IU women's basketball preview
Photo by Mike Dickbernd
Jori Davis
The Indiana University women's basketball program enters the 2009-10 campaign with one of the youngest teams in the program's history. But the Hoosiers boast one of the most dynamic scoring combinations in the Big Ten, athleticism around the perimeter, a solid supporting cast, a sprinkling of talented freshmen and a head coach who has enjoyed unprecedented success in her first three seasons in Bloomington. Despite their youth, the Hoosiers believe that they have the talent and determination to make another trip to a postseason tournament.
The aforementioned scoring combination is composed of senior guard Jamie Braun and junior forward Jori Davis. Braun is an ambidextrous sharpshooter who can play both guard spots, rebound exceptionally well for her position, finish with both hands, connect from three-point range and defend three of the five positions on the floor. Davis is an electrifying scorer who is adept at breaking down larger opponents off the dribble, while also possessing the skill set to post up smaller defenders.
Both Braun and Davis flourished in the Big Ten in 2008-09 and are looking lead the Hoosiers to the program's second consecutive 20-win season.
Last season Braun averaged 12.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. She was named second team All-Big Ten by the league's coaches and garnered third team honors from the league's media. Her brilliant junior season was not an aberration. As a sophomore she averaged 14.5 points per game and was a second team All-Big Ten honoree. In her freshman campaign she was named Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year. And now in her senior season, her scoring prowess will be freed from the constraints of having to play point guard. Making the switch to shooting guard will allow the Marshfield, Wis., native to slash from the wings and work off screens to get open looks from beyond the arc. The 2009-10 Indiana women's basketball season looks to be a very special one for Braun.
Davis, from Metropolis, Ill., is coming off of a breakout sophomore effort, where as the season progressed she became Indiana's most devastating scoring option. Late in the 2008-09 season, Davis dropped a career high 25 points on Northwestern, a healthy 17 against Ohio State, 19 against Michigan State and scorched Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament for 22. Davis heads into the upcoming season as a true All-Big Ten candidate and easily ranks as one of the most exciting players in the conference.
But as the Hoosiers embark on the upcoming season, Braun and Davis will not have to go it alone.
Sophomore Sasha Chaplin, from St. Petersburg, Fla., looks to make a huge impact as one of Indiana's primary low post scorers and defenders. At 6-3, Chaplin boasts a deft shooting touch, deceptive quickness, and the length that Indiana has lacked on defense the last several seasons. Her promising freshman season was cut short due to an ACL injury early in the season, but she had outstanding performances against Radford, Missouri, and Ball State. Against Radford, she posted 10 points, four rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot. In limited action against Missouri, `Big Sash' pulled down seven rebounds and six points. And against Ball State, Chaplin scored 11 points in just 13 minutes. A shot blocker with nice post moves, the ever smiling Chaplin could emerge as a star in her sophomore season.
In the back court, junior Whitney Lindsay, from Mansfield, Ohio, looks to play significant minutes at point guard. Lightning quick, Lindsay is capable of being one of the best on-the-ball defenders in the Big Ten. As a sophomore, Lindsay recorded several multi-steal performances including a four-steal effort against Illinois on Jan. 25. Her shooting touch showed demonstrable improvement last season, and few point guards can match her quickness.
Showstopper Ashlee Mells, a sophomore, also will see minutes at point guard in 2009-10. Known for her `no-look' passes and high arching jumpers, the Grand Prairie, Texas, native has the potential to be a major spark off of the bench for Indiana in the upcoming season. Mells netted a career high nine points last season against Michigan State on Feb. 12.
Aiding Chaplin on the front court will be sophomore Danilsa Andujar. The 6-2 Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., product saw limited action as a freshman, but impressed during Indiana's foreign tour of Italy last May. Her strength has improved, and she looks to give Indiana a much needed physical presence in the paint this season.
A player who can play solid minutes at either shooting guard or small forward is Andrea McGuirt, a junior. From Atlanta, Ga., she possesses a nice touch from three-point range and can play suffocating defense in pressing situations. The former McDonald's All-American nominee has the strength and quickness to be a key defender off of the bench this year for Indiana.
Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack buttressed this talented group of returners with a solid and versatile group of newcomers.
A player who should make an immediate impact up front will be Vincennes University transfer Hope Elam, from Champaign, Ill. The 6-1 junior was named a NJCAA First Team All-American at VU and was ranked eighth nationally in scoring with 21.2 points per game. She was also ranked fifth in the country in rebounding by pulling down 11 rebounds per contest. Elam could see significant minutes right away for the Hoosiers and will help replace the loss of standouts Whitney Thomas and Amber Jackson due to graduation.
One of the most intriguing newcomers is Delray Beach, Fla., native Sasha Bernard, a sophomore. The 5-6 point guard was a McDonald's All-American nominee, possesses remarkable strength and court vision, and looks to see action early in the year for the Hoosiers.
Freshman forward Aulani Sinclair arrives on campus with a sterling high school resume. She was an Indiana All-Star who averaged 26.1 points, 14.4 rebounds, 4.4 blocked shots and 4.5 steals per game in four seasons at Eminence High School in Eminence, Ind. At 6-1, she provided Indiana with another much needed low-post scoring option.
Jasmine Davis, also a freshman, rounds out Indiana's outstanding class of newcomers with a list of high school accomplishments that rival Sinclair's. The 6-2, Metropolis, Ill., native recorded 1,384 points and 868 rebounds during her high school career and she earned Associated Press Illinois Basketball Coaches Association First Team All-State honors as a senior. With her size and strength in the low post, Davis could make an immediate impact for this young and talented Indiana team.
