WBB: Southern Utah Thunderbirds 2024-25 Season Preview
WBB: Southern Utah Thunderbirds 2024-25 Season Preview
The T-Birds have more depth in 2024-25 than they have had in the past two years plus a little more athleticism.
After winning regular season and tournament titles in 2022-23, Southern Utah’s season as defending champions in 2023-24 was a struggle.
A lot of that could be attributed to injuries, and some unfortunate events that led to two key players not playing a minute.
But, it could also be traced back to a lack of depth, as well.
Either way you put it, the T-Birds are excited for 2024-25 as they look to rebound, literally, from a rough 2023-24.
Tracy Mason’s squad has experience and what she says is more depth than they have had in years’ past.
There are a number of underclassmen on the roster. However, there is also a lot of experience, as well.
Dayla Balleni, Sam Johnston, Ava Uhrich, and Ashley Banks, among others, all return. Plus, according to Mason, Jaeden Brown is ready to roll after sitting out all of last season, and giving birth to her first child. Add in a few transfers and some key freshmen and the T-Birds are excited about a new season and challenge.
Let’s take a look at the Thunderbirds in 2024-25.
Head Coach:
Tracy Mason (7th Year, 86-89 overall, 57-52 overall)
Last Year:
8-22 overall, 6-14 WAC (8th place, fell in WAC Tournament first round)
Key Losses:
Megan Smith (Completed Eligibility)
Alexa Lord (Completed Eligibility)
Shiho Isono (portal-Unsigned)
Tomekia Whitman (portal-Unsigned)
Key Returners:
Daylani Ballena
Samantha Johnston
Ava Uhrich
Jaeden Brown
Ashley Banks
Notable Portal Additions:
Lexi Bull (Tarleton)
Sydney Gandy (Loyola Marymount)
There’s no doubt that the losses of Megan Smith and Alexa Lord (this year’s Stan Bates Award Winner as announced on August 28) to graduation will be impactful.
However, the Thunderbirds get Daylani Ballena and Samantha Johnston back for one last go around.
All-WAC Newcomer selection Ava Uhrich also returns after a standout freshman season and Jaeden Brown makes her Thunderbird debut after missing last year due to the birth of her first child.
Ashley Banks, Brown, Uhrich and Bull will definitely give Mason a ton of depth in the post.
In 2022-23 Brown averaged 14.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks a contest while shooting 48 percent at Utah Valley, starting all 13 games she appeared in before missing the remainder of that season due to injury.
Prior to the injury, Brown had a three-game stretch in which she averaged 24.7 points and 15.7 rebounds per contest while shooting 61 percent from the field. That included a 20-point, 20-rebound, four-assist performance as the Wolverines defeated GCU in double-overtime.
Gandy is the most notable addition of Mason’s portal class, having started 102 of a possible 111 games in her time at Idaho and Loyola Marymount.
Gandy has been an excellent distributor throughout her career, averaging three or more assists the last three years and leading the Big Sky in made 3-pointers as a sophomore and junior.
Southern Utah shot just under 30 percent from 3-point distance last season but showed improvement down the stretch.
Scheduling Tidbits:
The Thunderbirds will start with three straight games away from the America First Events Center, visiting Utah on opening night.
Southern Utah will visit Jacksonville State on November 9 and host Sam Houston State on December 16 as part of the WAC/CUSA Scheduling Initiative.
The Thunderbirds conference schedule starts off tough with five of their seven January games against GCU, UT Arlington, and CBU.
That includes playing the Lopes twice in 15 days, Lady Mavs twice in 19 days, and Lancers twice in 11 days to end January and begin February.
After that tough start to WAC play, SUU will get to enjoy the comforts of home for three of their final four games, finishing regular season play with a trip to Seattle.
Outlook:
Sam Johnston and Daylani Ballena electing to come back for their final seasons of eligibility is huge as it gives Southern Utah three of their top five scorers back for another campaign along with Ava Uhrich.
Mason’s 16-woman roster is very underclassman heavy, with nine freshman or sophomores, including Uhrich (an All-WAC Newcomer last year).
How quickly they get up to speed will likely determine how much of a bench Southern Utah will have to support a heavily used starting five from last year.
In fact, Johnston and Ballena were both in the WAC’s top-15 for minutes played a season ago at just a shade over 34 minutes per contest while Uhrich (30 minutes per game) likely found herself in the top 20.
There is experience in Cedar City. Can the T-Birds stay healthy? And how quickly do the newcomers get acclimated?
Either way, Tracy Mason is expecting 2024-25 to be a much better for the T-Birds.