K-State women’s basketball has lost its second player before the season started. Junior center Ramiya White is shut down for the year after a scooter accident on Oct. 4 gave White lower-leg injuries that require surgery. White enters her second year at K-State after averaging a .515 shooting percentage and 52 rebounds in 28 games as a sophomore.
The injury hurts the Wildcats, as they are now limited at center. K-State will have to rely on its two centers, Tzoana Tampakou and Ivona Scekic, to provide post production. Losing a key post player like White makes it harder to play as many post players, limiting rotations and offensive and defensive alignments. Despite the challenges, the injury also gives Tampakou and Scekic more opportunities to showcase their abilities.
This is the second season-ending injury the Wildcats have suffered in a week. On Sep. 30, head coach Jeff Mittie announced that sophomore guard Brandie Harrod suffered a torn ACL and will miss the entire season. Harrod started 33 of 37 games last year, set a freshman record with 78 offensive rebounds and tallied 49 steals.
On the perimeter, K-State will need its returners to step up and produce more. The Wildcats will need Senior Taryn Sides and sophomore Gina Garcia to cover most of what they lose with Harrod out. With K-State losing a key rebounder and stealer in Harrod, the Wildcats will look to their guards to pick up their defensive and rebounding production. This will also give the other guards more playing time, allowing K-State to mix up rotations and offensive and defensive play styles.
For the team as a whole, losing a second key player means much less depth. Players who normally start on the bench will need to step into starter roles, produce more and stay healthy.
Though the injury creates problems at depth and in production, the ‘Cats now have the opportunity to unite as a team amid preseason struggles and adversity, becoming stronger together and elevating everyone’s play.
K-State begins its season by hosting Wichita State at Bramlage Coliseum at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 2.
