Wichita State women’s basketball starts practice with inexperienced roster

Jody Adams has had such a successful coaching career at Wichita State she can look back on her own rebuilding projects when it’s time to do it again.

The Shockers started women’s basketball practice on Tuesday at Koch Arena with 10 players, none of whom are seniors. Four are freshmen and the three returners who played last season combined to start three games. Adams, who started at WSU in 2008, went back to her notes on previous inexperienced teams to see what she might expect. On Tuesday, the players performed more like an experienced group.

“This group is mature beyond its year as people,” Adams said. “I’m really impressed with how we comprehend. They’re able to take it from a drill setting to a live setting. Their energy was good.”

The Shockers are young because of a tumultous spring in which four players — two starters — with eligibility chose to depart and their complaints about Adams’ coaching style led to a university inquiry. The internal review wrapped up in early May with Adams still in charge and expected to change coaching techniques that led to the issues.

WSU also lost seniors Alex Harden, the program’s career scoring leader, All-Missouri Valley Conference pick Jamillah Bonner and starter Kelsey Jacobs from last season’s team.

With the roster turnover, Adams needed new leaders to emerge and players voted as captains sophomore transfer Diamond Lockhart, freshman Rangie Bessard and junior returner Jaleesa Chapel, who started two games and averaged 2.8 points last season.

“They’ll be the ones that speak about the program,” Adams said. “Those are the vocal ones.”

Adams can point the newcomers to three straight Missouri Valley Conference titles and three straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

“I don’t think any of these players walk in here and don’t want to repeat that,” she said. “It helps you as coaches to be able to say it once and then somebody hops to it.”

As usual, she emphasized bonding and leadership during the summer and was pleased the players elected to stay together in a dorm. She gave them “The Hard Hat: 21 Ways to be a Great Teammate” by Jon Gordon as their summer reading assignment. The team completed 87 hours of community service work since May, half coming in the past two months, in events such as Celebrate Safe Communities and the Purple Mile Walk.

“We’re continuing on with the same culture we’ve always had of winning ways and holding each other accountable,” she said. “This group is a giving group … givers and pleasers.”

Adams compares the Shockers to the 2009-10 team that featured players such as Jessica Diamond, Chynna Turner and Jazimen Gordon as freshmen. As seniors in 2013, they played in WSU’s first NCAA Tournament. This group, Adams said, is farther along at a similar stage.

“You’re seeing a team like that, that has the ability to score and, yet, has the ability to defend,” Adams said. “I love the fact we have some great offensive threats that we maybe did not have with (the 2009-10 team).”

Lockhart, who started 11 games and averaged 4.3 points at Texas Tech in 2013-14, will play a key role. Adams compares her point-guard skills to Fred VanVleet, the WSU men’s star guard. Lockhart practiced with the Shockers last season while sitting out a redshirt year.

“She’s going to be the truest point guard we’ve ever had,” Adams said. “Extremely powerful. Unbelievable stop and go. The ball is an extension of her body.”

Watch, eat and listen – Shocker Madness, WSU’s annual debut for its basketball teams, begins at 6 p.m., Oct. 22 at Koch Arena.

The event is free and will include ring ceremonies, dunk contest, three-point shooting contest and scrimmages for the men’s and women’s teams.

Season-ticket holders can pick up their tickets at the ticket office during Shocker Madness.

▪  Tickets for the Nov. 5 Tipoff Luncheon are on sale for $25 and can be purchased by calling (316) 978-3267. Men’s coach Gregg Marshall and Adams will speak at the Thanksgiving luncheon at the Koch Arena practice gym.

▪  The coaches radio shows for Marshall (6-7 p.m.) and Adams (7-8 p.m.) will begin on Nov. 2. The shows are broadcast on KNSS, 1330-AM from Deano’s Grill & Tapworks, 9747 E. 21^st St.

This story was originally published October 6, 2015 at 7:27 PM with the headline "Wichita State women’s basketball starts practice with inexperienced roster."