SE: Lee’s Continued Dominance for K-State WBB Connected to Chemistry with, Similarities to Williams
Dec 11, 2019 | Women's Basketball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
K-State women's basketball redshirt freshman Ayoka Lee's dominant start to this season, including a program-record three consecutive Big 12 Freshman of the Week honors and counting, has a lot to do with the 6-foot-5 center's size and talent. The gains she made last year as a redshirt certainly have also helped.
There's another force at play, too. Or, more accurately, Lee's learned to play more effectively with K-State's other frontcourt force: Senior forward Peyton Williams.
"I think (our chemistry has) progressed a lot," Lee said of playing with Williams. "But I think there's definitely more room for improvement."
Which, considering Lee's recent run, should scare opponents and excite Wildcat fans.
Through eight games, Lee leads K-State in scoring average (15.1), field goal percentage (61.7), total blocks (28), free throws made (21) and attempted (35). She has four double-doubles so far.
Meanwhile, Williams has put up 50 points between her last three games on 64.7 percent shooting and is also averaging a double-double for the season.
"Both of them are continually playing better together," K-State head coach Jeff Mittie said of his starting frontcourt duo. "I just think they're seeing things quicker. The timing with which they work with inside is pretty good. Now, we're not necessarily seeing them connect pass to pass, but I think the spacing with which they give each other (is good), and that requires some timing."
Timing that the two have had more time to work on, as of late.
Williams, a two-sport star, played her final volleyball match on November 23. Since then, she's been fully with K-State's basketball team. This started with a trip to the Bahamas during Thanksgiving week, when K-State faced Memphis and No. 15 Michigan State. It's also where Lee averaged 18.0 points on 78.9 percent from the floor.
"A lot of it comes from being able to play with her (Williams) and her being with us more," Lee said, as K-State (4-4) continues its three-game road trip at Kansas City on Saturday at 1 p.m. "I think there's a lot of talking about knowing when to pass it. She's really good about talking to me about, 'I see you, but I also see the help so I'm not going pass it in there.' I think it's just having that open communication and trusting each other that we're going to try to find each other throughout the game. We're not going to forget to look for each other. I think the communication is probably the biggest thing we've improved."
There's also a connection that is hard to replace, Mittie said. He's noticed it at times when Williams is on the bench.
"You can see a drop-off just in our inexperienced players playing in there, that maybe they're late (seeing something), so then we miss Yoki on the lob because maybe we didn't clear out the backside soon enough," he said. "Peyton, just because of experience, can see those things much, much quicker."
Mittie said he's also seen some similarities between Lee and Williams simply as people. Humble, hard-working and consistent are traits he said apply to both.
"We know what we're going to get with Yoki and Peyton (every day)," Mittie said. "We're not wondering if they're coming to practice (ready). We know they're going to come in and give great effort. It'd be a surprise if they don't."
A few weeks ago, Lee was playing through a head cold. Mittie said he had no idea, adding with some players, "you know it right away."
"In her case, she just goes about her business," he said. "Peyton was the same way. Very steady."
Similarly, Lee does not let success change her approach or process.
Last week, she averaged 17.5 points on 65.4 percent shooting and 11.0 rebounds in 25.5 minutes, while also blocking 3.5 shots. This included a 10-for-10 performance against UIW, which made her the second player in school history, with a minimum of 10 field goals attempted, to finish a game perfect from the field. She joined Priscilla Gary, who did so in 1982.
After the game, Lee was asked about being named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week for the second time in a row. She responded as her head coach would have guessed.
"It is a great honor," she said of her third 20-point game this season. "It is definitely a great honor, but I think the mindset just needs to be just continuing to get better, because it's not going to get easier, and just being able to get better to help my team in any way I can."
"I always tell the players about praise and criticism. You shouldn't let it impact you either way," Mittie added. "I don't worry about her. I think (the honors are) nice, but it's not like she's sitting here thinking she's (made it). She said it in the press conference (after UIW), 'My focus is on getting better every day.'
