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Call it `Waiting for Katie.'
Or, if you don't like the Samuel Beckett reference, then how about `Ex-Darling Nikki'?
OK, you're not an Artist Formerly Known as Prince fan. Then how about `Goodbye Columbus'?
That's what a lot of people in the ABL are saying about the defending champion Quest, which jumped out to an 18-1 start last year and shocked the league by winning the title with 5-11 Katie Smith at power forward and 5-11 Nikki McCray as the primary post option.
Smith, though, isn't in camp yet, and McCray has fled for the literally greener pastures of the WNBA, so Coach/General Manager Brian Agler is missing a few cards from the hand he played so admirably last year. Smith may return, however, as she just finished playing for the U.S. National team in an international tournament and showed no great love for training camp last year -- belatedly reporting Oct. 4.
If she does, the Quest will still a very formidable opponent in the ABL East. After all, 6-1 Valerie Still, the playoff MVP, didn't start until the end of the season, and Agler may use her and 6-2 Andrea Lloyd together this year. That alignment would give Columbus two veteran, very intelligent players for their quick and agile guards to orbit around. Smith would then move outside, where she played in college, and join returning guards Tonya Edwards (another National team member) and Shannon Johnson.
That trio shoots threes as well as any three players on any team, male or female, in the known world. Edwards hit 36% of her 202 attempts, Smith made 41.7% of her 216 tries and Johnson hit an incredible 47.9% -- and she took 144 threes.
That outside bombardment can be expected to continue this year, with or without Smith, but obviously it will be a lot more effective with Smith around to add her deceptive athleticism and solid shot selection. Without McCray, though, Agler will expect more of Smith (a true rookie last year) offensively. He'll also need a little more scoring from the amazing Sonja Tate, one of the most stunning offensive rebounders you'll ever see. Tate is only 5-8, but she is strong, a great leaper and relentless on the offensive boards -- though Agler will ask her to do more now that McCray is gone.
He would also like to see Penn State grad Angie Potthoff add some offense to the mix, which she'll have to do if Smith decides to play in Europe, or the WNBA, or both. Potthoff battled a knee injury in camp, but she can definitely catch and shoot, and like most of the Quest, is physical and intelligent.
Another key newcomer is Purdue's Jannon Roland, who will move to the three in the pros. Roland likes to go to the basket, but she's discovered that the new level also brings with it an extra physical dimension not found in college or on the Jones Cup team. Tennessee's Pashen Thompson is also learning the rookie ropes, and should provide some rebounding off the bench.
Latina Davis played in the league last year for New England and Atlanta, and is hoping to catch on with the champions -- but her cause will be greatly aided if Smith goes elsewhere. If she stays, Davis might have trouble surviving the final cut.
Agler has two other players in camp who he's very familiar with, since they played for him at Kansas State. Shanele Stires was a role player with Columbus last year, but she's made significant improvement and is playing with much more confidence. Rookie Andria Jones is going through the same learning process as most rookies, but her familiarity with Agler's system will help.
But systems are systems, and talent is talent -- and the Quest don't have as much of the latter as they did last season. They also don't have all those home games to start off, and they also won't catch anybody by surprise. Agler concedes that the early season `will be critical for us,' and naturally he'd like Smith in camp as early as possible to help lay the groundwork.
Last year's Quest camp, however, was just as unsettled and Columbus came out smoking and survived a late-season letdown to win the first-ever ABL title.
So why not believe? After all, `Groundhog Day' showed how much fun repetition can be.
9/23/97
