Bucknell Women's Basketball Season Outlook
Nov. 12, 2008 Bucknell-George Mason Game Notes Interview with Women's Basketball Coach Kathy Fedorjaka 11-11-08 LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell women’s basketball team will be tested early in the 2008-09 season as they open with three straight road games, including its season opener against George Mason at 7 p.m. on Friday in Fairfax, Va. Fortunately, the Bison showed at the end of last season that they can win away from Sojka Pavilion after they earned three victories on the road and took the 2008 Patriot League Championship title. The game at George Mason can be heard locally on WVBU (90.5 FM) or online via SportsJuice.com. Live stats will also be available at BucknellBison.com. Bucknell, which went 16-16 overall and 8-6 in the Patriot League last season, has since lost the tournament MVP and four other seniors. This may explain why the defending tournament champions were picked fifth in the Patriot League preseason poll. However, All-Tournament Team members Amanda Brown and Lauren Schober return for the new campaign with a solid cast of young players that bring the talent and enthusiasm necessary for the Orange and Blue to prove the poll wrong and make a bid for a repeat. Brown, Schober and junior Le’Le’ LeSeur make up the entirety of the Bison’s upperclassmen but, although the squad is rounded out by three sophomores and four freshmen, lack of experience causes little concern. This season’s underclassmen have a wealth of experience winning both at the high school level and, in the case of the sophomores, in their debuts at the intercollegiate level. Morgan Wrightson’s Notre Dame Academy team twice finished the season ranked in the top five according to the Washington Post and USA Today. Trisha Krewson’s high school squad played for a state title her senior season after losing in the semifinal game to Alison Nahra’s squad a year earlier. Additionally, Joyce Novacek and Taylor Phillips each led their high school teams to two state championship titles. Despite the team’s proven ability to win games, there are still some questions that will remain unanswered until the season gets underway. The underclassmen’s success will be determined largely by their ability to take on roles greater than those they have played in the past. Sophomores Novacek, Cosima Higham and Taylor Phillips earned valuable playing time last year and filled key roles in the Bison’s late-season success. “A key for us this season will be the experience gained by our sophomores through the second half of league play and into March,” said head coach Kathy Fedorjaka. “When you start playing in March, it’s a different level of intensity. Hopefully we’ll try to draw on and keep building off that postseason experience and then develop our freshmen into that success.” Although those sophomores were critical to the Bison’s success, Bucknell did not rely on them immediately to help carry the team. Unlike last year’s freshmen, however, this group of newcomers that includes Christina Chukwuedo, Krewson, Nahra and Wrightson will be expected to hit the ground running. Each of these players has the ability to fill important roles early, according to Fedorjaka. However, she also realizes that as freshmen, they may need some development before another run at a tournament title can be made. “We’ve got seven players in the freshman and sophomore classes that are going to have to play big roles,” said Fedorjaka. “The freshmen played big roles (last year), but they were still balanced with a lot of upperclassmen around them. Joyce, Cosi (Higham) and Taylor needed to play big roles for us to win it, but they had time to grow as the season progressed. We’re going to need these freshmen right away, so we’re going to have to work through some of those growing pains early. Hopefully there won’t be too many pains.” Fedorjaka will rely on Brown and Schober to guide the youth through those pains. Both seniors have had experience in high-pressure game situations throughout their careers and provide the leadership and strong basketball IQ necessary to help develop this year’s team as quickly and smoothly as possible. While both are already showing that they can be leaders, the two elder players bring very different styles to the team. Brown’s leadership style tends to be more of the silent type. “What I’m looking for, and what she’s already started to do, is raise her leadership level and raise her vocalness,” said Fedorjaka. “She’s stepping up and naturally evolving into a role she is capable of fulfilling.” Schober, with her outgoing personality, is not hesitant to speak