SKYHAWK WOMEN’S HOOPS LOOKS TO STRONG CORE AND TALENTED NEWCOMERS FOR SUCCESS IN 2022-23
11/7/2022 11:01:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin women's basketball team believes it has the pieces to get back in the championship conversation in 2022-23 but will have to rely on a strong core which features four returning starters from last season and a crop of talented newcomers to make the puzzle come to together.
After a disappointing campaign in 2021-22 which featured injuries, COVID alterations and a tough 12-game stretch which was played over 25 days, the Skyhawks are hoping the team's offseason development and new faces will be enough to propel the team on the court and up the standings.
The Skyhawks open their 14th season under the direction of head coach Kevin McMillan. During his tenure with the program, UT Martin has boasted a 252-160 overall record while winning 75.8 percent (169-54) of its Ohio Valley Conference contests. The four-time OVC Coach of the Year has led the Skyhawks to nine postseason berths over the years while also winning six regular season championships.
UT Martin's all-time wins leader has a lot of optimism for his squad this season after the team returns four starters while welcoming nine newcomers into the fold. The Skyhawks feature three Preseason All-OVC selections in graduate Paige Pipkin, graduate Seygan Robins and sophomore Shae Littleford. Pipkin earned All-OVC second team honors last season after leading the team with 12.3 points per game while Littleford ranked as one of the league's top freshmen after claiming three OVC Freshman of the Week honors and garnering a spot on the OVC All-Newcomer squad.
While both Robins and the team's fourth returning starter – Ella Thompson – missed several games due to injury last season, the Skyhawks are looking to their returning nucleus to lead the way for a large newcomer class which features seven true freshmen and a pair of Division I transfers. The squad welcomes Diamond Cannon (Bradley) and Sydneey Boykin (Mercer) to add additional collegiate experience to the group while also bringing in Anaya Brown, Sharnecce Currie-Jelks, Clara Garland, Haley Hallett, Kenley McCarn, Lexi Rubel and Josie Storey from the prep ranks.
"It is a really talented group of newcomers and the sky is kind of the limit for them," McMillan said. "The question is going to be how quickly they understand the college game and the grind that goes on. If you think about it, most of them are coming from high school where by the middle of January, their season would probably be over in terms of minutes played compared to when it really starts to ramp up in college. The youth and inexperience is the most noticeable thing in practice every day while the learning curve is what we are watching and navigating. There are good days and bad days but the talent, effort and intensity is there."
While the younger group will play a big role in the success of the team, UT Martin will rely heavily on its returning group to set an example for sustained success. While the team's veteran guards Pipkin and Robins are potentially embarking on their final season in a Skyhawk uniform, that tandem has not only tasted success but seen it firsthand. Since Pipkin stepped on campus prior to the 2017-18 season, she has not only overcome injuries to earn All-OVC honors but has seen the program claim back-to-back regular season championships in 2020 and 2021, and win 98 games over the past five seasons. The tandem played a big role in the team's 2020-21 campaign which saw the program post a 22-6 overall record while winning the consolation bracket of the WNIT Memphis Regional.
With that experience in mind, McMillan knows he can count on his veteran guards. "Paige is savvy," McMillan said. "You are talking about a kid who has reinvented herself multiple times in her career. I'm anxious to see Paige play with these younger kids because the better the players are around her, the better she is going to play. Same thing about Seygan. That will be interesting and exciting to watch as the season progresses. Their leadership will also be important to keep the young kids heads on straight with the ups and downs of the season."
Another player with leadership characteristics is the team's point guard, Littleford. After bursting into the starting line up in her debut contest against George Washington, she stayed there. Now with a year of experience in hand and a knack for attacking the basket, the guard will have another test ahead of her in 2022-23.
