Wow. Whitney Jennings leaving the WBB team.
- Thread starter BDinIC
- Start date
Here is the press release:
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa guard Whitney Jennings and forward Tagyn Larson have decided to leave the women’s basketball program to pursue playing opportunities closer to home. Jennings has two years of eligibility remaining, while Larson has three.
“We appreciate the contributions Whitney and Tagyn made on and off the court in their Hawkeye careers,” UI head coach Lisa Bluder said. “We wish them nothing but the best as they pursue opportunities closer to home.”
The Logansport, Indiana, native played in all 67 games of her career with 62 starts. Jennings recorded 626 points, 191 assists, 169 rebounds, and 77 steals in two seasons.
“I want to thank coach Bluder and Iowa women’s basketball for the tremendous opportunity, but have decided to continue my academic and basketball career at a place closer to home,” Jennings said.
Larson, a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, native, appeared in five games for the Hawkeyes as a freshman.
“I’ve appreciated what the coaches have done for me and the opportunities that have been given to me at Iowa,” Larson said. “I’ve made lifelong friends in my teammates and it’s been an experience I’m going to treasure forever. Looking ahead, I’m excited to start at a new school and have the best years I can there.”
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa guard Whitney Jennings and forward Tagyn Larson have decided to leave the women’s basketball program to pursue playing opportunities closer to home. Jennings has two years of eligibility remaining, while Larson has three.
“We appreciate the contributions Whitney and Tagyn made on and off the court in their Hawkeye careers,” UI head coach Lisa Bluder said. “We wish them nothing but the best as they pursue opportunities closer to home.”
The Logansport, Indiana, native played in all 67 games of her career with 62 starts. Jennings recorded 626 points, 191 assists, 169 rebounds, and 77 steals in two seasons.
“I want to thank coach Bluder and Iowa women’s basketball for the tremendous opportunity, but have decided to continue my academic and basketball career at a place closer to home,” Jennings said.
Larson, a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, native, appeared in five games for the Hawkeyes as a freshman.
“I’ve appreciated what the coaches have done for me and the opportunities that have been given to me at Iowa,” Larson said. “I’ve made lifelong friends in my teammates and it’s been an experience I’m going to treasure forever. Looking ahead, I’m excited to start at a new school and have the best years I can there.”
Bluder won't let her play at Indiana or Purdue will she? Otherwise I don't see any big time D1 schools in Indiana except Notre Dame and they have a premier program. They may not want her. Maybe she'll play at a small school and get a good education because women's basketball doesn't exactly pay the bills.
I think Whitney really struggled to find her place at Iowa, both on and off the court...she just never seemed to gel with with everything. I know she dealt with a lot of homesickness early on during her freshman year but decided to stick it out and I hoped she had worked through it.
"We’ll want to see a list of schools in which she wants to attend,” Bluder said of Jennings. “We’ll help her with her next step.”
I interpret that as "she'll transfer to IU or PU over my dead body".
Not a terrible loss. Jennings was a pretty good player but a game/program changer? Not close.
The one thing Bluder's program lacks in it's ability to compete with the better teams in the NCAA tourney is quickness and athleticism. You watch them play, be it a conference game or tourney game, and the reason they lose every time is that the other team is quicker and more athletic. Neither of these two that are leaving are quick enough or athletic enough to make a difference. Best of luck to both of them.
The one thing Bluder's program lacks in it's ability to compete with the better teams in the NCAA tourney is quickness and athleticism. You watch them play, be it a conference game or tourney game, and the reason they lose every time is that the other team is quicker and more athletic. Neither of these two that are leaving are quick enough or athletic enough to make a difference. Best of luck to both of them.
Indiana State may be an option for her as well.
In order for the Iowa women's basketball program to ever compete with or overtake the likes of UConn or Stanford or Tennessee like it's just a matter of looking to the past for examples of how it can be magically done in a sinch............................................................................anyone getting my point yet? No? Good...........
They'd need to, first, overachieve with whatever recruits they get. I'm talking Sweet 16 or Elite 8 runs with a particular group and find a way to be competitive in the last games they lose to whatever elite team they fall to. If they lose the Elite 8 game to surprise upstart Missouri State (insert random team), then that probably doesn't help.
And I have to stress that this needs to happen over the course of at least 3-4 years. Not just 2. Two won't convince girls to come to Iowa over another elite program on principle.
THEN after the impossible 3-4 year runs Iowa's team has, and only then, can they begin to really attempt to persuade a recruit here or there from going to UConn, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Stanford, Duke, Baylor etc. And they can build and hopefully sustain that success with those "elite" recruits that these big schools wanted and finally missed out on instead of loading up their rosters with the best of the best and circle-jerking in the Final Four every year.
Women's basketball is broken and I don't hold it against Iowa that they can't compete with elite programs overnight or even in a matter of 3-4 years. It will have to take that long just to begin the process of changing the program in order to compete with them.
And they first need a group capable of starting that change. Good luck with that.
