WBB - Yes, no, maybe?

[arvcat2]

There is a bit of chatter as to whether Bad Bear, Jackson, and/or White will return for their “free covid year.” Also, it’s been mentioned on this board that Beasley plans to forego her additional year of eligibility. At the moment, it looks like there are 13 scholarship players for next year with 2 open scholarships (15 NCAA maximum):

5 Freshman – Berry, Boulanger, Bunyan, Johnson, & Picton
4 Sophomores – Dykstra, Hein, Olson, & Philip
0 Juniors
4 Seniors – Beattie, Deden, Janssen, Limardo

With the senior night celebration just 8 days out, I am wondering if final decisions need to be made by then or not? One thing for sure, if both Beasley & White are both gone next year, the point guard position will be Binford’s toughest to fill.

[MSU01]

Watching the press conference from yesterday's game, my hunch is that Darian and Kola will be moving on after this year. Either that or they're talking like they are while they decide. If they're still deciding I don't think participating in senior day is binding in any way, Coach Vigen has said he encouraged players to participate even if they were still deciding whether to come back. Kind of a bummer that senior night is on a Monday this year so us out-of-town fans can't attend.

Definitely looks like it will be a rebuilding/reloading year next year as all those freshmen come in.

[Catlady]

It’ll be an interesting year with players not using their Covid eligibility, but I still think we’re loaded. Still horrible at covering the 3 pt shot, but I think we’ll be very competitive. Disappointed that some players have taken a step back this season, but like what Dykstra and Deden did this season. We’ll be ok!

[BobcatDel]

There is a bit of chatter as to whether Bad Bear, Jackson, and/or White will return for their “free covid year.” Also, it’s been mentioned on this board that Beasley plans to forego her additional year of eligibility. At the moment, it looks like there are 13 scholarship players for next year with 2 open scholarships (15 NCAA maximum):

5 Freshman – Berry, Boulanger, Bunyan, Johnson, & Picton
4 Sophomores – Dykstra, Hein, Olson, & Philip
0 Juniors
4 Seniors – Beattie, Deden, Janssen, Limardo

With the senior night celebration just 8 days out, I am wondering if final decisions need to be made by then or not? One thing for sure, if both Beasley & White are both gone next year, the point guard position will be Binford’s toughest to fill.

As MSU 01 mentioned participating in senior night is not “binding” in any way and I concur. Coach Bin has said this also in relations to ongoing discussions with Gracie. I will summarize what I am aware of that I mentioned before.

Coach Bin has stated she will find an opening for any of the group that wants to return.

Jackson is getting married and I am fairly certain from her own discussions that she is moving on.

Bad Bear and White have both indicated they are assessing opportunities to play at the next level or looking at advanced degree. White in particular has indicated she may enter the draft. So based on what I see, I will be really surprised if they return. Not impossible but unlikely. So I am like MSU01 and not counting on their return.

Gracie is still really up in the air. Although she is going to go through senior night, I still think it a reasonable chance for her to return and I hope she does. I know she enjoys the game, she would be an obvious starter at the point, and she already exhibits team leadership on the court so i hope she sticks rather than trying to find a new home for her last year. But remember she is older than the other ladies and maybe wanting to move on with life (remember two years at junior college, two years sitting out at UW and MSU and one year playing at MSU).

Anyway, Coach likes to have these next step discussions several weeks after the season (April/May timeframe) so kids have a chance to “decompress” for a bit and have time to reflect on next steps.

Also you shouldn’t discount the possibility one or more of our next year seniors decide to move on through the transfer portal. I don’t want that to happen but that group has two years left to play so if they wanted to make a move it could be now.

Just hoping for a minute, if Gracie and all the future seniors stay, I think Gracie and Leia Beatty could handle the point well with Dylan starting to take a bigger role. Although we use Leia as a shooting guard, remember that Leia was a point guard in high school and I continue to be amazed at how well she sees the whole court and distributes the ball with some terrific passing capability.

We will see in a few weeks. If we win a championship, really would hope core group of key players return.

[thefrank1]

Deden is a Junior.

[BobcatDel]

Deden is a Junior.

This year yes. But I think he was showing the 4 seniors for next year. Beattie, Limardo, Deden, Jansen.

[Bobcat4Ever]

Someone fill in the blank, please — who comprised the sophomore/junior class that has ghosted us? I am thinking Mia Hughes was one. Unusual to lose a whole class that quickly.

Mia Hughes.
Casey Ardern?

[arvcat2]

Lindsey Hein was the 3rd one in that class. Now a redshirt freshman.

