An evaluation of our women's program for the coming year

[flippinhogmana]

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/11951

Off the court, the hiring of Coach Jimmy Dykes made a pretty big splash for Arkansas. Few thought the immediate impact would be even great on the court. Despite a pretty limited roster, the Razorbacks went to the NCAA Tournament and knocked off Northwestern in the first round before falling to #2 seeded Baylor. The team finished SEC play with just a 6-10 record, but the schedule was tough and Arkansas was up to the challenge. With a huge group of newcomers, Coach Dykes has the depth he needs to start building an SEC contender.

2014-15 Record: 18-14, 6-10
2014-15 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Jimmy Dykes
Coach Record: 18-14 at Arkansas, 18-14 overall

Strengths:
Coach Dykes returns three starters in Jessica Jackson, Melissa Wolff and Kelsey Brooks. Jackson was the team's top scorer last year, averaging 14.9 points per game. She added 6.3 rebounds and 1.0 block per game as well. The 6-3 forward is also the team's top three-point shooting threat. Wolff is a more traditional forward who will stay in the paint. She is a very tough rebounder and led the team in that department last year. Brooks is the scorer in the backcourt, although her outside shooting was a bit inconsistent last year. The Razorbacks needed to go out and get some experience among their newcomers and they certainly did that. Coach Dykes picked up three very good junior college transfers. Alecia Cooley is a big 6-3 center and was a junior college All-American last year. She can step right into a starting spot and compete with some of the best post players in the SEC. Tatiyana Smith is another 6-3 center who comes from the junior college ranks. She may not score too much, but her length will be an asset. The last of the junior college transfers is guard Devin Cosper. Last year Cosper was the only freshman named to the junior college first-team All-America squad. The 5-10 sophomore is a big time scorer and adds a much needed scoring punch.

Weaknesses:
The potential problem is at the point guard position. Four-year starting point guard Calli Berna is gone. Not only did she dish out 5.2 assists per game, but Berna always played tough defense too. Brooks is an option to run the point. She did average 2.3 assists per game and her sliding over to the point would allow Coach Dykes to place Cosper into the starting lineup. The top freshmen in this class are also point guards. Both Jordan Danberry and Malica Monk will compete for major playing time running the point. Danberry is the more likely freshman to step into major minutes and potentially a starting job.

Final Projection:
Arkansas is very quickly moving in the right direction and they will want to keep that momentum going. Coach Dykes did a great job in year one and he did a great job during the offseason picking up quality newcomers. The roster finally has the depth to compete in the SEC. The Razorbacks may not be able to get to much better than 6-10 in SEC play, but a 7-9 or 8-8 record in the SEC will be enough to get Arkansas back to the NCAA Tournament.

Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:
Jordan Danberry, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season
Kelsey Brooks, Junior, Guard, 13.8 points per game
Jessica Jackson, Junior, Forward, 14.9 points per game
Melissa Wolff, Senior, Forward, 8.4 points per game
Alecia Cooley, Junior, Center, DNP last season

By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 59.7 (265th in nation, 11th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 55.9 (22, 4)
Field-Goal Percentage: 36.6 (291, 14)
Field-Goal Defense: 36.8 (38, 4)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game:  4.8 (189, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 29.6 (224,
Free-Throw Percentage: 65.3 (284, 11)
Rebound Margin: 4.2 (56, 4)
Assists Per Game: 12.0 (231, 11)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.2 (26, 1)

Madness 2015 Women's Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#44 Jordan Danberry
#85 Malica Monk

[flippinhogmana]

I thought in balance it was a pretty decent evaluation...I think the chances of Jordan starting right off depends on how well she plays the next four of five games.  If she continues to have a high turnover/assit/steal rate, she is going to earn some undesired pt (pine time, not playing time).  If Eddie Sutton or me were coaching the team, KB would run point until first break and then I would bring in Jordan to give her a breather...the length of the breather would depend on how long she played...fouls would determine how often I brought her in too...and how long she stayed.  Blow outs either way would affect playing time for all the freshmen (but not AC or DC) I would like to see them start.  I would give DD West as much playing time as her knees would handle in relief of JJ and AC.  I would have Bailey and Keiryn in a rotation behind DC in relief of Mo and Malica as number three point guard on point in blowouts with Jordan as the off guard...well, you get the picture...right or wrong I think they need to earn their playing time in that order...

[psycHOGlogist]

Thanks for the posts and analysis! Very eager to see the team in action!

[kevinagee]

Razorback Women's BB ‏@RazorbackWBB 4 hours ago

Welcome @jaimason14, @sydeny_lynn12 and Yasmeen Ratliff.  Glad you chose to #BeArkansas

[nwahogfan1]

With us having 3 Juniors being 6'3 does anyone think Jimmy might just go ahead and RS Smith.  She will not be eligible until 2nd Semester anyway.  Just a thought? 

[flippinhogmana]

With us having 3 Juniors being 6'3 does anyone think Jimmy might just go ahead and RS Smith.  She will not be eligible until 2nd Semester anyway.  Just a thought?

you know nwa they have always been closed mouth about TAt.  Just this is the first time I think they actually said she wouldnt be eligible until next semester.  Maybe they just officially found out that she wouldnt be, but I dont know if that means she only has two years to play one and a half? just one and half years or eligibility period or maybe she could have two years that way.  Good question, maybe Kevin, Psych or one of the other guys, gals can get an answer for us?

[kevinagee]

Seems like Jimmy has said 2 years. Not sure how it all works out being not eligible till this upcoming semester.

May also in the end have to do with her graduation status after she been with us for the year and a half or possibly 2 years as a student I'm talking. Just to see academical where she is at. Lets be honest. There are very slim changes of a basketball career after Collage for Ladies. SO few make the WMBA and they are not getting rich there like the men. There to my knowledge is no over seas for women's basketball as men. So basically graduating dictates your will to play basketball again or not.

Jody Bailey had a year left she could have played this year and she had already graduated. But choose to forgo her last year of eligibility to enter the real world. So its just basically up to the individual.

[flippinhogmana]

Bailey didnt play cause she had her scholarship pulled after playing last year after she had graduated....

[LadybackBBFan]

Bailey didnt play cause she had her scholarship pulled after playing last year after she had graduated....

How do you know that?  With 15 scholarships available, i would wonder why that would be done?