whitetrash said:

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slimecap said:

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A native of Beaver, Ohio, Stollings graduated in 1998 from Ohio University

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A gopher from Beaver?

She must have some huuuuuge incisors.

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Excuse me?

SEASON REVIEW

"Nobody wanted to get ahead of themselves. Entering the season, the Longhorns could have been riding high. Junior center Jatarie White was finally available after sitting out all of the 2016-17 season due to the transfer rules. Freshman forward Rellah Boothe and guards Chasity Patterson and Destiny Littleton comprised the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation.

Ranked No. 2, the Longhorns had every reason to think they would be more successful this season after losing to 3-seeded Stanford in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. They also knew better.

"Sky's the limit (for us)," senior guard Ariel Atkins said before the season. "But it takes a lot to be able to reach your potential. You have to show up every day, and it takes a lot of good things to line up for us to get to where we want to go."

Atkins' teammates agreed.

"You've got to feel like every team is Final Four caliber," fellow senior guard Brooke McCarty said shortly after. "I think if we work hard every day and just focus on us, we'll be good."

Head coach Karen Aston drilled the day-by-day approach into the team's identity. She had to. The Longhorns would be without sophomore and previous regular starter Joyner Holmes for the fall semester due to suspension. Aston didn't want the team to get overwhelmed by the adjustments they needed to make. Taking things one day at a time would help the transition.

The plan worked, for the most part. Texas started the season 9-1 without Holmes, the only loss coming against No. 11 Tennessee on Dec. 10, 2017. But when Holmes returned on Dec. 23, she and the rest of the team had to adjust again. Holmes slowly earned a spot back in the rotation and cemented her place with an 11-point, 9-rebound performance against Kansas on Jan. 13.

Despite her talent, working Holmes back into the lineup proved challenging. The Longhorns went 63 in their next few games. But they continued working to get better. Following a loss to No. 3 Baylor on Jan. 25, Texas went on a five-game win streak before suffering another setback. Late in the second quarter against Kansas State on Feb. 10, senior forward Audrey-Ann Caron-Goudreau fell awkwardly on her wrist going after a loose ball. The play left Caron-Goudreau with a bruise that ultimately kept her sidelined for the rest of the season. With Caron-Goudreau out, Holmes was moved back into a starting role. It wasn't easy.

"Starting (is more challenging)," Holmes said. "When you sit, you can see the mistakes that (your teammates) are making and what coach wants you to go in there and do differently. When you start the game, you've just got to go in and do what you've learned through shootaround and through practice throughout that week."

Still, Texas figured things out. The team closed the regular season out with a 245 record, two games better than a year before. The Longhorns advanced to the Big 12 Championships before losing to Baylor again, a round further than they had in 2017. Focusing on one day at a time had worked. There was no reason for the team to change mindsets heading into the NCAA Tournament.

"Getting to play here for probably our last time, it's just a lot of emotions that go into it," McCarty said. "I'm taking it day by day and going with the process."

The changes weren't effective enough. Though Texas advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fourth-consecutive time, they were upset by UCLA, 84-75, on March 23. Aston saw enough progress, though. She knows moving on now without Atkins and McCarty will be strenuous. She also knows her team will need to continue taking things day by day to do it.

"There may be in my lifetime as a coach that I have coached more talented players," Aston said. "But I don't know that I will coach two better role models, two better leaders, two better gym rats, two better workers than Brooke and Ariel."

- Drew King, The Daily Texan, 28 March 2018

NEW HEAD COACH

Good for her. Extremely long road ahead.

A slow talking Yankee. LOL Sure don't sound like a west Texer. But nowhere to go but UP in Lubbock.

geewago said:

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A slow talking Yankee. LOL Sure don't sound like a west Texer. But nowhere to go but UP in Lubbock.

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You betcha. Ya.

I like Tech, and hope the program becomes competitive again soon. Young women's basketball in that part of Texas has a great heritage. I think Tech begin better will give a bit of lift to the conference.

WNBA DRAFT

The four BIG 12 players that were drafted and their draft pick position:

07 Ariel Atkins Texas > Washington Mystics
16 Kristy Wallace Baylor > Atlanta Dream
18 Loryn Goodwin Oklahoma State > Dallas Wings
29 Teana Muldrow West Virginia > Seattle Storm

SEASON REVIEW

"Shaina Pellington's gray expression matched the concrete hallway she stood in deep within Texas A&M's Reed Arena, just moments removed from Oklahoma's last stand. But following OU's 90-79 first-round NCAA women's tournament loss Friday to DePaul, the guard's grit stood out from her sadness. The Big 12 freshman of the year shot three 3-pointers this season and missed each one. Teams won't be able to play off her next year, once she fixes her jump shot, she says.