out with her team, a quality that has already been noticed in preseason preparation. “She’s not afraid to be vocal out there, and we’re definitely going to need that,” said Fedorjaka. “She’s going to have to bring those young players along on the floor. She’s going to have to be that mix of pushing them and giving them confidence, too.” Two game aspects that are more known for Bucknell are its strength on the boards and its shooting. Novacek averaged 4.3 rebounds per game last season, and Higham added 3.6 per game. With their aggressive mindsets, both are expected to make major contributions to rebounding totals in the Patriot League. “When you’re starting with a foundation of two rebounders with that kind of stature, potentially this could be one of our strongest rebounding teams ever,” said the head coach. “It’s got the potential to be.” Fedorjaka also has some lofty yet achievable goals for the duo on the glass. With a lot of hard work, she sees an opportunity for both players to be in the top five in the league in rebounds. “We haven’t had a player in awhile, not since Desire Almind, average double-figure rebounds in conference play. I think Joyce is capable of that this season. It’s a big goal, but I think she’s capable of averaging 10-plus rebounds per game and that’s going to be where I set the bar,” Fedorjaka said first of Novacek and then of Higham. “I don’t know if it’s possible to have two players average 10, but we’re going to try.” With the addition of players like Krewson, Wrightson and a healthy Brown, this season’s team also looks to have stronger shooters than in years past. “We’re going to be able to score the basketball better,” said Fedorjaka. “I think there were times last year, especially when Brown was out and coupled with the graduation of (Lindsey) Hollobaugh and (Jacquie) Seawright, when we struggled to score the basketball. We’ve got a better ability to shoot it, and that’s clear in workouts, but the test will be in game-day experience and efficiency. They have to figure out how to get those shots off and be poised enough to hit them in game situations.” BACKCOURT Anchored by Brown and Schober, the Bison backcourt will feature a sophomore in Phillips and three freshmen in Wrightson, Chukwuedo and Krewson. Brown returns for her final campaign with a clean bill of health, something she lacked through much of her junior year. The Texas native fought through the pain of knee and ankle injuries that took her out of seven games and hampered her effectiveness on the court last season. “We lost her for about six and half weeks and that absolutely impacted our team,” said Fedorjaka. “We were picked to win, but I think when she was out, it showed her level of importance. We really struggled on the offensive end of the floor at times even though we had some other key pieces. That’s the kind of caliber player she is.” Brown is a very offensive-minded player capable of posting high point totals from both guard positions. Fedorjaka expects a return to form for Brown that earned her recognition as the Patriot League’s top scorer with 16 points per game as a sophomore. “I think she’s capable of Player of the Year type production,” said Fedorjaka. “I’d like to see her really have one of the bigger years we’ve seen in a while. I think she’s capable of dropping 20 (points per game). I think she’s a very good offensive player, along with being a key defender in our defensive scheme.” Phillips earned a good number of minutes last year as a freshman and provided key production for the Bison in some important games. “She had a great game against Duke. She had big games during the regular season in conference and out of conference,” said Fedorjaka. “But she was inconsistent. She showed us big moments, and when she showed us big moments, you were like, ‘Wow. This kid is a front-line kid.’ Then she’d have some moments where she looked like a freshman. What I’m expecting from her as a sophomore is consistent moments across the board.” The West Virginia native helped prove her worth in Bucknell’s transition game and by using her excellent physical strength to finish plays. Having strengthened her defense and outside shot during the off-season, Phillips should continue to improve more of the intangibles in her game as she gets more experience under her belt. Newcomer Chukwuedo will be relied upon greatly for her defensive prowess and her willingness to attack challenges head-on. “She’s going to be really critical in our defensive scheme,” according to Fedorjaka. “She’s going to have a definite role at times of being a shut-down player. She’s going to have a definite role in our pressing