"Shae's has worked hard this offseason to get more consistency at everything," McMillan said. "She has worked hard at her mid-range game to improve her shot from 6-8 feet because she is so good at shooting the three and getting to the rim. Her challenge will be the way we played last year is totally different than how we will play this year. Essentially, she is a freshman because she has no idea or experience in running a team the way we are going to run it this year. Now she has experience running a team but not the way we are going to try to do it running at a faster pace, so she will be learning right alongside all of those freshmen. The only two that really have a clue is Seygan and Paige because they have seen it before. The thing you love about her is her effort and that she is going to give it everything she's got. If that will be contagious, her role as a point guard will be really important."
Speaking to the changes in how the team will operate should be a welcome sight for fans. After focusing on limiting possessions, slowing the game down and working on suffocating defense last season due to roster makeup, the Skyhawks are anticipating the return of a faster pace system which will harken back to years past. "Our tempo is going to be more 'normal' like we have played with," McMillan noted. "We typically have been able to score a lot of points, press and play faster. The big questions is, with so much inexperience, what are they going to latch onto and become really good at. I think they will figure it out, but it's just going to be when. The style that we play in January, may be totally different than what we do early as we try to figure out these kids and how they fit together."
The team won't have time to sit patiently and wait for continuity with a loaded non-conference schedule. Having never shied away from an early season test, the Skyhawks will be tested early and often in the first two months of the season. UT Martin's non-conference slate includes two NCAA Tournament competitors and six programs which competed in the Postseason NIT.
UT Martin will face off against two programs which won contests in the NCAA Tournament with the Summit League's season and tournament champion South Dakota advancing to the Sweet 16 while perennial Missouri Valley Conference contender Missouri State won its First Four matchup. Additionally, South Dakota State enters the season ranked in both national polls after rattling off win after win on its way to the 2022 Postseason WNIT championship. That trio each finished in the top-10 of the CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25 poll with South Dakota ranking No. 1 while South Dakota State came in at No. 4 and Missouri State at No. 10.
The slate also features contests against five other participants from the Postseason WNIT field where Southeastern Conference member Vanderbilt advanced to the Sweet 16 of the field while Missouri, Murray State, Norfolk State and Troy each made the tournament field. Overall, UT Martin will matchup against teams from six different conferences, including three from both the Missouri Valley Conference and Sun Belt while also playing a pair from the SEC and Summit League. The Skyhawks will round out their schedule with meetings against teams from the Horizon and MEAC in a neutral site tournament before opening its 18-game OVC schedule on Dec. 29.
"I feel like from top-to-bottom, this might be the most challenging non-conference schedule we have put together in a long line of tough schedules over the years," McMillan said. "We will have to be prepared to play against some of the nation's best at both the Power 5 and mid major level. When you consider that the schedule features eight teams which earned postseason berths – including four programs which won games – our schedule is one of the most difficult that we have put together. We won't shy away from it because we hope that it prepares us for the grind of the league schedule and a tournament run."
UT Martin will be guard heavy once again but with nice size on the wings. While Pipkin, Littleford and Robins garnered preseason honors, Thompson – a sharp-shooting forward – is looking for a strong sophomore campaign after starting 19 games. The returning quartet averaged 39.6 combined points per game last season for 70.8 percent of the team's total offensive output.
With the increased pace expected, the Skyhawks will look to their newcomers to supplement not only the lost production from last season, but also the additional output on the scoreboard. When McMillan was asked where that production may come from, he responded that he had an idea.
"You're going to see a lot of freshmen," McMillan said. "There are five or so who have really stood out so far. Anaya had an injury in preseason that we have been overly cautious with to make sure she is going to be healthy for us. She is a long, lanky kid that can do so many things all over the floor. Sharnecce hasn't played in two years because of injuries, but you can see her shaking off some rust every game. When you watch her though, she has the ability to do a lot of things that not many kids in the OVC can do."
"Lexi reminds us of Katie Schubert, for fans that remember her, that just does everything and does it well. She will just have to figure out how to do what needs to be done for our team. Then our two Arkansas kids in Josie – who can really score – along with Kenley who can really do anything, is a four-time state champion and plays about four positions makes for a strong group."
