3 ways Tionna Herron's absence will affect Kentucky WBB
Kentucky Women’s Basketball suffered a massive loss before even playing their first game this season.
On Tuesday, the program announced freshman Tionna Herron underwent successful open-heart surgery on August 24. Herron is now recovering with no set timetable for her return. The loss will have countless effects on Kentucky WBB this season, but here a few of the first things that come to mind.
Lack of height
When we say Herron’s absence is a massive loss, we mean it literally. Despite being a freshman, Herron is the tallest player for the ‘Cats, standing at 6-foot-4. Plainly put, Kentucky desperately needed Herron’s height this season.
The team suffered a mass exodus this summer, including two starting bigs and 6-foot-4 Olivia Owens. Although the team added 10 new players, none of them rivaled Herron’s height. Now, Kentucky is left with Nyah Leveretter, Adebola Adeyeye and Ajae Petty, who are all between 6-foot-2 and 6-foot-3.
While these bigs will be competent against most opponents, Herron’s height is unteachable. Consequently, it will be missed.
Tionna Herron is an inspiration
This isn’t the first time a promising player got injured in the preseason. Last year, Blair Green suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in an October scrimmage. Instead of mourning the injury, the ‘Cats let it motivate them. They dedicated the season to Green and won the SEC Championship.
Kentucky faces a similar ordeal this season. Elzy discussed Herron’s attitude after the surgery, and one can only imagine Elzy is hoping it rubs off on the rest of the team.
“Her will and determination to eventually return to the court is inspiring, and it’s that game on attitude that is what makes her such a perfect fit in our program,” Elzy said. “Speaking for myself and the rest of the coaches, staff and players, we are so thrilled for Tionna’s return to our locker room; it’s not the same without our full team together.”
Playing Kyra Elzy basketball
After covering Kentucky WBB for almost two years, one word sticks out as a point of emphasis for head coach Kyra Elzy: versatility. Since Elzy became interim head coach, she has preached position-less basketball. Without Herron, this philosophy is more prevalent than ever.
Elzy wants her guards to be able to score in the post and her bigs to be threats from deep. Admittedly, Herron doesn’t exactly fit this narrative. Nevertheless, Kentucky could utilize this strategy more than ever with players like taller guards such as Maddie Scherr and Eniya Russell.
No matter what style the team plays, Herron will be cheering them on. The Texas native wrote a message to fans and her fellow ‘Cats Tuesday on Twitter.
“This has been a challenging process for me mentally and physically however I am currently in the process of making a full recovery so that I can rejoin my team,” Herron wrote.
Get well soon, Tionna. We’re rooting for you.
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