Three positive takeaways from Kentucky WBB's 2022-23 season
Almost two weeks ago, I wrote about the shortcomings of the Kentucky women’s basketball team’s 2022-23 season. Now, it’s time to discuss the positives. There’s a reason this article took an extra 12 days.
There’s not a lot of positivity following an underwhelming 12-19 regular season and essentially non-existent postseason. After adding 10 new players this summer (six freshmen, four transfers), fans were cautiously optimistic about Kyra Elzy’s third season as Kentucky’s head coach.
The worries were warranted. The Cats under-performed at nearly every turn, losing five games in a row on two occasions. Not even a week after the season ended, a pair of key Cats fled the program. In a storm of issues, it’s challenging to find a few safe spots. Nonetheless, here’s my best attempt.
Where would UK be without Maddie Scherr?
Kentucky fans have their fingers crossed they won’t have to answer the question above anytime soon. With Robyn Benton and Blair Green’s graduation and Jada Walker’s transfer announcement, Maddie Scherr is Kentucky’s best-returning piece. And frankly, it’s not close.
In this past season, Scherr averaged 11.6 points per game while shooting 39% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc. Along with being one of the team’s top scorers, Scherr led Kentucky in rebounds, assists and blocks per outing.
While these statistics typically wouldn’t be enough to salvage the wreckage of a team, Scherr’s leadership abilities might be enough to pull Kentucky through. Scherr is the player teammates want next to them in a fight. She is the player who battles through migraines just to compete in the First Four of the SEC Tournament. She is the player Elzy is thankful to have by her side.
“You think about Maddie Scherr, a Kentucky girl that came home and not only did she show up, but she showed out this year. I think she showed why she is the player that she is,” Elzy said after Kentucky’s loss to Tennessee in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament.
Kentucky’s defense isn’t the issue
Kentucky’s loss in the SEC Tournament can be pinned to many things, but not defense. The Cats forced 22 Tennessee turnovers in the loss. For reference, the Volunteers committed 28 combined turnovers against No. 9 LSU and No. 1 South Carolina in their next two games.
UK’s created chaos was nothing new. The Cats squeezed 20.3 turnovers a night out of opponents last season, ranking 12th in the country. To go along with the team statistic, Kentucky had two of the SEC’s top five steals leaders.
The Wildcats’ defensive dominance wasn’t an accident. It’s a calculated creation by Elzy and her staff, and it should be repeatable next season.
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“We’re going to lay our hat on the defensive end, so nothing changes there. We’ve just got to continue to get better,” Elzy said earlier this month.
New players, new results
Perhaps the most significant positive from the Cats’ last season is that it’s finally over. Kentucky’s roster wasn’t talented enough to achieve its goals. In the age of the transfer portal, UK can ensure it avoids the same fate with a strong summer.
Elzy is ready to hit the transfer trail.
“The brand itself sells so that’s great and we have an amazing staff that’s going to get out and make sure we have the right players to fit our program to move it forward to where we want to be,” Elzy said after the final game of UK’s season.
Along with the inevitable transfers Kentucky picks up, the program will bring in freshman Jordy Griggs. ESPN’s description of the four-star combo guard will have the BBN salivating.
“Athletic perimeter prospect battles on the glass, finishes plays in traffic with superior length, wingspan, keeps the ball high and away from defenders; mismatch creator, rises over the defense in the key; versatile defender.”
Kentucky didn’t have the season it hoped for. However, in the charred remains of the destroyed season, there are a few promising pieces. It’ll be up to Elzy to utilize them, and the 44-year-old head coach plans on accomplishing just that.
“Kentucky is used to winning and that’s what we want to do. Fourteenth [in the SEC] is not where we want to be, and we won’t be here again. So we got to go back and reevaluate but that’s something that will be on our minds all spring and preseason as we prepare.”
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