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Turning point

Posted February 2, 2007

Kara Richards faces a potential turning point in her career.

Back when the season started, CU coach Kathy McConnell-Miller gushed about the team’s potential in the front court due to Richards’ return from last year’s foot injury.

The Buffs hoped to dominate in the paint with the tandem of Richards and junior forward Jackie McFarland.

But the Buffs have been anything but intimidating inside in their last six games.

Richards began the Big 12 season with a bang — opening conference play with her first career double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds) against Missouri and following that up with 14 points and five rebounds against Iowa State. Both wins for CU.

As CU lost five in a row, Richards averaged four points per game, but rebounded well. It took a career-high from freshman Whitney Houston to bail out the Buffs in their last game, a 66-55 win over Kansas State in which Richards scored two points and grabbed one rebound in 14 minutes.

Richards said she’s lost her confidence during this stretch.

“She just has to play through it,” McConnell-Miller said. “As much respect as opponents give her, Kara has to know what she’s capable of and she has to play through some adversity. She just didn’t step up to that challenge in the last couple games.”

Richards’ struggles began when CU went on the road to face Texas and Texas A&M. The Buffs have played four of their last six games on the road. And it’s carried over at home.

“She has to be more focused on the road, all of them, but her in particular,” McConnell-Miller said. “Her discipline needs to be better on the road. She allows certain things to distract her. But she’s getting there.”

Without a strong presence inside (and a 3-point threat from the outside), opponents can double- or triple-team McFarland and shut down the Buffs’ offense.

Sophomore Caley Dow picked up the slack against Kansas State. While Dow is a great rebounder, Richards has the potential to be much more of an offensive threat and has improved her rebounding this season. She has even begun to put the ball on the floor without turning it over.

“She’s almost like a freshman with me and sort of up and down,” McConnell-Miller said. “That’s sometimes a little hard for Jackie to adjust to.”

One adjustment the Buffs could make is starting freshman Aija Putnina, who shined when she started in place of Richards when Richards was hurt earlier this year.

Putnina has since struggled and the Buffs believe that Putnina has a difficult time coming in off the bench and being effective. But as a starter, Putnina plays better. It’s just a mental thing.

Don’t look for a change anytime soon, however, because the Buffs want Richards to succeed and they believe the best way to do that is to allow her to play through this adversity and see how she responds. If she can bounce back, it will say something about her desire, her attitude and her toughness. If not, it may be time to give Putnina another chance.