FAYETVILLE — University of Arkansas women’s basketball coach Mike Neighbors has already used many words to describe his team after the Razorbacks’ fourth official practice preseason practice. .
Thaler Poffenberger, who transferred from Connecticut, was shown to members of the media in Thursday’s practice, hitting multiple three-pointers and grabbing several rebounds.
The 6-2 guard from Middletown, Maryland showed off his shooting touch early in Thursday’s workout with three 3-pointers. She finished with her 27 points and her 15 rebounds, the equivalent of her 40-minute game against the men’s practice team.
Neighbors admitted the Razorbacks flipped the ball a bit more than he’d hoped for Thursday.
“You can’t look up and do 13 turnovers in half,” says Neighbors. “We’re not going to work that way. But we’re a better rebounding team because we have better rebounders. There’s nothing they teach. Rebounding matters.” We got a group of kids, Sailor had 15 of them, and we have more sizes to do it.”
Poffenberger gives Arkansas considerable size at guard, but the roster also includes 6-5 Jersey Wolfenberger, 6-4 Mariam Douda, 6-3 Emry Ellis, 6-1 Chrissy Kerr. . Ka and Dauda are also newcomers.
“Before, I lost half my rebounds. [within] Nine feet,” said the neighbor. “Now we can reach 9 feet and we have multiple kids who can reach 9 feet. So there’s some trading value in there…the other day when Mac or Sam checked out of the game there was a 6-3, 6-3, 6-5, 6-5 lineup. I watched the film and recorded seven consecutive offensive rebounds.
“We’re tweaking a few things. We’re not in a rush to get back to transitional defense. We might go for a few more offensive rebounds. Pick up an extra possession or two during the game.” Please let me in. We looked at it differently.”
Poffenberger arrived in Fayetteville in January and after being able to watch a bit from the sidelines, she said it was easier to integrate into the team.
“It brings a different perspective,” Poffenberger said. “I realized that playing and watching are two very different things.
“I don’t have a lot of in-game experience, but I have a lot of practice experience. I think coming from different programs is one of those situations that brings different knowledge. is a big deal.”
She said it wasn’t difficult to integrate into the team. She repeated Neighbors’ words about diversity. Also, competing in a big competition was itself a challenge for her.
“As long as I play fast, shoot threes and play defense, I think I fit the program,” Poffenberger said. “Working hard is a big thing. I feel like he’s the one player who doesn’t do one thing. Three shoots. Drives. Floors. I rebound really well.” .Can guard all 5 positions.
“Honestly [watching] It was really hard, but it was really necessary. I guess my passion wasn’t the same after joining UConn. … I think it was a really good six months of sitting back, letting my emotions go, loving the game again, and being able to regain my competitive, healthy love of the game after getting rid of it. ”
Having senior Makaira Daniels and last year’s SEC Freshman of the Year Samara Spencer up front would be a difficult combination for the defense, Neighbors said.
“Having two smalls on top instead of top and corner puts a lot of pressure on defense,” said Neighbors. “They are throwing it at each other.
Spencer added 16 points, Daniels 15, and Kerr scored 11 in scrimmage.
Neighbors said Poffenberger brought both versatility and maturity to the Razorbacks.
“She’s a kid who’s played a lot of high-level games,” Neighbors said of Poffenberger. “She is comfortable here now. [is big]Its ability to shoot up on you. Her ability to shoot farther than you really want her to protect her, and if you come to get her, she can get through you too.
“That’s how I think of her. She’s there with my kids now. She has this way of engaging kids. She’s fun to continue down this path.” It’s hard to believe she’s a freshman, but that’s who she is…she’s going to present some problems with her length.