game. “She’s not going to back down from a challenge,” added Fedorjaka. “She’s that way off the court, too. She’s got a spunk to her and a spark to her. I think she’s going to add a level of vocalness at the point guard position for us.” With her speed, ball handling skills and ability to make decisions, Chukwuedo can expect plenty of time at the point despite it being a difficult position for a freshman to pick up. “The point guard position is always a challenge for any player coming in as a freshman. It’s one of the most challenging roles for a freshman to take on,” Fedorjaka said. “Along with her athleticism, she’s got good basketball instincts.” Wrightson will provide an immediate offensive threat for Bucknell, as the native of Maryland has a nearly limitless shooting range and can score in a variety of ways. “Wrightson can score it off the dribble, she can hurt you in transition, and you’ve got to play her at any range,” explained Fedorjaka. “Three steps behind the 3-point line, it’s not ‘Lay off of her.’ She’s capable of stroking that. I think confidence is going to be the big thing, building her confidence as a freshman.” Just as important to the Bison is Wrightson’s tough-as-nails attitude that can be seen in her competitiveness and ability to get to the basket. “She’s extremely tough to defend off the dribble,” said Fedorjaka. “She’s deceiving because she goes hard. She’s more like a truck as she drives in. She’s not that kid that’s weaving and finesse. She’s going in a straight line, and she’s getting there.” Rounding out the backcourt is Krewson who, despite being 6-0, will likely see most of her playing time at the guard position. Her smooth shot makes her a threat from any spot on the floor. “She really can stroke it from the three and anywhere on the perimeter. She can score off the dribble or off the catch. She really shoots the ball well,” said Fedorjaka. Krewson combines the ability to shoot from the perimeter with the size necessary to post up and rebound against smaller guards in the paint. The Ohio native also exhibits the versatility and athleticism to defend bigger opponents, which is something that excites Fedorjaka because of the options it presents. “She’s got tremendous ability to post up guards,” said Fedorjaka in regards to her height. “She’s going to have some smaller guards on her at the ‘3’ spot, or even the ‘2’. If we slide her to a ‘2’ and Schober at a ‘3’, that’s a big lineup. I think she’s very solid defensively. She gives you that versatility to defend a ‘3’ or ‘4’.” FRONTCOURT Each class is well represented in the Bucknell frontcourt. The forward positions feature the experienced Schober and LeSeur with an excellent group of underclassmen in Novacek, Higham and Nahra. Schober, like her younger teammate Krewson, combines the skills of a guard with the size of a forward. Unlike her younger teammate, however, Schober will likely see most of her playing time coming at the “3” and “4” positions. An extremely versatile player, the Chicago native is a constant threat to larger opponents. “She passes the ball well when she’s playing at a forward spot, and she can extend post players defensively,” said Fedorjaka. “She’s a very tough matchup because how many posts can defend out to the 3-point line? She led the league in 3-point percentage as a freshman. She had two real good years at the ‘4’, but she’s always possessed great guard skills, not only shooting, but ball handling and passing.” Schober has moved into the top 10 in three-point shooting in Bucknell history. Entering the season, she was fifth on the list of 3-point field goals made and fourth on the list for most attempted, making her no stranger to scoring. After being selected to the Patriot League All-Rookie Team as a freshman, Schober averaged more than nine points per game during the 2008 Patriot League Tournament, earning her a spot on the All-Tournament Team. “She’s been a scorer throughout her career, but we’re going to look for increased production (this year). We’re going to need that if we’re going to be successful,” Fedorjaka predicted. “I’d like to see her more in the range of 12 to 14 points a game.” LeSeur, a former Patriot League Rookie of the Year, saw limited playing time last year and is expected to gain a more prominent spot in the lineup. “I think this is her year,” said Fedorjaka. “With the losses we had to graduation and with what she brings to the table, this is her year to go after it and really try to get into that rotation and assert herself in a role that she’s capable of doing.” LeSeur has always been a key component in the Bison’s transition game and defense, and