This is the first in a series of four posts on the Bobcat women’s basketball team, discussing the past season and a look ahead to next season. Part 1 Season Wrap up, Part 2 Look ahead: Bigs, Part 3 Look Ahead: Wing players and Part 4 Look Ahead: Recruits.

Part 1 Season Wrap

I will admit strait up I am less comfortable about my knowledge on the women’s team than the men’s. Yet at the same time also feel pretty confident in saying that the women’s program is at least 2 years in it’s building than the men’s. While I feel Binford has put into play the elements of what she and her coaches envision for the women’s basketball program, at this point in time those elements / players are very young.

This year’s team started out the season looking for an identity and struggled though out the preseason. When the conference season started, season started the women had to play the first 6 of 8 games on the road, and came out of the first half of the season with 3 wins. The only good thing about playing 6 of 8 games on the road the first half is that the second half you get 6 of 8 at home. And the women’s manage to still finish strong and take a third place finish in conference. In what has been a hallmark of Binford's teams they always seem to finish the season strong and play their best game at the end of the year. I saw this team in the preseason the first and second Cat / Griz, the Northern Colorado, and then the tournament games and each time I saw this team they looked more mature, and confident.

This year’s team lacked depth at the post, and I think they had a fair amount a trouble with teams that could pound the ball inside. Garcia was all leagues at the center /forward spot but she got things done with quickness and speed, rather than trying to out muscle her competitors. All of that said I do not think Binford will ever be a coach who will boast a bruising front line. Binford seems to more about athleticism, and speed. While I would have liked to see a little more depth also at the 1, 2, and 3 when you had players like Perry, Bussey, Phippard and even Strand occasionally, what Binford lacked in depth she made up with in quality. Binford will have some big holes to fill next year with the loss of Phippard, Hoefer, and Garcia; she will also have a lot of talent coming back next year.