DRC article...on pt gd Bobo

OldTimer · February 6, 2003

Women's basketball: It’s Bobo’s time

Freshman point guard has big shoes to fill

02/06/2003

By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer

North Texas coach Tina Slinker had become accustomed to her point guard providing a sense of serenity.

DRC/Hiroyuki Komae

Freshman point guard Erika Bobo has been getting experience as the starter for the Lady Eagles, but causing her share of freshman headaches for UNT coach Tina Slinker, too.

That’s the result of having Rosalyn Reades, a prototypical pass-first point guard, running the show the last four seasons.

But the reins have been handed over to freshman Erika Bobo, whose similarities with Reades start and end with the position they play.

"You can’t compare them, that’s for sure," Slinker said. "But in the long run, I think Erika can be as good as Rosalyn in a different way."

Reades, a Rhodes Scholar who graduated as UNT’s all-time leader in assists and steals, relied on wisdom more than athletic ability to lead the Lady Eagles to 77 wins over her career. Her steadiness had a calming influence on teammates and coaches.

Bobo, who did not play basketball as a high school senior because she had to concentrate on academics in order to graduate, is as wild as Reades was wise. While Bobo is trying to grasp the concept of playing within a system, her nature is to just get the ball and go.

"Rosalyn was just so intelligent," UNT junior shooting guard Heather Trout said. "She knew the game so well and thought about every situation. Bobo has so much talent. She just doesn’t know what to do with it yet."

Bobo spent much of her free time in the fall watching film of Reades, trying to pick up pointers from her predecessor.

"I want to play like her, but I know that we have two different types of playing styles," said Bobo, who ranks fourth in the Sun Belt in steals (2.28 per game) and ninth in assists (3.72). "But I’m really trying to step up and be a leader and fill her shoes as fast as I can, because I know it’s hard on coach Slinker having a young point guard."

There have been several times this season when the point guard’s play has tested Slinker’s patience, such as when Bobo failed to run time off the clock with UNT clinging to a lead late in an overtime loss to New Orleans.

Slinker has also been occasionally irritated by Bobo’s tendency to take quick shots instead of attempting to get her teammates involved.

"It’s been a huge adjustment," Slinker said. "There are times that I’ve been extremely frustrated, because I’m used to having a point guard do certain things for you. I need to adjust to that. It’s me learning to coach her in the best way possible."

Slinker doesn’t have any doubt that strong discipline is best way to deal with Bobo off the court. Slinker suspended Bobo for the Jan. 30 loss at Louisiana-Lafayette after the point guard committed what the coach called a minor violation of team rules.

"She needs to be in a disciplined environment," Slinker said. "I think a lot of kids need that."

Bobo committed to UNT in the summer before her senior year after her third trip to the Lady Eagles’ basketball camp. But Bobo got sidetracked by what she said was "regular teenage stuff — just getting into a lot of trouble" and withdrew from North Garland before basketball season started.

Bobo moved to Fort Worth to live with her godmother and enrolled at Eagle Charter Academy. When Bobo managed to graduate on time and made the necessary score on the SAT, Slinker was waiting with a scholarship.

"I feel like I’m blessed to be here," Bobo said. "I’m grateful that the whole coaching staff didn’t give up on me. We have a bond. She [slinker] feels that I’m going to be really good. That’s why she’s so hard on me.

"When she doesn’t say anything to me, that kind of makes me nervous. We have a pretty good relationship right now. It’s going to get better as the years go on."

Bobo realizes that Slinker is strict on her because the coach wants the freshman to succeed.

"I just need that extra push to do things," Bobo said. "I kind of can get lax and hang off to the side sometimes. Discipline is good, as far as I go."

As far as Bobo’s game goes, Slinker is still trying to figure out the right approach.

TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-566-6870.