‘A Great Opportunity to Play Again’
Mar 14, 2023 | Women's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Shortly after the Kansas State women's basketball team learns that it will host Wichita State in the WNIT, ninth-year K-State head coach Jeff Mittie begins to talk. From losing All-American center Ayoka Lee to offseason surgery, to the fantastic addition of Gabby Gregory, to adjusting offenses, to witnessing the far-reaching emergence of sophomores Serena Sundell, Jaelyn and Brylee Glenn, to battling in the powerhouse Big 12 Conference, the Wildcats have experienced a season of growth in so many ways.
"This," Mittie says, "is a great opportunity to play again."
Yes, it's a grand opportunity to play a basketball game again, and that's important, because some teams simply don't make it this far. The Wildcats, 17-16, are granted new life, a chance to continue their season, and it'll begin with a 6 p.m. tipoff Thursday against the Shockers, 18-14, at Bramlage Coliseum.
"Any experience you get in one-and-done situations is good," Mittie says. "Our group battled in the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City."
And Mittie knows this: K-State battled all season. With the quick adjustments due to Lee's other-worldly absence on the court. With a switch from having a dominant force in the paint — Lee set the NCAA Division I record by scoring 61 points in a game last season — to working to establish an outside presence — four different players have made 20-plus 3-pointers. With so much uncertainty early on in the season.
K-State, in fact, flourished in the non-conference before the Wildcats battled and battled in the Big 12.
"Obviously, you never want to talk about who's not available, but we obviously knew we had some big (personnel) losses early, so for them to have such a good non-conference, and then when we hit a rollercoaster in January and they stuck together and continued to get better, I'm really proud of that," Mittie says.
"Now our hope is that we can get into the postseason here and play well."
Mittie heads into his office at the Ice Basketball Training Center to prepare for the Shockers.
Sundell, who's played at her best over the past six games, steps in.
"Coach said we're in this thing to win it," she says, "so that's our goal."
Sundell has been quite a story this season. The 6-foot-1 point guard, heaped with pressure due to Lee's absence, has helped steer the ship to the postseason. She has averaged 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 3.0 steals over the past six games, including a career-high 33 points at Oklahoma on March 1.
For the season, Sundell averages 13.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, ranks fourth in the Big 12 with 5.1 assists per game, and has a team-leading 26 blocks.
"I'm just playing with a lot of confidence right now," Sundell says. "I felt a little bit of pressure in the beginning of the year without Yokie and making those adjustments, but it feels good to be playing probably my best basketball in March. I'm just playing with confidence and taking that pressure off my shoulders, and playing stress-free has helped me a lot."
Having Gregory, an All-Big 12 First Team selection, has helped K-State a lot this season as well. Here's a senior transfer from Oklahoma who has burst upon the scene for the Wildcats. One year after averaging 2.6 points per game at Oklahoma, Gregory is averaging 18.6 points at K-State. Gregory ranks second in the Big 12 in points to go along with 5.4 rebounds in 34.4 minutes per game. Gregory, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is averaging career highs across the board.
She is one of six players in the nation averaging at least 18 points, five rebounds and two 3-pointers per game. She's the first player in K-State history and one of four in the nation this season with 575 points, 150 made free throws and 70 3-pointers in a season.
"Sometimes I think about it and it feels like the season just started or like I just got here, and then sometimes I think about it, and it feels like we've been playing forever," Gregory says. "I'm just happy to still be playing. Playing in March is so cool. I'm so excited to keep playing."
Mittie knows he has a special duo in Gregory and Sundell. They're the 10th tandem in school history to combine for 1,000 points in a season. They've combined for 1,050 points with at least one game left to go.
"Adding Gabby this year, we felt like we needed a veteran who could really score the basketball and who had some big-game experience and big-shot experience and that was a big benefit to us," Mittie says. "Serena has continued to grow in her role as point guard and we saw her have a terrific February and early March. It's been fun to see her grow throughout this season because this was a different year for her. She had more responsibility with losing Lee and more responsibility with taking big shots and handling things down the stretch."
And now comes the stretch run, the final push, the reward for the Wildcats, who continue to grow before our eyes. Jaelyn Glenn averages 11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and a Big 12-leading 2.5 steals per game. Brylee Glenn averages 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. More and more players are starting to emerge as well.
"Eliza Maupin is learning every day," Mittie says. "We're watching her get better. Heavenly Greer has made a lot of improvements defensively. Those are real benefits. We treat Serena and the Glenn twins like they're old veterans but they're sophomores who've just played so many games."
Hopefully, there are many more games to go this March.
The Wildcats won 11 of 13 non-conference games this season, including the first seven games of the season, and featuring an 84-83 win over then-No. 4 Iowa, which is a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats also beat the likes of Wisconsin, Clemson and Houston.
This will mark the 50th all-time meeting between the Wildcats and Shockers and their first meeting since December 12, 2014. This will be the third postseason meeting between the schools and the first since March 2, 1981.
Wichita State is making its first WNIT appearance since 2012.
K-State is 13-4 at home this season.
"It's incredible," Gregory says. "We've played really well at home this season, so another opportunity to play at Bramlage is really cool. Any opportunity to have to play more games is special."
A season of adjustment can be difficult for any team. K-State, an NCAA Tournament team a year ago, is in the postseason again. This time in the WNIT.
As for next year?
K-State should have a healthy Lee.
