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| Kansas State forward Ashley Sweat drives past an Iowa State defender on Jan. 17, 2009 at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats host Fort Hays State tonight in an exhibition game, beginning at 7. Mercury file photo. |
That isn't the case this season though as the Wildcats look to replace three starters with a cast of women that make up the youngest K-State team in the last four years.
Considering that, even a test against the Division-II Tigers has some relevance for a K-State team trying to find a new identity after losing Marlies Gipson, Shalee Lehning, Danielle Zanotti and Kelsey Nelson.
It won't be easy, as the Wildcats will turn to a trio of freshman guards and a pair of sophomore forwards to help fill the voids.
Making things more difficult for the Wildcats is the loss of Kelsey Hill, a reserve junior guard who suffered a season-ending knee injury 10 days ago. The loss of Hill could prove to be significant for a team that now has only nine players on its roster — six of which are sophomores or younger.
"Those young players who are looking now to compete major minutes, need to just learn day by day what that means and what that's all about," Patterson said. "Talking doesn't really teach a lot. The teaching comes in the drills and situations we put them in, but really it's going to be the experience they gain and the patience we bring to their experience."
The Wildcats, who tip-off at 7 tonight, will look to 5-foot-7 freshman Mariah White (Midwest City, Okla.) to take over at point guard and 5-8 freshman Brittany Chambers (Belle Plaine, Minn.) to play on the outside with senior sharp-shooter Kari Kincaid — the team's second-leading returning scorer at eight points a game.
In the paint, it's all Ashley Sweat, a 6-2 senior coming off the best season of her career in which she averaged 16.5 points and 5.1 rebounds a game and earned All-Big 12 honors. She'll be joined by 6-2 sophomore Jalana Childs, who averaged 3.2 points and 1.7 rebounds off the bench a year ago — including one start against Oklahoma State when she posted a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds.
While Sweat is undoubtedly the top returning offensive threat for this team, the McPherson native also understands that she'll probably have to work a lot harder and be more creative to get the ball — for no other reason than the loss of Lehning who left as one of the top ball distributors in Big 12 history.
"It's going to be very different after you lose a point guard like Shalee," said Sweat, who is 15th in KSU history with 1,291 points. "I was able to play with her for three years. So this year, I'm going to have to figure out how to get the ball different ways, and not get frustrated."
Sweat's frustrations could be tempered if her teammates take advantage of scoring opportunities, much like she did when Gipson commanded so much attention.
"I know that if the defense is keying on me, that's going to open up my teammates for easy shots," she said. "There are other things I can do to help my team, beyond just scoring. I'm learning that. That's the thing that I'm going to accept. I just want what is best for this team. I just want to win games — I don't care how we do it, or what I need to do to help us win games."
Kincaid's role on this team could also change some too as she looks to become a more vocal leader. Normally a streaky scorer, Kincaid could be counted on more — at least in the early going — to be more of an offensive producer.
"I might score, I might not. I do know that I need to relieve pressure off Ashley," said Kincaid, an Academic All-Big 12 selection a year ago. "She's a big-time player, a prolific scorer and I'm just going to try to fit into any role that I'm needed to fill."
It's a safe bet that Kincaid's role will also include point guard from time to time, a position she played some over the last two years as the back-up to Lehning. When things get shaky, and considering the youth at point guard this season, Kincaid would be the one called on to calm the waters.
"Being thrown into point was a great learning opportunity for me and it's definitely not an easy job," she said. "I think it's the hardest job on the court and our freshmen are doing such a great job at it. But yet they have a long way to go too. It's nice that I have the experience to be able to talk to them in situations and can trust me. I'm always willing to step up and fulfill any role my team needs."
K-State will play one more exhibition game agaisnt Emporia State on Monday before opening the regular season on Nov. 14 at home against Indiana State.
