July 19, 2002
Stability and experience are two of the keys to success for any team. In the case of the Notre Dame women’s basketball team, those two characteristics will be the cornerstones this season as the Irish build a foundation on which to reclaim their perch among the elite programs in the country.
Entering her 16th season under the Golden Dome, head coach Muffet McGraw fully understands the road that lies ahead if her team is to return to national prominence in 2002-03. She was the architect of Notre Dame’s first trip to the Final Four in 1997, and later the school’s first NCAA championship in 2001, and she already has the blueprints in place to see that another journey to college basketball’s summit is in the not-so-distant future for the Irish.
Fans of Notre Dame have good reason to be optimistic about their team’s chances to continue its current streak of nine consecutive 20-win seasons and seven straight NCAA Tournament berths. The 2002-03 squad will feature a pair of preseason All-America candidates in Alicia Ratay and Jacqueline Batteast, plus the return of starting point guard Le’Tania Severe, savvy veteran Jeneka Joyce and a quartet of standout sophomore prodigies – Teresa Borton, Katy Flecky, Kelsey Wicks and Allison Bustamante.
Despite returning three starters and seven valuable players off the bench from last year’s 20-10 unit which reached the second round of the NCAA tournament, there are a couple of questions surrounding the 2002-03 team heading into the season.
First and foremost, will the team able to rekindle the offensive fires that burned white-hot in recent years, but flickered out last season? The Irish scored 65.4 points per game last year, their lowest team output in 20 seasons, and had just two players (Ratay and Batteast) average in double figures a year ago.
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| Jacqueline Batteast |
“Actually, I expect our biggest strength this season is going to be on the offensive end because we have a lot of people who can score,” McGraw said. “We are going to be a hard team to guard, since we have several players who are capable of having big nights. Opponents are not going to be able to concentrate on one or two people, which they could do last year.”
In addition, who will step up to fill the leadership void with the loss of Ericka Haney, a starter on the 2001 NCAA championship team who was later drafted by the WNBA’s Detroit Shock.
“This will be an easy team to lead because we don’t have anybody who needs to be looked after with the exception of the freshmen,” McGraw noted. “In that way, everyone is on the same page in terms of what we want to accomplish. This is a focused group and a team that plays well together with a lot of chemistry.”
One area that was a weakness for the Irish last season – experience – will surely be a source of strength in 2002-03. Unlike last year, when half the roster was made up of freshmen, this season’s club is full of veteran players who have gone through the rigors of playing in one of the nation’s premier conferences, the BIG EAST. Without a doubt, the lessons this team learned a year ago will prove priceless in the upcoming campaign.
That development was particularly evident during Notre Dame’s European tour in May, when the Irish won three of four games, including a come-from-behind victory over the 14-time Italian First Division champion in their final contest. No less than five players averaged in double figures during the trip, with four of them being sophomores (Batteast, Borton, Flecky and Wicks).
“The trip to Europe gave us a sense of how good we can be,” McGraw commented. “That gave us a lot of confidence, especially beating the 14-time Italian league champions in our last game. It was great for us to go over there and and play with the mentality that we are a team and all working towards the same goals. There was a tremendous amount of camaraderie going on and we found that our chemistry is going to be spectacular this year.”
Balance will be a key attribute for Notre Dame in 2002-03. The Irish have multiple options on offense this season, enhanced by the maturation of the sophomore class, which came to town last season as the most highly-touted group of freshmen in school history. They did not disappoint, accounting for more than 45 percent of the scoring and rebounding on last year’s club. Consequently, the ’02-03 Irish likely will feature three sophomores – Batteast, Borton and Flecky – in the starting lineup.
“I think we are the only team in the country with seven starters returning,” McGraw said with a laugh. “We started so many different people last year, and that is the type of team we will continue to be because we have such great balance and depth. We can start any number of combinations and I would expect we will play at least nine or 10 people every night.”
