Boulder – It is of little or no consolation to new Colorado women’s basketball coach Kathy McConnell-Miller, but even after losing her starting center to a broken foot Tuesday, she may still be a bit ahead of the game.
That’s true, at least in terms of her rebuilding program.
McConnell-Miller will miss sophomore center Kara Richards, out for a month or more.
But when the Buffs open the season tonight at 6 p.m. against Cal State-Fullerton at the Coors Events Center, she’ll still have her promising new point guard, sophomore Yari Escalera, in the lineup, along with junior forward Jasmina Ilic, expected to become a star.
A few days before Richards’ injury, McConnell-Miller was so impressed with Escalera’s competitiveness in a couple of exhibition games, she moved her into the starting lineup and moved veteran Whitney Law to off-guard.
“Yari’s really come on strong,” McConnell-Miller said. “Whitney’s going to play both the point and the two guard, and I really think we need her in both positions” for depth.
Depth will be critical on a team with just 10 eligible players, but the absence of Richards should actually help develop some depth under the basket, too, McConnell-Miller noted. Sophomore Jackie McFarland, originally the power forward, will move to center, opening a spot for junior Anna Nedovic and creating some extensive playing time for promising freshman Caley Dow from Arapahoe High School.
Tonight’s five starters all had extensive starting time on a Buffs team that won just nine of 28 games in legendary coach Ceal Barry’s 22nd and last season. But in terms of style of play, they probably won’t look much like that team.
A system that produced 12 NCAA Tournament appearances with the triangle offense under Barry has been replaced with a running game that will be focused on getting the ball to Ilic.
“She’s a star,” McConnell-Miller said of the natural scorer who scored 68 points in a high school game in Serbia. “We’re going to get it off the rim and go. That’s what we need for this team to win, so she’s going to have the green light.
“Some players are driven by their defense. She’s driven with her offense. After she scores, you can see the fire in her eyes. She wants that ball back, and she knows that she’s going to do something with it.”
Not surprisingly, Ilic can hardly wait for tonight’s tipoff.
“I’m really looking forward to this season,” she said. “This new system gives me a lot more options and a lot more freedom to read the defense and try to be creative. It really opens things up to either penetrate or put up the 3-point shot. Everybody’s a year older, a year more experienced, and it just seems like there’s a lot more energy on the floor.”
Next up, the Buffs host Wyoming on Monday and have six weeks to get Richards back and ready for Big 12 play.
“It would be nice to have a confidence builder, but this schedule isn’t going to allow that,” McConnell-Miller said. “I think we’re going to be thrown into it immediately with this schedule. It’s tough. Colorado State, Wyoming, these aren’t teams that are going to come in here and lay down and think that Colorado’s going to beat them. We are going to have to be up for every single game.
“But these are good players. Their expectation should be that we’re going to step on the floor every night with a chance to win.”
Joseph Sanchez can be reached at 303-820-5458 or jsanchez@denverpost.com.
