Kansas Athletics has been buzzing with excitement, and for good reason—transfer star Lilly Meister is stepping into a fresh chapter at KU Women's Basketball, rediscovering her love for the game in a way that's got fans talking. Imagine the thrill of joining a storied program like the Jayhawks and shaking off the rust to unleash your inner scorer once more. That's exactly what's unfolding with Meister, and trust me, it's a story that captures the heart of college sports passion.
When Lilly Meister made the switch from Indiana to Kansas during the offseason, she wasn't just changing teams—she was gearing up for a whole new way of playing. Sure, getting closer to her dad, a die-hard Jayhawk fan, was a sweet bonus, but the real shift came with adapting to head coach Brandon Schneider's vision for the squad. As a pro content editor, I've seen how these transitions can redefine careers, and Meister's is no exception.
Last season, KU faced some real challenges in the post position. Picture this: a true freshman like Regan Williams handling most of the minutes, with veterans Nadira Eltayeb and Danai Papadopoulou stepping in off the bench. It left the team vulnerable against tough opponents—think Iowa State's Audi Crooks racking up 33 points or TCU's Sedona Prince lighting up the scoreboard with 30. But here's where it gets interesting: with a revamped lineup this year, Schneider is all in on a double-big strategy, pairing two big-bodied players on the floor at once to dominate both ends of the court.
For beginners wondering what that means, double-big basketball is like having a dynamic duo in the paint—think of it as teaming up two powerful forwards or centers to control rebounds, block shots, and score close to the basket, while also spreading the floor for perimeter play. Meister herself is thrilled about it. 'When he told me they wanted to play double-big, I loved that idea,' she shared in a recent chat. 'I love playing double-big.' And why wouldn't she? KU is counting on newcomers like Meister and Jaliya Davis to bolster their post presence and turn those past struggles into strengths.
What really shines through is how this setup lets players blend their skills seamlessly. As Meister explained, 'One of the great things about playing double-big with someone like Jaliya or Regan is that if they’re on the inside, I can be on the outside and I can utilize my passing and shooting. But then again, if it gets flipped and they’re on the outside, I know they’re great passers and shooters as well. So it’s kind of just, I don’t know, like combining all of our skills together, and it works out really well.' It's a smart way to create versatility, almost like a basketball symphony where everyone plays their part to perfection.
And this is the part most people miss—beyond defense, KU brought Meister in to light it up offensively. After averaging just 6.7 points per game off the bench as a junior at Indiana, she's now poised to showcase her scoring prowess in multiple ways. 'It’s been really fun,' she admitted with a smile. 'It’s been really fun to be able to shoot again and just kind of play like I used to.' Meister's track record backs this up: she became the second player in her high school's history to hit 2,000 career points, and even dropped three 20-point games as a Hoosier. The Jayhawks are betting she can bring that magic to Allen Fieldhouse too.
Adapting wasn't instant, though. Meister confessed it took time to shake off her hesitancy on the shot. 'It definitely took some time to get used to (and) I wasn’t very willing to shoot at the beginning,' she said, 'but I think the coaches just kept encouraging me and giving me the green light, so it’s been really, really fun.' For aspiring athletes out there, this is a reminder that persistence pays off—coaches who build you up can unlock your full potential.
Coach Schneider sees Meister as the perfect fit for this evolved lineup, especially alongside holdovers like Williams and newcomer Davis. 'Lilly’s an exceptional passer, and I think that she’s proven to be a really good perimeter shooter and has shot the 3 really well in practice,' he noted. 'So I just think that from a matchup perspective, teams are going to have some decisions to make as to who they’re going to play on our frontline players, just relative to what their individual skill sets are.' It's a chess game on the court, forcing opponents to scramble against KU's varied threats.
But here's where it gets controversial: Is this double-big pivot the right move for KU, or could it limit their outside shooting game compared to last year's style? Some fans might argue that relying on bigs in the post could make the team one-dimensional against quick guards, while others see it as a bold evolution. What do you think—will Schneider's strategy lead to dominance, or is KU risking too much on this change? I'd love to hear your take in the comments; do you agree this is a game-changer, or disagree and think they should stick to a more balanced approach?
Meister, along with Davis and the other three new faces, will debut this revamped style in front of a roaring crowd at the 41st annual Late Night in the Phog on Friday. It's set to be an electric night at Allen Fieldhouse, where fans can witness firsthand how this new era unfolds.
— Journal-World Sports Editor Henry Greenstein contributed to this report.