Leading the way is Batteast, who turned in one of the finest rookie seasons in school history last year. Named the United States Basketball Writers’ Association (USBWA) National Freshman of the Year, the South Bend native started 22 games, averaging 13.8 points, a team-high 7.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, along with 11 double-doubles, ranking among the BIG EAST leaders in all four categories. In addition, she was a WBCA/Kodak honorable mention All-America selection and garnered BIG EAST Rookie of the Year honors, the second Irish player in three seasons to win the award. All of this came despite the fact she suffered a knee injury in mid-February that limited her effectiveness during the final month of the season.
However, she has shown no ill effects from her injury over the summer, sharing team-high scoring honors (14.8 ppg.) and ranking second in rebounding (11.3 rpg.) during Notre Dame’s four-game tour of Europe. She also was tapped as an alternate on the USA World Championship For Young Women Qualifying Team, which competed in Brazil in July.
“Jacqueline had a fantastic year as a freshman,” McGraw said. “Nobody expected her to come in and be a go-to player, and she surprised us in that way. She is probably the smoothest player I’ve ever coached, and she can get to the basket and rebound as well as anyone I’ve ever seen. She is someone who will only continue to improve, but she already has an amazing amount of talent.”
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| Teresa Borton |
Borton provides the Irish with a big body who can be a dominating presence in the paint on both ends of the court. In fact, she averaged 6.0 points and 4.8 rebounds last season while shooting a team-best 49.7 percent from the field in better than 20 minutes of action per night. The Yakima, Wash., product improved on those numbers during the European trip, notching 10 points and a team-high 12.3 rebounds per contest.
“Teresa owns the block and that will be her spot this year,” McGraw stated. “We want her to be down close to traffic as much as possible because she is someone that is going to be very effective scoring for us down there. She proved what she could do down low in one-on-one situations, and we need her to continue to do that for us because she runs the floor so well. She has a lot of strengths and is going to be play a big part in our team’s success at both ends of the court this year.”
One player who seemed to improve with every game last season was Flecky, and it appears that trend will continue this year. The Lone Tree, Colo., native possesses a blend of rugged intensity in the post and deft shooting from the outside. She was the main beneficiary of Batteast’s late-season injury, stepping into the starting lineup and registered 8.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per night during a seven-game stretch in late February and early March. She continued her development over the summer, carding 10 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for Notre Dame in Europe.
“Like Teresa, Katy is someone who runs the floor extremely well,” McGraw noted. “She has extended her range during the offseason and can face the basket now. She’s good on the blocks, is very aggressive and has great post moves. She’s also someone who can score in a lot of different ways and we expect she will probably at least double her scoring average this season.”
Although the bulk of the roster is made up of underclassmen, there is a significant veteran presence in this year’s Irish camp. Senior guard Alicia Ratay has been a starter since the day she set foot on the Notre Dame campus, developing a reputation as one of the premier long-range shooters in the country. After setting an NCAA record for three-point percentage as a sophomore (.547), Ratay displayed a more diversified offensive attack last season, averaging a team-high 15.4 points per game with only one quarter of that total coming from behind the three-point line.
The Lake Zurich, Ill., resident also ranked second on the team in rebounding (5.5 rpg.) and three-point percentage (.408), earning her recognition as an Associated Press honorable mention All-American for the second time in three seasons. She also was a first-team all-BIG EAST selection and was a two-time conference Player of the Week in 2001-02. Ratay comes into this season ranked ninth on Notre Dame’s career scoring list (1,375 points) and needs just 38 three-point field goals to pass Sheila McMillen as the top gunner in Irish history.
However, it is Ratay’s endurance that has gone largely unnoticed during her tenure at Notre Dame. She has appeared in all 98 games for the Irish over the last three seasons, starting 97 of them to tie Kelley Siemon for 10th place in school annals. Ratay will need to start 28 games this year to pass Ruth Riley for the most starting assignments in Notre Dame history. The Irish record for career games played is 132 by Niele Ivey (1996-2001), a mark Ratay could break with 35 appearances this season.
