TicketsPractice starts tomorrow: This is it - the first really big moment on the court under new head coach Jamelle Elliott. Tomorrow evening the women's basketball team will hold their first practice of the new season, and it's the first of Elliott's career as a head coach. There are several things I've heard spoken about over the past several weeks that I'm excited to finally see in action. Number one among them is the intensity level of the players. Elliott has said the players on the team would run full-speed through a wall if she asked them to, and now I'll see it in action. Oftentimes in a sports season the intensity level of practice will be the best indicator of the intensity level on game day. This is one area I'll definitely be keeping my eye on as the season opener gets closer and closer.
On another note, I'm looking to focus on how the players respond to Elliott and the rest of the coaching staff in practice. This team, and especially the fourth-year players, have gone through a tremendous amount of transition over the past three seasons. I've said it before, but it's worth reiterating -- this is the third coaching staff these seniors have played for. I can assure you Elliott has put together a fantastic staff (more on that below.) We'll see how well the coaches have been able to get the players to buy in to their system. If it turns out the coaches have won the players over completely, I have a feeling we just may see the beginning of something special on the court this year. Sure, there's going to be some rough spots, and to be honest I don't see this year's team finishing in the top half of the league, but every turnaround has to start somewhere. Look for this team to put some distance between itself and the basement.
Practice will run from 5 to 7 p.m. in Fifth Third Arena.
Q & A's with the coaching staff: I had the opportunity in the past week to sit down with Elliott, as well as the three assistant coaches, Mark Ehlen, LaRita Wilcher and Todd Moore. In the coming weeks, I will be posting these interviews in their entirety so you can get to know your team's new coaching staff! Ehlen's will kick things off this weekend, and then another will follow each week culminating with Elliott's in the week leading up to the opener.
Delay of game: My main man in the marketing department is out with the flu this week, so unfortunately part 2 of the fan base series will have to wait another week. In the meantime, look for my impressions of Friday's practice as well as Ehlen's Q & A over the weekend.
Check out my UC women's hoops Twitter page at http://twitter.com/uc_womens_hoops