last year.
The bad news ... the Falcons got the attention of the rest of the league last year.
"It's kind of a double-edged sword," said Miller. "We are a program that has turned a corner, but with success comes added pressure and some heightened expectations of ourselves.
"Also with success comes some demands, night-in and night-out. Bowling Green is not just another game on someone's schedule now. We have a bulls-eye on our back now, that we didn't have in the first few years.
"We know we will get our opponents' best shot, and we need to be prepared every time we go out on the floor."
While the Falcons did enjoy great success last season, Miller is quick to remind his troops that the team fell short of attaining a title. BGSU was one game shy of winning both a regular-season crown and a tourney title, and the coach hopes the near-misses will help keep his 2004-05 team focused and hungry.
"In our first few years here, we always had the rallying cry that we were trying to prove everyone wrong. We hadn't won anything, and we were trying to prove that we were the hardest-working team on the floor each game.
"Now, things are a little bit different. As a coaching staff, we are asking this season's team, `what have you done lately?' We need to stay hungry.
"Last year's team was very hungry to win, and it came very easy for our freshmen. They had not been here during the years when we struggled, and they had no plans to lose.
"Combined with the leadership of our seniors, and a solid group of sophomores and juniors, those freshmen helped us to have a great season.
"Now, though, those six rising sophomores and their teammates will be challenged over and over this year. Nothing comes easy, and we have to continue to be hungry.
"Last year was perhaps my most enjoyable season in coaching. But, in the big picture, we still haven't won anything. We are striving to win a conference regular-season championship, and we are striving to win a conference tournament championship. Those goals still have not been met."
So, from the `glass-is-half-empty' department, the Falcons have yet to win a title, will not be able to sneak up on anyone this year, and lost a combined 2,100 points, plus invaluable leadership, in the persons of Austin and Wenzel.
But, over in `glass-is-half-full' world, Miller and his staff return 11 letterwinners from that team, including the other three starters. And, the Falcons welcome two talented freshmen who have a chance to make major contributions to the 2004-05 team.
"Certainly, it will be tough to replace the minutes and the experience that Lindsay and Stef provided," said Miller. "Both were long-time starters for us, and their numbers speak for themselves. Both were 1,000-point scorers, and they contributed in many other ways.
"But, I like the leadership that we got from our returning veterans in the offseason, and I am excited about both the youth and the experience in our program. I expect us to field a very competitive team again this year."
POST TIME
For the first time in many years at Bowling Green, the strength of the team may lie in the post positions. There have been many talented guards in the program over the years, but two of the three returning starters, and the team's top-two returning scorers, reside in the post.
Those two players, sophomores Ali Mann and Liz Honegger, headline a strong group that also includes seniors Kelly Kapferer and Sakima Smith, junior Jill Lause and soph Amber Flynn.
 Junior Jill Lause (photo by Mike Metzger/BG News)  |
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All Mann did in her inaugural season was score 400 points and grab nearly 250 rebounds en route to earning the MAC Freshman of the Year award. Mann averaged 12.9 points and a team-best 7.9 boards, and established herself as a presence inside.
Mann also was a force on the outside, however, shooting nearly 45 percent from three-point range. In MAC games only, she set a new league record with a success rate of .535 from beyond the arc.
"Ali brings versatility to the post position and remains a tough matchup for MAC opponents," said Miller. "She has skills similar to a `3' player, but is physical and powerful enough to play in the paint.
"Ali's versatility at the offensive end of the floor is evident. She can play with her back to the basket in the post, but also has the ability to be our best three-point shooter."
Honegger made quite a splash in her first season as well. She averaged 10.2 points and 7.5 boards per contest, and tied the school record with 50 blocked shots (including a BG-record 27 in MAC games).
Upon completion of the basketball season the athletic Honegger joined the track and field team and won a MAC title in the discus.
"Liz is coming off a fantastic year," said Miller. "She clearly established herself as one of the best freshmen in the league.
"She plays very big despite her 5-11 height, and had a tremendous year defensively. At the offensive end, Liz can help us spread the floor, because she is without question the best three-point shooting center in the league.
"Ali and Liz combine to give us the best three-point shooting post players in the MAC, which allows us to open up the floor, post up big guards and put pressure on the opponent's defense.
"Liz and Ali are both fantastic blue-collar athletes," continued the coach. "Neither is a flashy type of player, but over the course of a 40-minute game, you realize how productive and athletic they really are. As good a year as they each had offensively, we had the best defensive season, in terms of field-goal percentage defense, that Bowling Green has had in the modern era. Those two players were anchors of that defensive performance inside, with their ability to rebound and defend the paint."
Kapferer returned to the Falcons a year ago after taking the previous season off, and was one of the team's top players off the bench. She averaged 4.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game, with two of her six double-digit scoring contests coming in the MAC Tournament.