“Alicia is one of the best three-point shooters in the country, period,” McGraw said. “She has worked on getting her own shot, working off the dribble, and going to the basket more. She also is one of the best players I’ve ever seen in terms of being able to read the defense, and where the defense is going to be, and how to get herself open for her shot. She is obviously someone we will always rely on to take a big shot.”
Another returning veteran who should lend a stabilizing presence is Severe. Thrust into the spotlight last season with the graduation of Ivey, the speedy Severe performed admirably, averaging 6.6 points and 4.9 assists per game, ranking seventh in the BIG EAST in the latter category. She continued to blossom during Notre Dame’s European trip, erupting for 13.5 points per game, third on the team, along with 5.3 assists and 3.3 steals per outing.
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| Le’Tania Severe |
“Le’Tania is one of the fastest and strongest guards in the country,” McGraw commented. “I don’t think too many people can keep up with her speed, and if they match her speed, they can’t match her strength. She has a huge advantage over a lot of other guards because she can really get to the basket and is difficult to contain. She has matured at the point, and she gives the team an emotional lift. If we can get her the ball more in transition, she is going to have a great year.”
Joyce could also play a significant role in the growth of the Irish this year. The junior guard contributed greatly during her rookie campaign, averaging more than 16 minutes per night in 25 games while spelling Ivey on Notre Dame’s national championship squad. However, the Topeka, Kan., native has been beset by injuries throughout her career, missing 15 games in her first two years. At full strength, she provides the Irish with a valuable weapon from the perimeter, connecting at nearly 37 percent from the arc during her career.
“Jeneka is the kind of player that, when you watch her, you have no idea how much she is helping the team,” McGraw stated. “She was a silent leader for us last year, and she does a great job of telling people where to go and what we are going to run. She’s a very smart player and she can see things other players can’t. In the games she has played for us, she has made a huge difference, and if she can stay healthy, we expect her to make a big jump this year.”
Depth should not be an issue for the Irish this season with 10 monogram winners back in the fold. Eight of those 10 veterans logged double-digit minutes last year, and nine of them started at least one game. Heading up the pack of capable Notre Dame reserves are Wicks and Bustamante, both of whom add great diversity to the Irish attack.
Standing 6-2, Wicks is one of the taller guards in the country and uses that size to her advantage, whether it be driving to the basket or shooting over smaller opponents on the perimeter. Sporting a textbook “blue collar” approach that dates back to her formative years in Gillette, Wyo., Wicks appeared in 29 games for Notre Dame last season, averaging 4.7 points in nearly 15 minutes per contest. She also sparkled on the biggest stages last season, scoring a career-high 16 points at eventual NCAA champion Connecticut, and adding 10 points at Final Four qualifier Tennessee.
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| Kelsey Wicks |
That offensive production carried over into this summer, when Wicks tied for team-high scoring honors on the Irish tour of Europe, averaging 14.8 points per game. She also collected 7.3 rebounds per night and shot nearly 44 percent from the field, second on the squad.
“Kelsey gives us energy more than anyone else on our bench,” McGraw observed. “She did a great job last year with her hustle and her aggressiveness, particularly on the boards. She also has a great three-point shot and is a terrific free throw shooter. She’s someone who will do all of the dirty work, diving on the floor for loose balls and rebounding at both ends of the floor.”
Bustamante, a 6-0 guard from Miami, combines a keen shooting eye with excellent ballhandling skills. Despite missing six games due to injuries, she averaged 4.6 points per game and led the team with a .447 three-point percentage. With a seemingly effortless release, Bustamante kept opponents off balance all season long, including a career-high 21-point outing in late January against Syracuse, a game in which she buried five three-point field goals in 25 minutes of action.