"Those aren't just words to her. That's how she goes every day."
K-State women's basketball redshirt freshman Ayoka Lee's dominant start to this season, including a program-record three consecutive Big 12 Freshman of the Week honors and counting, has a lot to do with the 6-foot-5 center's size and talent. The gains she made last year as a redshirt certainly have also helped.
There's another force at play, too. Or, more accurately, Lee's learned to play more effectively with K-State's other frontcourt force: Senior forward Peyton Williams.
"I think (our chemistry has) progressed a lot," Lee said of playing with Williams. "But I think there's definitely more room for improvement."
Which, considering Lee's recent run, should scare opponents and excite Wildcat fans.
Through eight games, Lee leads K-State in scoring average (15.1), field goal percentage (61.7), total blocks (28), free throws made (21) and attempted (35). She has four double-doubles so far.
Meanwhile, Williams has put up 50 points between her last three games on 64.7 percent shooting and is also averaging a double-double for the season.
"Both of them are continually playing better together," K-State head coach Jeff Mittie said of his starting frontcourt duo. "I just think they're seeing things quicker. The timing with which they work with inside is pretty good. Now, we're not necessarily seeing them connect pass to pass, but I think the spacing with which they give each other (is good), and that requires some timing."
Timing that the two have had more time to work on, as of late.
Williams, a two-sport star, played her final volleyball match on November 23. Since then, she's been fully with K-State's basketball team. This started with a trip to the Bahamas during Thanksgiving week, when K-State faced Memphis and No. 15 Michigan State. It's also where Lee averaged 18.0 points on 78.9 percent from the floor.
"A lot of it comes from being able to play with her (Williams) and her being with us more," Lee said, as K-State (4-4) continues its three-game road trip at Kansas City on Saturday at 1 p.m. "I think there's a lot of talking about knowing when to pass it. She's really good about talking to me about, 'I see you, but I also see the help so I'm not going pass it in there.' I think it's just having that open communication and trusting each other that we're going to try to find each other throughout the game. We're not going to forget to look for each other. I think the communication is probably the biggest thing we've improved."
There's also a connection that is hard to replace, Mittie said. He's noticed it at times when Williams is on the bench.
"You can see a drop-off just in our inexperienced players playing in there, that maybe they're late (seeing something), so then we miss Yoki on the lob because maybe we didn't clear out the backside soon enough," he said. "Peyton, just because of experience, can see those things much, much quicker."
Mittie said he's also seen some similarities between Lee and Williams simply as people. Humble, hard-working and consistent are traits he said apply to both.
"We know what we're going to get with Yoki and Peyton (every day)," Mittie said. "We're not wondering if they're coming to practice (ready). We know they're going to come in and give great effort. It'd be a surprise if they don't."
A few weeks ago, Lee was playing through a head cold. Mittie said he had no idea, adding with some players, "you know it right away."
"In her case, she just goes about her business," he said. "Peyton was the same way. Very steady."
Similarly, Lee does not let success change her approach or process.
Last week, she averaged 17.5 points on 65.4 percent shooting and 11.0 rebounds in 25.5 minutes, while also blocking 3.5 shots. This included a 10-for-10 performance against UIW, which made her the second player in school history, with a minimum of 10 field goals attempted, to finish a game perfect from the field. She joined Priscilla Gary, who did so in 1982.
After the game, Lee was asked about being named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week for the second time in a row. She responded as her head coach would have guessed.
"It is a great honor," she said of her third 20-point game this season. "It is definitely a great honor, but I think the mindset just needs to be just continuing to get better, because it's not going to get easier, and just being able to get better to help my team in any way I can."
"I always tell the players about praise and criticism. You shouldn't let it impact you either way," Mittie added. "I don't worry about her. I think (the honors are) nice, but it's not like she's sitting here thinking she's (made it). She said it in the press conference (after UIW), 'My focus is on getting better every day.'
"Those aren't just words to her. That's how she goes every day."
Players Mentioned
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