By Joey Papania
LSUsports.net
Heading into the 1999-2000 season the LSU Lady Tiger basketball team figured to count heavily on a backcourt that included budding star Marie Ferdinand at the shooting guard and sophomore Kisha James, who gained valuable experience playing behind since-graduated LaTasha Dorsey a year ago.
All that changed in a matter of minutes last Sunday. With only one minute separating the Lady Tigers from the end of the exhibition season to nearly a week off to prepare for Saturday nights season opener at Texas Tech, disaster struck. As James lay on the PMAC floor, writhing in pain, the Lady Tigers worst fears were confirmed when she was diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Done for the season before it ever began.
To make matters worse, back-up point guard Angela Crockett suffered a stress fracture to her left foot in preseason practice. At this time, it is uncertain as to how long it will be until Crockett can return.
The LSU Lady Tigers head to Lubbock, Texas this weekend for the Four in the Fall Classic with a different complexion than they had a week ago. Without the presence of a true point guard now, the Lady Tigers approach Saturday nights game with familiar faces taking on unfamiliar roles. The losses of James and Crockett will force junior Marie Ferdinand to shoulder most of the responsibility of the one spot. Its tough when you lose a player, but we have to come together as a team, said Ferdinand. Everyones just got to work a little harder.
The injuries come at an unfortunate time, as Ferdinand appeared to be realizing her talents a true scorer, totaling 41 points in the two exhibition games. While the transition to the point will not be an easy one, she will become more comfortable as the conference season approaches. The junior from Miami started all 30 games last season and averaged over 12 points per game.
To help ease this transition, LSU head coach Sue Gunter will look to senior Katrina Hibbert to share the responsibilities in the backcourt.
I think Hibbert is such a versatile player, she can do so many things, Coach Gunter said. Youll see Hibbert doing a lot of the ballhandling so as not to neutralize Maries offensive skills.
Hibbert started all 30 games last season and led the Lady Tigers in scoring with 14.5 points per contest. The 5-10 forward from Melbourne, Australia was voted First Team All-SEC and First Team All-Louisiana in her sophomore and junior seasons. Hibbert begins her senior season with the chance to rank in the top 10 in school history in all but two statistical categories.
The Tigers can look for some relief at the point guard position in near future, as Junior College transfer Danielle Traylor will join the Tigers at midterm and will be eligible the day after finals are completed for the fall semester.
The junior from Martinsville, Ind., starred at Wabash Valley Junior College the past two years, averaging 18 points and nine assists a year ago. If Traylor can use the non-conference games at the end of December to prepare for the heart of the SEC season, the Lady Tigers will be able to slide Ferdinand back to the two spot and regain look they originally intended heading into this season.
So many questions ahead. Saturday night its time for the Lady Tigers to start finding some of the answers.