Averi Kroenke has no timetable for a return. Here's how that affects Missouri women's basketball
One of Missouri's promising sophomores will miss an indefinite amount of time, women's basketball coach Robin Pingeton said Monday.
Tigers guard and Rock Bridge alum Averi Kroenke sported a cast on her right foot at Monday's season opener against Belmont. Pingeton did not have a timetable for her return.
"Do not know that yet," Pingeton said when asked if she knew how much time Kroenke would miss.
Kroenke's absence takes away a depth piece for MU. The Tigers, after De'Myla Brown's medical waiver was denied, had Mama Dembele and Kroenke as players who could play as a true point guard.
Pingeton said Kroenke has been working at the point and as a combo guard this offseason, allowing her to add some versatility to Missouri's lineups.
Without Kroenke, that left Dembele as Missouri's lone true point guard. Against Belmont, Pingeton had true freshman Abbey Schreake bringing the ball up as a backup point guard, which is out of position for Schreake.
Pingeton lamented that missing Kroenke also takes away key energy that she brings on the defense end. However, the flip side is that Pingeton can go a bit deeper to get other bench players minutes. This includes the international freshmen Hilke Feldrappe and Lucija Milkovic
"She's just a key piece," Pingeton said. "I also look at it as an opportunity for players to get extended minutes who'll make us deeper later on in the season."
Still, Kroenke's absence puts pressure on Shreacke to fill in as the backup point guard. She did well enough last Monday against Belmont, and she'll most likely be called upon to do the same against Indiana State on Thursday.
The good news for Missouri is that Dembele looked like a true SEC point guard Monday. She tied for the team lead in points scored, was accurate as a passer and was dangerous driving to the basket.
Dembele forced the defense to respect her driving ability so consistently that MU had plenty of open looks from beyond the arc. The Tigers only hit 14 percent of their 3-pointers against Belmont, but Pingeton was not worried about that number becoming a habit for a team that has historically shot the ball well from 3-point range.
What Missouri needs to answer, however, is how the team will fill Kroenke's defensive presence against an offensive-minded team during the non-conference slate?
Missouri needs to win as many games as it can in the non-conference slate if it wants to position itself the best it can for a run at the NCAA Tournament. Not having Kroenke available hampers that need in multiple ways.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: How Averi Kroenke's injury affects Missouri women's basketball