"Kelly had a very solid year after a year away," said Miller. "She has the ability to run the floor as well as any post player in this league. She is a good rebounder, and can score in a variety of ways, with three-point ability, the ability to explode by (a defender) off the dribble, and the ability to be a powerful and rugged back-to-the-basket player.
"Kelly's versatility is important to us. She will fight for a starting position, and I think we will see her have her best year as a Falcon. We expect big things from her, both on the floor and as a leader of this team."
Lause and Smith add veteran presence to the post, and both have proven to be valuable role players off the bench in the past. Lause averaged 1.4 points and 1.2 boards last winter, but showed her scoring ability with seven points in just 11 minutes in a win over Akron. Smith, as well, got caught in a numbers game, and saw limited action on the court. But, she won the team's Falcon Award, given to the player who exemplifies commitment, dedication and loyalty to the program.
"Jill continues to be one of the best offensive post players on our team," said Miller. "She has good size and a great touch facing the basket.
"Jill has worked hard on her acceleration over the past few summers, continuing to improve her foot speed and agility. I believe she will continue to improve and will have a breakout year for us this season.
"Sakima was a victim of the numbers game last year, as there just weren't enough minutes to go around. But, she is a great leader and a great team player, and is a person you dream of having as a teammate.
"Sakima has the ability to play in the post with forward-type skills. She can go off the dribble, and she can score facing the basket. She has increased her strength over the last few years, and I think she will battle for increased playing time and provide a lot of leadership for us during her final season."
Flynn's freshman season was cut short due to academic issues, but she showed glimpses of the player she could become. She averaged nearly two points and two rebounds in her 11 games, including an eight-point contest in her collegiate debut.
"Amber is tremendously talented offensively," said Miller. "She can go by people off the dribble, she can score facing the basket and she has tremendous timing.
"Day-in and day-out at practice last year, Amber was probably our best rebounding post player. Amber's biggest hurdle will be conditioning, but if she can get herself into the best physical shape possible, she could be a huge factor in our run for a MAC championship."
WAITING IN THE (BIG) WINGS
The strength of the Falcon team may be in the post, but there is some talent at the big wing position as well. Sophomores Carin Horne and Megan Thorburn combined to start every game in their initial season, averaging an aggregate 14.1 points per outing. Both players showed the ability to create offense, and they give Miller and his staff two players with the ability to rebound and defend as well. Their coaches feel that both players will only get better over the next few years.
 Sophomore Megan Thorburn (photo by Mike Metzger/BG News) |
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Thorburn started her career with a bang, scoring 22 points in her collegiate debut and averaging 6.8 points per game on the year. She made 23 starts, and was in the starting lineup for the final six games of the season as the Falcons made a run to the MAC Tournament's final game.
"Megan is a tremendous athlete," said Miller. She provides great size on the wing for us, and she will rebound her position well.
"I think we will see Megan's shooting percentages, both from the field and the arc, go up as she becomes more and more comfortable with our offense. She can play the `3' position, but also can be a 6-foot-1 off-guard and give us a big lineup.
"With the graduation of two top scorers, I think we will see Megan's numbers dramatically increase this year, with more shot attempts and the ability to score points in bunches."
Scoring points in bunches is something that is familiar to Horne. The Lima native scored a total of 31 points over her first 10 games, but then exploded for 34 points (a BGSU freshman record) in the MAC opener vs. Ball State. In that game, she scored 22 consecutive BGSU points during one second-half stretch.
Horne showed that explosiveness again, with a 28-point game vs. Northern Illinois, and capped her freshman campaign with 17 points in the MAC Championship game. She averaged 7.3 points and matched Thorburn with 3.4 boards on the season.
"Carin is tremendously talented offensively, and got dramatically better defensively over the course of last year," said Miller. "Talent-wise, Carin Horne has the ability to be a future MAC Player of the Year.
"I would not be surprised if Carin turns into the Falcons' leading scorer over the next few years, as she can score in so many ways. She can create her own shot, which is a huge strength, and she can get to the basket. And, she has the ability to have huge games from behind the arc.
"We look for Carin to possibly take over the role of being the three-point threat that the Falcons have had in the tradition of Kim Griech, Francine Miller and Stefanie Wenzel. I believe Carin will blossom not only into one of the best players at BGSU, but into one of the top players in the conference."
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
While the Falcons should be strong in the post and at the big wing spots, there is a sense of the unknown at the point-guard position. That unknown is not necessarily a negative, as a lot of unknowns from a year ago turned into positives. But, the 2004-05 starter at point guard could be a player that enters the season with little or no collegiate experience.
"Clearly, a big key to the season will be the production and the leadership that we get from a first-time collegiate point guard," said Miller. "It will be difficult to replace Lindsay Austin, a four-year starter and MAC Defensive Player of the Year who had an assist-to-turnover ratio of nearly 2-to-1 over her last two seasons. And, obviously, we all will remember her clutch performances in close games.