[aucat]

Looking to the future if Grace Beasley doesn't come back, well, I hate to use the word "devastating" but after having White and Beasley this year, it would be a huge drop off. Frankly I don't know why Beasley would come only to play one year. This past Saturday I really enjoyed the post moves by both Lexi and Kola. They both played a great game. Then I look at Lindsey Hein. I just wonder if it's possible for Lindsey to develop those kind of moves? Imagine what she could accomplish if she could? Of course, given her size and frame, if she had those moves under the basket she would probably be playing at Uconn.

I was hoping when UM let their former coach go that the power would shift in a great manner toward MSU, but looking at the talented freshmen UM has along with recruits coming in, it's gonna be tough next year. Let's enjoy our team this year and pull them through to a Big Sky championship.

[SACCAT]

Looking to the future if Grace Beasley doesn't come back, well, I hate to use the word "devastating" but after having White and Beasley this year, it would be a huge drop off. Frankly I don't know why Beasley would come only to play one year. This past Saturday I really enjoyed the post moves by both Lexi and Kola. They both played a great game. Then I look at Lindsey Hein. I just wonder if it's possible for Lindsey to develop those kind of moves? Imagine what she could accomplish if she could? Of course, given her size and frame, if she had those moves under the basket she would probably be playing at Uconn.

I was hoping when UM let their former coach go that the power would shift in a great manner toward MSU, but looking at the talented freshmen UM has along with recruits coming in, it's gonna be tough next year. Let's enjoy our team this year and pull them through to a Big Sky championship.

I remember when Oliana Squires graduated, a lot of people (rightly so at the time) said the same thing... But then a young freshman took the league by storm by the name of Darian White. The losses will be tough, they always are, BUT I have faith in the younger players. Berry, Olson, and Philip are very good. They would be regular contributors THIS YEAR on many teams in the Big Sky. MSU has more depth than any team in the Conference, and Binford has done an exceptional job of getting them all playing time this year. Sure, these shoes will be very hard to fill. I trust the #2 all time winningest coach in Big Sky history...

[arvcat2]

For SACCAT:
Do you have any insight on what primary position Brooke Berry most likely will play next year? If the 6-0 Berry has point guard skills in Binford's system, the loss of Beasley & White will be easier to digest.

[SACCAT]

For SACCAT:
Do you have any insight on what primary position Brooke Berry most likely will play next year? If the 6-0 Berry has point guard skills in Binford's system, the loss of Beasley & White will be easier to digest.

She played Point Guard in High School, and would have down in New Mexico, so my guess would be point/shooting guard.

[Hawks86]

Jackson, White, Bad Bear and Stumne will be honored on their senior night prior to Monday’s 7 p.m. game against EWU.

A series of knee injuries forced Stumne to stop playing after last season, but she remains a student assistant this year. The three others all have a year of eligibility remaining because their sophomore season was impacted by the pandemic. Bad Bear and White have said they don’t plan to return to MSU in hopes of launching professional playing careers.

Jackson is unsure about whether she will use that year or not, mostly because she hasn’t discussed it with Binford yet.

https://406mtsports.com/college/big-sky ... 8d0b4.html

[imacat]

During Saturday’s game broadcast Krista Redpath said Kola Bad Bear has been accepted into the University of Colorado’s dental program.

[BobcatDel]

Jackson, White, Bad Bear and Stumne will be honored on their senior night prior to Monday’s 7 p.m. game against EWU.

A series of knee injuries forced Stumne to stop playing after last season, but she remains a student assistant this year. The three others all have a year of eligibility remaining because their sophomore season was impacted by the pandemic. Bad Bear and White have said they don’t plan to return to MSU in hopes of launching professional playing careers.

Jackson is unsure about whether she will use that year or not, mostly because she hasn’t discussed it with Binford yet.

https://406mtsports.com/college/big-sky ... 8d0b4.html

Gracie Beasley is also participating in senior night as reported above.

And Maddie announced last week that her future husband has landed a job in Bozeman area. So she is indeed rethinking her options.

[CatBot]

During Saturday’s game broadcast Krista Redpath said Kola Bad Bear has been accepted into the University of Colorado’s dental program.

Looks like an opportunity for a grad transfer. I would love to see Kola test herself in the PAC.

[HelenaCat]

During Saturday’s game broadcast Krista Redpath said Kola Bad Bear has been accepted into the University of Colorado’s dental program.

Looks like an opportunity for a grad transfer. I would love to see Kola test herself in the PAC.

Man, it would be very, very difficult to play basketball and go to dental school.