Blacksten’s new role creates another outside threat for WVU | News, Sports, Vacancies

West Virginia University sophomore Kylie Blacksten provides another outside shooting threat for the Mountaineers. (Photo courtesy of BlueGoldNews.com)

MORGANTOWN — When the West Virginia women’s basketball team opens its season against Towson on Tuesday night at the Coliseum, all eyes will be on the backcourt duo of JJ Quinerly and Jordan Harrison, the engine that powers the Mountaineers’ high-revving engine.

And when they’re not busy watching their defensive mania turn into offensive hysteria, fans will be watching Sydney Shaw, a very talented transfer from Auburn who brings another dimension to a Mountaineers team that was trailing a year ago. 25-8, reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament.

But it might be worth spending some time watching the third of four returning starters, Kylie Blacksten, a player who feels like a bird let out of a cage this season, as she may become more of a defender than she’s always believed rather than a need to help . she lost in a small team, just like last season.

Blacksten, a fifth-year player who is in her second season at WVU after transferring from Colorado last year, brings the ability to make 3-point shots that will force opponents to defend her more on the perimeter, opening up opportunities. a spot where Quinerly and Harrison can get to the basket.

Last season, as the tallest player on the team at 6-3, she had to take losses low most of the time, which prevented her from using her most effective weapon.

“It was a learning experience trying to learn how to play center.” she admitted in a recent interview. “Now I can stretch the floor and I can’t wait to see what can happen.”

Like Kellogg, who spent a lot of time last season studying his offense and how to improve it, he ultimately settled on increasing his 3-point shooting as a key element.

“We went back and looked at some of the worst offenses in the country and what made them so elite.” said Kellogg. “We found some interesting things… of the top 15 offenses in the country, women’s basketball averaged 8½ 3s per game, and we averaged about 7.1, so you’re talking about 4½ points per game.

“We averaged about four more possessions than those top 15 teams, so we didn’t score as well, didn’t make as many three-pointers, and we know we had a rebounding problem that we needed to fix, and so those were the things we focused on.” Kellogg added. “Part of it could be the personnel and part of it could be the way we play. Maybe we want to have more possession of the ball, or maybe it’s the quality of the shots and we need those better shots to hit at a higher percentage. Maybe we just need to be a little more efficient, but we were top five or six defensively and 40th or 45th offensively.”

Kellogg believed it was critical to improve the offensive output if they were to achieve elite team status.

“If I remember correctly, each of the top teams had a top-30 offense and a top-30 defense.” said Kellogg. “There may have been one team that didn’t have both, but for the most part they were elite on offense and defense. We were just a little behind on offense, but of course we were on defense.”

With that in mind, leading scorer JJ Quinerly has spent a lot of time working on her 3-point shot, and Kellogg is set to bring an offense that will allow Blacksten more time in the guard role she played in high school.

“When I grew up, I was more of a security guard than anything else.” – Blacksten said. “So when I came here, I was learning to play more of the five and the post game. Having the opportunity to stretch the floor a little more, I’m really excited to see what comes of it.”

How did a 6-3 women’s basketball player become a guard and 3-point shooter as a child?

“I was quite small as a child.” Blacksten said this on Wednesday. “Then I had a growth spurt and that changed things a little bit.”

She started 33 games last year and ranked fourth on the Mountaineers with 27 3-point attempts, a number that is almost certain to increase this season.

And her passing skills, from her days as a guard, allow her to position herself on the outside, and if the defense comes at her, she can hit Quinerly or Harrison coming in the back door or get to the basket.

This adds new threat and versatility to the Mountaineers’ offense.

“It depends on how we want to play and who we play against.” said Kellogg. “Probably some so Kylie can play the A.” She’s not going to be a big, energetic five. That’s not what we’re going to ask her to do. But it can stretch the floor and increase its space, which gives guards more room on the edge.”