UT Martin will get to put its new-look roster to the test with the team's season-opener against Troy on Thursday, Nov. 10. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. For season tickets, go to www.UTMSports.com/tickets or call 731-881-7207.
After a disappointing campaign in 2021-22 which featured injuries, COVID alterations and a tough 12-game stretch which was played over 25 days, the Skyhawks are hoping the team's offseason development and new faces will be enough to propel the team on the court and up the standings.
The Skyhawks open their 14th season under the direction of head coach Kevin McMillan. During his tenure with the program, UT Martin has boasted a 252-160 overall record while winning 75.8 percent (169-54) of its Ohio Valley Conference contests. The four-time OVC Coach of the Year has led the Skyhawks to nine postseason berths over the years while also winning six regular season championships.
UT Martin's all-time wins leader has a lot of optimism for his squad this season after the team returns four starters while welcoming nine newcomers into the fold. The Skyhawks feature three Preseason All-OVC selections in graduate Paige Pipkin, graduate Seygan Robins and sophomore Shae Littleford. Pipkin earned All-OVC second team honors last season after leading the team with 12.3 points per game while Littleford ranked as one of the league's top freshmen after claiming three OVC Freshman of the Week honors and garnering a spot on the OVC All-Newcomer squad.
While both Robins and the team's fourth returning starter – Ella Thompson – missed several games due to injury last season, the Skyhawks are looking to their returning nucleus to lead the way for a large newcomer class which features seven true freshmen and a pair of Division I transfers. The squad welcomes Diamond Cannon (Bradley) and Sydneey Boykin (Mercer) to add additional collegiate experience to the group while also bringing in Anaya Brown, Sharnecce Currie-Jelks, Clara Garland, Haley Hallett, Kenley McCarn, Lexi Rubel and Josie Storey from the prep ranks.
"It is a really talented group of newcomers and the sky is kind of the limit for them," McMillan said. "The question is going to be how quickly they understand the college game and the grind that goes on. If you think about it, most of them are coming from high school where by the middle of January, their season would probably be over in terms of minutes played compared to when it really starts to ramp up in college. The youth and inexperience is the most noticeable thing in practice every day while the learning curve is what we are watching and navigating. There are good days and bad days but the talent, effort and intensity is there."
While the younger group will play a big role in the success of the team, UT Martin will rely heavily on its returning group to set an example for sustained success. While the team's veteran guards Pipkin and Robins are potentially embarking on their final season in a Skyhawk uniform, that tandem has not only tasted success but seen it firsthand. Since Pipkin stepped on campus prior to the 2017-18 season, she has not only overcome injuries to earn All-OVC honors but has seen the program claim back-to-back regular season championships in 2020 and 2021, and win 98 games over the past five seasons. The tandem played a big role in the team's 2020-21 campaign which saw the program post a 22-6 overall record while winning the consolation bracket of the WNIT Memphis Regional.
With that experience in mind, McMillan knows he can count on his veteran guards. "Paige is savvy," McMillan said. "You are talking about a kid who has reinvented herself multiple times in her career. I'm anxious to see Paige play with these younger kids because the better the players are around her, the better she is going to play. Same thing about Seygan. That will be interesting and exciting to watch as the season progresses. Their leadership will also be important to keep the young kids heads on straight with the ups and downs of the season."
Another player with leadership characteristics is the team's point guard, Littleford. After bursting into the starting line up in her debut contest against George Washington, she stayed there. Now with a year of experience in hand and a knack for attacking the basket, the guard will have another test ahead of her in 2022-23.
"Shae's has worked hard this offseason to get more consistency at everything," McMillan said. "She has worked hard at her mid-range game to improve her shot from 6-8 feet because she is so good at shooting the three and getting to the rim. Her challenge will be the way we played last year is totally different than how we will play this year. Essentially, she is a freshman because she has no idea or experience in running a team the way we are going to run it this year. Now she has experience running a team but not the way we are going to try to do it running at a faster pace, so she will be learning right alongside all of those freshmen. The only two that really have a clue is Seygan and Paige because they have seen it before. The thing you love about her is her effort and that she is going to give it everything she's got. If that will be contagious, her role as a point guard will be really important."