"I promise you," Pellington added.

Following a lukewarm season that ended with 16 victories and 15 losses, OU is left reviewing the lows and highs, as well as the promise that next season always brings. The Sooners' schedule was ranked No. 2 most difficult nationally for much of the year, and they attacked it with a roster that had been trimmed to nine players after two players transferred during last offseason.

OU coach Sherri Coale compared the Sooners' loss to DePaul to their entire season, full of short-lived spirited moments. The highs were always fleeting, and her players were always better with their backs against the wall. They found ways to score despite limited bench production, behind an All-Big 12 center in Vionise Pierre-Louis, plus veterans Maddie Manning and Gabbi Ortiz. Two future stars emerged in freshmen Pellington and Ana Llanusa, and all 5 starters averaged 12 or more points, something no other Power 5 school did this season.

But defensively, a stopper or two never emerged as Coale had hoped in the preseason. OU's 72.7 points allowed per game ranked ninth in the Big 12, and its 3-point field goal percentage defense (35.4 percent) ranked last. The Sooners weren't aloof about those deficiencies. Defending the 3-point line was their main defensive focus in the season's final two games, yet they surrendered 22 combined makes. It made for a puzzling, and of course, sad ending.

As much as Pellington's improved shooting can help the Sooners moving forward, perimeter defense will surely be a focus as she and Llanusa continue their development.

OU will also add freshman Madison Williams, the nation's No. 10-ranked high school wing player according to ESPN. The organization ranks Coale's recruiting class 18th nationally.

Pierre-Louis leaves a major void, which junior Ijeoma Odimgbe and incoming freshmen Nydia Lampkin (6-3) and Aspen Williston (6-4) must fill by committee.

Coale has indicated her future teams will face a similarly brutal schedule as this year's. Though it was a rocky season, with just one win streak of three games or more, OU made its 19th consecutive NCAA tournament largely because of the difficult non-conference teams it played. OU had a small army of opposing college coaches campaigning in its favor during, and even after, the Sooners' final attempt to escape the NCAA bubble.

"If strength of schedule is that important to the committee, you can't leave Sherri Coale out," Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said during the Big 12 tournament.

DePaul coach Doug Bruno campaigned for Coale again, even after his team eliminated the Sooners.

"I'm thrilled they earned their way [in]," Bruno said. "I really do believe they did by having the courage to play the teams they played in their non-conference schedule."

While the Sooners waited anxiously to learn their postseason fate, Coale had a lot of time to think about how she schedules. If her team was left out, would she map an easier route? Unequivocally, no, she said.

OU wants some things to change next year, whether it's Pellington developing into a respectful shooter, or Odimgbe becoming an offensive threat, or the team solving the defensive issues that plagued it as a whole. What the Sooners won't change, Coale promises, is who they play. They'll continue seeking out the best teams, because attractive matchups create optimum exposure for women's basketball.

"And we gotta get better," Coale said, "and win more of those games."

- Tyler Palmateer, Norman Transcript, 17 March 2018

Kamie Ethridge (right)

"Northern Colorado's Kamie Ethridge, one of the most decorated basketball players in the country and a Division I coach for the past 27 years, was named Sunday to lead the Washington State women's program.

"Our goal is to build a championship culture that develops every aspect of our student-athletes in women's basketball," WSU athletic director Patrick Chun said in a statement. "The first step in building this culture is bringing Coach Ethridge to the Palouse."

Ethridge has been part of a winning culture since her college days at Texas, where she helped lead the Longhorns to an NCAA title and an undefeated season in 1986.

Two years later in Seoul, South Korea, the 5-foot-5 point guard won an Olympic gold medal with the United States and was named to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. The 53-year-old Ethridge replaces June Daugherty, who was dismissed last month after 11 seasons. So competitive that she once competed in a triathlon and rode the last three miles of the bicycle leg on a flat tire, Ethridge also won gold at the FIBA World Championships, World University Games and Pan American Games.

"Kamie is committed to creating an environment that delivers the best possible experience to our student-athletes," Chun said. "Her values, character and vision make her an exact fit for our goals in this next chapter of our basketball program."

After graduation Ethridge worked at Texas for one year as a graduate assistant, then followed with a two-year stint at Northern Illinois. An assistant at Vanderbilt from 1991-96, she helped the Commodores reach the Sweet 16 all five seasons, including a Final Four run in 1992-93. While at Vandy, Ethridge played a major role in recruiting five high school Kodak All-Americans and 13 Gatorade State Players of the Year.

