BASKETBALL PREVIEW
ASU rebuilds inside game, will count on its shooters
It’s possible to be optimistic and skeptical about Arizona State women’s basketball going into the 2019-20 season.
There are enough interesting pieces, especially on the perimeter, to believe ASU should be nationally ranked (No. 18 USA Today coaches poll/No. 20 AP) and are capable of extending their school record six-year NCAA Tournament streak.
But the Sun Devils again are faced with rebuilding their post game and must replace 55% of their scoring and rebounding lost from a NCAA Sweet 16 team.
Imaging what the puzzle will eventually look like is
difficult, even for 23-year coach Charli Turner Thorne.
“There’s a lot of talent but also a lot of inconsistency right now,” Turner Thorne said. “I don’t change the starting lineup that much, but this year it could change just because we don’t have that kind of established crew.”
Except at guard where seniors Reili Richardson and Robbi Ryan have a combined 163 starts and are plenty experienced. Three other every-game starters from last season — Kianna Ibis, Courtney Ekmark and Charnea JohnsonChapman — are gone.
Ibis was a two-time All Pac-12 selection and teamed with Johnson-Chapman and junior college transfer Sophia Elenga to keep ASU strong in the post after 2017 when Sophie Brunner, Quinn Dornstauder and Kelsey Moos graduated.
Now, the bulk of the post work will fall on two returners — senior Jamie Ruden and sophomore Jayde Van Hyfte — and two newcomers — transfer Ja’Tavia Tapley and freshman Eboni Walker. Eva Rubin, a 6-foot-5 junior, opted to transfer last week so Tapley at 6-foot-3 is ASU’s tallest player.
“We need to be really diligent about boxing out and hitting people first and going to get the ball,” the 6-foot-2 Ruden said. “We don’t want to let teams jump over us. Then also just running teams. Charli says we’re built to run this year so as long as we keep running teams and outworking them, that’ll set us up in a good spot.”
Ruden has played a fair amount (78 games) but also had health issues. Her greatest contributions have been as a 3pointer shooter more than a low post player.
The 6-foot-1 Van Hyfte showed potential as a backup in her first season and has the mobility to run in transition. She scored 2,775 points with 114 doubledoubles at her small Illinois high school.
“I learned a lot from the seniors that graduated last year,” Van Hyfte said. “I think I’m ready to take on a bigger role this year and help my team in any way that I can. I definitely know how the game works. It’s a lot faster pace.
“There will be a lot more opportunity for scoring. We do have a very balanced team this year, but I’ll take on that role this year and be looking to score more often.”
Tapley is a grad transfer from USC who started 26 games last season and 41 total as a Trojan. She was among six players to leave following a 17-13 season under Mark Trakh, who is in his second turn as USC’s coach.
“I’ve gained so much by being here,” Tapley said. “I enjoy playing basketball for Charli and my teammates. It’s just a positive vibe and everything’s just come together perfectly after I transferred.
“The transition has been great. Honestly, it’s opened my eyes up to new parts of my game, and I’m able to become stronger and quicker with the things that we do. It’s helped me see the value in myself as a player. I really do appreciate that.”
Turner Thorne viewed adding Tapley as a “godsend” even before Rubin’s transfer. “It was exactly what we were hoping for” as a bridge to a 2020 recruiting class that is stocked with size.
The 5-11 Walker is a five-star recruit ranked No. 44 nationally in ESPN HoopGurlz 2019 top 100. She averaged 11.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game as a senior at Las Vegas Centennial, which has won five consecutive Nevada Class 4A state titles.
Sophomore Iris Mbulito and junior Bre’yanna Sanders also figure to see time in the post. The 6-1 Mbulito is an important swing player for ASU who ability to play four positions.
“We know to have a great year, we have to shoot the ball well,” Turner Thorne said. “Especially this year because we’re more perimeter driven, and we don’t have three senior posts we can just dump it in to. The chemistry is going to take time with the new kids.”
The Sun Devils begin that work Tuesday at home in a 6 p.m. game against Air Force.
ASU’s 2016 recruiting class was ranked No. 10 nationally (HoopGurlz).
Richardson, Ryan, Ruden and Kiara Russell have made three consecutive NCAA appearances, peaking at the Sweet 16. Sydney Goodson, also in the 2016 class, transferred to Texas Tech after one season at ASU.
If the Sun Devils can navigate the monstrously difficult Pac-12 to get back into the postseason, they will have nine recent four-year players who never missed making the NCAA.
“This teams wants to build on last year’s season,” Turner Thorne said. “They don’t want to go backwards. The great thing about this senior class is there’s nothing they haven’t seen. They really can be incredible leaders for us if they keep their sense of urgency and passion and do what they’re capable of doing.”
Coming Wednesday: Arizona men’s basketball aiming to get back on track after missing the NCAA tournament last season.