Women’s Basketball Picked 1st in Preseason KJCCC Coaches’ Poll

COLBY, Kan. – The KJCCC preseason coaches' poll was released on Tuesday afternoon and Butler women's basketball found themselves on top of the predicted order of finish ahead of the 2023-24 season.

The Grizzlies were picked first ahead of Hutchinson (second) and Barton (third). The full poll can be found below. Both the Grizzly men's and women's squads were picked to win the KJCCC by the league's coaches.

A season ago the Grizzlies finished 24-7 overall and 18-6 in conference play. They bowed out in the Region VI semifinals to Barton.

The Grizzlies return seven players from last year's squad including both All-KJCCC honorees in Freddie Wallace and Maycee James. Wallace, a 6'3 freshman forward, was named the Jayhawk Conference Freshman of the Year. She averaged 17.1 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game. She was also named an NJCAA third team All-American. James, a 5'7 freshman guard, was named to the All-KJCCC Second Team and All-Defensive team. She was a do it all player, averaging 6.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.2 steals per game.

J'unti Franklin, Anna Eldridge, Randi Harding, Jada Hopson and Dayuna Colvin round out the returners. There are four newcomers to the team, two freshmen, Sariyah Williams (Olathe North) and Alba Cunill (Berga, Barcelona) as well as two transfers in Tiana Winn (Seward) and Brittanie Brickhouse (Colby).

Butler is led by Mike Helmer who will begin his 16th season leading the Grizzlies. He holds a record of 334-139 in his 16 years in El Dorado. Helmer will be joined by Abby Fawcett who is in her 12th season as assistant coach. Fawcett was named World Exposure Report's 'Women's Basketball Assistant Coach of the Year' earlier this offseason.

The Grizzlies open the season on Thursday, Nov. 2 vs. Bethany College JV at 5:30 p.m. from the Power Plant in El Dorado.

Butler hosts Friends JV this Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 6 p.m. at the Power Plant for a preseason scrimmage.

KJCCC DIVISION I WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Butler
2. Hutchinson
3. Barton
4. Dodge City
5. Coffeyville
6. Garden City
7. Seward County
8. Cowley
9. Cloud County
10. Independence
11. Pratt
12. Northwest Tech
13. Colby