They’re a work in progress, but Collen’s Bears ready to put in the work – Waco Tribune-Herald

Occasionally, Nicki Collen stopped her team to make them run wind sprints. Other times she ordered one unit off the court and noisily ushered the other five onto it following a fumbled pass for a turnover.

Every once in a while, shed clap and say, Good, Erika! She even stifled a smile a few times.

So it goes for Day One of basketball practice for Baylor, which is breaking in eight new players three freshmen, one junior college signee, and three players plucked from the transfer portal.

Today was a bit of a fiasco, Collen said after the practice, before later adding, So, weve got a lot to work on. But it was the first of 30 practices before that first game.

No doubt Baylor will endure some growing pains over the next couple of months. But the talent level and Lord knows the expectations remain the same.

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This is Baylor, after all.

I think this team is different (compared to last year), Collen said. Its very different and I think our expectations are the same. Did (last years NCAA tournament loss) leave a bad taste, is there expectations, is there pressure? I dont think you put on a Baylor uniform and not feel pressure. I know I didnt take this job and expect to not feel pressure. I mean nobody wants to be a part of the team that breaks the streak of conference championships.

Last year Baylor went 28-7 and won the Big 12 title before being upset in the second round of the NCAA tournament to South Dakota. A pair of Baylors frontcourt warriors from that squad moved onto the WNBA in Queen Egbo and NaLyssa Smith. Such veterans are never easy to replace. And yet returning guard Jaden Owens said the talent on this years roster matches any team on which she has played.

Its always going to be something thats a change, Owens said. Playing with two amazing players like that, its always going to be different. But with who we have in now, we have more amazing players coming in. I dont feel a drop-off.

I feel like we have young talent, and its exciting. I love it. I love all the questions they have. I dont think its weird. I think its just a change that Im happy to work with.

Last November Collen signed a recruiting class that was ranked ninth nationally by ESPN. It includes 6-0 guard/forward Bella Fontleroy of Springfield, Mo., 6-1 guard/forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs of Edmond, Okla., and 6-3 post Kyla Abraham of Carrollton, Va.

I feel like every single day, Ive learned something new every day, Fontleroy said. I feel like there are people who would come in and think they know so much. There has not been a single day that I havent learned something new, whether its terminology or even something as simple as where a teammate wants a pass off of a certain screen and roll.

Its definitely been a learning curve, there are a lot of talented people here. So, just getting acclimated has been a big change. But, Im loving it so far.

Its the way of the world in college basketball these days, but Baylor should find instant contributors from its transfer portal additions. The group features junior guard Jana Van Gytenbeek from Stanford, junior forward Erika Porter from Illinois, senior guard/forward Aijha Blackwell from Missouri and senior forward DreUna Edwards from Kentucky, along with junior college addition Catarina Ferreira, a guard from Eastern Arizona College.

Blackwell ranked as one of the countrys top rebounders last year, pulling down 13.1 caroms a content, while Edwards was also an All-SEC performer who tossed in 16.8 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Wildcats. Yeah, its safe to say theyre going to help.

Talent. Rebounding. Experience, said Collen, when asked what she was seeking from the transfer portal. I think those were the keys. Obviously Bella (Fontleroy) was a part of that Top 10 recruiting class that we had in the fall, but when you lose three players to the draft and youre Baylor, youre trying to continue to stay at that level.

Bear Facts

A pair of returning players did not participate in Mondays opening practice for Baylor. Junior guard Sarah Andrews, the teams top returning scorer, wore a brace on her left wrist, while sophomore forward Kendra Gillespie sat out with a knee brace on her right knee. The Big 12 released its womens basketball conference schedule on Monday. Baylor will open league play Dec. 31 at home against TCU, and wrap it up March 4 at home against West Virginia. Both of Baylors meetings with rival Texas (home on Jan. 22, away on Feb. 27) will be nationally televised by ESPN2. ... Baylor will open the regular season Nov. 7 at home against Lamar.

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They're a work in progress, but Collen's Bears ready to put in the work - Waco Tribune-Herald