Players lost:

  GP/GS Min FG FGA FG% 3 Pt 3Pt A 3 Pt % FT FTA FT %
Pernille Dalgaard 31/31 26.3 90 245 .367 15 43 .349 49 69 .710

 

  Off Reb Def Reb Reb PF-D Assists Steals Blocks TO A/TO High Points Ave
Pernille Dalgaard 46 54 100 75-0 69 24 5 80 0.86 15 244 7.9

 

Players returning:

  GP/GS Min FG FGA FG% 3 Pt 3Pt A 3 Pt % FT FTA FT %
Maxann Reese 31/31 32.7 211 497 .425 74 212 .349 50 62 .806
Kristen Rasmussen 31/31 31.4 188 363 .518 7 21 .333 87 109 .798
Becky Cummings 31/31 28.3 131 221 .593 0 0 .000 95 149 .638
Donita Johnson 31/25 28.1 64 168 .381 10 30 .333 13 23 .565
Erin Skelly 31/0 15.3 55 116 .474 0 0 .000 21 37 .568
Christie Pung 30/0 17.3 40 98 .408 6 23 .261 27 41 .659
Abby Salscheider 30/0 11.8 29 73 .397 0 3 .000 32 50 .640
Vnemina Reese* 6/6 25.8 15 42 .357 0 0 .000 4 7 .571
Jill Blazek 16/0 5.4 11 35 .314 0 1 .000 1 4 .250
Whitney Winberg 22/0 4.9 8 25 .320 0 0 .000 5 10 .500
Nikki Davis 7/0 5.3 1 12 .083 0 2 .000 3 5 .600
Kelly Czubak 4/0 2.5 0 1 .000 0 0 .000 0 0 .000

 

  Off Reb Def Reb Reb PF-D Assists Steals Blocks TO A/TO High Points Ave
Maxann Reese 34 79 113 75-4 76 41 6 80 0.95 41 546 17.6
Kristen Rasmussen 91 195 286 88-2 93 42 57 83 1.12 29 470 15.2
Becky Cummings 90 139 229 90-5 38 39 16 62 0.61 21 357 11.5
Donita Johnson 20 75 95 58-0 113 30 17 77 1.47 15 151 4.9
Erin Skelly 35 71 106 59-0 28 12 27 54 0.52 12 131 4.2
Christie Pung 5 28 33 45-0 60 20 2 48 1.25 18 113 3.8
Abby Salscheider 15 35 50 17-0 22 18 3 28 0.79 10 90 3.0
Vnemina Reese* 0 14 14 10-0 16 14 2 17 0.94 14 34 5.7
Jill Blazek 8 11 19 8-0 2 3 1 5 0.40 4 23 1.4
Whitney Winberg 6 10 16 14-0 4 5 1 12 0.33 4 21 1.0
Nikki Davis 2 7 9 7-0 2 2 1 8 0.25 4 5 0.7
Kelly Czubak 1 2 3 0-0 0 1 0 0 n/a 0 0 0.0

 

Additions:

Jennifer Callier 6'3 C Indianapolis Ind # 127 All Star Girls Report 
Maria Recker 5'10 G Auburn Ind

 

In 1998 Michigan State's offense was a three-headed monster of Maxann Reese, Kristen Rasmussen and Becky Cummings.  The three combined to score slightly less than half the Spartans points.  They all return in 1999.  But in 1998, the Spartans were an average, at best, offensive team.  They don't appear to have the potential to improve much on that this year.  There really isn't anyone on the roster who looks to have the ability to step up her scoring significantly.

Any improvement in the Spartan offense would likely have to stem from improved point guard play.  Last season, Christie Pung and Donita Johnson rotated at the point after Vnemina Reese tore her acl.  The duo was erratic, with the result that MSU ended the season with a negative turn-over/assist margin.  Reese returns and Michigan State needs to have one of the three step up and handle the point.

It would appear that, if the Spartans are going to better last year's record,  they will have to improve their defense and rebounding.   Of the two, it would seem that their rebounding is an area that should be better.  Rasmussen and Cummings are one of the top center/power forward combos in the league and Erin Skelly provides quality depth for both of them, but again the three got little help.  

Karen Langeland took her team to Canada for five games at the end of August.  The Spartans went 5-0 on the trip.  This should give the veteran team a jump start on the season.  Their Big 10 schedule should allow them to get off to a strong start;  their task will be to sustain any momentum they generate.

By Position:

  Point guard.  The Spartans may play point guard by committee and that isn't a good thing.  Johnson didn't show much last year.  Either Pung or V Reese will have to step up if MSU is to be better.

  Swing players.  Maxann Reese is as good a shooting guard as there is in the conference, but she may have to move to small forward so Johnson can start at shooting guard.  Langeland needs to find someone to be at least average as a swing player.

  Post players.   Rasmussen and Cummings make this the strongest area of the starting lineup.  They will score, but they need to rebound better.

  Bench.  Skelly is one of the best back-up post players in the Big 10.  Either Pung or V Reese will provide some depth at point.  Salscheider could compete for a starting job at three.  If not, she will be a quality back-up at that spot.  Other than those three, there does not appear to be much bench strength, nor does there appear to be much scoring there. 

Strengths:  Reese, Rasmussen and Cummings

Weaknesses:  lack of quality depth, turnovers

Key Player:  Maxann Reese.  She has the potential to be the top offensive threat in the conference, but she must improve her consistency.  Reese also needs to put more effort into her defense.

Key Games:  Jan 9 Wisconsin,  Jan 27 @ Ohio State, Feb 17 Purdue

Question Spartan fans are asking:  Will Langeland be able to develop enough players to keep MSU from falling to the second tier when Reese and Rasmussen leave after this season?

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