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Provo • The question has been asked of BYU women's basketball coach Jeff Judkins everywhere he's gone the past six months, be it Lake Powell, his neighborhood gym in Salt Lake City or even Spain, where he led the Cougars to a four-game sweep in August.
After making it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last March, what will Judkins and the Cougars do for an encore?
"It is going to be tough," Judkins acknowledged. "But we feel like we've got a lot of pieces in place [to repeat that feat], if all goes well."
With one of the best players in school history, 6-foot-7 Jennifer Hamson, having used up her basketball eligibility and currently starring for the BYU volleyball team, Judkins is adjusting his team's playing style this season.
The Cougars are going to increase their playing pace and become more of a pressing, trapping, fast-breaking team.
"You will see a big difference," Judkins said. "We will do some things to speed up the game."
The Cougars began practicing earlier this week, trying to replace Hamson, sharpshooter Kim Beeston and backup point guard Stephanie Rovetti, who transferred to Fresno State.
BYU will play exhibition games on Nov. 1 (Westminster) and Nov. 8 (Fort Lewis) before beginning the 2014-15 season at South Dakota State. Their WCC opener is a toughie — at defending conference champion Gonzaga on Dec. 27.
"We are a totally different team than we were last year," Judkins said. "We are going to miss Jen and Kim, obviously. But we are going to be quicker in some spots, and kids who have paid their dues and been here a long time are going to get their shot."
Judkins will rely heavily on the three returning starters — guard Lexi Eaton, point guard Kylie Maeda and forward Morgan Bailey, niece of former Utah Jazz star Thurl Bailey.
Eaton led the Cougars in scoring with a 16.8 average last year in her first season back from ACL surgery and will likely be a preseason all-WCC pick.
"I expect more of myself this year, just in general," Eaton said. "I would say more leadership, more scoring, more rebounding, more assists, just more all-around [production]. As you get older, more is expected, and so I have high expectations for myself this year."
Judkins said Bailey will get more shots and have more freedom to roam this year in the absence of Hamson.
"I think Lexi and Morgan are the two best players in the league if they play the way they can play," Judkins said. "A lot of this is on Lexi, but she likes that challenge."
Maeda is being pushed for the starting point guard spot by former Alta High star Makenzi Morrison, who emerged during the trip to Spain. Defensive specialist Ashley Garfield, forward Micaelee Orton and guards Xojian Harry and Kristine Fuller will also be counted on to pick up the scoring and rebounding slack.
The top newcomer will likely be freshman Alohi Robins-Hardy, a 6-2 forward from Hawaii.
And the Cougars will have to play better perimeter defense, without the security blanket of Hamson inside.
"We worked on that all summer, and I think we have improved that a lot," Maeda said.
Twitter: @drewjay —
BYU key dates
Nov. 1 • Exhibition opener vs. Westminster, 3 p.m.
Nov. 14 • Season opener at South Dakota State, 8 p.m.
Dec. 13 • at Utah, noon
Dec. 27 • WCC opener at Gonzaga, TBA