As Washington coach Tia Jackson tries to lead the Huskies out of the Pac-10 cellar in the final two weeks of the season, it’s safe to say she won’t be afraid to try something new if she deems it necessary.
In part because of injuries, and in part because nothing seems to be working, Jackson has changed lineups about as frequently as outfits, and some players’ minutes have fluctuated wildly throughout the season.
Heading into tonight’s game against No. 24 Arizona State, the Huskies have used 13 different starting lineups. All 14 players have started at least one game, and only two, Sami Whitcomb and Kristi Kingma, have started more than 18.
“The injuries were the catalyst to it all, but with this team it’s more the consistency,” said Jackson, whose team is 6-19 and 2-13 in conference play. “If you’re showing consistency in practice and in games, if you’re not wavering one way or another as a player, those players are the ones who have earned that consistent starting lineup role.”
Jackson said she went through a similar situation while playing for legendary coach C. Vivian Stringer at Iowa
“We were 11-17, and roles changed all year,” said Jackson. “You were a scorer in one game and a bench warmer the next. That’s just how it happened … We never looked at coach Stringer and said, ‘What’s going on here.’ We just wanted to bust our tails to earn minutes.”
Similarly, players say they aren’t questioning Jackson’s tactics, even if it can take a little getting used to.
“It might have been tough at first, but we all understand that there’s a flow of the game that maybe we don’t see and Coach J sees, and we’ve got to accept our role,” said sophomore guard Sarah Morton. “We’ve got to accept our roles, whatever she wants us to do. She knows what’s best for the team and we’re all just trying to get wins.”
Morton, a Monroe High School grad, was the starting point guard at the beginning of the year, but eventually lost that job to junior college transfer Christian Rozier. Morton’s minutes went way down for a stretch in the middle of the season, but she’s been back in the rotation more in recent weeks.
“It does affect some players differently,” said Kingma, a freshman guard who has started 21 of her 22 games. “I think some players would rather start than come off the bench, and others play better coming off the bench. That’s a decision that’s up to the coaches though, and they’ve handled it well. Our starting lineup has changed because players have been inconsistent and because of injuries, and it’s not because she doesn’t like certain players or whatever. It’s just how things have gone.”
While injuries got the lineup shuffling started, Jackson now says an ever-changing rotation makes for better practices.
“It gives them an opportunity to continue to play hard, because they might earn that starting role,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for them to earn more minutes on the floor because there’s not a locked starting lineup.”
And while the wins have been infrequent, Jackson seems to be accomplishing her goal of high-intensity practice.
“It’s definitely a huge motivator for us,” said Kingma. “We do have a chance every day in practice to earn a starting spot, and on the other hand we know a starting spot can be taken away. You have to go through practice 100 percent. I think it makes practice that much more intense and that much more competitive.”
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more on UW sports, check out the Huskies blog at heraldnet.com/huskiesblog
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