KSR's takeaways from Kentucky WBB's 2023-24 Media Day

Basketball season is almost here, folks. In the lead-up to Friday’s Big Blue Madness, the Kentucky women’s basketball team hosted its annual Media Day session on Monday. KSR was in attendance where we got to hear from fourth-year head coach Kyra Elzy, who spoke for roughly 30 minutes while answering plenty of questions from reporters, and all 12 of the players on this year’s roster. We were also given the opportunity to watch our second open practice of the fall.

Before we break down every word we heard and analyze every shot we saw — we’ll have an abundance of content coming to the website over the next several days — we’re going to share our top takeaways. KSR’s Zack Geoghegan and new KSR interns Katie Hutchison and Phoenix Stevens are here to provide their thoughts on everything they saw during this year’s Media Day session. Let’s dive right in.

Basketball season is here folks. We’ve got Kentucky WBB Media Day happening right now at the Joe Craft Center.

Kyra Elzy, now in year four, takes the podium first. pic.twitter.com/S77JDu48OS

— Zack Geoghegan (@ZGeogheganKSR) October 9, 2023

Chemistry levels are notably higher

Almost every team — no matter the sport — will have some sort of buzzword during their offseason. It could be a phrase or one all-encompassing word, but more often than not, the coaches will try to focus on one area (the buzzword) and then drill that into their players over the course of several months. For Kentucky women’s basketball heading into the 2023-24 season, that buzzword is “chemistry”.

From Coach Elzy’s opening statement to nearly every player interview, that word was uttered in some form or fashion. There is a true sense around the program that the synergy and togetherness of this group are lightyears ahead of where it was this time last year — when Elzy was essentially having to force team-bonding exercises on her team. Now, the bonds are organic. Players enjoy each other’s company on and off the floor. Multiple Wildcats referenced how they all had dinner at Maddie Scherr‘s house the night before Media Day and watched a scary movie together. They move as one group.

Not to say that last year’s team had a broken locker room — as that was not the case by any means — but there is simply a different mindset around the women’s basketball facilities heading into this season. The players feel they can hold each other accountable now, whereas last year, it typically had to come from up top. There were even a few players (Scherr, Eniya Russell, and Saniah Tyler) who lit up with a smile when asked about how much better the overall “vibes” feel around the program. It’s an obvious difference.

Of course, the million-dollar question will center around how it translates onto the floor.

— Zack Geoghegan

Ajae Petty’s transformation

Senior forward Ajae Petty‘s physical transformation was one of the first things we noticed at open practice a couple of weeks ago. Now, to get the chance to hear Elzy talk about Petty’s determination and grit, offered an entirely different perspective on the senior’s new look. Elzy talked about a “tough conversation” she had to have with Petty at the end of last season. As we know, Petty wasn’t exactly the standout player she was expected to be. However, Elzy says that Petty embraced the conversation and worked hard to make the change.

As for Petty’s perspective, she says Elzy motivated her by saying she thought Petty was “selling herself short” and “not seeing her full-on potential.” Petty said the biggest thing on her mind when she got home during the offseason was doing everything she could to get better. From what we’ve seen so far, it’s clear that Petty has put in a considerable amount of work to become faster, stronger, more agile, and overall display a positive mindset. Petty finishes first in almost every team drill, encourages her teammates, and could definitely have her breakout year this season.

— Katie Hutchison

Excited to play at Rupp Arena

There have been concerns circulating around the program that playing at Rupp Arena could present a lot of unwarranted challenges for the women’s basketball team. Many have thought that it would be difficult to fill seats and adjust to a new home court, but everyone we spoke to today had nothing but good things to say about the change of scenery.

A lot of folks within the program are looking forward to seeing the new-look Memorial Coliseum, but they are very excited for this season as well. Among the reasons cited was that playing at Rupp Arena provides a crazy and energetic atmosphere that is unlike any other. On top of that, other players and coaches said playing at Rupp is a “dream come true”, and that they are looking forward to playing on the big stage.

— Phoenix Stevens

Being a Kentucky Wildcat is special

There are five players (including three Miss Kentucky Basketball winners) and two coaches (including another Miss Kentucky Basketball winner) on the team who were born and raised in Kentucky — Kyra Elzy, Scherr, Amiya Jenkins, Brooklynn Miles, Emma King, Cassidy Rowe, and assistant coach Crystal Kelly. According to Elzy, this was 100% intentional. The head coach mentioned that she wants to “keep the most in-state talent home”, and “home” is where they want to be.

Five of the twelve players on the @KentuckyWBB team are actually from Kentucky, including three former Miss Kentucky Basketball winners.

Coach Elzy (who is a Kentuckian herself) talks about trying to “keep the most in-state talent home” and what that means for her program. pic.twitter.com/E6YHQK795T

— Phoenix Stevens (@PStevensKSR) October 9, 2023

When I spoke to some of the players, they talked about how it meant a lot to them to wear “KENTUCKY” across their chests. Some even said it was surreal for them, and that they are just so grateful to be here. Almost half of this roster is comprised of Kentuckians, and that will go a long way in helping out the team chemistry even more in 2023-24.

— Phoenix Stevens

Seniors taking on new roles

Coach Elzy made sure to emphasize the fact that her team is full of veterans. With only three new players (Brooklynn Miles, Janae Walker, and Jordy Griggs), Elzy’s squad is full of girls who’ve known each other for a few years now. For super-senior Emma King, she’s witnessed the turnover from the Rhyne Howard Era, to last season’s disappointment. “This is by far the closest group of any of the five teams I’ve been a part of,” King said when asked about her teammates.

Five teams. King has witnessed five totally different teams. As a senior, King has a role she didn’t have before. King says the chemistry isn’t as forced as it has been in the past, since they’d had so many new people come in every year. But this year, most of the players stuck around — nine of them, to be exact. King said she feels like she’s become a mother to this team, and the girls go to her when they have a concern that needs to be discussed with Coach Elzy. “I like that role,” King said. “I really enjoy getting to encourage all of them and hold them accountable, we just have a good time together.”

— Katie Hutchison

Pushing the pace on both ends

This isn’t exactly a new development for those who have followed this team for years now, but the offense is going to be built around pushing the pace and creating transition opportunities. This team is built to execute that. Conditioning has been a focus this offseason and was talked about as a strength going into the season. As the schedule wears on, it should help this group down the stretch against less-conditioned teams.

A few players mentioned how Ajae Petty will be one of the fastest post players in the country after a complete “transformation” over the summer. Brooklynn Miles is a massive pest on defense. There are hard-nosed workers spread across the roster that are embracing the run-and-gun style. Practice features a lot of running — they’ll be prepared to try and outpace their opponent. As has been the case in years past, this will be a smaller Kentucky team, so finding points between the margins through fastbreaks and turnovers is going to be critical, even if some untimely gambles could leave them exposed. Elzy is hoping to force 20-plus turnovers per game.

— Zack Geoghegan