Ethridge spent 18 seasons (1996-2014) as an assistant coach at Kansas State
where she was part of a staff that took teams to nine NCAA postseason tournaments, four WNIT postseason tournaments (including winning the 2006 WNIT Championship), and two Big 12 Championships. The Wildcats advanced to six Sweet 16s while totaling a record of 350-226 over that span.

In her first head-coaching stint, Ethridge spent the last four seasons at Northern Colorado, posting three 20-plus win seasons during that time, including a school-record 26 wins en route to being named the Big Sky Coach of the Year this season. She led UNC to a then-school record 22 wins in her first season before topping that mark in 2018. This year's UNC squad ranks among the best in Big Sky history, finishing 26-6 with a 32 ranking in RPI with wins over DePaul and LSU.

Can she do the same at WSU, which had just one winning season under Daugherty?

"Every good thing in basketball begins and ends with the quality of people we are surrounded by," Ethridge continued. "I am convinced that at Washington State I will be surrounded by people of excellence in the athletic department, as well as throughout the academic community, Pullman and all of "Cougar nation."

- Jim Allen, Spokesman Review, 15 April 2018

TINA THOMPSON

named head coach of Virginia

whitetrash said:

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slimecap said:

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TINA THOMPSON

named head coach of Virginia

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That will limit her opportunities to bark at KM from the opposing bench while losing late in a game.

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Hahaha.

Wonder if Tina leaving opens the door for more transfers out of the UT program?

WacoKelly83 said:

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Wonder if Tina leaving opens the door
for more transfers out of the UT program?

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There is the possibility of opening doors

Destiny Littleton played in 8 games for 2017-18

Link for Texas Statistics
http://texassports.com/documents/2017/11/13/wbb_stats_2017_18.pdf

NEW ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH

"Nikita Lowry Dawkins, an associate head coach under legendary Tech coach Marsha Sharp and the associate head coach under Stollings, will return to Lubbock with the new leader."

- Mike Graham, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 11 April 2018

ROSTER ADDITION

HEAD COACHING SALARY




"Marlene Stollings received a one-time signing bonus of $200,000 and an annual raise of $200,000 to start with when she left Minnesota for Texas Tech earlier this week.

The Gophers paid their former women's basketball coach $500,000 last season. She'll make $700,000 next season ($900,000 with her bonus), and her salary will increase $20,000 in each of the five seasons of her agreement.

A sixth season in the agreement is contingent on the Lady Raiders making the NCAA tournament twice in her first five years.

The Star Tribune obtained a signed agreement between Stollings and Texas Tech. An official contract will be presented to the Texas Tech's Board of Regents for its approval.

Stollings is also eligible to make up to $200,000 in supplemental compensation each season. She was introduced in Lubbock, Texas, on Wednesday and called the program a "sleeping giant."

Additional compensation listed on the agreement includes a Lubbock country club membership, a luxury vehicle and a $750,000 staff salary allowance."

- Staff, Minneapolis StarTribune, 13 April 2018

ROSTER ADDITION

FORMER PLAYER

FORMER INTERIM HEAD COACH

slimecap said:

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FORMER INTERIM HEAD COACH

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I really like the mindset she had after she wasn't put in such a tough situation at Tech. Very passionate and respectable. Wishing her good luck with Clemson.

Good for her. She's joining a good coach. They should have success.

UPDATE
New article with additional information



Larry Tidwell was a Baylor assistant coach from 1992-98



LARRY TIDWELL

Resigning as head coach of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)
to become the Chief of Staff for Texas Tech.

"Though not the Lady Raiders recruiting coordinator
- that title belongs to Erin Grant, a former Texas Tech player who Tidwell tried to sign in 2002 during his tenure as the recruiting coordinator at TCU -
Tidwell said recruiting will be his primary focus.

He plans to use his 40-plus years of coaching at the high school and college level in Texas to secure some of the state's top talent while tapping into the connections he's built recruiting players from at least 25 different countries. He brought in two recruiting classes that ranked in the top 10 nationally during his tenure at TCU, and he has signed 40 student-athletes who went on to play professionally, including five WNBA players."

Link to entire article
http://www.themonitor.com/sports/utrgv_vaqueros/article_33b9f45a-4599-11e8-8887-dfdb709bafa3.html

ROSTER ADDITION

VERBAL COMMIT

2019 Leilani Correa
6'0" Wing
Howell NJ

Ranked #44 overall Prospects Nation

NEW ASSISTANT COACH

Link for Rick Cantu article
https://www.hookem.com/2018/04/30/former-texas-america-tiffany-jackson-named-ut-basketball-assistant-coach/

ROSTER ADDITIONS

"New Texas Tech coach Marlene Stollings' first recruiting class is taking shape with the additions Monday of three Texas junior-college standouts.