And that, too, should be special.
Shortly after the Kansas State women's basketball team learns that it will host Wichita State in the WNIT, ninth-year K-State head coach Jeff Mittie begins to talk. From losing All-American center Ayoka Lee to offseason surgery, to the fantastic addition of Gabby Gregory, to adjusting offenses, to witnessing the far-reaching emergence of sophomores Serena Sundell, Jaelyn and Brylee Glenn, to battling in the powerhouse Big 12 Conference, the Wildcats have experienced a season of growth in so many ways.
"This," Mittie says, "is a great opportunity to play again."
Yes, it's a grand opportunity to play a basketball game again, and that's important, because some teams simply don't make it this far. The Wildcats, 17-16, are granted new life, a chance to continue their season, and it'll begin with a 6 p.m. tipoff Thursday against the Shockers, 18-14, at Bramlage Coliseum.
"Any experience you get in one-and-done situations is good," Mittie says. "Our group battled in the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City."
And Mittie knows this: K-State battled all season. With the quick adjustments due to Lee's other-worldly absence on the court. With a switch from having a dominant force in the paint — Lee set the NCAA Division I record by scoring 61 points in a game last season — to working to establish an outside presence — four different players have made 20-plus 3-pointers. With so much uncertainty early on in the season.
K-State, in fact, flourished in the non-conference before the Wildcats battled and battled in the Big 12.
"Obviously, you never want to talk about who's not available, but we obviously knew we had some big (personnel) losses early, so for them to have such a good non-conference, and then when we hit a rollercoaster in January and they stuck together and continued to get better, I'm really proud of that," Mittie says.
"Now our hope is that we can get into the postseason here and play well."
Mittie heads into his office at the Ice Basketball Training Center to prepare for the Shockers.
Sundell, who's played at her best over the past six games, steps in.
"Coach said we're in this thing to win it," she says, "so that's our goal."
Sundell has been quite a story this season. The 6-foot-1 point guard, heaped with pressure due to Lee's absence, has helped steer the ship to the postseason. She has averaged 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 3.0 steals over the past six games, including a career-high 33 points at Oklahoma on March 1.
For the season, Sundell averages 13.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, ranks fourth in the Big 12 with 5.1 assists per game, and has a team-leading 26 blocks.
"I'm just playing with a lot of confidence right now," Sundell says. "I felt a little bit of pressure in the beginning of the year without Yokie and making those adjustments, but it feels good to be playing probably my best basketball in March. I'm just playing with confidence and taking that pressure off my shoulders, and playing stress-free has helped me a lot."
Having Gregory, an All-Big 12 First Team selection, has helped K-State a lot this season as well. Here's a senior transfer from Oklahoma who has burst upon the scene for the Wildcats. One year after averaging 2.6 points per game at Oklahoma, Gregory is averaging 18.6 points at K-State. Gregory ranks second in the Big 12 in points to go along with 5.4 rebounds in 34.4 minutes per game. Gregory, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is averaging career highs across the board.
She is one of six players in the nation averaging at least 18 points, five rebounds and two 3-pointers per game. She's the first player in K-State history and one of four in the nation this season with 575 points, 150 made free throws and 70 3-pointers in a season.
"Sometimes I think about it and it feels like the season just started or like I just got here, and then sometimes I think about it, and it feels like we've been playing forever," Gregory says. "I'm just happy to still be playing. Playing in March is so cool. I'm so excited to keep playing."
Mittie knows he has a special duo in Gregory and Sundell. They're the 10th tandem in school history to combine for 1,000 points in a season. They've combined for 1,050 points with at least one game left to go.
"Adding Gabby this year, we felt like we needed a veteran who could really score the basketball and who had some big-game experience and big-shot experience and that was a big benefit to us," Mittie says. "Serena has continued to grow in her role as point guard and we saw her have a terrific February and early March. It's been fun to see her grow throughout this season because this was a different year for her. She had more responsibility with losing Lee and more responsibility with taking big shots and handling things down the stretch."
And now comes the stretch run, the final push, the reward for the Wildcats, who continue to grow before our eyes. Jaelyn Glenn averages 11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and a Big 12-leading 2.5 steals per game. Brylee Glenn averages 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. More and more players are starting to emerge as well.
"Eliza Maupin is learning every day," Mittie says. "We're watching her get better. Heavenly Greer has made a lot of improvements defensively. Those are real benefits. We treat Serena and the Glenn twins like they're old veterans but they're sophomores who've just played so many games."
Hopefully, there are many more games to go this March.
The Wildcats won 11 of 13 non-conference games this season, including the first seven games of the season, and featuring an 84-83 win over then-No. 4 Iowa, which is a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats also beat the likes of Wisconsin, Clemson and Houston.
This will mark the 50th all-time meeting between the Wildcats and Shockers and their first meeting since December 12, 2014. This will be the third postseason meeting between the schools and the first since March 2, 1981.
Wichita State is making its first WNIT appearance since 2012.
K-State is 13-4 at home this season.
"It's incredible," Gregory says. "We've played really well at home this season, so another opportunity to play at Bramlage is really cool. Any opportunity to have to play more games is special."
A season of adjustment can be difficult for any team. K-State, an NCAA Tournament team a year ago, is in the postseason again. This time in the WNIT.
As for next year?
K-State should have a healthy Lee.
And that, too, should be special.
Players Mentioned
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