2000-01 Guilford Basketball Outlook

Coach Barb Bausch can't wait to start her eighth season on Guilford's sidelines. Of course she looks forward to the start of every campaign, but this season is special.

Why all the excitement? Part of it stems from the three returning starters from last season's 19-7 team, which missed the school's season wins record by one. Bausch definitely looks forward to another stellar season from 2000 Kodak Division III honorable mention All-American and ODAC Player of the Year Arden Miller. Don't forget the Quakers' December trip to Las Vegas for two games in the adidas/Division III Desert Shootout.

Those are all worthy reasons for excitement, but Bausch has more. Fifteen more, to be exact.

"There are so many different combinations we can use this year," Bausch said. "We only can speculate (in the preseason), so its fun to play like everyone is a bunch of chess pieces and think about where we will put them. What's our fast combination? What's our tall combination? It's fun to look at those things and think about what can happen."

Most folks don't get too worked up about a 15-player roster, but understand that 15 is more than twice the number of players available to Bausch for most of last season. Guilford played with only eight and spent most of the year with only six or seven healthy players. The Quakers' 'Magnificent Seven' surprised a lot of folks with their skill and stamina over a 26-game campaign. Despite the short bench, the team averaged a league-leading 75.8 points per game and ranked among the national scoring leaders at one point during the season.

"What we thought about last year was making sure everyone stayed as healthy as possible," Bausch said. "When I look back on it, with our 15 this year and only eight last year, what we did seems even more remarkable."

Second team All-ODAC forward Megan Barlow and speedy guard Kerrie Campbell did not return this season, but Bausch is not overly concerned. The dedication and quantity of the newcomers combined with quality veterans make Bausch optimistic. Miller, the nation's 11th-highest scorer last year (20.6 ppg.), maintained the work ethic that made her one of the best Division III players in the country. The latest in a line of dominant Guilford post players, Miller could have graduated in 2000, but opted to add a biology major so she could use her fourth season of eligibility.

Junior captain Erin Beacham should be freed up to score more at shooting guard after concentrating on point guard duties as a sophomore. Senior Marlo Biernacki and sophomore Shannon Underwood are poised for breakout seasons. Junior Amy Evans, a two-time winner of Guilford's Best Defensive Player prize, is the Quakers' fifth returning player. All of Guilford's veterans contributed to last year's success and are determined to bring home the Quakers' first ODAC basketball crown.

After limiting their typical up-tempo tendencies last year, Bausch says the Quakers will resume their fast-break offense and full-court defensive pressure.

"We have phenomenal speed," Bausch said. "From all positions on the court, we're definitely faster than last year." While the 1999-2000 club did not rank first among the ODAC's scoring leaders by walking the ball up the court, Bausch expects this team to maintain last year's scoring average (75.8 ppg.), while lowering the opponent's (65.5 ppg.). Guilford's defensive depth and quickness should generate more even scoring opportunities.

Bausch and assistant coach Chris Kosiba recruited this year's 11 newcomers to maintain Guilford's winning tradition, not to rebuild. The rookies see the veterans' dedication and well-rounded perspective that lead to victories on and off the court. Look for many of them to contribute early, as Bausch uses her new-found depth to its fullest potential. Preseason practice will be filled with a competitive air and come November 28, Bausch will have a lot more company on the bench.