Colorado Buffs Women’s Basketball: Wooten’s Impact and the Pursuit of Shooting Consistency
The Colorado Buffaloes women’s basketball team is navigating early-season challenges, especially with shooting consistency. However, a key contributor, transfer guard Jaylyn Wooten, is quickly becoming a vital piece of the puzzle, embracing a new role and exceeding expectations. This article dives into Wooten’s adaptation, the team’s shooting struggles, and the coaching staff’s confidence in a turnaround.
Wooten’s Seamless Transition
Initially a full-time starter at North Texas, Wooten has readily accepted a role coming off the bench for the Buffs. She acknowledges potential questions about the shift but prioritizes team needs above all else. “Obviously there’s going to be thoughts (questioning the move),” Wooten stated, “but I just do whatever my team needs me to do.”
This adaptability has unlocked a unique advantage for Colorado. Wooten thrives on the element of surprise, relishing the opportunity to impact the game when opponents may underestimate her. “It’s like that edge that you think the other team’s underestimating you, then you come in and just, like, go down their throats,” she explained with a smile.
Her performance against charleston on December 2nd exemplifies this impact. Wooten went a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, finishing with nine points and five rebounds. She finds the spark-plug role enjoyable, maintaining the same mentality as a starter.
Coach JR Payne is impressed with Wooten’s performance. “I think she’s played really well,” Payne said. “She’s substantially quicker and faster then any of us had seen on film, and we need even more of that.” Payne emphasizes the need for Wooten to continue her aggressive scoring, especially in transition.
Wooten herself feels she’s improving with each game. “I’ve enjoyed (playing at CU) a lot, honestly,” she shared. “I’ve improved so much. I’ve improved my 3-point shot a lot.I’m just looking to keep working, keep getting better, and being better for my team.”
Addressing Shooting Struggles
Despite Wooten’s individual success, the buffs are currently facing broader shooting challenges.Through games played in early December,Colorado ranks 14th out of 16 teams in the Big 12 in field goal percentage (.422) and 15th in 3-point shooting (.255). These numbers represent a noticeable decline from last season, where the team was fourth in field goals (.465) and sixth in 3-point shooting (.349).
Though, Payne remains optimistic. She believes the team isn’t taking bad shots, but simply needs to convert open looks. “Definitely we’ve got to be able to knock down shots,” she stated.
Payne highlights the team’s dedication to improvement.
* They are committed to extra practice.
* They are actively reviewing game film.
* They are focused on supporting each other.
“This is a group that will put in the work and will invest in film and will invest in getting up shots and in each other and things like that,” Payne explained. “It’s a group that is really coachable and will lean into areas that we need to develop and grow and things like that. So, I have a lot of faith in them as of those qualities.”
Looking Ahead
The Buffs have a brief respite before returning to action on Sunday, december 10th, hosting Miami of Ohio (1 p.m., ESPN+). This will be only the second meeting between the two programs, and the first since 1998.
Unfortunately, Colorado is currently without Claire O’Connor, a sharpshooter who connected on 40.8% of her 3-point attempts at Gonzaga last year. dealing with foot injuries, O’Connor has seen limited action, averaging just 10.9 minutes and missing the last two games. her return will undoubtedly provide a boost to the team’s perimeter shooting.
Key Takeaways for you:
* **Wooten’s versatility
