This all sounds great, but why then is she now at Villanova? If you watched the first half of the season and didn't wonder why Kelsey was not getting more opportunities, then you were not paying close enough attention. There was a three game stretch were she played 2, 4, and 4 minutes. As I said in my original post. "He was extremely slow to insert her into a significant role on the team this past year despite the struggles of others. She really seemed to be a last resort." It is a fact that our team played better after she was inserted into the starting lineup, so it is crazy she is not back for her junior year. I don't know Kelsey or her family, but as a lifelong Cyclone fan I felt bad for her situation last year.
“She was by far the best player for us tonight,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “I don’t think it was even close.”
Joens has turned into a go-to player for Fennelly. The Cyclones coach has praised her work ethic and ability to make plays that don’t show up in the box score, like chasing down loose balls and playing intense defense. Fennelly has also raved about her hustle.
“To her credit, she has figured out, I can do something for my team that really no one else is doing, and she’s being rewarded for it and our team is much better for it,” Fennelly said.
That’s led to her getting more chances to start lately. Joens has taken advantage of the opportunities. She has been instrumental in Iowa State’s recent run of success that has kept the Cyclones in the hunt for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Joens, who has bounced in and out of the starting lineup this season, has played so well that Fennelly said she’s earned the fifth starting spot this season. For good.
“It’s over,” Fennelly said of the competition. “She’s in. She’s the everyday shortstop or whatever. She’s earned it. She will be in there for the rest of the season. She’ll get her minutes. She’s proven to everyone, especially her teammates, that that’s the person we needed in that spot.”
Iowa State women's basketball: Kelsey Joens ignites fast start for Cyclones in win over Colorado
Iowa State women's basketball has enjoyed two strong starts thanks to Kelsey Joens.www.desmoinesregister.com
Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly knew his team may need a replacement in its starting lineup for Sydney Harris earlier this week.
Harris was dealing with an illness as the team prepared for its trip to Cincinnati on Wednesday. So Fennelly went around to his staff and asked them who should get the opportunity. Everyone in the room, in unison, came up with the same answer.
Kelsey Joens.
“That tells you the respect she has from her coaches and her teammates,” Fennelly said.
Joens got the start in Iowa State’s win Wednesday night. She was back in the starting lineup on Saturday when the Cyclones (17-9, 8-5 Big 12) delivered a dominating, 86-56, win over Colorado at Hilton Coliseum. According to Fennelly, the sophomore was a big reason for the team’s recent run of success that saw it go 2-0 on the week.
“I think she’s made a huge difference on our team this week,” Fennelly said.
Now, the Cyclones may have finally settled on Joens. The 5-foot-10 guard from Iowa City entered Saturday’s showdown with Colorado averaging 4.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game. But Fennelly believes the numbers don’t tell the whole story of what she brings to the table. Hustle is what he really likes about Joens, and he thinks his team has benefitted in a big way from it.
“There’s plays that she makes that no one else on our team makes,” Fennelly said. “There’s flying through to get a rebound or getting a loose ball or making an occasional shot. You need people like that. Most players don’t want to be that person.”
Joens does. During Iowa State’s win over Colorado, she tallied five points, grabbed six rebounds and handed out four assists. Fennelly credited Joens with having a huge hand in the fast start that resulted in a 20-2 run to close out the first quarter. Iowa State scored the final 17 points of the frame and didn't allow a Colorado basket for the final 5:45 of the first.
“I think a big part of it is Kelsey Joens in the starting lineup,” Fennelly said. “There’s no one that I coach harder than her. But there’s something about her energy.”
Because Joens is always bringing it, she’ll continue to start. Fennelly hopes she’ll continue to have a big impact on the Cyclones.
“Her teammates have a lot of trust in her,” Fennelly said.
Kelsey Joens in Portal
- Thread starter CY9008
- Start date
Did you listen to any of coaches comments late in the season when she got the starts. He said he made some errors trying to see how everyone would fit early in the season as they evaluated the new players. They did not provide what the staff wanted and Kelsey was the one to do that. There are people on here who claim to know everything that went down in the season reviews. I was not involved but some claim she was told about what her minutes would be and she wanted more. If that was the case she decided to inter the portal I hope she gets the minutes she wants at here new team. I will be cheering for her.
This threat is way over discussed, but I'll add this tidbit. About a month ago I had started a new TSS post looking into the crystal ball for next year. Here's what I had written down about Kelsey Joens. I had high hopes for her...
"Kelsey Joens becomes the third leading scorer for the team and becomes an effective defensive stopper. She becomes this team's version of Tracy Gahan."
That last sentence is about as high a praise as I could offer any supporting player on a Sister's team.
"Kelsey Joens becomes the third leading scorer for the team and becomes an effective defensive stopper. She becomes this team's version of Tracy Gahan."
That last sentence is about as high a praise as I could offer any supporting player on a Sister's team.
I've been a member of this website since September 2006 and have averaged 1 post every 2.6 days, which suggests I am not attention-seeking. I enjoy engaging in civil discussion of interesting topics, and a 16 game starter on a "contender" being discarded by a veteran coach is an interesting topic. Especially when that player is a fan favorite, academic honor role member and fantastic representative of the university.
My much-maligned mention of eating at Joensy's is only to provide context for my shared information. I don't enjoy any special access - the Joens family would happily discuss WBB with anybody who wandered into their restaurant - they have four daughters who've played at the Division 1 level, and a fifth who some believe will be "best of the bunch". They're experienced and knowledgeable on the topic.
