Motor City Madness #HLWBB Analysis
Lance Rinker
Drive to Detroit is a series that prepares fans for Motor City Madness. Each article will take fans behind the scenes of a team’s journey or preview what fans can expect when they arrive in Detroit.
In this installment of Drive to Detroit, Horizon League contributor Joey Yashinsky previews the upcoming Horizon League Women’s Basketball Tournament with analysis by coaches and scouts from around the league.
1) GREEN BAY PHOENIX (26-3, 16-2)
“Kevin Borseth does a great job every year of making sure those kids are solid. They play hard. They are one of the best defensive teams in the country. It’s very hard to score on them. When you play Green Bay, you’ve got to make shots. If you don’t make shots, it’s going to be a long day. They really pack it in. They don’t let you get anything easy inside. They turn you into a jump-shooting team, and if you aren’t hitting, they’re really good at boxing out and not allowing second chance opportunities. You’re pretty much one-and-done.”
“Jessica Lindstrom has been one of the best rebounders in the country since she came into the league. She works hard, she tracks the ball, and she’s got a great motor. With her work ethic, how tough she is, and how she competes, she’s really one of my favorite players in this league.”
“When I scouted them for the first time, I couldn’t believe Karly Murphy was a freshman. She has brought an inside presence that I don’t think they’ve had for a while. She’s able to score down low, she’s also really smart as far as her basketball IQ, and again, she’s a really tough kid. She’s gonna battle with you. She does not carry herself like a freshman.”
2) IUPUI JAGUARS (21-8, 13-5)
“We knew they had a really nice team coming in. Austin Parkinson has them solid all the way around at every position.”
“Danielle Lawrence can score in a variety of ways. She can knock down 3s, she can take you off the dribble, she gets to the foul line quite a bit, and she takes good shots. Very rarely will you see her force something up.”
“Macee Williams and Tamya Sims gives them a really nice forward/center combination. The Williams kid is a really good freshman, probably will be Freshman of the Year. And then Sims has been a terrific pickup from Bradley, just athletic and all over the place. She’s so long defensively. She can really guard 1 through 5 if they need it. They are just a well-built team.”
3) WRIGHT STATE RAIDERS (21-9, 12-6)
“You know when you play Wright State, Chelsea Welch is going to get hers. She is so hard to stop, and even though you know she wants to go left, she is very crafty getting to the basket. She gets to the line a lot. If she’s not making shots, she’s getting fouled. It could be her, Lawrence and Lindstrom up for Player of the Year.”
“Mackenzie Taylor is just such an accurate shooter. I’m very impressed with how consistent she is. You give her any space and any time to get set, it’s most likely going in. She’s also very confident, which is important as a shooter because if it doesn’t go, you’ve got to be ready to take the next one.”
“This is a team playing with a swagger. They always play with confidence and that’s something Katrina Merriweather instills in them. I definitely expect them to be in the hunt at Little Caesars Arena.”
4) MILWAUKEE PANTHERS (20-10, 11-7)
“They’re a scary team. With Steph Kostowicz and Jenny Lindner, those two can carry a team. With them being led by seniors, I could see them making a run.”
“Bailey Farley and Jamie Reit are game-changers for Milwaukee with their 3-point shooting. Farley is really an underrated guard in our league.”
“McKaela Schmelzer has done a good job for them, but I do think as we move forward here, teams might heat up on her a little bit just to see how she’ll handle that pressure. Because as soon as that tournament starts, it’s one-and-done. It’s a different feeling from a regular season game.”
5) CLEVELAND STATE VIKINGS (19-10, 11-7)
“You have to pick your poison a little bit with both Khayla Livingston and Ashanti Abshaw, and you have to add Olivia Voskuhl to that mix, too. That’s a three-headed monster right there, and they are playing really well right now. It really gives them a chance to make a run. Livingston is having an awesome year, Abshaw is having another very good year. If Coach Peterson can keep those three going, they have a really good shot.”
