Knights' biggest asset this season could be their depth

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Weakness and strength are often intertwined. Such is the story this season for the Martin Luther Knights.

When the Knights begin their 2000-01 campaign at 8 p.m. Friday against Silver Lake at the Lakeshore Tipoff Tournament in Manitowoc, Wis., they will be a team with four starters returning. But fourth-year coach Dennis Gorsline thinks more than experience the Knights' biggest asset will be their depth.

"The 12 players we cut to are the 12 best that we've had," Gorsline said. "We're going to have excellent depth. As a matter of fact, I'm thinking about going to a starting rotation.

"I think the hardest thing, because they're so similar in talent, is going to be the morale. When you have 12 players who are so similar, playing time could be an issue -- It'll be how well they accept their roles."

Gorsline forsees using the starting rotation, at least early in the season, with the possibility of working down to eight or nine players who see considerable playing time. Either way, all 12 will be looked to for contributions, and returning starter Juliane Schulz -- a 5-foot-7 guard who averaged 7 points per game last season -- thinks the Knights' depth will pay dividends.

"It's different than what we've done in the past," Schulz said. "But I think change is necessary with the team we have. We have the ability to rotate because we have a good group of girls. I think coach (Gorsline) will be able to rely on people more this year on the bench.

"By platooning, we'll have fresh legs and it's going to be to our advantage. We can outrun people at the end of games."

But the flip side of having 12 players of nearly equal ability is this -- MLC does not have the go-to girl. The Knights do not possess a player who can play like she's possessed, who can take over the game, not just by her playing ability, but also by sheer will.

There are other demons this edition of the Knights will try to exorcise. Poor shooting is at the top of the list.

MLC went 8-11 last season and finished fifth in the UMAC. The Knights were three games away from being a .500 team despite only shooting 36.7 percent from the field.

The Knights didn't burn up the nets from the line either, hitting just 58.5 percent of their free throw attempts.

"I think our problem is a shooting problem," Gorsline said. "Sometimes, it's just layups. ... Our weakness is we don't put the ball in the hole very well. That's a big weakness in basketball."

Senior guard Emily Hahnke (5-6) led the Knights last season with 11.1 points per game, shooting 35.7 percent from the field. Guard Julie Schramm (5-6 junior) averaged 9.2 per game on 38.1 percent shooting and junior Sarah Scharf added another 7.1 points per game inside.

Without a true No. 3 player, the Knights expect to be a perimeter-driven team. They don't have a dominant post player -- Scharf will be the tallest Knight at 6-foot and she knows the Knights expect her to do a little pushing and shoving in the lane.

"I can be as physical as other girls, definitely," Scharf said. "Sometimes, my teammates yell at me for hitting them with my elbows. ... I think we're definitely better (than last season)."

Scharf led the Knights last season in rebounding with 6.2 per game, but the Knights' next two top returning rebounders are guards -- Hahnke with 3.5 rebounds per game and sophomore Annie Uecker with 3.3 per game.

The Knights hope to offset those weaknesses with their depth and their experience, especially with their perimeter players. While Hahnke won't be in the starting lineup against Silver Lake because she just joined the team this week after the conclusion of the volleyball season, Hahnke, along with fellow returning starters Schramm (5-6 junior guard) and Juliane Schulz (5-7 junior guard), will be integral on offense.

The Knights also have four other players back who were letterwinners last season. Gorsline sees that as a significant positive, particularly the return of 5-foot-7 sophomore guard Annie Uecker, who graded out as the Knights' top player during preseason evaluations.

"Annie Uecker's a real fine player," Gorsline said. "She was the highest-rated on all the areas. ... She blocks out well, she hustles like crazy, she's a really good defensive player. On offense, her shot selection is very good.

"And Becky Pate is really a good shot (43.8 percent last season). She just didn't get as many shots (last season). ... Emily gets a lot of baskets because she's a hustler, she gets a lot of steals and breakaways."

Another year older, another year wiser, and maybe another year better.

"I think we're looking pretty good," Hahnke said. "I'm the only senior, so we're a young team, which is good. I want to win now, but being young will help us build for next year and the future."