1995-96 Ohio State Preview
Andrew Smith
Coach: Nancy Darsch
PROJECTED STARTERS:
F Katie Smith 5-11 SR 1st Team All-Big Ten
F Tiffany Glosson 6-3 SO
C Lisa Negri 6-2 SR
G Adrienne Johnson 5-10 SR
G Marcie Alberts 5-4 JR
OFF THE BENCH:
Shelly Nichols G 5-9 JR
GiGi Jackson F 5-10 SR
Kelly Fergus C 6-3 JR
OUTLOOK: It's Katie Smith's final tour through the college basketball
world...after taking a team to the NCAA title game her freshman year, the
Buckeyes have fallen on hard times the last two years, well, except
Katie, who has averaged over 20 points a game in each of the last two
seasons. Last season, the Buckeyes were hurt by a bunch of close losses
down the stretch, and a late Penn State rally in the Big Ten tournament
kept Ohio State on the outside looking in during the Big Dance. They
look poised to make another run at it in what is a very strong
conference, as Darsch has added another fine bunch of freshmen to support
Smith and Co.
FORWARDS: Last season, Ohio State had one of the top frontcourts in the
Big Ten with Smith and Peggy Evans. Evans has since graduated, leaving
all-world Katie Smith to hold the fort. Going past those two up front
seemed to be the team's Achilles Heel for most of last season, but Darsch
recruited some impact players who might be able to contribute a lot
quickly -- Marrita Porter was one of Kentucky's top players last season,
and Larecha Jones. At the power forward, Tiffany Glosson played well in a
backup role last season and may play a little at center this year. 5-10
crowd favorite GiGi Jackson provides some experience off the bench. This
is a very fast and promising unit, with a little time, and led by one of
the nations' best. The only problem might be size, as only two
players listed here are 6-footers. GRADE: B+
CENTER: The Bucks have enough of them! Five players on this year's roster
are listed as post players, including Glosson and Porter, who are listed
with the forwards). Lisa Negri has been the starter here for a pair of
seasons, and has a nice touch around the hole. Kelly Fergus played well
in a backup role last season, and will probably be counted on again this
year, especially due to a fine shooting percentage and good rebound
numbers. 6-3 Mindy Fusetti adds size as a freshman. GRADE: B
GUARDS: There is a lot of inexperience here, but one full-time starter is
back -- Marcie Alberts -- and one part-time starter returns in Adrienne
Johnson. Alberts has been one of the conference's top markswomen from
three point land, knocking them in at a 43% clip in each of the past two
seasons, while Johnson, at 5-10, will most likely replace defensive
wizard Erin Ingwersen at the off-guard. Point production from the guards
hurt Ohio State last season and, unless someone steps up quickly, looks
to be one of the Bucks' biggest worries coming into 1995-96. Behind
those two, the Buckeyes are a little short on experience, as no guard has
played a game at the Division I level, but long on talent...starting with
5-9 soph Tomika Patterson, who has a year at Ohio State under her belt after
sitting out last season...then there's junior Shelly Nichols, who is
tabbed as a defensive ace. Lawanda Greene proved she could fill the nets
last season as the player of the year in the Bronx with a 39 ppg average,
and Roslyn Barker, who was all-Chicago in a very competitive
environment. GRADE: B
COACH: Darsch may have seemingly come under a little fire in Columbus because
her last two teams didn't live up to expectations record-wise, but her
record speaks for itself...one Final Four, four Big Ten titles, an
Olympic gold medal as an assistant, and possibly another in 1996...she's
got a lot of young talent to work with, let's see if she can work a
little of her magic again. GRADE: A
INTANGIBLES: St. John is one of the toughest places in the world to play...
it's loud, with all of the seats right on top of you, it's often mostly
full, as the Bucks usually pull in 8000 a game, which creates a huge
home-court advantage for the Buckeyes. Do they have something to play
for? Yeah...to prove last season was a fluke...and they have a little
momentum to work off of coming off the Big Ten tournament success.
PREDICTION: 7-9, 7th.