Martha Kuderer
Mix of New, Familiar Faces to Play Vital Role for MSU Women's Basketball Team
10/17/2018 6:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Bobcats have a challenging schedule playing eight different teams who played in the postseason last year. Despite a tough schedule that awaits, the Bobcats are expecting big things this year.
Having one senior on the roster is no reason to temper expectations.
College basketball is soon approaching. The Montana State women's team opens its season with an exhibition game Oct. 30 against Montana Western. Last year, MSU finished with a record of 16-15 and its season ended in the Big Sky Championship Quarterfinals.
The Bobcats have a challenging schedule playing eight different teams who played in the postseason last year. Despite a tough schedule that awaits, the Bobcats are expecting big things this year.
There will be a couple of new faces on the MSU team. Junior forward Martha Kuderer and senior forward Claire Lundberg, both transfers from Seton Hall, bring big-game experiences and versatile skill sets.
"We got to play against a lot of good teams," said Kuderer. "(The Big East) was a really strong conference and it kind of adapted me well to the physicality of college and a faster paced game. I improved a lot, I would say."
The transfers had to sit out last year due to NCAA transfer rules, giving them time to transition into a new college environment and learn from head coach Tricia Binford. Having only one senior on the roster this year – Lundberg – juniors on the roster will be asked to take on a large role.
Kuderer, one of the team's five juniors, used last year to acclimate herself to MSU. She spent her time studying the game, gaining an understanding of the system Binford implements, while also learning how to improve herself as a player.
"(Sitting out) you're just watching a lot on the sidelines, so you're able to see a lot of things that you couldn't normally see while you're playing," said Kuderer. "I also got to do a lot of extra film work too and got the chance to improve a lot of my footwork. I got to learn the system, learn the plays, so it did help a lot. It was nice mentally too, coming from a tough place and being able to take a break and get your mind right. I came back stronger I'd say."
Only being able to compete against her teammates the last year and a half, Kuderer is ready to test her skills against some opposition. The practices have been getting more intense as the season approaches and players are getting more comfortable with their duties in the system.
"We're getting better every day, every week," said Kuderer. "The intensity is kind of turning up once people were kind of done with the processing and learning phases and were able to focus on playing basketball and going hard. We're definitely ready to play. It's really competitive and physical every day – which is nice – but it'll be nice to beat up on other teams."
The Eden Prairie, Minn., native and the rest of the Bobcats don't want to settle for anything less than what they're capable of this year. MSU has players who have experience playing in big games and players coming into the season ready to carve out their role. The team feels its time to succeed is sooner rather than later.
"We really have high expectations for ourselves," said Kuderer. "We've worked really hard in the summer and preseason. If we do everything that we need to do, we really can contend for the Big Sky title. That's our goal and I think we can get there. We have the talent and if we can figure everything out and play together, we can get there."
The team will get a chance to work on that chemistry early in the season with nine nonconference matchups before Big Sky play starts in late December.
College basketball is soon approaching. The Montana State women's team opens its season with an exhibition game Oct. 30 against Montana Western. Last year, MSU finished with a record of 16-15 and its season ended in the Big Sky Championship Quarterfinals.
The Bobcats have a challenging schedule playing eight different teams who played in the postseason last year. Despite a tough schedule that awaits, the Bobcats are expecting big things this year.
There will be a couple of new faces on the MSU team. Junior forward Martha Kuderer and senior forward Claire Lundberg, both transfers from Seton Hall, bring big-game experiences and versatile skill sets.
"We got to play against a lot of good teams," said Kuderer. "(The Big East) was a really strong conference and it kind of adapted me well to the physicality of college and a faster paced game. I improved a lot, I would say."
The transfers had to sit out last year due to NCAA transfer rules, giving them time to transition into a new college environment and learn from head coach Tricia Binford. Having only one senior on the roster this year – Lundberg – juniors on the roster will be asked to take on a large role.
Kuderer, one of the team's five juniors, used last year to acclimate herself to MSU. She spent her time studying the game, gaining an understanding of the system Binford implements, while also learning how to improve herself as a player.
"(Sitting out) you're just watching a lot on the sidelines, so you're able to see a lot of things that you couldn't normally see while you're playing," said Kuderer. "I also got to do a lot of extra film work too and got the chance to improve a lot of my footwork. I got to learn the system, learn the plays, so it did help a lot. It was nice mentally too, coming from a tough place and being able to take a break and get your mind right. I came back stronger I'd say."
Only being able to compete against her teammates the last year and a half, Kuderer is ready to test her skills against some opposition. The practices have been getting more intense as the season approaches and players are getting more comfortable with their duties in the system.
"We're getting better every day, every week," said Kuderer. "The intensity is kind of turning up once people were kind of done with the processing and learning phases and were able to focus on playing basketball and going hard. We're definitely ready to play. It's really competitive and physical every day – which is nice – but it'll be nice to beat up on other teams."
The Eden Prairie, Minn., native and the rest of the Bobcats don't want to settle for anything less than what they're capable of this year. MSU has players who have experience playing in big games and players coming into the season ready to carve out their role. The team feels its time to succeed is sooner rather than later.
"We really have high expectations for ourselves," said Kuderer. "We've worked really hard in the summer and preseason. If we do everything that we need to do, we really can contend for the Big Sky title. That's our goal and I think we can get there. We have the talent and if we can figure everything out and play together, we can get there."
The team will get a chance to work on that chemistry early in the season with nine nonconference matchups before Big Sky play starts in late December.
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