"So, it is the unknown position within our team right now, but a new point guard will be born at Bowling Green this season."
That person could emerge from a group that includes senior Tene Lewis, sophomore Julie Gompers and freshman Kate Achter. Gompers spent last season as the backup to Austin, and played less than 50 minutes on the floor. But, she had the benefit of playing against the MAC Defensive Player of the Year every day in practice, and looks to show the fruits of that labor.
"Julie gained invaluable experience, day-in and day-out, at practice last year," said Miller. "With a year under her belt, she now has a better understanding of our offense and what we are asking of her.
"Julie is a good shooting point guard, and she is good in the open floor. As her assist-to-turnover ratio improves, we will see Julie Gompers compete for the starting position."
Lewis, voted a team captain along with Kapferer, has been the Falcons' defensive stopper over the last few years. She played in 29 games last year, averaging 1.7 points and 1.0 assists per game, but often made contributions that do not show up on the stat sheet.
"Tene has been a valuable player for us; a person who could come in off the bench and change the momentum of the game with her desire, work ethic and hustle," said Miller. "We will continue to call upon her to defend point guards and outstanding wing players, but we will ask her to take on some added responsibility of point-guard play.
"Tene has the best vision on the team and is a tremendous passer. Her ability to get us into offenses and have us play under control will be huge, and I look for her to flourish during her final season."
Achter, a product of nearby Oregon, Ohio, comes to BGSU with tremendous credentials, including All-Ohio First-Team honors. A three-time league player of the year on the hardwood, she excelled in track and golf as well as basketball at Clay High School, and plans to join the Falcon golf team as well as the BG hoops squad.
"Kate is a fantastic athlete, and is one of the quickest players ever recruited to Bowling Green," said Miller. "She will impress the fans with her quickness and her ability to get to the basket. She is very competitive and very strong for her size.
"Kate will thrive in our high pick-and-roll offense. She will be able to create havoc, getting into traffic and making plays not only for herself but for her teammates. I think Kate will instantly become a crowd favorite, and she will have a legitimate shot of being the starting point guard for years to come."
A pair of `small wings,' junior Casey McDowell and freshman Whitney Taylor, also look to fit into the mix for the Falcons.
 Junior Casey McDowell |
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"We will look to Casey to be a zone-buster as well as a steadying, calming influence for our team," said Miller. "Casey had an outstanding off-guard assist-to-turnover ratio of nearly 2-to-1 last season, after sitting out a year.
"Casey does not make mistakes. She is a student of the game, understands the game and always is in the right place at the right time. She is coming off a disappointing shooting year, but Casey is an outstanding three-point shooter with the deepest range on the team. If she combines her leadership and her understanding of the game with an improved shooting percentage, I look for her to really contribute at the off-guard position."
The staff looks for such contributions from Taylor as well. The Wooster, Ohio, native was a second-team all-state selection as a senior, and was named the league player of the year in her team's first season in the conference last winter.
Taylor, like fellow freshman Achter, was a three-sport standout in high school, and was named the Wooster Daily Record Soccer Player of the Year as a goalie.
"Whitney is a highly-heralded combo guard who was recruited by multiple Conference USA and Atlantic 10 programs," said Miller. "She is a tremendous three-point shooter, a real competitor and a very quick athlete who will get up and down the floor.
"Whitney enters the program as one of the strongest kids in the weight room, and in my opinion, will be a crowd favorite throughout her four years. I think she will see some minutes as an off guard early on, but Whitney certainly has the ability to compete for the point-guard vacancy, also."
THE ROAD (AND WE DO MEAN ROAD) TO MARCH
Last season, the Falcons fell just shy of earning the MAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, and BGSU was passed over for a WNIT berth as well. Miller and his staff have worked hard to increase the strength of the Falcons' schedule for 2004-05, with the WNIT playing a part.
"One of the reasons we did not get a postseason bid last year was because our non-conference schedule was not tough enough," said Miller. "We have worked hard to rectify that situation, as we will be playing three NCAA Tournament teams on the road, along with another road game against an Atlantic 10 program. On top of those four big tests, we will continue a number of regional rivalries as well as go to two tough tournaments."
BGSU will head to Columbus to open the season, representing the MAC in the Preseason WNIT. The Falcons will meet Ohio State in the first round on Nov. 12.
"It is a big step forward for our program," said Miller. "To have an organization like the WNIT respect our program enough to pick us as the one MAC team in the preseason tournament is a big statement nationally.
"And, we are very excited about playing at Ohio State. Any time you have a chance to play a Big Ten program, you have a chance to prove to yourself and your community how far the program has come."
