JU Dolphins women's basketball: First-year coach Special Jennings says team has no fear

You've got to love the confidence.

First-year Jacksonville University women's basketball coach Special Jennings said her team won't be backing away from any challenge this season.

Not in reversing last season's 12-17 record, the third losing mark in five years. Not competing in the ASUN against perennial power Florida Gulf Coast. And not facing a non-conference schedule that includes road games at Miami, Florida State, Alabama, and then the big one: a Dec. 30 date in Baton Rouge against defending national champions and preseason No. 1 LSU and SEC player of the year Angel Reese.

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"We're not fearful of anything," Jennings said. "If I thought that, they [LSU] wouldn't be on the schedule."

Jennings has rebuilt the roster with only two players returning from last year, junior guard Jalisa Dunlap and graduate senior guard/forward Makayla Edwards. She also is banking on contributions from two First Coast freshmen, forward Jada Jones (Sandalwood) and guard Asiana Britt (Ribault), and a mix of transfers in the backcourt and on the low blocks.

Jennings has also forged a strong work ethic through off-season workouts and preseason practice with a coaching style that she describes as "demanding but not demeaning."

"We're working harder, and we have more discipline and more structure," said Edwards, who averaged 4.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game last season. "She's watching every little thing we do, even if you think she's not watching. Off-season was tougher. Everything was tougher. She doesn't play when it comes to discipline."

Here are five takeaways on JU entering the season, which starts on Jan. 7 with a home game against Warner:

What kind of system has Special Jennings installed?

Jennings said the Dolphins will push the ball on offense and "hard-nosed" on defense.

"We're going to play together at a fast pace, get the ball up the floor," she said. "We're going to be fun to watch."

She said the Dolphins will be better on the perimeter, which had been a weakness in recent years. At this point, she expects production inside and out.

"We have some great pieces," she said. "Young ladies who can knock down shots, young ladies who can put the ball on the floor and get to the basket and we will have a post presence."

Who are the transfers to watch?

Brey'yanna Frazier was a McDonald's All-American nominee at Marist High School in New Jersey, averaging 17.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game. She had injury issues at UCF and has yet to play in a Division 1 game. ... Edyn Battle, a junior guard, started 14 games and played in all 29 for Miami of Ohio last year, averaging 10.1 points per game, with 17 in double figures. ... Jada Duckett, a 6-foot-2 redshirt senior center, started 19 games and played in all 34 for Old Dominions last year, averaging 4.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

Jones leads incoming freshmen

Jada Jones (6-4) was a second-team Times-Union All-First Coast player, averaging 14.0 points, 10.8 rebounds and nearly five blocked shots per game.

Britt and two other incoming freshmen, Sana'a Garrett from Philadelphia and Jayla Foster from Dermott, Ark., can help in the backcourt. Another possibility on the frontcourt will be Saniya Craig from Phoenix.

Can Special Jennings reverse fortunes?

Yolett McPhee-McCuin coach the Dolphins for five years and posted a 94-63 record, going 34-8 in the ASUN and winning a conference title in her last three years

In the five years after that, JU went 64-75 under Darnell Haney.

What's going to be the difference?

"Structure and accountability," said Dunlap. "It's been way harder, but it's been more fun because we all love each other. Coach Jennings sees something in us, and she pushes us to bring it out."

Edwards said a young team and a young staff has promoted "more of a family culture."

"This is my last year and I want to have fun. We're working hard but what coach Jennings is doing will make us winners because she's a winner."

Edwards is right. As a player, Jennings led Xavier to four Atlantic-10 titles and one NCAA tournament run to the Elite Eight. She's been on the staff of winning teams at Flagler, Augusta College, Wright State and Illinois-Chicago. She won two high school national championships at Montverde Academy and went 68-6 in three years.

Will that be infectious?

McPhee-McCuin, who is now the coach at Ole Miss, thought so when she called Jennings' hiring "a home run" for JU.

About that schedule ... Special Jennings says bring it on

LSU has gone 70-8 in two years under coach Kim Mulkey and was 34-2 last season in winning the national championship. Reese averaged 23.0 points, 15.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.6 blocked shots and 1.8 steals per game, and set an SEC record with 34 double-doubles. Counting Reese, four of LSU's top-seven leading scorers from last season are back.

Jennings can't wait.

"We don't have anything to lose," she said. "We're going to play loose, go out and compete. It's an orange ball and there will be five people on each side. Throw the ball up and let's see what happens."

Jennings has the same approach to the Dolphins' ASUN schedule, which begins on Jan. 4 at home against Florida Gulf Coast, which has won eight of the last nine ASUN titles, a streak interrupted only by JU in 2016.

When Jennings was asked about FGCU, she replied, "Everyone asks me about Florida Gulf Coast. Maybe people should be asking them about me. I'm a proven winner. I've won everywhere I've been. My kids are here, they've bought in, they go hard, they practice hard, and they play for each other. At the end of the day, we're going to compete."

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Special Jennings says JU Dolphins will have no fear of rugged schedule