Top 25 Motivation
Nov 12 | Women's Basketball
By Tom Luicci
ScarletKnights.com
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Whatever Rutgers women's basketball team that Top 25 voters were looking at when they omitted the Scarlet Knights from the Associated Press' preseason poll isn't the Rutgers team that Tyler Scaife has been seeing since practice began.
Scaife's team is a nice blend of experience (three returning starters, four of the top five scorers back) and newcomers (four freshmen). It's one that has been emphasizing 3-point shooting - a major shortcoming a year ago - while flashing the potential to be suffocating on the defensive end.
In other words, it's one that Scaife feels should be ranked.
"It's definitely motivation," the junior guard said of the snub. "I think we've got a great team. I think we're going to surprise a lot of people. We're under the radar right now. We're not in the Top 25 but that's a goal.
"We're just ready to go out there and play and prove we have some talent."
The proving starts on Friday when the Scarlet Knights, rejuvenated by a return to the NCAA Tournament a year ago, open the season at St. Joseph's.
"It bothers us not being in the Top 25 right now, but it's more motivational than anything," said senior center Rachel Hollivay. "We know the teams that are in it and we know we can beat those teams. It's going to motivate us every day."
One thing that will be different from last year's 23-10 squad, say Scaife and Hollivay, is this team's willingness and ability to shoot 3-pointers.
A year ago, Rutgers attempted a Big Ten low 237 shots from 3-point range (by contrast, Ohio State attempted 781).
"We've been shooting 3s a lot better," said Scaife, who averaged 14.8 points a year ago. "We'll still play up-tempo but you'll see us shooting more 3s. It's exciting to see what we're capable of. You look at that and you look at the way we play defense - I think our defense is going to be the best since I've been here - and you know we have a chance to be a good team."
Scaife is joined by senior Kahleah Copper (a team-leading 16.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and Hollivay (6.7 ppg, 4.6 ppg) as the returning starters from a team that made its Big Ten debut by going 12-6 in league play. Veterans Briyona Canty and Ariel Butts, a 6-3 senior center who started 10 games last year, will again be counted on as key contributors.
So will the four true freshmen: Guard Aliyah Jeune, who adds to this team's 3-point potential, guard Khadaizha Sanders, center/forward Desiree Keeling and center/forward Victoria Harris.
"They're all going to be helpful," said Hollivay. "Aliyah brings aggressiveness and a 3-point threat. And Khadaizha at point guard is going to bring help for (Canty) and (Scaife). Desiree is going to help me when I need a break. Victoria is a big body who is going to help.
"Rutgers fans are going to be excited to see the freshmen. They bring different things to the table and they're all going to have their moment when they jump out."
In addition to playing trademark Stringer-style defense, Hollivay sees this team as having the same offensive firepower as last year's, when the 68.7 points per game average matched the second highest in Stringer's 20 years at the helm.
"We have all the tools we need to have this team back where it should be. We see it," said Hollivay.
It's a team with a solid foundation and, now, plenty of motivation.
"Making it to the NCAAs last year got us back to where we needed to be and this year we plan on building off that," said Scaife.