“Shadae Bosley is the best shot blocker in our league. Her timing is so good, and she just knows her role on that team. She’s gonna defend and protect the rim. She’s done it the entire year, so she’ll definitely be on my All-Defensive Team.”
6) YOUNGSTOWN STATE PENGUINS (15-14, 11-7)
“Every team wishes they could have Indiya Benjamin. I think she is the biggest reason Youngstown gets wins with her ability to get the ball to the right places. She rarely turns it over and she can also score if you need her to score. She’s been the MVP of that team in my eyes.”
“Sarah Cash’s minutes have been a little up and down this year coming back from that knee injury. But she is still someone you must scout and be prepared for.”
“When you are Chelsea Olson, playing with a top point guard and you know how to get yourself open, then you have a chance to be really good. Olson is in such a good rhythm right now. Just from watching film, Benjamin and the rest of them are really finding her in good spots and letting her put up big numbers.”
7) OAKLAND GOLDEN GRIZZLIES (14-15, 7-11)
“They’re dangerous. They’ve just been a little inconsistent for some reason. But they are a scary team because of their ability to put up points. And they seem to be playing some of their best basketball here at the end of the season.”
“They have Leah Somerfield inside, she can go off for 20 points anytime. They also have good guard play with Sha’Keya Graves and Cierra Bond and Taylor Jones.”
“Taylor Gleason is the one that keeps the team under control. Keeps them solid. She’s been a key piece for them.”
8) NORTHERN KENTUCKY NORSE (8-21, 6-12)
“I think they’re really young, but really young with some very good players. There are a couple there that could get on the All-Freshman team. They can be a scary team, because even the games they’ve lost, they’ve been pretty close.”
“Molly Glick has been a big key for them this year. A big piece of the puzzle. Shooting the ball really well, and another kid that plays tough and plays all-out all of the time. So having a player like that as your go-to player, it’s a real positive for them.”
“Mikayla Terry does a little bit of everything. She’s the only senior, so they really lean on her for experience and leadership.”
9) DETROIT MERCY TITANS (2-27, 2-16)
“They got all the way to the title game last year, so you can’t count them out just because of their record. Coach Scott is a strong leader. You see he never loses that intensity no matter what the score is or if they might not be winning many games.”
“Brianne Cohen requires at least two defenders almost all of the time. She can be unstoppable if she gets the ball in good enough position. It’s key that she not pick up fouls early in games. She needs to stay on the floor for them.”
“I really like Anja Marinkovic. One of the more dangerous shooters in our league. If they can somehow get her and Nicole Urbanick going at the same time, you could see a run similar to last year -- especially with that crowd support behind them.”
10) UIC FLAMES (8-21, 1-17)
“I like Taylor Toney because of her athletic ability and because she’s physical. She’s got a college build and she’s a tough kid. She is a problem for the opposition. I like that piece for them. When they get some other people around her, they will bounce back. “
“Abreanna Lake will be solid. Just have to keep building those kids’ confidence. When you’re having a season like they’re having, it’s easy to lose some confidence, so you just have to keep building these kids up and know that it won’t stay that way for long.”
“Gabby Johnson is a really strong offensive rebounder. You need to know where she is when the shot goes up. A good, solid inside presence for the Flames.”
MOTOR CITY MADNESS
The 2018 Little Caesars Horizon League Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championship will take place March 2-6 at state-of-the-art Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Tickets can be purchased now at campus box offices or at HorizonLeague.com.
Drive to Detroit series
1: The District Detroit
2: College Hoops Invades Little Caesars Arena
3: #HLWBB Garners National Acclaim as League Play Tips Off
4: A Visitor's Overview
5: Five Awesome Spots to Eat During Motor City Madness
6: Horizon League Schools Making an Impact in the Detroit Community
7: Metro Detroit Talent Takes the Stage at Motor City Madness
8: A Midpoint Look Ahead to Motor City Madness
9: Motor City Madness Esports Championship
10: Horizon League Stories Gaining National Attention
11: Be Part of the Madness
12: Motor City Madness #HLWBB Analysis
13: Motor City Madness #HLMBB Analysis