BADGERS PUSH DEFENSE JANE ALBRIGHT HOPES PRESSURE MAN-TO-MAN DEFENSE WILL

HELP UW.

Wisconsin State Journal

Nov 8, 1999

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Authors: Jon Masson Sports reporter

University of Wisconsin women's basketball coach Jane Albright wants her

team to play pressure man-to-man defense. More experience and athleticism

this season should permit her to carry out that plan.

The Badgers, who open their season with an exhibition game against Athletes

in Action at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Kohl Center, scored 73.6 points per

game while permitting 71.1 points per game in 1998-99. The Badgers made

45.9 percent of their field-goal attempts, while opponents shot 43.4 percent

from the field.

Playing strong defense has been a point of emphasis during practice.

"It always is," UW senior guard Kelley Paulus said. "Defense will be a

big key for us."

UW likely will play half-court, man-to-man defense 90 percent of the time.

Freshman center Nina Smith played primarily zone concepts in high school,

but is adjusting well to the Badgers' man-to-man principles because of

her agility and athleticism, Albright said.

The Badgers have worked on team defense, notably help-side defense. In

addition, they have worked on defense through one-on-one and two-on-two

drills, Paulus said.

The Badgers will rely on guards Paulus, Dee Dee Pate, Tamara Moore, Kyle

Black and Candas Smith to provide defensive pressure outside.

"It's in-your-face defense," Black said. "You don't want the pass to get

inside. It's a lot harder than playing off."

But Black said all the conditioning the team did should improve UW's defense.

"I'm in the best shape I've ever been in," said Black, a sophomore.

She credited trips to Blackhawk Ski Area in September for increased leg

strength and cardiovascular improvement. The players ran hills and stairs

at the ski area, the most difficult conditioning drill she's done, but

Black said it was worth it.

"It was my first appearance (on a ski slope)," Black said. "I've never

gone down, but I have gone up."

Outside threats

UW's perimeter shooting will be crucial because opponents likely will sag

inside on front-liners, including LaTonya Sims, Jessie Stomski and Nina

Smith.

"It's a lot more pressure for us," reserve off-guard Black said. "We have

to hit our open shots for (our opponents) to keep honest."

Sims, who plays small forward, also will shoot more from outside this season.

She said she understands that if Stomski and Nina Smith play well, other

teams will try to stop them. That means Sims and the guards will "have

to step up and hit our open shots," she said.

Short jumpers

Black, on playing behind off-guard Paulus: "Kelley Paulus is somebody I

dream to play like someday." . . . A total of 1,618 single- game tickets

have been sold for the Badgers' home game against Tennessee Dec. 5. . .

. UW recruit Emily Ashbaugh, a 6-foot-5 center from Redmond (Wash.) High

School, who made an oral commitment to Albright Tuesday night, said she

grew fond of Madison in years past through visits with relatives here.

Academics were a major part of the decision for Ashbaugh, who plans to

study biochemistry or environmental science. Ashbaugh, whose sister, Lauren,

plays basketball at the University of California, made a campus visit the

last weekend of September, when the UW football team played Michigan.

The last word

At the recent Big Ten media day, Purdue's Katie Douglas was asked the difference

between new coach Kristy Curry and former coach Carolyn Peck, who is 6-4:

"No. 1, she's not as tall, so that will be different. Last year, I got

neck cramps looking up."