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Kentucky Women’s Basketball season came to a disappointing end yesterday at the Bon Secours Wellness Center in Greenville, South Carolina in the SEC Tournament. Falling 76-62 to the Tennessee Volunteers, the Cats closed out a 12-20 season. In Coach Kyra Elzy’s own words in her post-game press conference the season as a whole was a disappointment and the programs expectations is to go dancing in March Madness.
https://t.co/1O9akFT0nJ
— Brad Harvey (@BradCSCast) March 7, 2024
Kentucky WBB Season Ends 76-62 To Tennessee In SEC Tourney – Greenville Sports Media #SECWBB #BBN #SEC @KentuckyWBB@GreenvillSMedia @CSCast_ @drinklocalbham @JasonJeharrison @CSCast_
This season was filled with injuries and players with little experience learning on the floor in the tough SEC. Even this week in the SEC Tournament despite a day one win the Cats were playing without their second leading scorer on the season Maddie Scherr, as she was out because of concussion protocols. There are many decisions to be made now that the off-season is here. Over the next few days and weeks expect to find out more on these top five keys for next seasons Kentucky team.
Seniors with an Extra Year of Eligibility
Will the four seniors who can choose to come back for an extra year of eligibility do so, and come back to Kentucky to play their final super senior year? With the transfer portal in play, getting up to four year experienced seniors back for an extra year could be huge for coach Kyra Elzy. Maddie Scherr, Ajae Petty, and Eniya Russell can all return for one last Covid year of play. Nyah Leveretter, who missed this entire season with a knee injury, can elect to return as well. Scherr, Petty, and Russell were three of this season best overall players and the 6’2″ Forward Leveretter would be nice added size that the Cats missed this season.
Ajae Petty: “I was able to showcase what I do against top players.”
— Phoenix Stevens (@PStevensKSR) March 5, 2024
She proved that she belongs among the SEC’s best.
Additionally, she notes she models her game after… Hakeem Olajuwon. Pretty good player to try to be like.
Keeping Possible Returning Players from Transferring
Jr guard Brooklynn Miles, Soph guard Saniah Tyler, Soph guard Cassidy Rowe and Fr forward Janae Walker all gained valuable experience this season. In the past couple of season coach Elzy has had important pieces for the next season transfer out, Dre’una Edwards, Treasure Hunt, and Jada Walker each left the program. It is vital that coach Elzy puts together a roster to turn the program back around next season, so keeping key pieces is an important part.
Sophomore Saniah. 📈😮💨
— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) March 4, 2024
★ 11 games with 3+ 3FGs
★ 5 games with 4+ 3FGs
★ 4 SEC games with 4+ 3FGs
★ Over the last four games, which were all against RV or ranked teams, she leads UK with 15.3 PPG, 14 3FGs and 51.9% from the arc@_saniah_tyler31 👌 pic.twitter.com/swi0eepWuL
High School Recruiting
On Monday this week Elzy landed her second high school commitment of the season. Tanah Becker, a 6’1″ wing out of Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanoga, Tennessee, committed to the Cats. Tanah has been a difference maker on both end of the floor this year, averaging over 12 points, nearly five rebounds. three assist, 3.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks. Becker joins 6’5″ Ramiya White from Butler Traditional out of Louisville, Kentucky in the 2024 class for much needed size on the roster. Are there more recruits to land in the high school ranks?
2024 Canadian guard Tanah Becker commits to Kentucky WBB https://t.co/M1LigBK1Us pic.twitter.com/DRmATaCTMm
— UK Fanatics (@UKFanaticsOnly) March 5, 2024
Landing Skilled and Talented Size in the Transfer Portal
This years team was guard heavy, as seven of the top nine players were all guards between 5’5″ and 5’10”. The SEC is quite large in today’s women’s game. Nearly every team has three to five players in their rotations with height between 6’3 and 6’7″. The Cats have to compete more with points in the paint, rebounding, and blocked shots to return to March Madness. The SEC demands it.
Kentucky WBB guard Jada Walker announces intention to transfer https://t.co/nsJahYWpTE pic.twitter.com/VWEA3onysC
— UK Fanatics (@UKFanaticsOnly) March 9, 2023
Head Coach Kyra Elzy
Lastly but not least, does Coach Elzy return? After back-to-back losing 12-win seasons and an overall coaching record of 61-60 at Kentucky in four seasons there are questions if she returns. I believe she will, I believe she is a great X’s and O’s coach, who deeply cares for her players and this University. She is in her second stint at Kentucky and has spent 13 plus years coming though the coaching ranks at Kentucky since 2008. If she does indeed return, keeping and putting together a roster that gets back to the NCAA Tournament will be imperative.
‘Far from where we need to be.’ Kyra Elzy’s immediate reaction to another lost UK season. https://t.co/8zHYAZPqSF
— Lexington Herald-Leader (@heraldleader) March 8, 2024
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