TheBluejayCafe.com - High Expectations for Women's BB This Season

October 29, 2009

Danny O'Byrne
TheBluejayCafe.com Staff Writer

Look up heartbreak in the dictionary, and you just might find a picture of the Creighton women's basketball team.

In 2007, the Jays had a seven point lead with five minutes to play against Drake in the championship of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament - an NCAA Tournament berth on the line - before letting it slip away and eventually losing by two in overtime.

As if that wasn't enough, last year Evansville hit a shot with less than one second to play to send Creighton home with another two point loss in the MVC final and another NCAA Tournament-less ending to the season.

"We haven't talked a lot about it," said head coach Jim Flanery, "but I know I still weighs on them, especially for those kids who've been here for at least three years who have gone through that twice."

Creighton returns six players who started at least one game last year for a team that went 22-12 and advanced to the second round of the WNIT, and gets junior Sam Schuett back from an ankle injury that cost her the entire season.

"We've got a lot of kids who have played together a lot and can communicate and talk and figure things out as we go," said Flanery. "We don't have a big team numbers-wise, but seven of those kids have been in the program for a long time. Our juniors and seniors have a lot of experience. We've seen enough so far that we're excited."

There are only 10 players on the Jays' roster, similar to last year when the Jays had only nine scholarship players and a walk-on available after injuries to Schuett and now-graduated Michelle Kaus.

"We would like to be at 11 or 12, but it's a case where all 10 kids we have can play," said Flanery. "As long as we stay healthy, there's no concern. I think we're a deeper team than last year."

Back for Creighton is do-it-all senior forward Megan Neuvirth, last year's Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year first-team All-MVC selection. Neuvirth set the school record for rebounds in a season (325) while leading the league with 9.6 rebounds per game. She also led the team in assists, blocks and steals, and averaged 12.9 points per game, .1 fewer than team-leader Chevelle Herring.

Herring, a senior, averaged 13 points per game while running the team's offense as the point guard. Junior Kelsey Woodard also averaged 12.9 points per game and made 88 three-pointers as an honorable mention All-MVC selection.

Those three were all in the conference's top six in minutes played, each playing more than 35 minutes per game.

"We really rode Megan, Chevy and Kelsey hard last year," said Flanery. "I think we'll be more balanced this year getting Sam back and having a little more experience with some of our other kids. It might not look like we're any deeper, but I think when you include experience level we are deeper."

Neuvirth knows it will have to be a team effort.

"We know that every little thing, every play, every detail matters," she said. "We know this is going to be a good year for us, so it adds to our drive. We know that everyone has to get better every day. Everyone needs to push each other at practice. We know we can have a good season. We just need to do the little things."

The Jays will once again play one of the Valley's toughest non-conference schedules. Creighton will play four Big 12 teams, highlighted by Oklahoma's, visit to the new D.J. Sokol Arena. The Sooners advanced all the way to the NCAA Tournament's Final Four last year.

"Playing tougher teams makes it easier to get up for those games," said Woodard. "We love Flan's decision to schedule hard. We think it prepares us better for the conference schedule. It gives us an opportunity to prove ourselves."

Flanery says it's important to see what his team is made of.

"I think it's important that you put your team through some adversity early in the year," he said. "I want them to go on the road and have to really fight. You owe it to your kids to schedule the best you can and push them to be the best that they can. We have to be tested to be as good as we really can be."

The Jays open up the season with an exhibition game against UNO on Nov. 5 at 7:05 p.m. at D.J. Sokol Arena. The team's first regular season game is Nov. 13 at home against Arkansas State.

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