Developing Into Your Own Role

No role is too small, and Caitlin Kramer was the poster child.

On the road against Air Force, technically, the redshirt freshman didn't even register a minute played in the box score. But she did play. One final inbounds play on the sideline against a team from her hometown. Odd thing was, due to a water issue, no one was allowed in the building.

Yet there Kramer stood – all 6-foot-3 of her – to be disruptive. It would be her only appearance of the game, and her deflection of that pass led to a turnover to secure a 65-63 victory.

"Her opportunities were a few last year, but oh so important. But I think those opportunities helped her grow, and she's coming in this year with a different level of confidence," CSU coach Ryun Williams said during summer workouts. "She knows the opportunity is at the doorstep, and it's exciting to see a kid like her, a kid like Allie (Roden), a kid like Gianna (Smith), understand that opportunity is in front of them, so let's go seize it."

Williams and his staff restocked the roster in the offseason with the addition of three freshmen and five transfers. The Rams, who played in the NCAA Tournament after winning the Mountain West tournament, return just one starter (Kloe Froebe who started all 35 games) and one key reserve (McKenna Murphy who played in all 35 and started once). The only others who saw action were Smith (2.8 minutes averaged in 16 games), Kramer (2.1 over 15 games) and Olivia Pawlicki (12 games, 2.3 minutes). Roden redshirted through some injuries, as did Bree Bowman.

Murphy is the example from last season. After redshirting one season, she carved her niche as a sniper off the bench, her 48 treys ranking second on the team, playing 13.1 minutes a contest. The fact she improved defensively aided her cause.

The door is open for the next wave to expand their roles, a fact of which they are all aware. When the end of last season came, each met with the staff, each given a detailed report of where they could improve their games and the expectations which were held for all of them.

In short: We believe, prove us right. The ball is in your hands.

"Ryun just kind of challenged me with new roles. We lost some big players, some ball handlers," Roden said. "So I knew that was kind of an open position for me to step into if I needed to. I guess my biggest thing was just growing my game in more ways so I can just be out on the court in more positions."

The team lost all three of its primary ball handlers last year, and every team wants more than one trusted option. Roden was impressing at the end of last season in practice and has continued to do so this summer.

Smith and Kramer are both guards, but more in the role of a shooting guard. Both had their moments during the season when they took steps forward, others when they still looked young. But what the returners do have on the newcomers to the roster is a familiarity with the system. Williams considers it a bit of a head start. So do they, understanding it comes with some responsibility to the team concept.

He wanted to see it aid what he considers a primary next step for all of them: A stronger mental approach.

"I would just say taking what Ryun has told me really seriously and just like stepping into the role that he could give me and seeing where the team might need me more and just trying to help the team in that way and using my talents to get the team better," Smith said. "I would say my mentality has changed just because last year I learned so much. We had six seniors last year.

"I learned so much from all of them and just tried to embrace that and just soak in every moment that I could last year and learn as much as I could. And now that I have that base of how much I've learned, just taking that to the next level and actually implementing it on the floor and helping the transfers learn as well and new freshmen learn."

A coach can ask, but they need to see delivery. Even a bit of panache in the process. Show some intentionality over the summer. Every step is being watched, which is why Williams' film room is busy every day after practices rewatching what just took place.

The tape is watched among the coaches. It is watched again with the players. Some sessions are a mixture of both, sometimes with multiple players involved. Learn you spot. But also learn and understand another. Being good is great. Being versatile is even better. It's an understanding of what has been lost in time.

Jack of all trades, master of none … but oftentimes better than a master of one. A basketball court is one of those arenas.

"You can see they're very intentional about what they're chasing and the expectations from us, and they're really trying to deliver. They've still got a ways to go, but you can see that there's growth there," Williams said. "The biggest … It's a mentality, first of all. It starts there, and the more they gain some confidence and see the opportunity in front of them, they're only going to get better."

Decisions are not being made, but the factors which lead to them are being formulated. Everyday counts, and the youngsters are everything they should be at this point. Excited for the opportunity. Mindful of the process. Students of the lessons still being learned. Watching when it is not your rep. None of them want to exit the summer feeling they left something behind.

Every player has to start someplace, and it could be one play which lights the spark. It could happen anytime. Say, the final seconds of a game in an empty arena. The only time you're asked to make a difference.

The coach remembers. So does the player, and in turn, they both hope the individual walks away craving more.

"Definitely. I think in general just going in games there's a lot of pressure, obviously on both sides of the bench. So going out there and doing what you know best and playing your position and your role is very important," Kramer said. "But also not going outside of that to the detriment of the team in some ways. I just think sticking to what you know best but also challenging yourself in practice so that it carries over in games more effortlessly."

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