MU Women's Basketball Thread

[Marquette Fan]

Nice little blurb about Hiedeman and picking her as a player of the week:

https://venussports.co/2021/05/21/robocokos-player-of-the-week-natisha-hiedeman/

She is off to a great start to the season and the Connecticut Sun are now 5-0.

I saw she was featured tonight with some other WNBA players with Wisconsin ties participating in the starting lineups for the Bucks playoff game on the scoreboard.

I finally ordered my custom Hiedeman WNBA jersey and am looking forward to getting it soon.  It's fun to seeing her do so well in the WNBA.

[Marquette Fan]

I'll keep posting to myself here I guess  but this video is too good not to share.

Awesome video about Natisha Hiedeman and the great start she is off to so far this season - fun to see her in a clip from MU in the video:

https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1397689952486543363

She got hurt late in their game the other night but sounds like it's a calf injury that shouldn't be too bad.

I really hope that when I can go back to the Al for games I finally see something in there for Hiedeman and her being in the WNBA.  There's all sorts of stuff up there about the MU players in the NBA.  Since the MU Women actually play their home games there, it sure would be nice to have something up about the first MU player to play in the WNBA...

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

Hey Marq Fan, you're not just posting for yourself. This is the first thread I look for in the Superbar. Thanks for your efforts.

[Warriors4ever]

I agree, I always read your posts on the women's team.

[Marquette Fan]

Ok - two people posted so I'll post again .

Marquette officially announced the addition of their two transfers today.  I found that a little surprising as the info about them joining MU has been out there for awhile and they have been listed on their roster page for awhile.  But anyway here is the official release - https://gomarquette.com/news/2021/6/2/womens-basketball-muwbb-announces-two-transfer-additions.aspx

Still waiting to hear about the new assistant coach for MU - Itoro Coleman was announced as a new assistant at North Carolina on May 11th.

And you really need to be following the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA if you aren't already.  It's so fun to see the year Natisha Hiedeman is having - she's getting some attention as a most improved player candidate.  My Hiedeman Sun jersey arrived yesterday - now I just need to get to a game to see her play in person one of these days - maybe next season - for now I think I'll be wearing it to watch Sun games and to an MU game or two this fall.

[shoothoops]

Ok - two people posted so I'll post again .

Marquette officially announced the addition of their two transfers today.  I found that a little surprising as the info about them joining MU has been out there for awhile and they have been listed on their roster page for awhile.  But anyway here is the official release - https://gomarquette.com/news/2021/6/2/womens-basketball-muwbb-announces-two-transfer-additions.aspx

Still waiting to hear about the new assistant coach for MU - Itoro Coleman was announced as a new assistant at North Carolina on May 11th.

And you really need to be following the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA if you aren't already.  It's so fun to see the year Natisha Hiedeman is having - she's getting some attention as a most improved player candidate.  My Hiedeman Sun jersey arrived yesterday - now I just need to get to a game to see her play in person one of these days - maybe next season - for now I think I'll be wearing it to watch Sun games and to an MU game or two this fall.

A lot of people read post/threads but don't post. Some people read posts and don't have anything to add. I meant to post on this topic the other day but I got caught up with something else. Just post what you like. Quality of posting doesn't isn't necessarily defined by quantity or even quality of engagement. I follow MUWBB and Women's basketball in general. Natisha's coach had some really good quotes about her recently. I will try to find some of those when I get a chance. 👍✌️

[shoothoops]

MUWBB Assistant Coach Tony Greene is leaving Marquette to be an assistant at Baylor.

https://baylorbears.com/news/2021/6/7/womens-basketball-wbbs-collen-adds-marquettes-greene-as-assistant-coach.aspx

[Marquette Fan]

MUWBB Assistant Coach Tony Greene is leaving Marquette to be an assistant at Baylor.

https://baylorbears.com/news/2021/6/7/womens-basketball-wbbs-collen-adds-marquettes-greene-as-assistant-coach.aspx

And here I was curious to see who they got to replace Coleman and now they have another assistant opening.

