2011-12 DU Season Highlights - University of Denver Athletics

2012-13 SEASON PREVIEW
By Steve Coulter
Newness is the theme of the University of Denver
women’s basketball program this season as head coach
Kerry Cremeans takes over the reins from former coach
Erik Johnson and the Pioneers transition into their fi rst
season of play in the Western Athletic Conference.
Although there is a lot of change surrounding the
program, Cremeans believes her players and her new staff
are prepared and focused to take on their respective new
opportunities.
“You approach every team the
same way with the same attitude
and preparation - an opponent is
an opponent, regardless of what
conference they play in,” Cremeans
said. “Sure there’s newness for my
players, but I never coached in the
Sun Belt, so my approach is that
we are coming into this conference
with one goal and that’s to win it.
It’s an exciting opportunity for the
players to play new teams and get
the opportunity to compete and
win a conference championship.”
Another adjustment the
Pioneers must make in the 2012-
2013 season is playing without
forward Kaetlyn Murdoch, who
graduated in the off season with
one of the most accomplished
careers in program history.
DU turns to senior point guard Emiko Smith
Emiko Smith for leadership this
season. The Los Angeles native is coming off a junior
campaign in which she led the team in assists (6.42 per
game) and steals (71 total), while starting in all 31 games
and playing a team-high 36 minutes per game.
“Emi is full of life and energy as a person. She is
positive and fun, and that radiates throughout the
program and moreover this entire athletic department,”
Cremeans said. “You couldn’t ask for anybody better to be
the face of your team than a kid like Emi Smith. What she
can do on the court, obviously her leadership qualities
are insurmountable. She takes care of this team. She
knows how to communicate, how to understand and how
to push everybody around her. There’s a lot put on her
shoulders, but she’s capable and she loves having that
responsibility.”
Cremeans believes her point guard’s personality will
help achieve the team goals for early in the season, which
are increasing toughness and developing a sense of
swagger when they take the court.
“Everybody laughs when I mention the word swagger,
but my team doesn’t anymore, because they hear it
everyday and they understand our vision of this program
is to be tough on and off the court,” Cremeans said. “We
feel our dedication to being tough will separate us from
the other teams in the end and having that swagger on
the court – it’s not a cockiness, it’s a confi dence – the
knowledge that they’ve put in
the work to have that type of an
attitude will make the diff erence
and help us achieve our goals
together.”
Junior Quincey Noonan returns
in the backcourt after an injuryplagued
sophomore campaign,
teaming up with her running mate
from two years ago, Smith.
As a freshman, the Broomfi eld,
Colo., native started 30 of 31 games,
averaging 6.7 points and fi nishing
second on a veteran team in steals
and blocks.
“A big key to this season, and
our success, is Quincey getting back
to full strength, and I think she’s
almost there,” said Cremeans. “She
puts in so much time rehabbing
and doing preventative exercises to
protect her body. She’s an absolute
horse on the court, so she can
take a lot of physicality. She loves
to compete and is absolutely committed to making this
team better and committed to keeping her body very
healthy. Most importantly, she plays with such a strong
sense of pride for this university and this program. She’s at
the top in terms of work ethic and desire.”
In addition to her work ethic and commitment,
Cremeans praised her third-year guard for being a ‘silent’
leader in practice and on the court, a subtle skill that’s
helped the fi rst-year coach throughout the preseason.
“Quincey is a leader by example – not a loud vocal
leader,” said Cremeans. “If there’s ever a drop off in our
focus, she takes care of it, which makes it easy on me as a
coach. All the players listen to her, and that allows her to
clean up any problems before it gets to me, which is great
to have out there. She’s created a bit of a separation, and
therefore a respect amongst her fellow players.”
While Smith and Noonan shore up the team’s
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