“Allison may be one of the most talented guards we have on our team in terms of the complete offensive package,” McGraw said. “She handles the ball well, is a good passer, a good shooter, and she can put it on the floor and get to the basket. She also has great offensive skills in the halfcourt set. She is someone we are expecting big things from this year.”
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| Karen Swanson |
Notre Dame’s other returning monogram winners are a pair of scrappy point guards who should provide solid reinforcement in the backcourt. Senior Karen Swanson, a walk-on from Westlake, Ohio, has appeared in 61 games during her Irish career, and often lends a calming influence on the court and in the locker room for the Irish. Sophomore Jill Krause is a determined defensive presence who saw action in 12 games last season.
“Karen is another player who picks things up quickly,” McGraw said. “She works extremely hard, is always in the right spot, and she is a good three-point shooter. She is often on the scout team in practice and probably runs the opponent’s offense better than they do.
“Jill is a great defender who works very hard and is fiesty and competitive,” McGraw added. “Her job is to get the ball to other people, and she is willing to do that for the sake of the team and the team needs her to do that. She improved tremendously last year and she contributes a lot to our team chemistry.”
With so many returning monogram winners, there won’t be many new faces on the Irish roster this season. In fact, only two freshmen have been added to the mix, but both should have an immediate effect on the team’s fortunes in 2002-03.
Courtney LaVere is an imposing 6-3 power forward from Ventura, Calif., who was a consensus All-American, including a third-team Parade All-America pick, last year as a senior at Buena High School – she will be one of six Parade All-Americans on this year’s Irish roster. She averaged 26.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game in her final prep season, garnering all-state honors for the second consecutive year. She also holds six records at BHS, and ranks among the school’s top three all-time in points (1,897), rebounds (1,029) and blocked shots (303).
Only the fourth Notre Dame player ever to come from the state of California, and the first since 1994, LaVere runs the floor well in transition and should been a key factor on both ends of the court. Her impact may be felt most on defense, where Notre Dame has ranked among the top 20 in the nation in rebounding margin and field goal percentage defense each of the last three seasons.
“I expect Courtney will do a lot of stepping in this season,” McGraw said. “She is very similar to Katy’s style, where she can go inside-out. She has great versatility which fits extremely well with our offense, and I believe she will be a big contributor early on.”
The other Irish newcomer is two-time high school All-American Megan Duffy, a 5-7 point guard from Dayton, Ohio. Duffy is a wily floor general who averaged 15.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists during her career at Chaminade-Julienne High School, helping lead her team to the nation’s No. 1 ranking for seven weeks midway through her senior season. That campaign would be cut short soon afterwards when Duffy suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), an injury which has since healed completely.
Prior to her season-ending injury, Duffy was averaging 14 points and 5.8 assists per game, resulting in her selection to the all-state team for the fourth consecutive year. She also has a great deal of experience in pressure situations, having guided Chaminade-Julienne to the 1999 state championship, and piloting her Dayton HoopStars AAU teams to three national titles and six state crowns from 1996-2001.
“Megan’s role will be a little more demanding and difficult because, as a point guard, she will need to take over the whole team,” McGraw stated. “That’s a tough task for a freshman, but with Le’Tania Severe guiding her in practice, she will be able to blossom in that role. Megan has the total package at the point, and it will be a matter of time to see how quickly she learns the offense and is willing to take over that vocal role of running the team.”
While a certain degree of fluidity will remain around Notre Dame this season, the prognosis for its future has come sharply into focus. The Irish have the stability and the experience in place to cement themselves as a fixture on the national landscape for years to come.
“This is the time where there’s no pressure on us, but we can have a great season,” McGraw said. “We certainly expect to be in the top 20 all season. Our goal at the end of the year is to do well in the NCAA Tournament, and we have put ourselves in a position to do just that. Following a season where we went to the second round of the NCAA Tournament while we were in a transition phase, we now have a great shot at doing very well.”