LITTLETON, Colo.—Optimism for the next season is always abundant before the first game, or even before the first official day of practice in a couple of weeks.
All the women’s basketball head coaches were available at The Mtn. Studios on Wednesday for the 2009 Mountain West Conference Basketball Media Day and were eager to convey what may be in store for a season that is not far off on the horizon, including Wyoming’s Joe Legerski as he heads into his seventh year guiding the Cowgirls.
“It’s a great time to be able to see the colleagues that we have with the friendships that are developed over time, the competitiveness and the respect that you have for the people in this league that has such tremendous coaches,” Legerski said.
The Cowgirls are once again getting noticed in the league with a fifth-place ranking in the 2009-10 MWC Preseason Poll. Wyoming garnered 121 votes to finish in the middle of a tight pack, and is sandwiched between No. 4 New Mexico (168) and No. 6 BYU (109).
“It’s going to be a challenge every night out. The strength of this conference once again fills in from top to bottom,” Legerski said. “I’ve always said you will see good teams six or seventh in this league.
“I’m happy with where we are picked. We have a great deal of basketball to play before us just because of our youth. We will have no seniors step on the floor, and because of that, we are going to have to play well earlier rather than what we did last year in finishing up late.”
The Cowgirls—16-14 overall and 8-8 in the MWC last season to tie BYU for fifth in the league—had more than their share of adversity to overcome a season ago, which could prove to be a pocket wildcard heading into this season.
One setback came when junior guard Aubrey Vandiver took a redshirt year because of a long battle with mononucleosis and missed the entire season. The third-team All-MWC selection in 2007-08 averaged 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while adding 66 assists and 42 steals as a sophomore.
Not only is she now back with the Cowgirls, but she’ll be back for the next couple of seasons.
“Aubrey is a tremendous competitor,” Legerski said. “She gives stability out on the floor and has a calming effect on your team. I am just happy to have her back wearing the brown and gold.”
With a player who has the ability to play the point on offense and defend the five on defense not available on Legerski’s bench, several freshmen were called upon to grow quickly on the court, including forward Emma Langford.
Langford immediately proved to be an impact player, but she was later hampered by a lingering back injury as the season trudged on. She ended with an average of 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
But as fast as she arrived on the map of the MWC, she was almost gone just as quick. Langford flew back to her home in Australia with doubts of ever playing basketball again because of her back problems. She took part in an offseason training regimen with the focus on her back, not to mention plenty of rest.
Her back responded well enough for her to lead the Australian team to the Bronze medal with a 5-2 record at the World University Games over the summer. She averaged 6.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.
Legerski then got the call that Langford did purchase her ticket back to Laramie to rejoin the Cowgirls, and she has been on campus for the start of fall classes.
“It was the best news that we could hear,” Legerski said. “Emma is a tremendous player who ended up being honored as the sixth player of the year last season in our league.”
Much like a lot of other teams in the MWC, the Cowgirls were able to improve throughout last season and play some of their best basketball near the end of the season.
Although Wyoming was upset in the first round of the MWC Tournament in Las Vegas—a 64-56 loss to an up-and-coming Colorado State team—the Cowgirls went 6-3 in February to close the last half of the conference regular season.
“You need to find a way to win games early, which is something this group struggled with at times with coming ready to play every night,” Legerski said. “Toward the end of January, they really found their stride, started playing extremely well and it was a very satisfying season.”
The Cowgirls do not have a senior on the roster. But they do have a wealth of experience in the junior class with Vandiver, center/forward Hillary Carlson, forward Jade Kennedy and junior guard Randi Richardson.
Carlson created inside scoring and rebounding production to lead Wyoming in points per game (11.8), blocks (1.2) and field goal percentage (.790), and recorded double figures in 17 of her 30 games played.
“To have the stability with Aubrey back beside Hillary, Jade and Randi will give us a junior class that can really benefit this young group,” Legerski said. “I really like the combination of what Hillary has been able to add to our game in the fact that she gives us post presence.
“We’ve had post players in the past, but none that commanded double teams like Hillary. She has improved her game, is going be stronger and is better this year than in the past. To complement our outside game with Hillary is a just tremendous asset to our program.”
Legerski and his staff addressed three specific needs with the three incoming freshmen in guard Bec Campigli of Melbourne, Australia; forward Chaundra Sewell of Broomfield, Colo.; and guard Sara Wilson of Grant, Neb.
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Information from: Laramie Daily Boomerang – Laramie,