Signed
Mia Castaneda 5-6 guard Hereford TX Clarendon College
avg 19.2 ppg as a freshman; 15.8 as a sophomore

Announced they will be joining Texas Tech
Chinna Fair 5-10 guard Midwest City OK Odessa College
avg 12.7 ppg as a freshman; 10.5 as a sophomore

Eryka Sidney 5-6 guard Houston TX San Jacinto-North
avg 12.7 ppg as a freshman; 17.0 as a sophomore

They appear to fit Stollings' reputation for coaching high-scoring teams with strong outside shooting."

Link for entire article
http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20180501/sports-roundup-scoring-guards-join-lady-raiders-recruiting-class

Does anyone know the story behind Routt's signing with UT at this late date? Seems kind of strange for UT to be signing a high school player out of Austin (someone they've known about forever) at this point in time.

sevenmilebeachbob said:

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Does anyone know the story behind Routt's signing with UT at this late date? Seems kind of strange for UT to be signing a high school player out of Austin (someone they've known about forever) at this point in time.

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Shea Routt is the daughter of Texas WBB player Erica Routt
who scored 1,134 points from 1992-1996

February 10, 2018

"Akins head coach Erica Routt brought more than high expectations to the Akins campus. She also brought her daughter, a 6-foot-1 forward who has endured various trials during a star-crossed high school career.

A University of Texas pledge while still in middle school, Shae played varsity basketball as a freshman at her mother's alma mater, Kempner High in Sugar Land. That's where Erica coached for 13 years before the family moved to the Austin area three years ago. As a sophomore, Shae immediately became the best player for a struggling Reagan program, scoring 35 points in her debut.

But nearly everything changed during the next-to-last game of Shae's sophomore season at Reagan. She suffered a severe knee injury that wiped out her club season in the summer of 2016 and limited her play for the Raiders as a junior. Her mother, wearing what she calls "two hats one as a coach and one as a parent," decided to sit Shae after six games of the 2016-17 season so her daughter's knee could heal better.

"As a coach, I'm saying, 'She's healthy; she can play; let's go,' " Routt said, "but as a parent, you have to say, 'Well, she can play, but she has to get stronger.' I had a kid that had a future in basketball. I didn't want to jeopardize that just to get a few extra wins."

Still, the injury altered Shae Routt's play and her recruiting prospects.

Last summer, she declined a scholarship offer from Texas, she said, because of the wealth of blue-chip recruits that coach Karen Aston has accumulated.

"At UT, they have so many good players, and a lot of them they don't even use," said Shae, who has averaged 11.6 points and 8.8 rebounds as a senior. "I wanted to come in and be able to play and not wait a year or two."

Erica Routt still has close ties to the UT program, and she and Shae often attend games at the Erwin Center.

"Shae loves Texas; that's all she knew," Erica Routt said. "The injury set her back some with her skill set, and you'd be competing against players that haven't missed any court time. You get behind the curve. The end of the day, it's a business. She decided to open up her recruiting and see what options are out there."

In retrospect, Shae agrees with her mother's decision to rest her last season. She said she came back stronger this season, when she was one of six McDonald's All-America nominees from the Austin area.

"Last year, I was struggling a little bit, but this year it's 100 percent," Shae said. "I did want to play (in 2016); I didn't want to miss out on any high school season. But looking back, it was the right decision. I probably would have gotten hurt and not been able to play this season."

Helped by the presence of a healthy Shae, the Eagles have won four of their past six games entering the postseason. With her in the paint, where she's joined by fellow newcomer Raquel Gonzalez, a 5-11 sophomore who is the team's leading rebounder, Akins' opponents can no longer double-team Lofton on the perimeter."

Link for entire article
https://www.statesman.com/sports/high-school/akins-girls-basketball-team-follows-new-routt-class-playoffs/f9LRhXAS1tUSveFqWdUIKM/

DECOMMITMENT

Texas Tech only has 6 players listed on their roster right now. Crazy.

HoustonBear15 said:

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Texas Tech only has 6 players listed on their roster right now. Crazy.

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One could make the argument that's the most they've had in years.

HoustonBear15 said:

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Texas Tech only has 6 players listed on their roster right now. Crazy.

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Does that include the juco players they just picked up?