This has a potential impact on one of the incoming freshmen - Kendra Gillespie - she originally committed to Ole Miss when Greene was there and then changed to MU.

And in other MU news, Allazia Blockton is going to be playing for the Wisconsin Glo in Oshkosh  - https://twitter.com/UWOCoachFischer/status/1401934027397926915

[Marquette Fan]

MU hasn't put out a release yet but I found a new assistant coach listed on their roster page today. Kelly Komara who played at Purdue and has coached at a number of schools including Vanderbilt most recently has been hired as an Assitant Coach at Marquette:

https://gomarquette.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/kelly-komara/1698

She would seemingly be the replacement for Itoro Coleman who left for North Carolina in mid-May - Duffy of course will still need to hire another assistant to replace Tony Greene who just left for Baylor.

[shoothoops]

MU hasn't put out a release yet but I found a new assistant coach listed on their roster page today. Kelly Komara who played at Purdue and has coached at a number of schools including Vanderbilt most recently has been hired as an Assitant Coach at Marquette:

https://gomarquette.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/kelly-komara/1698

She would seemingly be the replacement for Itoro Coleman who left for North Carolina in mid-May - Duffy of course will still need to hire another assistant to replace Tony Greene who just left for Baylor.

She was college teammates at Purdue with Vandy's recently fired Head Coach, Stephanie White. (White was a former National Player of the Year) They won a National Title together playing at Purdue for Carolyn Peck. Vandy fired White and hired Shea Ralph this off-season. (Peck was an assistant at Vandy a few years ago under White. She left a few years ago to go back to ESPN.)

[Marquette Fan]

Marquette announces the two new Assistant Coaches today - Kelly Komara and Tasha Taylor (Komara's bio had been on MU's website for a little bit though):

https://gomarquette.com/news/2021/6/16/womens-basketball-kelly-komara-joins-muwbb-as-assistant-coach.aspx

[Marquette Fan]

Former Marquette Assistant Vernette Skeete moves to Texas A&M as an assistant coach:

https://12thman.com/news/2021/6/24/womens-basketball-blair-adds-vernette-skeete-to-staff.aspx

Both Skeete and Merritt left MU for Illinois after Duffy's first season and both left Illinois after one season for other jobs.

[shoothoops]

Former Marquette Assistant Vernette Skeete moves to Texas A&M as an assistant coach:

https://12thman.com/news/2021/6/24/womens-basketball-blair-adds-vernette-skeete-to-staff.aspx

Both Skeete and Merritt left MU for Illinois after Duffy's first season and both left Illinois after one season for other jobs.

Texas A&M is a good program with a strong hoops history, in a good, deep, league. Finished 4th Nationally last year. Long time successful A&M Head Coach Gary Blair, is near retirement. (His base plus incentives compensation is north of 7 figures annually) Their long time top assistant is a strong candidate as their next Head Coach. Skeete has already been named Co-Associate Head Coach at TAMU. Prior to Marquette, he entire life, and, playing and coaching career, was spent in the South.

Part of Skeete's going to Illinois was her close friendship with Merritt and his wife. Not sure how much longer Nancy Fahey will be at Illinois. She's a great coach, well liked and respected, but, you need players.  It's been a very slow start at a place that has little hoops history. Fahey won 5 Division Three National Titles, abd her teams were also runner up 4 other times, over three decades. Fahey's Illinois hire by Josh Whitman came about because Whitman was previously the AD at Wash U.

[Marquette Fan]

Texas A&M is a good program with a strong hoops history, in a good, deep, league. Finished 4th Nationally last year. Long time successful A&M Head Coach Gary Blair, is near retirement. (His base plus incentives compensation is north of 7 figures annually) Their long time top assistant is a strong candidate as their next Head Coach. Skeete has already been named Co-Associate Head Coach at TAMU. Prior to Marquette, he entire life, and, playing and coaching career, was spent in the South.

