Four or five years ago, at least a few of the five true freshmen on the Robin Pingeton's Missouri team would probably be preparing for their first college start this weekend.
Instead, thanks to the growth of the Tiger program, those five freshmen will bring depth off the bench for Missouri on Friday night. If it’s needed, that is. Missouri opens its non-conference schedule against Western Kentucky in the Hawkeye Challenge in Iowa City, Iowa.
“We’ve been able to build and continue our program so … until they get a little more consistent, I don’t know how big of a role they’ll play consistently for us,” Pingeton said at Wednesday’s media day. “I think every single one of them shows great potential over the next couple of years.”
On Friday, Pingeton will rely on her veterans to start, just as she’s relied on them to teach the newcomers the ins and outs of what it means to be on the Missouri women’s basketball team.
“It’s a weird mixture between really experienced veterans and another half of the team that’s brand new,” redshirt senior Kayla Michael said. “We’re still putting the pieces together, but I think it’s going to be really good.”
Who are those newcomers? They’re all over the map.
Elle Brown, the standout from Rock Bridge High School, has the speed to help in transition. Brown, Kelsey Winfrey and Haley Troup are like three peas in a pod, which helps with communication, Michael said.
Nadia Green, an all-state guard from Illinois, is feisty and tough on the court, but quiet off of it. And Emmanuelle Tahane — “Manu” to her teammates — is from France. She has a sweet aura to her, Michael said, and might be the funniest out of the group.
“There’s a lot of different personalities,” Brown said. “They say we’re different in our ways, and I think that’s a really good thing. We can bring a lot to the team in our own ways.”
The one thing all five have in common is their ability to help off the bench. Pingeton said she thinks the Tigers’ roster is much deeper than it was last year, even with the loss of three perimeter players in Lianna Doty, Lindsey Cunningham and Sierra Michaelis.
It might not be experienced depth, Pingeton said, but the coach should have no lack of bodies to which to turn. And with how athletic the freshman class is, the potential is all there. Now that the season is finally here, Pingeton is going to find out just how much potential her team has.
“I feel like we have a lot of weapons to hit with,” Brown said. “Whenever Coach P. puts someone in, benefits are going to come from it.”
The team is ranked No. 16 in the preseason poll. ESPN ranked Sophie Cunningham the No. 13 player in the country, and she was named to the Cheryl Miller Award watch list on Wednesady. Jordan Frericks and Lauren Aldridge will be forces on the court this year after sitting out last season and Cierra Porter is one of the SEC's best frontcourt players. Plus, those five true freshmen, who all could have easily started a few years ago.
“It’s just been fun to see it all grow, and I think a lot of people are excited,” Pingeton said. “I think expectations are high. We’ll just try to keep the blinders on and focus one day at a time.”
