Blogs › CU women's basketball

Hit and miss

Posted January 23, 2007

Playing time has been hit and miss for CU senior Anna Nedovic this season.

It’s a trend that is likely to change only slightly, if at all.

This, despite her strong defensive effort against Oklahoma All-American Courtney Paris on Saturday, in which CU coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said Nedovic did the best job of anyone on Paris.

McConnell-Miller said it’s tough play Nedovic over junior Jackie McFarland, who averages 19.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.

Nedovic’s playing time is determined by game situations, McConnell-Miller said.

If McFarland needs more of a rest, Nedovic will play.

For instance, McFarland played 38 minutes in a Thursday game at Texas A&M and then played 39 minutes two days later against an Oklahoma team that provided McFarland’s greatest physical challenge of the year — a strong player in Leah Rush and a big player in Ashley Paris.

It looked like McFarland, and the whole team, hit a wall with about 8 minutes left to play against Oklahoma.

McFarland is averaging 35.6 minutes per game this season.

“It’s hard to pull Jackie McFarland off the floor,” McConnell-Miller said. “But she does need to get some rest.”

Nedovic could earn more playing time with improved shot selection on offense, especially her 3-pointers. Nedovic’s trey attempts have been too far out to improve on her career 28 percent 3-point shooting.

But, Nedovic has been greatly improved in the post this year, mostly bringing a strong presence on the defensive end.

Saturday’s game certainly helped Nedovic’s confidence.

“It meant a lot,” Nedovic said. “I was prepared for it, too, because I know that sometimes they want me to play when there are big post players. And I know (Paris) was good and that Kara (Richards) might get in foul trouble.”

Freshman Aija Putnina normally spells Richards, but Putnina struggled against Oklahoma. Plus, Nedovic was a bigger post in the paint against Paris.

Nedovic notched a double-double in CU’s final nonconference game, a win over D2 Bakersfield. That game didn’t net her more playing time, either.

“It’s tough,” Nedovic said. “But I’m old enough to know what I have to do. I do what I have to do. ... I prepare myself as if I’m going to start. I’m ready every time (coach) calls my name. ... Of course, everybody wants to play all the time so it’s hard. But I get through those times and I’m ready when I need to be.”