Part of Skeete's going to Illinois was her close friendship with Merritt and his wife. Not sure how much longer Nancy Fahey will be at Illinois. She's a great coach, well liked and respected, but, you need players.  It's been a very slow start at a place that has little hoops history. Fahey won 5 Division Three National Titles, abd her teams were also runner up 4 other times, over three decades. Fahey's Illinois hire by Josh Whitman came about because Whitman was previously the AD at Wash U.

Oh yeah I certainly don't blame Merritt and Skeete from moving on from Illinois.  And Texas A&M is certainly a great opportunity for Skeete - great conference for Women's Bball and great coach.

[Marquette Fan]

MU signs Megan Duffy to an extension through the 2026-27 season - https://gomarquette.com/news/2021/7/2/womens-basketball-marquette-announces-megan-duffy-contract-extension.aspx

[Marquette Fan]

Marquette is in the list of 12 schools that Germantown's Kamorea 'KK' Arnold is considering - https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/high-schools/2021/07/01/recruiting-germantown-standout-kamorea-arnold-narrows-college-options/7830975002/

She is a very highly rated player who is playing on the U16 National Team and there are some other impressive schools on the list she just trimmed down to 12 schools:

Baylor, Connecticut, Duke, Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, South Carolina and Wisconsin

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Marquette is in the list of 12 schools that Germantown's Kamorea 'KK' Arnold is considering - https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/high-schools/2021/07/01/recruiting-germantown-standout-kamorea-arnold-narrows-college-options/7830975002/

She is a very highly rated player who is playing on the U16 National Team and there are some other impressive schools on the list she just trimmed down to 12 schools:

Baylor, Connecticut, Duke, Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, South Carolina and Wisconsin

You know she must be super good since UConn is on the list

[Uncle Rico]

You know she must be super good since UConn is on the list

Hope she has the grades to consider Madison

[Marquette Fan]

You know she must be super good since UConn is on the list

Yep - she's #6 on ESPN's list for the class of 2023 right now:

http://www.espn.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/rankings/_/class/2023

Interestingly the #6 and #7 players go to Germantown HS but in different states .

[Marquette Fan]

Marquette loses their top 60 rated incoming frosh to Baylor:

https://baylorbears.com/news/2021/7/9/womens-basketball-wbb-adds-freshman-gillispie-for-2021-22.aspx

She originally committted to Ole Miss and then changed her commitment to Marquette when Tony Greene left Ole Miss for Marquette. Now that Tony Greene is at Baylor it's not real surprising she ended up there.

[Warriors4ever]

Oh well. As you say, not that surprising.

[Marquette Fan]

I'm waiting rather impatiently for the non-conference schedule to be announced .

I was bummed today to see UW's non-conference schedule and see that MU and UW aren't playing yet again this season.  I really wish they'd get back to playing every season.  I had heard they were supposed to play last season before the season had to be shortened due to Covid.  So I had hoped they would play in the 21-22 season but that isn't happening...

And Marquette isn't on the UWGB schedule either.  UW-Milwaukee doesn't have their schedule on their website yet.

[Marquette Fan]

I don't think this contract extension for Duffy was posted about here previously - https://gomarquette.com/news/2021/7/2/womens-basketball-marquette-announces-megan-duffy-contract-extension.aspx

[brewcity77]

I don't think this contract extension for Duffy was posted about here previously - https://gomarquette.com/news/2021/7/2/womens-basketball-marquette-announces-megan-duffy-contract-extension.aspx

You mean, this contract extension that you posted about 8 posts earlier? 

MU signs Megan Duffy to an extension through the 2026-27 season - https://gomarquette.com/news/2021/7/2/womens-basketball-marquette-announces-megan-duffy-contract-extension.aspx

[Marquette Fan]

You mean, this contract extension that you posted about 8 posts earlier? 

Sorry for repeating myself -  I didn't see it and didn't remember I'd posted about it.