SYD BRACKEMYER'S KNEE COULD HOLD HER OUT OF THE 2014-15 SEASON
(We continue with our look at the 2014-15 UofL women's basketball team preview. Today, we look at the freshmen)
Brackemyre, a skilled, 6-foot-1 forward from Wilmington, Ohio, also had a knee injury as a high school junior. She was rated the No. 37 player in the 2014 class by ESPN.com.
There's a good chance Brackemyre would not have been a major member of Louisville's rotation this season if she were healthy, although Walz has said he thought she could have had a contributing role if the knee were stable.
Walz also said junior forward Cortnee Walton is out 2-3 weeks with a broken toe.
The news, especially for Syd, is disheartening. It reminds us of Shawnta Dyer's freshman year...going out with a hip before ever playing in a regular season game.
It means the Cards will have two great looking and inspirational cheerleaders on the bench for awhile...one in Asia's old jersey and the other rocking CB's old number.
It does not diminish the overall "wow" factor of the 2014 Class, though. Walz has some ballers...
McDonald's All American Myisha Hines-Allen has
impressed in the preseason with her vertical jump, going to the boards and finishing around the basket skills. If she doesn't crack the starting lineup...the 6'2" forward will be one of the first off the bench.
Coach sees her like this:
"Her physicality and ability to withstand contact and just embrace it is what's going to give her the advantage and ability to play early."
McDonald's All-American Mariya Moore and Walz got to know each other a lot better when they were on the USA Fiba U 17 team this summer. In Moore, he gets a good shooter (and maker), excellent ball distributor and defensive stopper. Like Hines-Allen, she's also able to motor up and down the court at high velocity, breakneck speed...a plus for Walz's beloved fastbreak, transition style of play. 
Arica Carter is a very strong possibility to be the Cards back up point guard...still working at developing a body ready for the rigors of college play...but a player that can dish, drive and dribble penetrate. At 5'8"...she also qualifies for our "attack Yorkie" squad..and will give opposing guards fits with her defensive quickness and steal capabilities. 
Arianna Freeman will compliment the wing position for the Cards and at 5'9" goes to the boards with the skills of someone much taller. Her defensive intensity will gain her court minutes and she's another one that can run the up-and-down the court transition game at warp speed.
Walz sees the 2014 class this way:
"We recruited these young ladies with the idea that they were going to have to come in here as freshmen and contribute and compete. We're not trying to replace Shoni, we're going to have kids that do different things. I feel really good about our nucleus and the caliber of freshmen...and all our players we have right now."
paulie
So just like that the roster is down to 11 players for UofL WBB. Given Dyer's an Vails injury prone career, that number will probably drop to nine. Can Walz get that supposed top-ranked 2015 class on campus a year early? BTW, Sorry to hear about Brackemyer. Despite the rivalry, never like to hear about injuries.
ReplyDeleteMatthew Mitchell for Governor
Thanks for the wishes for Syd, Matt. Injuries are a part of the game. Jeff Walz will tell you that he has to apply his focus and attention to those who are able to play and he has 11 very good ones left that can do so. Walton will be back and as far as prognosticating on Dyer or Vails....just look back to last year when there was speculation on whether Tia Gibbs and Asia Taylor would be able to being significant contributors after coming back from injuries. That turned out pretty well, didn't it?
DeleteNever underestimate the human spirit, will and motivation.
Paulie