Speaking to the changes in how the team will operate should be a welcome sight for fans. After focusing on limiting possessions, slowing the game down and working on suffocating defense last season due to roster makeup, the Skyhawks are anticipating the return of a faster pace system which will harken back to years past. "Our tempo is going to be more 'normal' like we have played with," McMillan noted. "We typically have been able to score a lot of points, press and play faster. The big questions is, with so much inexperience, what are they going to latch onto and become really good at. I think they will figure it out, but it's just going to be when. The style that we play in January, may be totally different than what we do early as we try to figure out these kids and how they fit together."
The team won't have time to sit patiently and wait for continuity with a loaded non-conference schedule. Having never shied away from an early season test, the Skyhawks will be tested early and often in the first two months of the season. UT Martin's non-conference slate includes two NCAA Tournament competitors and six programs which competed in the Postseason NIT.
UT Martin will face off against two programs which won contests in the NCAA Tournament with the Summit League's season and tournament champion South Dakota advancing to the Sweet 16 while perennial Missouri Valley Conference contender Missouri State won its First Four matchup. Additionally, South Dakota State enters the season ranked in both national polls after rattling off win after win on its way to the 2022 Postseason WNIT championship. That trio each finished in the top-10 of the CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25 poll with South Dakota ranking No. 1 while South Dakota State came in at No. 4 and Missouri State at No. 10.
The slate also features contests against five other participants from the Postseason WNIT field where Southeastern Conference member Vanderbilt advanced to the Sweet 16 of the field while Missouri, Murray State, Norfolk State and Troy each made the tournament field. Overall, UT Martin will matchup against teams from six different conferences, including three from both the Missouri Valley Conference and Sun Belt while also playing a pair from the SEC and Summit League. The Skyhawks will round out their schedule with meetings against teams from the Horizon and MEAC in a neutral site tournament before opening its 18-game OVC schedule on Dec. 29.
"I feel like from top-to-bottom, this might be the most challenging non-conference schedule we have put together in a long line of tough schedules over the years," McMillan said. "We will have to be prepared to play against some of the nation's best at both the Power 5 and mid major level. When you consider that the schedule features eight teams which earned postseason berths – including four programs which won games – our schedule is one of the most difficult that we have put together. We won't shy away from it because we hope that it prepares us for the grind of the league schedule and a tournament run."
UT Martin will be guard heavy once again but with nice size on the wings. While Pipkin, Littleford and Robins garnered preseason honors, Thompson – a sharp-shooting forward – is looking for a strong sophomore campaign after starting 19 games. The returning quartet averaged 39.6 combined points per game last season for 70.8 percent of the team's total offensive output.
With the increased pace expected, the Skyhawks will look to their newcomers to supplement not only the lost production from last season, but also the additional output on the scoreboard. When McMillan was asked where that production may come from, he responded that he had an idea.
"You're going to see a lot of freshmen," McMillan said. "There are five or so who have really stood out so far. Anaya had an injury in preseason that we have been overly cautious with to make sure she is going to be healthy for us. She is a long, lanky kid that can do so many things all over the floor. Sharnecce hasn't played in two years because of injuries, but you can see her shaking off some rust every game. When you watch her though, she has the ability to do a lot of things that not many kids in the OVC can do."
"Lexi reminds us of Katie Schubert, for fans that remember her, that just does everything and does it well. She will just have to figure out how to do what needs to be done for our team. Then our two Arkansas kids in Josie – who can really score – along with Kenley who can really do anything, is a four-time state champion and plays about four positions makes for a strong group."
UT Martin will get to put its new-look roster to the test with the team's season-opener against Troy on Thursday, Nov. 10. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. For season tickets, go to www.UTMSports.com/tickets or call 731-881-7207.
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