In order for the Iowa women's basketball program to ever compete with or overtake the likes of UConn or Stanford or Tennessee like it's just a matter of looking to the past for examples of how it can be magically done in a sinch............................................................................anyone getting my point yet? No? Good...........
They'd need to, first, overachieve with whatever recruits they get. I'm talking Sweet 16 or Elite 8 runs with a particular group and find a way to be competitive in the last games they lose to whatever elite team they fall to. If they lose the Elite 8 game to surprise upstart Missouri State (insert random team), then that probably doesn't help.
And I have to stress that this needs to happen over the course of at least 3-4 years. Not just 2. Two won't convince girls to come to Iowa over another elite program on principle.
THEN after the impossible 3-4 year runs Iowa's team has, and only then, can they begin to really attempt to persuade a recruit here or there from going to UConn, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Stanford, Duke, Baylor etc. And they can build and hopefully sustain that success with those "elite" recruits that these big schools wanted and finally missed out on instead of loading up their rosters with the best of the best and circle-jerking in the Final Four every year.
Women's basketball is broken and I don't hold it against Iowa that they can't compete with elite programs overnight or even in a matter of 3-4 years. It will have to take that long just to begin the process of changing the program in order to compete with them.
And they first need a group capable of starting that change. Good luck with that.
I think the elephant in this thread needs to be addressed...how does everyone know so much about these girls' boyfriends?
I know Tagyn personally, but I can only speak for myself
Plenty of non-B1G options in Indiana....
-Ball State Cardinals
-Valparaiso
-Butler
-Evansville
-IPFW Mastadons
-IUPUI
-Ball State Cardinals
-Valparaiso
-Butler
-Evansville
-IPFW Mastadons
-IUPUI
The elephant is that the team just got less cute
I haven't asked her, I didn't even know she was leaving until I saw the update on here. They do visit each other quite often, so I wouldn't be surprised if that played a big role.
Whitney was homesick, but there were a number of factors that went into her deciding to transfer. Those that criticize her quickness/athleticism are off base in their comments. You don't just luck your way into becoming Ms. Indiana Basketball. As someone who has walked in their shoes, I don't publicly second guess or criticize most coaches. Heaven knows there are enough armchair know it alls on the message boards. But in my conversations with several current and retired coaches who I respect, they are in agreement that both Iowa's offense and defensive game plans this year did not utilize their guards strengths. And playing both Whitney and Tania at the same time meant having to play zone far more often than was beneficial.
Tagyn was recruited to play out of position that was best suited for her. At 6'2 she would be an thin/undersized 4, but she simply did not have the speed and lateral footwork to defend the 3 in the Big Ten.
I normally wouldn't post this because it is still very early in the process and normally I would keep it in the lounge, but trying to put a positive on this for two great young ladies and two great families. Both Ball St. and Butler have reached out to Whitney. She would be part of a rebuilding process at Butler, but they have a young and energetic coaching staff with a couple of former Big Ten players. Ball St. has the makings of a strong program as well given their size and recruiting footprint. Whitney is going to land on her feet. Tagyn will likely have a scholarship waiting for her back at SDSU, where I think she can be an impact player as well. Here is wishing both the best.
Tagyn was recruited to play out of position that was best suited for her. At 6'2 she would be an thin/undersized 4, but she simply did not have the speed and lateral footwork to defend the 3 in the Big Ten.
I normally wouldn't post this because it is still very early in the process and normally I would keep it in the lounge, but trying to put a positive on this for two great young ladies and two great families. Both Ball St. and Butler have reached out to Whitney. She would be part of a rebuilding process at Butler, but they have a young and energetic coaching staff with a couple of former Big Ten players. Ball St. has the makings of a strong program as well given their size and recruiting footprint. Whitney is going to land on her feet. Tagyn will likely have a scholarship waiting for her back at SDSU, where I think she can be an impact player as well. Here is wishing both the best.
Amen on wishing both the best. It has appeared, even last season with Sam and Co., LB tries to make some square pegs fit in round holes rather than adjust to the athletes she has. Obviously she has proven her knowledge of the game and has a great rapport with her kids, but as you mentioned, sometimes things just don't look "right" with who we have.
Thanks for the clarification. Makes complete sense. Hopefully it's a win-win for both girls and the Iowa program. (or maybe win-win-win)
Iowa has enough quickness but what they really lack is a very large, bulky post player who can defend and rebound. Every very good women's program has a big, dominating post player.
With MacKenzie Meyer coming, in as one of top scorers in the state of Iowa, the
Hawkeyes might be stronger next year at guard.
#goHawks
Hawkeyes might be stronger next year at guard.
#goHawks
No, he didn't have time. He spent his entire time in Iowa City chewing on the refs. He set NCAA record for most referee a$$ chewing in one game. P-poor officiating to let him get by with it.
Like, stopped by her dorm room, or in the handshake line?
I sorta feel that not playing Tania would have meant another player would be leaving, have no knowledge on that, just a feeling. And if they start Tania then they sorta have to play Whitney too, so she was a returning starter. So two tiny guards playing together.
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