the power forward should benefit from improved offensive skills, including a midrange jump shot she began developing during the off-season. “She definitely has the ability to go to the floor and beat people to the rim, and she’s got great moves inside,” said Fedorjaka. “Offensively, even though she doesn’t need to be a primary go-to (player), being able to be efficient and being able to be a key player in the offensive scheme is important. We just couldn’t afford people laying off her, and that’s why she’s worked to gain a consistent 10-foot shot. They’ll have to guard her now.” In addition to, and evidenced by, her rebounding prowess, Novacek brings an enormous work ethic to the court for Bucknell. Her competitiveness and drive are also key components to the Aliquippa, Pa., native’s game. “She’s highly competitive, (especially) with herself in the sense that she’s the type of kid who will not settle. You’ll see her beat herself up if she didn’t get a rebound,” Fedorjaka said of the sophomore. “Last year we had to work more with, ‘Joyce, relax.’ Most of the time, the challenge is motivating, but with Joyce, she’s the other extreme. Number one, she’s got a great nose for the ball. She’s got great hands, she’s got great length, but she just wants every ball that comes off the rim. She expects to get every rebound.” Entering the new season, Novacek will be called upon to play a greater role offensively, which Fedorjaka believes she is capable of. “When she was inserted into the starting lineup last year, she ended up averaging eight or eight and a half points a game over the last 10 games,” said the coach. “She’s capable of scoring the basketball. She’s going to have to be more of a go-to kid.” Like Novacek, classmate Higham is “another hawk on the boards.” Higham recorded a career-high 12 rebounds at Lafayette last season, and Fedorjaka hopes to see the same intensity on the boards during the 2008-09 campaign. “You get up into a 13- or 14-rebound game, that’s pretty significant. I’ll push her heavy on the glass,” said Fedorjaka. The rebounding potential of the Higham-Novacek duo is a major topic of interest for the Bison. “I think those two are a tough combination for opponents,” Fedorjaka said of the two sophomores. “They are physically tough. They both have great desire on the glass. They’re two of the best rebounders I’ve ever coached in my career, and they take pride in being great rebounders.” Higham’s athleticism, superior mobility and good hands allow her to beat opponents in a number of ways. “She’s going to give us transition buckets as a post player because she runs the floor extremely well,” said Fedorjaka. “In transition and in the front court, she is very good at finishing around the hoop, as good as any kid I’ve had at rebound-put back and transition buckets around the basket. She’s very good at finishing shots in tight.” Nahra will provide some extra depth at the post position for the Bison. The Ohio native’s style of play, however, is considerably different from her teammates’. “As a 6-2 kid, she brings some needed size and depth to that post position for us,” said Fedorjaka. “She’s more of that finesse type of post player. She’s got very good length. I think she can block shots.” Nahra also brings some added shooting range to the position. “On the offensive side of the ball, she’s interesting because she’s a little different than our other posts in the ability to step out a little bit. She’s a little more comfortable, has a little more range and a soft touch. She can face up and can hit a 15-footer." COACHING STAFF Joining Fedorjaka on the bench are second-year assistant coach, Corey Laster, and first-year assistants Mandy Olley and Stephanie Marciano. Olley, a 2002 graduate of Old Dominion, followed her playing career by coaching at both the high school and college levels. Most recently, she spent two years as an assistant at nearby Susquehanna University. Marciano joins the staff after completing her playing career and graduating from Yale earlier this year. After the Bison return from their contests at George Mason, Yale (Nov. 18) and Fordham (Nov. 22), they will gear up for their home opener slated for Nov. 25 versus Drexel. Bucknell’s schedule also features a Dec. 9 game at Penn State and its Patriot League opener with Navy on Jan. 10 at Sojka Pavilion. Televised games this season include the matchup with the Nittany Lions on the Big Ten Network and the home games versus American (Jan. 14) and Lehigh (Jan. 28) on SPORTSfever. The Patriot League Championship Game will also be broadcast on ESPNU on March 11.
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