Changes and Challenges
The basketball season has been over for weeks, but Angela Buckner, WSU’s talented center, clearly remembers the drama and excitement of the first 15 games.
“The beginning of the season was awesome,” she says. “Everyone was excited. The bleachers were filled with people. We felt like we could conquer the world.”
The feeling didn’t last. Quickly and inexplicably, the Shockers lost their winning form. After an 11-4 start, the team dropped five games in a row and never recovered, finishing the season 14-14 and losing coach Darryl Smith, who was fired after the season concluded with an 80-61 loss to Indiana State in the first round of the MVC tournament.
WSU athletic director Jim Schaus called the decision to remove Smith, who was 74-68 in five seasons, a “difficult but necessary” one.
A New Shocker Face
Jane Albright was named the Wichita State head women’s basketball coach during a news conference April 11.
Albright, who rebuilt the Northern Illinois and most recently the Wisconsin programs, is the winningest coach at both schools. She took Wisconsin to postseason play seven of the nine years she coached there, including five NCAA Tournaments and the Championship of the WNIT in 1999-00.
A North Carolina native, Albright relates, “I’m delighted at the opportunity to come and serve Wichita State University, the community and the state of Kansas as the Shockers’ women’s basketball coach. After speaking with Jim Schaus, it quickly became obvious to me that his vision and my vision are one. I just want to reiterate how excited I am.”
A Crowd of Shockers
WSU alumni were well represented at the 2003 PBA World Championship March 3-9. Chris Barnes ’92, former Collegiate Player of the Year, made it to the quarter-finals by defeating fellow Shocker alum Rick Steelsmith ’89 in the Super 16, but fell to Parker Bohn III in the semis. Barnes is currently the number two player in the world. Patrick Healey ’92 and Lonnie Waliczak ’96 also competed in the event.
