They're young.
It's one of the most noticeable features of this year's edition of Nebraska women's basketball, and for good reason.
Of 13 players, the Cornhuskers boast just one senior: forward Danielle Page.
"I was kind of scared," Page said of being the lone senior. "I didn't know what the difference was going to be and I was a little anxious about it. Summer came though, and I really enjoy it. It's really not that much of a difference."
There will be a change for the team, however, and it will be its composition. There are only two juniors. The other 10 members of the 2007 roster are split evenly between the sophomore and freshman class at five apiece.
It's quite an adjustment from a year ago when four seniors supplied most of the highlights for a team that made the NCAA Tournament. The leader of the senior pack was former point guard Kiera Hardy, who led the team in scoring, free-throw percentage and assists.
Page knows she has to fill eight shoes with just two feet and said nothing will come easy for her.
"You can't replace someone with the offensive skills (Hardy) had," Page said. "It'll be tough. It was a safety net for us. If we needed a score, we knew who we needed to get the ball to. I think it puts more pressure on us offensively."
NU Coach Connie Yori agreed with Page. She said losing Hardy will be an offensive burden for the team, but she feels the Huskers are up to the challenge of filling that void.
And some challenge it should be. Yori said the 2007 Nebraska schedule might be the toughest schedule that's ever been put together. It features 15 games against 2007 postseason qualifiers. Ten of those will be against teams that made the NCAA Tournament.
One game NU will have its eyes on early will be a showdown in the Bob Devaney Sports Center against Mississippi, a team that reached the Elite Eight last season. Although there's several big-name opponents slotted against the Huskers for their 2007-08 season, the game Page looks to the most might be somewhat unexpected.
"They are all important, but I think the most important non-conference game would be UTEP," Page said. "It's our first game and it will be interesting to see where everyone is and what we're doing as a team and how we stack up."
As for conference play, Page said it would be Texas A&M, which earned a share of the Big 12 Conference championship last year.
With a grueling season ahead, Yori said she knows the expectations on her players will be higher, and she's reflected that in practices.
"We're trying to put our players into situations for those situations that we are going to see," Yori said. "We have practiced a little bit longer since I have been here. We probably practice 20 to 25 minutes longer, but we need that. We're pretty early in the stages, but we just need to go longer."
Yori said the reasoning behind going longer is because of the team's youth. Yori has been finding herself having to teach this year's team more than normal. Page has been right in the heart of it as well.
Page said she feels like she assumes an even bigger leadership role now that she's a senior, but her job is easier than it looks.
"I'm not the only leader on the team," Page said. "I have great personnel around me. All the returners have taken on big leadership roles. I'm trying to help out all the newcomers and just be there for them."
Players like freshman Dominique Kelley and up and coming sophomores in Nikki Bober, Cory Montgomery and Yvonne Turner have all embraced their new roles on this year's squad, and according to Yori, all the pieces couldn't fit any better.
"I think our team chemistry is very good for where we are," Yori said. "It comes down to us having really high-character kids in our program that are committed to our team concept."
A new season brings new expectations for the Husker women. At one point in 2006-07, the team boasted a 23-4 record that soon led to an NCAA Tournament appearance.
NU squares off with Nebraska-Kearney in the first of two exhibition games to start the season on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. When the teams met a year ago, NU steamrolled the Lopers 122-55.
Page said everybody is ready to get the engine rolling again.
"I most look forward for this season to get going," Page said. "That's when we have the most fun; just getting to have a good time with the team on the court."
SPENCERSCHUBERT@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
