Vandiver's absence means even more of a learning year for young Cowgirls
Wyoming coach Joe Legerski can only look down at the end of his bench for help, see it and not do anything about it.
Legerski would like nothing more than to insert Cowgirl junior point guard Aubrey Vandiver into the lineup when the Cowgirls struggle, but he can’t.
Vandiver is on a medical redshirt this season because of mononucleosis.
It’s been a tough and unexpected tribulation for Vandiver, a third-team all Mountain West Conference selection last year, as she was diagnosed with the illness in August. It was hoped that she would just miss a few games and then be back as the team’s leader on and off the court.
All Vandiver can do now is lead from the bench during game time.
Vandiver is actually back on the court for practice -- she is building strength just about every time she works out. But with the conference season now two weeks in, it would be a waste for her to play now. She’ll have two full years remaining next season.
Maybe the hardest part for Legerski is knowing that by just putting Vandiver into the lineup now, the Cowgirls would be a much improved team. The problem with mono, though, is that it can come and go, which would be too risky for her to play fulltime at this time.
On Saturday after the Cowgirls’ 71-64 loss to UNLV, Legerski said they need Vandiver more than ever.
The two point guards with any resemblance of experience -- and that is barely -- is freshman Kristen Scheffler and redshirt sophomore Randi Richardson.
If Vandiver was active, she would start at the point, Scheffler would be the two guard and Richardson would back up Vandiver.
Unfortunately, that won’t happen until next season. Legerski has had to shuffle his lineup a bit by putting both Scheffler and Richardson on the court at the same time. That’s starting to wear on the players as well as their coach.
“I cannot continue to play my point guards 40 minutes. That is beginning to be an issue,” Legerski said. “I know what my answer is: she is sitting down the bench in street closes. That is a tough thing to deal with because she looks tremendous in practice. Aubrey really looked the last two days and she didn’t feel as good today. The best decision was to redshirt her, but it is also frustrating not only for myself and my staff, but for the players themselves knowing how good Aubrey is and what she can do to help this team.”
With that, the Cowgirls are struggling on both ends of the floor. Vandiver helps in practice, but at least on Saturday, that didn’t translate into victory against the Rebels.
Legerski said after the loss that he will likely have to come up with a new game plan, just to be able to rest both Scheffler and Richardson. One option could be to go bigger, with sophomore post Hillary Carlson in the starting lineup, putting Scheffler or Richardson on the bench. Or Legerski could go back with senior forward Rebecca Vanderjagt as a starter or even insert freshman Ashley Sickles, who has very limited experience in the lineup. The only option at point guard, would come from another freshman, likely Brenna Freeze.
Regardless, changes could be coming.
It’s a learning year for the young Cowgirls, to say the least. One thing is certain, despite some current struggles, Wyoming will benefit in the long run from Vandiver’s absence, as Scheffler and Richardson will pick up valuable experience.
It's the short run, however, that has Legerski concerned the most.
Legerski would like nothing more than to insert Cowgirl junior point guard Aubrey Vandiver into the lineup when the Cowgirls struggle, but he can’t.
Vandiver is on a medical redshirt this season because of mononucleosis.
It’s been a tough and unexpected tribulation for Vandiver, a third-team all Mountain West Conference selection last year, as she was diagnosed with the illness in August. It was hoped that she would just miss a few games and then be back as the team’s leader on and off the court.
All Vandiver can do now is lead from the bench during game time.
Vandiver is actually back on the court for practice -- she is building strength just about every time she works out. But with the conference season now two weeks in, it would be a waste for her to play now. She’ll have two full years remaining next season.
Maybe the hardest part for Legerski is knowing that by just putting Vandiver into the lineup now, the Cowgirls would be a much improved team. The problem with mono, though, is that it can come and go, which would be too risky for her to play fulltime at this time.
On Saturday after the Cowgirls’ 71-64 loss to UNLV, Legerski said they need Vandiver more than ever.
The two point guards with any resemblance of experience -- and that is barely -- is freshman Kristen Scheffler and redshirt sophomore Randi Richardson.
If Vandiver was active, she would start at the point, Scheffler would be the two guard and Richardson would back up Vandiver.
Unfortunately, that won’t happen until next season. Legerski has had to shuffle his lineup a bit by putting both Scheffler and Richardson on the court at the same time. That’s starting to wear on the players as well as their coach.
“I cannot continue to play my point guards 40 minutes. That is beginning to be an issue,” Legerski said. “I know what my answer is: she is sitting down the bench in street closes. That is a tough thing to deal with because she looks tremendous in practice. Aubrey really looked the last two days and she didn’t feel as good today. The best decision was to redshirt her, but it is also frustrating not only for myself and my staff, but for the players themselves knowing how good Aubrey is and what she can do to help this team.”
With that, the Cowgirls are struggling on both ends of the floor. Vandiver helps in practice, but at least on Saturday, that didn’t translate into victory against the Rebels.
Legerski said after the loss that he will likely have to come up with a new game plan, just to be able to rest both Scheffler and Richardson. One option could be to go bigger, with sophomore post Hillary Carlson in the starting lineup, putting Scheffler or Richardson on the bench. Or Legerski could go back with senior forward Rebecca Vanderjagt as a starter or even insert freshman Ashley Sickles, who has very limited experience in the lineup. The only option at point guard, would come from another freshman, likely Brenna Freeze.
Regardless, changes could be coming.
It’s a learning year for the young Cowgirls, to say the least. One thing is certain, despite some current struggles, Wyoming will benefit in the long run from Vandiver’s absence, as Scheffler and Richardson will pick up valuable experience.
It's the short run, however, that has Legerski concerned the most.
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