‘See if we can handle business.’ Kentucky women’s basketball facing difficult feast week.
Kentucky’s 2023-24 women’s basketball campaign hasn’t opened as smoothly as fans may have hoped.
After an encouraging season-opening win over Southern Conference preseason coaches’ pick East Tennessee State, and a well-balanced victory over USC Upstate, the Wildcats’ stumbles in back-to-back ASUN matchups led to consecutive losses to Austin Peay and NCAA Tournament regular Florida Gulf Coast. UK is also dealing with the absence of senior starting guard Maddie Scherr, who suffered an ankle injury in the win against USC Upstate and is, per head coach Kyra Elzy, considered “day-to-day.”
And now, the Wildcats (2-2) will suit up for three games in three days in the U.S. Virgin Islands for a 2023 Paradise Jam lineup that features two of the best teams in the country, No. 3 Colorado (4-0) and No. 10 North Carolina State (4-0), as well as newly minted Big 12 program Cincinnati (2-1).
In a media availability Friday, Elzy spoke to the benefits of participating in a high-level tournament like the Paradise Jam. This is UK’s second Thanksgiving tournament trip in Elzy’s four seasons; the Wildcats played in the Baha Mar Hoops tournament last year in the Bahamas.
“Well, we look forward to going,” Elzy said. “One, sunshine … but, you know, competition. It will show you what you’re made of. A lot of tough games, different styles of play, and see if we can handle business in that type of environment.”
Despite having a .500 record prior to facing any Power Five competition, the Wildcats do have some bright spots. Players like senior forward Ajae Petty and sophomore guard Saniah Tyler — neither of whom made a significant impact in their first year with the team last season — have proven, at least early on, to be necessary pieces to UK’s success. Tennessee transfer point guard Brooklynn Miles, who leads Kentucky in both minutes per game with 31 and assists with 4.5 per game, has elevated the Wildcats’ pace of play and their defensive intensity. Senior guard Eniya Russell, averaging 8.5 points and 5.3 rebounds, looks to be the team’s strongest off-the-bench option and capable of igniting offensive momentum.
Elzy will tell you the pieces are there, and the aforementioned positive in-game flashes don’t dispute that. But what will it take to connect those pieces for consistent, high-level play capable of competing in arenas like the Paradise Jam, or the Nov. 30 ACC/SEC Challenge game versus Boston College? Or, of course, in looming SEC play? Following UK’s loss to FGCU on Sunday — when, during the fourth quarter the Cats outscored the typically potent Eagles 17-4 — Elzy discussed taking ownership as a coaching staff, and asking the players to take ownership, as well.
“It’s a journey, for sure,” Elzy said. “Not where we want to be by any means. Obviously the expectation is to win. We go back to the drawing board, see what we can do as coaches to help them more. Also give them some ownership. ‘Where can you help yourself?’ As well, but we’re in it together. We win together, we lose together. We’ll continue to learn and grow from here. We do have the pieces. You know if we could sustain what we did in the fourth quarter for 40 minutes, we’re going to be in business.”
Here’s a day-by-day breakdown of the Wildcats’ difficult holiday weekend at Paradise Jam.
Thursday
Opponent: No. 10 North Carolina State (4-0)
Tipoff: 3:15 p.m.
TV: ESPN Plus (online only)
Wolfpack all-time vs. UK: 4-2
Head coach Wes Moore has his own new-look roster jumping right back onto the national stage after losing his top four scorers from last season.
Puzzlingly left out of the AP poll in the preseason, the Wolfpack asserted themselves Nov. 12 with a 92-81 victory over then-No. 2 UConn. N.C. State has also handled Charlotte and Elon, and most recently picked up a 67-58 victory over a respectable Rhode Island team.
With four players averaging double-figure scoring over N.C. State’s four games — Aziaha James (20.3), Saniya Rivers (17.3), Mimi Collins (11.8) and freshman Zoe Brooks (10.3) — a lot will be asked of the Wildcats in their first taste of feast week competition.
Friday
Opponent: No. 3 Colorado (4-0)
Tipoff: 1 p.m.
TV: ESPN Plus (online only)
Buffaloes all-time vs. UK: 1-1
If the Wolfpack isn’t a tall enough task for the Wildcats, the sharpshooting Buffaloes of Boulder certainly will be.
After a flashy 92-78 victory over reigning national champion — and preseason No. 1 — LSU in the first game of the year, Colorado catapulted from a No. 20 preseason ranking to No. 5. Now pushing into the top three, Colorado has also scored wins over Le Moyne, Oklahoma State and SMU.
The Buffaloes are averaging 51 percent shooting from the field and 32.7 percent from the three-point line, the latter heavily impacted by guard Frida Formann’s impressive 41.4 percent shooting from long range. Formann is just one of Colorado’s offensive weapons, averaging 15.0 points. She is joined in averaging double-figure scoring by Aaronette Vonleh (19.5), Jaylyn Sherrod (14.8) and Quay Miller (11.0).
Saturday
Opponent: Cincinnati (2-1)
Tipoff: 3:15 p.m.
Bearcats all-time vs. UK: 6-19
On Saturday, after Colorado and N.C. State face off for a 1 p.m. tip, the Wildcats will match up against familiar face Cincinnati.
This season, the Bearcats are under new leadership with the hiring of former player and graduate assistant Katrina Merriweather away from Memphis. Despite opening the season with a 77-59 loss to then-No. 17 ranked Louisville, Cincinnati has since picked up double-digit wins over mid-majors Lindenwood and Toledo.
Through their three games, the Bearcats have two players averaging double-figure scoring. Guard Mya Jackson and forward Jillian Hayes each average 13.0 points, with Hayes averaging a double-double with a team-high 10.0 rebounds per contest.
