WBB: NU basketball’s Burke brings leadership, inspiration to fifth season

Kaitlyn Burke's teammates like to joke that Burke is the "grandma" of the team.

In her fifth season playing under coach Connie Yori, the Vancouver native knows the Husker system inside and out, well enough to play any position on the court – though, as she stands 5'7, the frontcourt would be a bit of a stretch.

What isn't a stretch is the confidence and respect her teammates have for "KB," the only senior playing major minutes for NU, despite a lack of jaw-dropping numbers (5.2 points, 2.6 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game). Burke plays an average of 24.1 minutes per game and is one of just four Huskers (Jordan Hooper, Lindsey Moore and Emily Cady being the others) whose minutes have increased since conference play began for non-injury reasons.

Speak of Burke to one of her teammates and you'll hear some of the following: ‘Great motor,' ‘knows the system,' ‘doesn't make mistakes,' ‘great teammate' and, above all, ‘knows what she can do and does it.' Simply put, Burke's teammates think NU's ‘grandma' has game.

So when Burke, who turned 22 in late August, was called upon by Yori to run the offense while Moore sat out 10 minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, it really wasn't that big of a deal.

"We have a fun team and (opposing teams) can kind of pick their poison," Moore said. "When I was gone, she stepped up and did what needed to be done for us to get a win. I had total confidence in her when she went in, we all did."

As crazy as it sounds, Moore actually sat on the bench more in Sunday's Minnesota game (19 minutes) due to her three fouls than she did in the entire 17-game Big 12 campaign last season (11 minutes). Suffice to say, Nebraska fans are fairly used to seeing No. 00 lead the ball up the court.

But when No. 5 (Burke) took over Moore's duties, NU went on a 19-10 run to turn a close contest into a double digit lead, which it held the rest of the game. Not that Yori expected any less.

"When Lindsey (got) in foul trouble, Kaitlyn played a pretty good role for us," Yori said. "KB did a good job coming in and keeping us composed ... she knows what needs to be done. She's not necessarily an explosive kid that's going to make every play but she understands what we need her to do at a given time."

Burke played point guard in high school and wouldn't say whether she favored playing there as opposed to her usual shooting guard role. She did say, repeatedly, that her favorite position was wherever her team needs her at the time.

"I like (both guard spots)," Burke said. "I'll play wherever my team needs me — whether it's the one, the two or, when (Rebecca Woodberry) got hurt, the three."

Burke also performs a second role for the young team – that of a positive role model. One of 30 nominees for the Lowe's Senior Class Award, the advertising and business administration major carries a 3.54 GPA and was twice named on the Academic All-Big 12 Team. Her presence has undoubtedly been a factor in the blossoming of true freshmen Tear'a Laudermill, Hailie Sample and Cady, the last of whom was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Tuesday.

So, as NU gets set to take on Iowa in Lincoln on Thursday, Burke will again be in the starting lineup. For stat geeks who wonder why, the answer is simple: according to Moore, NU wins because of chemistry – and Burke supplies it in spades.

"Her leadership is a huge part (of our success). She knows our system and can lead kids," Moore said. "She plays within herself. She stays really composed. She cares a lot."

Just like other players did for Burke when she came to Lincoln.

"I remember what it was like when I first got here and some of the older players helped me out when I needed it," Burke said. "Just being there for my teammates is something that's very important to me, and I know that I valued it a lot when I was a freshman, so I just (help them out) whenever they need it."

seanwhalen@dailynebraskan.com