November 2, 2023
Locked On Women’s Basketball: Coach Megan Griffith, Columbia Lions are poised to reach new heights
By The Next
Howard and Megan talk all things Abbey Hsu and the 2023–24 Lions
On Thursday’s episode of the Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast, Columbia women’s basketball head coach Megan Griffith joins host Howard Megdal to discuss the upcoming Ivy League season. The Lions, led by star guard Abbey Hsu, are once again poised to contend for the Ivy League title.
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Griffith and Megdal began by reflecting on Columbia’s success in 2022–23, in particular its 28-win regular season, the most in the team’s history. Despite its success, the team narrowly missed out on the NCAA Tournament, ultimately going on to the finals of the WNIT, before losing to Kansas, 66-59.
“I don’t know if it’ll fully hit me for a while,” Griffith said. “Like when I’m really sitting back thinking about [it], taking it all in. Honestly, we had a Hall of Fame event this fall and it hit me more there than it did over the course of the summer … I think it’s just small moments like that that helped remind me of how special it was.”
Griffith continued: “Honestly, it took us about a week like from the moment of Selection Sunday to playing our first-round game against FDU in the WNIT. I think we all grieved that loss for our program in very different ways. And I give a huge credit to my staff because if they weren’t the people [they are], I don’t know if I [or my team or the program in general] would have been able to get past that as quickly and for us to get set on a path that was heartbreak, but hey, let’s reframe [as] a new opportunity.”
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The conversation continued to discuss Hsu’s growth as she enters her senior year. “People talk about things like the Taj Mahal and the Grand Canyon, but for me, I go to [Abbey Hsu]’s shot chart,” Megdal said. “And when I want to see the true beauty in the world, [I go] see the way in which her efficiency is off the charts.”
Griffith added: “There’s a lot out there for you to increase your knowledge. So we just challenge Abbey to continue to be a student of the game. And to hone in [on] being a more efficient player in all ways. And I think for her, sometimes just taking the focus off of her shot helps her dramatically.”
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Megdal and Griffith also discussed how the Lions have recruited to build around Hsu, how other Columbia players have continued to grow in the offseason and how this new iteration of the team is starting to gel despite key graduate departures.
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