Ten questions that will make or break the season for the UK women’s basketball team
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2020-21 College Basketball Preview
The Lexington Herald-Leader’s 2020-21 College Basketball Preview special section was published in the print edition on Sunday, Nov. 15. Click below to view all the stories from that section that have been published on Kentucky.com.
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Back in March, the University of Kentucky women’s basketball team made it to the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament and was gearing up for an NCAA Tournament run when COVID-19 ended the season.
Led by Rhyne Howard — a budding superstar who put together one of the best individual seasons in program history despite dealing with a broken finger for much of the year — UK amassed a 25-8 record and finished tied for third in the SEC, going 11-5 in league play.
By any measure, it was another highly successful campaign for Kentucky and head coach Matthew Mitchell. But, as in so many previous seasons, it felt like the Cats were still a piece or two away from breaking into the upper tier of the college basketball hierarchy; like they didn’t quite have enough to truly contend for an SEC title or make a run at the Final Four.
On paper, it looks like things could be different this time around. Reinforcements have arrived to bolster UK’s frontcourt, which has long lacked size and depth. An influx of talent in the backcourt could ease from Howard the pressure to take over games.
As we approach what would have been Kentucky’s 13th season under Mitchell, here are 10 questions whose answers will go a long way toward determining how far the Wildcats will go:
1. Mitchell abruptly announced his retirement two weeks before the start of the season. How will that affect things?
That is suddenly the overarching question of 2020-21, and one for which there are currently no answers.
Longtime assistant Kyra Elzy assumes the reins after Mitchell stepped down this past week because of health concerns. Mitchell’s departure raises questions for the program both in the short term and the big picture but the UK coach has always spoke highly of and placed a lot of trust in his staff. We’ll see where their efforts take things. Elzy played high school basketball in Kentucky and college ball for Pat Summitt at Tennessee so the roots are sound.
2. What’s next for Rhyne Howard?
It’s intriguing to imagine what Rhyne Howard does for an encore after two historic seasons in Lexington. She was unanimously voted National Freshman of the Year and as a sophomore was SEC Player of the Year, a First Team All-American and a finalist for National Player of the Year.
A unique talent who can light up the scoreboard (she was second in the nation with an average of 23.4 points per game last year) and handle the ball like an elite point guard, she’s also incredibly unselfish. In fact, with the Cats adding more firepower on offense this year, it’s not unreasonable to worry Howard might be too deferential to her teammates.
Mitchell, before his retirement, said he wants to make sure that doesn’t happen.
“If the team leaves her open every possession, she needs to shoot it. She is such a great scorer and shooter, it’s just amazing,” Mitchell said. “I used to get in trouble for shooting the ball when I played. Rhyne Howard’s gonna get in trouble for not shooting the ball. She needs to fire away.”
3. How deep is the rotation?
Just how many players will log significant minutes for the Cats this season with so many highly regarded prospects now in the mix? The team returns its top two scorers in Howard and Chasity Patterson along with three veterans (KeKe McKinney, Blair Green, Tatyana Wyatt) who all averaged at least 5.5 points per game.
Add to that a pair of ESPN five-star prospects (Treasure Hunt, Olivia Owens) and two four-star newcomers (Erin Toller, Nyah Leveretter), and you begin to wonder whether there are enough shots to go around.
“We’re not at a spot yet where I feel comfortable on what exactly those rotations will be,” MItchell said before his resignation. “But I do think there’s very realistic potential for us to be 10 deep. ... All 12 of the players who are eligible for this season ... you can see a pathway for them to get playing time. We have a very talented group.”
4. How will the guard puzzle play out?
Establishing the backcourt pecking order will be among the first challenges facing the Cats.
Howard is going to start and log the lion’s share of minutes, that’s a given; Her versatility allows her to play off the ball or direct the offense as needed.
Last year, seniors Jaida Roper and Amanda Paschal split time as the starter at point guard. Who steps into that role now that both have moved on?
Transfer Chasity Patterson burst onto the scene last year after becoming eligible in the second semester and demonstrated a penchant for clutch scoring and disruptive defense, but she struggled at times with turnovers. If she’s improved on that front, the job could be hers.
But talented newcomer Treasure Hunt, who established a rapport with Howard when the two played club ball together, could have a say in the matter. Fellow freshman Erin Toller is a natural point guard who excelled in high school at running the offense, but is also a talented scorer. Juniors Kameron Roach and Blair Green also figure to be in the mix for backcourt minutes, along with sophomore Emma King.
5. Have the Cats solved their post problems?
Senior forwards KeKe McKinney and Tatyana Wyatt have been indispensable in the paint for the last three years, but they haven’t had much help down low and have often been matched up against much bigger players.
Well, help is in the house. With the addition of 6-foot-4 center Olivia Owens, a heralded transfer from Maryland whom the NCAA cleared to take the court this season, the Cats have a rim protector with some serious length and bulk.
Another promising addition, freshman Nyah Leveretter, is the second tallest Wildcat behind Owens at 6-foot-3. With 6-foot-2 forward Dre’una Edwards also ready to take the court after recovering from a torn ACL, it appears UK finally has size and depth in the post.
“Potentially, we could have a very deep post rotation,” Mitchell said before his retirement.
6. Will Blair Green take another step?
As a Kentucky native, Blair Green faced unfair comparisons to former UK star Maci Morris when she arrived on campus. Last year, many expected Green to immediately fill the scoring void left by Morris’ graduation.
Green has flashed the ability to get hot on offense, but she’s struggled at times to consistently hit shots. With another year of experience and an expanded cast around her, perhaps Green can take another step forward as a junior.
“Blair Green just looks so much stronger and more athletic. She’s much more dynamic on the defensive end,” Mitchell said.
7. How will UK adjust in Memorial Coliseum?
Kentucky’s home court is a college basketball treasure that provides a distinct advantage. With attendance in Memorial Coliseum to be capped at 15-percent capacity because of COVID-19, how the Cats adjust could be significant.
8. Can Chasity Patterson be even better?
It’s not unusual in college basketball for highly regarded transfers to disappoint.
That was not the case with Chasity Patterson.
The Texas transfer provided the Cats with an immediate boost once she became eligible, quickly taking over as the team’s second-leading scorer and becoming a defensive dynamo. If she’s able to limit her turnovers and improve on her 31-percent three-point-shooting, watch out.
“She is electrifying. Her energy and her speed ... She’s just so dynamic on both ends of the floor that we’ll definitely look to her to provide some energy,” Mitchell said.
9. Who will be the third scorer?
Howard and Patterson are proven commodities on offense, but the Cats lost their third- and fourth-leading scorers (guards Sabrina Haines and Jaida Roper, respectively) to graduation.
There appear to be plenty of talented candidates who could fill the void.
10. Can the Cats win the SEC and contend for a top NCAA seed?
Kentucky’s lone SEC regular-season championship came in the 2011-12 season, when the Cats went on to match the deepest NCAA Tournament run in program history with an appearance in the Elite Eight.
The pieces could be lining up for UK to again push for an SEC title, assuming Kentucky is able to move forward successfully in the absence of Mitchell.
This story was originally published November 16, 2020 at 12:35 PM.
