SE: K-State WBB Focused on Taking Advantage of Class-Free Time, Improving Execution
Dec 20, 2018 | Women's Basketball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
K-State women's basketball head coach Jeff Mittie has brought up this time period a lot the past few weeks. There's a reason why.
"It's always key," K-State's fifth-year head coach said, as his team prepares to face Central Arkansas in Bramlage Coliseum on Thursday at 7 p.m.
It's key because there's no other time period like it in a basketball season.
The fall semester is over, meaning his players have no classes to attend and no tests to stress about. Games are more spread out, so there's an ample amount of time to practice and sure up some areas before conference play arrives. For K-State, it's less than two weeks away from its Big 12 opener at Iowa State on January 2.
So, outside of a few community service projects — K-State held two basketball clinics for children in the past week, as well as bought, wrapped and delivered presents for a local family — it's been all basketball for the Wildcats recently. And it will continue to be for the near future.
"They can really hone in on improvement here," Mittie said.
"It's huge," senior guard Kayla Goth added of this stretch, which includes an eight-day gap between Thursday's game and K-State's non-conference finale against Northern Iowa on December 29. "I enjoy this transition from non-conference to conference because it's such a big step. We've played three ranked teams in the non-con but come conference, we play a lot more. Those are all opportunities.
"This stretch right here is a lot of practicing, it kind of gets old after a little bit, but it's also a good opportunity for us to make strides in those areas of need. It's going to be a big key for us."
Those areas start with execution, especially on offense, Mittie said.
K-State shot 38 percent and scored 53 points in a win at Little Rock. The Wildcats then made 35 percent of their shots and scored 51 points in a loss to (17/19) Arizona State last Sunday. Before these two battles, K-State had shot at or above 40 percent from the field in six of its last seven games.
"Early in the year, shot selection was a concern. I kind of tightened things up in regard to what plays we were running to control that better," Mittie said. "There's been improvement in that area. I think we've had a good focus there, but we're still missing some execution things. When you get in a close game against a really good team, you're talking a couple possessions here or there, and that can make the difference."
K-State's battle with Arizona State was a prime example of this. The Wildcats were neck-and-neck with the Sun Devils most of the game before some execution errors caught up with them late in the fourth quarter.
Goth said their offensive execution issues fall into two categories: executing their plays and recognizing times to "deviate" from them when an opening presents itself.
"We need to learn how to play out of the play call and not just run through the motions, not just run the play because Coach Mittie told us to run the play. If you see something open, you need to make the move and go score or go get a foul," she said. "But our execution, in general, with our plays, we've been over them the last two days for a good chunk of practice so that shouldn't be an issue, but now being able to deviate and go make that move is what I would say is the next step."
Junior forward Peyton Williams, averaging a team-leading 14.8 points and 9.8 rebounds, agreed.
"I think it comes down to just being comfortable making the plays that aren't scripted but also (are smart), so I think finding that balance is what we're working on right now," she said. "I think we're getting better."
K-State women's basketball head coach Jeff Mittie has brought up this time period a lot the past few weeks. There's a reason why.
"It's always key," K-State's fifth-year head coach said, as his team prepares to face Central Arkansas in Bramlage Coliseum on Thursday at 7 p.m.
It's key because there's no other time period like it in a basketball season.
The fall semester is over, meaning his players have no classes to attend and no tests to stress about. Games are more spread out, so there's an ample amount of time to practice and sure up some areas before conference play arrives. For K-State, it's less than two weeks away from its Big 12 opener at Iowa State on January 2.
So, outside of a few community service projects — K-State held two basketball clinics for children in the past week, as well as bought, wrapped and delivered presents for a local family — it's been all basketball for the Wildcats recently. And it will continue to be for the near future.
"They can really hone in on improvement here," Mittie said.
"It's huge," senior guard Kayla Goth added of this stretch, which includes an eight-day gap between Thursday's game and K-State's non-conference finale against Northern Iowa on December 29. "I enjoy this transition from non-conference to conference because it's such a big step. We've played three ranked teams in the non-con but come conference, we play a lot more. Those are all opportunities.
"This stretch right here is a lot of practicing, it kind of gets old after a little bit, but it's also a good opportunity for us to make strides in those areas of need. It's going to be a big key for us."
Those areas start with execution, especially on offense, Mittie said.
K-State shot 38 percent and scored 53 points in a win at Little Rock. The Wildcats then made 35 percent of their shots and scored 51 points in a loss to (17/19) Arizona State last Sunday. Before these two battles, K-State had shot at or above 40 percent from the field in six of its last seven games.
"Early in the year, shot selection was a concern. I kind of tightened things up in regard to what plays we were running to control that better," Mittie said. "There's been improvement in that area. I think we've had a good focus there, but we're still missing some execution things. When you get in a close game against a really good team, you're talking a couple possessions here or there, and that can make the difference."
K-State's battle with Arizona State was a prime example of this. The Wildcats were neck-and-neck with the Sun Devils most of the game before some execution errors caught up with them late in the fourth quarter.
Goth said their offensive execution issues fall into two categories: executing their plays and recognizing times to "deviate" from them when an opening presents itself.
"We need to learn how to play out of the play call and not just run through the motions, not just run the play because Coach Mittie told us to run the play. If you see something open, you need to make the move and go score or go get a foul," she said. "But our execution, in general, with our plays, we've been over them the last two days for a good chunk of practice so that shouldn't be an issue, but now being able to deviate and go make that move is what I would say is the next step."
Junior forward Peyton Williams, averaging a team-leading 14.8 points and 9.8 rebounds, agreed.
"I think it comes down to just being comfortable making the plays that aren't scripted but also (are smart), so I think finding that balance is what we're working on right now," she said. "I think we're getting better."
Players Mentioned
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