SE: Recently Sparked Kali Jones Providing Boost to K-State WBB; Wildcats Eager for Three-Game Cancun Challenge
Nov 22, 2018 | Women's Basketball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Kali Jones was in a funk. K-State's senior forward was not playing well, and the frustrations from it were becoming obvious. So, K-State head coach Jeff Mittie, did what he thought was needed.
"I jumped her pretty hard one day in practice," he said.
"It sparked something," Jones quietly followed with.
Both said this after K-State's 61-50 win over UMKC on Sunday in Bramlage Coliseum, where Jones posted her second-straight standout performance. She finished with 14 points on 6-of-11 from the field, nine rebounds, three blocks, two steals and one assist. This followed her first career double-double on Friday in a 60-42 win against North Texas.
"I just remembered to have fun, encourage my teammates," Jones said, "and get hustle plays."
It just took a slight wake-up call from Mittie.
"He got on me, but he snapped me back into it. He made me realize that I am here for energy plays and to bring my teammates up (through) hustle plays and staying active," she said. "It definitely snapped me back into why I play basketball."
Most times, Mittie said him yelling equates to him being upset. With Jones, it was different.
"She has good intentions and she wants to do well, so you're really not yelling at her because you're mad. In my case, I was yelling at her to almost kind of spark some fight in her," he said. "She had kind of just started dropping her head on mistakes, and I think she just wants to play so well that sometimes she does forget to have fun, and you can't have that be a burden on you, that you want to play well.
"She's such an active player, and when she's active, good things happen. She gets a lot of tips. She gets a lot of offensive boards. I think her activity level just makes us a better basketball team."
K-State's last two games are prime examples. Jones scored 14 points in both, converting a combined 11 of 20 from the field. She also grabbed 20 rebounds between the two games, including 10 on offense.
"She makes the little plays. She always gives effort on the rebounds," junior forward Peyton Williams said. "She is a good, consistent player whose effort is always there, and as she keeps improving it is going to be awesome to have her as another asset on the team. I am super excited about it."
Cancun Challenge Loaded with Tough Tests
The K-State women's basketball team (3-0) left Manhattan early Monday morning for a different type of challenge in a different country.
The Wildcats face a trio of well-respected programs this week at the Cancun Challenge in Mexico, starting with No. 14 Syracuse on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. (CT). They will also play No. 16 DePaul on Friday at 10 a.m., and Princeton on Saturday at 10 a.m.
"We are looking forward to the challenge, to step up and see what our team is capable of when we do play higher teams like this, to play well together and execute," Jones said. "We're up for the challenge."
The challenge consists of three-straight days against NCAA Tournament regulars.
Syracuse has made the NCAA Tournament the past six seasons, including a run to the championship game in 2016. DePaul has not missed the NCAA Tournament since 2002. Princeton has been to it nine of the last 11 years, making the WNIT in its only two misses.
"I think it will be a different feel for this team to be the underdog," Williams said "To step up to that challenge will be a different aspect and I think it will be a lot of fun and a good challenge for us to see that kind of competition. I think we are all looking forward to it."
Mittie said the week's benefits go beyond the competition, too.
"We'll be around each other. We'll be able to spend some time in the film room. This will be the most practice we've had with Peyton and everybody together," he said. "We're starting to get a little healthier. All those things are positives."
Kali Jones was in a funk. K-State's senior forward was not playing well, and the frustrations from it were becoming obvious. So, K-State head coach Jeff Mittie, did what he thought was needed.
"I jumped her pretty hard one day in practice," he said.
"It sparked something," Jones quietly followed with.
Both said this after K-State's 61-50 win over UMKC on Sunday in Bramlage Coliseum, where Jones posted her second-straight standout performance. She finished with 14 points on 6-of-11 from the field, nine rebounds, three blocks, two steals and one assist. This followed her first career double-double on Friday in a 60-42 win against North Texas.
"I just remembered to have fun, encourage my teammates," Jones said, "and get hustle plays."
It just took a slight wake-up call from Mittie.
"He got on me, but he snapped me back into it. He made me realize that I am here for energy plays and to bring my teammates up (through) hustle plays and staying active," she said. "It definitely snapped me back into why I play basketball."
Most times, Mittie said him yelling equates to him being upset. With Jones, it was different.
"She has good intentions and she wants to do well, so you're really not yelling at her because you're mad. In my case, I was yelling at her to almost kind of spark some fight in her," he said. "She had kind of just started dropping her head on mistakes, and I think she just wants to play so well that sometimes she does forget to have fun, and you can't have that be a burden on you, that you want to play well.
"She's such an active player, and when she's active, good things happen. She gets a lot of tips. She gets a lot of offensive boards. I think her activity level just makes us a better basketball team."
K-State's last two games are prime examples. Jones scored 14 points in both, converting a combined 11 of 20 from the field. She also grabbed 20 rebounds between the two games, including 10 on offense.
"She makes the little plays. She always gives effort on the rebounds," junior forward Peyton Williams said. "She is a good, consistent player whose effort is always there, and as she keeps improving it is going to be awesome to have her as another asset on the team. I am super excited about it."
Cancun Challenge Loaded with Tough Tests
The K-State women's basketball team (3-0) left Manhattan early Monday morning for a different type of challenge in a different country.
The Wildcats face a trio of well-respected programs this week at the Cancun Challenge in Mexico, starting with No. 14 Syracuse on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. (CT). They will also play No. 16 DePaul on Friday at 10 a.m., and Princeton on Saturday at 10 a.m.
"We are looking forward to the challenge, to step up and see what our team is capable of when we do play higher teams like this, to play well together and execute," Jones said. "We're up for the challenge."
The challenge consists of three-straight days against NCAA Tournament regulars.
Syracuse has made the NCAA Tournament the past six seasons, including a run to the championship game in 2016. DePaul has not missed the NCAA Tournament since 2002. Princeton has been to it nine of the last 11 years, making the WNIT in its only two misses.
"I think it will be a different feel for this team to be the underdog," Williams said "To step up to that challenge will be a different aspect and I think it will be a lot of fun and a good challenge for us to see that kind of competition. I think we are all looking forward to it."
Mittie said the week's benefits go beyond the competition, too.
"We'll be around each other. We'll be able to spend some time in the film room. This will be the most practice we've had with Peyton and everybody together," he said. "We're starting to get a little healthier. All those things are positives."
Players Mentioned
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