Griffin ready to step up

 No comments  
 E-mail Story
 Print Story
  Share

 digg it!
 Facebook
 del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit

Text Size: 

Tools Sponsor

BY CURT McKEEVER / Lincoln Journal Star

It's almost becoming a joke with Kelsey Griffin.

As a freshman two years ago, Nebraska's rising hot shot played through mono. Before last season, she had to get a breathing problem under control.

Now, her sore ribs get the saran-wrap treatment before games.

[+]Enlarge

Kelsey Griffin

Kelsey Griffin

Does she really need to put her body through an extra physical challenge to get motivated?

"I've coached a lot of tough kids over the years, but she's as tough as anybody," NU coach Connie Yori said of the All-Big 12 Conference forward. "Two years ago, she'd almost pass out and she's still playing harder than anybody else."

If it's possible, Griffin might have one-upped herself last week. On Friday -- four days after hurting her ribs bad enough in an exhibition against Nebraska-Omaha that she needed to be taken to the hospital by ambulance -- she started the Huskers' season opener against Texas-El Paso.

Having not practiced since the injury, the 6-foot-2 junior then produced a 15-point, eight-rebound effort in a seven-point win.

Just to show she is human, two days later in a rout of Mississippi, Griffin was held to a career-low two points. But don't think a little pain has dampened her desire to keep working on her game and help bring NU another successful campaign.

As the only returning starter from Nebraska's 22-10 NCAA tournament team, Griffin understands her role could be even more important.

"Not only on the court, but off the court," she said. "I still think they want me to rebound and score. That's the same. But it's like bringing a standard to practice, teaching alongside the coaches."

Yori believes Nebraska women's basketball fans will notice Griffin becoming a more-versatile player.

"Last year she spent more time on the low block. Not to say she won't do that . . . but she'll help us from the standpoint of where we could go big if we wanted to and use her (on) the (wing)," Yori said.

Understand -- the Huskers won't do that because they're trying to keep Griffin from having as much contact.

Those ribs are starting to feel better, right?

"The things I wear to protect myself are really constricting on my diaphragm, so it's harder to breath. But . . . if I don't get hit, it gets better and better and better."