The BGSU-Ohio State winner will play on Nov. 14 against the survivor of the St. Joseph's-Boston University game. The 16-team, single-elimination tournament will be held entirely at campus sites, with the semifinal round scheduled for Nov. 17 and the championship set for Nov. 20 or 21.
The Falcons also play November road games against IPFW (Nov. 19) and Duquesne (Nov. 27), before opening the home portion of the schedule against Youngstown State on Nov. 30. Fans looking to get a glimpse of the Falcons at Anderson Arena might want to mark their calendars for that YSU game, as it will be BG's only home action before Christmas.
December begins with a pair of trips; one East, one West. The Brown and Orange will play in the Brown Classic in Providence, R.I., facing Lehigh in the first round on Dec. 4. Then, the Falcons will jet west for the Lobo Shootout, hosted by NCAA Tournament participant New Mexico on Dec. 10-11. BG opens that tourney with a game against the home team that could draw the most people ever to see a Falcon game.
"New Mexico averaged nearly 12,000 fans per home game last year," said Miller. "The reason we are going to Albuquerque is to expose our kids to that atmosphere, to learn what it's like to play in front of a five-digit crowd."
Upon the return Eastward, the schedule gets no easier, as BG will head to Western Pennsylvania for a pair of games against NCAA Tournament squad St. Francis (Dec. 18) along with Robert Morris (Dec. 20). Following the Christmas break, BG finally returns home to close the non-league slate against Bucknell (Dec. 30). Then, the first two MAC games see the Falcons hitting the road once again.
"I am going to challenge this young team to learn to win on the road," said Miller. "It is possible, depending upon our WNIT success, for us to play 14 of our first 16 games away from Anderson Arena. I repeat, 14 of 16 games away from home to start the season.
"For our program to gain more national exposure, I felt this was a year we needed to go on the road, and we will be challenging our team with a number of road games against good competition to prepare us for the MAC."
That league schedule hardly provides a breather, as five of the Falcons' first seven MAC games come against teams that finished fifth or higher in last year's overall standings. BGSU opens with trips to Buffalo and Western Michigan, before opening the home portion of the league slate vs. Eastern Michigan, in a rematch of last year's MAC Tournament championship.
Then, the Falcons play at arch-rival Toledo, before hosting defending East Division winner Miami and WMU. A trip to perennial power Kent State closes the January slate.
"We will certainly be challenged in January, facing some of the elite teams in the MAC," said Miller. "We play a who's who of the MAC early on.
"But, if we can get to February with our heads above water, we will have a chance to make a run at the conference championship."
That February schedule sees the Brown and Orange play five of seven games at home, including tilts vs. Northern Illinois and Ohio to start the month.
After road games vs. Ball State and Akron, the Falcons host Central Michigan in the middle of the month, before heading to EMU for another meeting with the defending West Division and tourney champs.
The Falcons then return home to meet Marshall and Toledo, with the latter game being preceded by `Senior Day' festivities.
"I don't think there is any better way to end your home career," said Miller. "'Senior Day' is always special, but when Toledo is coming to town, it just adds to the atmosphere that much more."
A trip to the MAC's `West Coast' - NIU - closes the regular-season schedule, before the MAC Tournament begins with first-round games on March 5. The five first-round survivors and the three `bye' teams will head to Gund Arena for the subsequent rounds of the league tourney. The quarterfinals are scheduled for Wed., March 9, with the semifinals and championship scheduled for March 11 and 12, respectively.
"Obviously, we would love to go to the NCAA Tournament," said Miller. "And, the MAC's the thing. The only way to ensure yourself a bid is to win the MAC Tournament. That is why we are playing such a tough schedule, to prepare us for the day-in, day-out rigors of the MAC."
FINAL THOUGHTS
Miller, while proud of the many achievements made by his 2003-04 team, is quick to remind folks that not all of the goals have been reached.
"We are very proud of the success that we have had, and of how far the program has come," he said. "But, there is no question that we still have not reached our long-term goals.
"We did not win a regular-season title, and we did not win a MAC Tournament title. We will be working daily to try to reach those goals.
"When you look at the MAC, teams like Kent State and Toledo have been there every year. We want to reach that level of consistency over the long term.
"We do not want our program to be like an elevator ride, with a good year followed by a down year. We want to develop into a consistent winner, a consistent 20-win team, and we refuse to allow our program to take a step backward despite losing two great seniors.
"In year four, we have 13 players that are playing our system, with the majority of them brought in by this coaching staff. The seniors have bought into the system, and have provided great leadership. I really think fans will see a cohesive unit that fits the way we want to play, believes in the way we want to play and is willing to work hard to achieve our goals, and that's exciting.
"We want to keep building a legacy of success, year after year, and build a consistent winning product here at Bowling Green."
That part of Miller's plan - striving for consistent success - never changes.
