MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — As Mike Carey enters his 19th season leading the WVU women’s basketball program, the Mountaineers will take the floor with added depth in the frontcourt and experienced leaders in the backcourt.
They will open the season, however, without All-American Tynice Martin in the lineup. Martin has been suspended from the team since August after she was charged with domestic battery. On Wednesday, Martin entered a no-contest plea and will serve one year of probation.
While Martin remains suspended, Carey is confident that the nine players in the rotation will adjust without their senior leader.
“Everybody knows where they are going to be playing and knows the rotation right now. We have made our adjustments that we needed to make,” Carey said. “I think we are going to be long and athletic. I think we will be a better rebounding team. It will be a matter of us hitting some shots.”
“We’re nine-deep. All nine can play. All nine will see a lot of action throughout the year. I think they can all contribute and help us win.”
Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year Kari Niblack returns to anchor the WVU frontcourt. As a freshman, Niblack 9.7 points and seven rebounds per game.
“I have a higher basketball IQ now,” Niblack said. “I am able to see the floor better than last year. I have been working a lot on my guard skills.”
“We have size,” Carey said. “We have Blessing (Ejiofor), we have Rochelle (Norris) and we have Kari at (power forward). Kari was at (center) last year. Now you have two that can pound the boards in there. We’re more physical, we’re bigger and we’re a little bit stronger than we were last year.”
Sophomore Madisen Smith will engineer the WVU offense as the returning starter at point guard. She was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman team last season. Smith will be joined at the guard spot by senior Lucky Rudd and redshirt junior Kysre Gondrezick. Gondrezick played in just five games a year ago, missing the majority of the season due to personal reasons.
“Having a great relationship with Coach Carey has made my transition a lot easier,” Gondrezick said. “I am still the same. I still have the same passion. I am still trying to get better every single day. I still have the same goals in mind.”
“Madisen is our only true point guard that we have on the team this year. Of course she has the ability to play forty minutes but I am sure she would like to have a breather here and there. Playing my natural position, I feel a lot more comfortable this year.”
“Kysre gives is another three-point shooter,” Carey said. She gives us somebody that can play (both guard spots). She gives us somebody that understands the game and sees things and sees two passes ahead.”
Among the newcomers, Carey praised freshman forward Esmery Martinez. Martinez comes to Morgantown as one of the nation’s top 50 players by ESPNW.
“I am saying it right here, Esmery is going to be a big time player for West Virginia University. We’re really excited about her.”
West Virginia has missed the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2006. Picked third by the Big 12 Conference coaches behind Baylor and Texas, expectations both inside and outside the program are elevated.
“I’m never going to be happy. Even after (tonight’s) game, believe me I will complain about something,” Carey said. “The reason I do that is because we have to get better. We are not trying to beat St. Francis. We are trying to beat the Baylor’s and the Texas’ of the world. We are trying to get better in certain areas to do that.”
“I can promise you we are going to come out and play hard. I can promise you we will probably throw the ball around all over the place in the first game. I am excited to get the season started.”