I've clearly identified my information is "third-hand" and where it came from. You've been a member at this message board since September 2023 with ~50 total posts. What's your connection to the WBB program so as to provide context for your comments? Do you actually know somebody or is this just your opinion?
Lastly, I never said Kelsey's scholarship was non-renewed. That's a damn lie, but standard practice for the vocal contingent of Fennelly loyalists on CF.
Pretty amazing run with all of the girls playing Div I. Wonder how Bailey will be ranked come HS. She's already winning and getting some attention with All Iowa Attack. What's the deal with the alleged bad blood between the family and Iowa Hawks? That dissipate any with Bluder retiring and two Joens gals leaving ISU?
I spoke with Aubrey yesterday and she won a Graduate Assistant job at Indiana University in Bloomington. She's now got three of the Power 4 Conferences covered - Big XII, SEC & B1G.
I remember going to Ash's AAU games in Ames and Bailey was tiny little thing in a Steph Curry jersey.
Looks like she shoots as good as Curry.
Yep no harm in asking.
Two things about Baranczyk:
1. You can tell from some comments she's made over the last two years, pleading for fan support in Norman, that she's envious of programs like the Iowa State's that have great attendance, year in and year out.
2.. Jennie is now in the SEC, one of the two "power and money conferences." She has no worries that her program is fully funded, with the coaches' salaries no doubt escalating if more success comes. Meanwhile in the Big 12, there is a question of how well the women's BB program can be financially supported in future years. That would scare me off if I were her.
Kelsey was also in the restaurant on Saturday - the family was gathered to watch the Dream versus the Fever. Things are moving fast - her last ISU final is the 15th and she moves in at Villanova on the 26th. She confirms what I said earlier (that's first person for the doubters in the crowd) - CBF (with Carper in attendance) spoke extensively about her father in the season-ender and made it clear she wasn't in his plans going forward (ten minutes tops). When she didn't declare her intentions to leave, three days later he called her into an "unscheduled" meeting (with all the coaches in the room) and repeated she simply wasn't in next year's plans. Several additional days passed while arrangements were made for early payment of her final NIL installment, then she entered the portal. The other young women have been supportive, several commenting she was the "team scapegoat" when CBF wasn't happy with practice and wanted to make a point. Kelsey thinks he's clearing the decks for Freya Jansen - he does love to play those Freshman shooters! Lastly, Kelsey shared the entire coaching staff, excepting only CBF, texted her "congratulations" on signing with Villanova.
She had no intention of leaving ISU when she walked into her season-ending review, will miss her friends and the young women on the team - she thinks ISU has a great shot at winning the Big XII and wanted to be part of that. Even so, she's very excited about joining the Villanova team. They need a three-point shooter, there's much to do and see in Philadelphia, Villanova has an excellent academic reputation, the university PR person assigned to WBB (has interviewed MJ) will be a great mentor for her interest in sports journalism and she's got a fine NIL deal. She's happy to get a clean start and is looking forward, not back.
I'm out, moving to "lurker" status until after both CBF and I retire from our respective jobs - I waste too much time here and have had my fill of the "group think" majority who regularly twist context and don't hesitate to fabricate untruths. There are some knowledgeable WBB board contributors who are interesting and informative free-thinkers - my kudos to Mred, Boxster, bozclone, NWIA, the sarcastic Shadow, Wartburg and unnamed others. See you in the funny papers...
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In regard to your second point. Based on ESPN article a month ago, Dawn Staley was concerned her program would be funded to the level needed from an NIL perspective. Schools are generally allocating 90% of $20M to FB & MBB. With WBB getting roughly 5%.
So just being in SEC or Big10 doesn't mean a blank check for WBB. Especially if a school wants to be a national power in sports like baseball, softball, wrestling, etc.
Feels like even the Big10 & SEC will have tiers, schools like Ohio State & Texas vs. schools like Iowa & So. Carolina.
Not sure of the whole history with the Hawks but I'd guess the family might have bad blood with both schools now. The Hawks boards (for what it's worth) seemed to talk bad blood between dad Joens and the Hawk program and I assume that meant Bluder. Maybe a coaching change at ISU will amended that for ISU but I am not so sure Fennelly will retire since this is the family business and his son is half running the show (or so it appears). If they won't hire his son as coach then he can just retire in place and pay his son top dollar as an assistant to spite ISU.
Post Crooks/Brown/Williams there will be better offers for the youngest Joens if she continues to be ranked as high as projected. Lot of stuff in play that was not in play when we recruited Ashley (NIL, player stipends, weakening of the Big 12 etc). My WAG is we have little shot at landing her if she projects to rally high profile recruit. Even without her last two sisters experiences she would be in the shadow of Ashley's five years of stats, just don't get why anyone would want to do that.
My very basic understanding is it somehow stems from Iowa's recruiting of Courtney. They might have told her a scholarship offer was forthcoming and never did offer her or something like that, but I really don't know.
I actually am always VERY impressed at the student athletes not airing "dirty laundry" on these types of things. I think in the transfer era, the narrative is that it's the kids chasing money, but what's not shared much is that many are told "time to move along."
I know CW mentions his book coming out with some "behind the scenes" situations from the past...but would love if someone without ties to ISU that wouldn't be at all concerned about burning bridges shared some of the other stories/behind the scenes on stuff.
It seems like every one gets a little something. I know a walk on football player, played all special teams last year abd a few plays in the backfield on offense that git like $1000 bucks or something from NIL money.
