TicketsDec. 13, 2010
By Garrett Sabelhaus
GoBEARCATS.com
Falling to the No. 4 ranked team in the country by eight points can go a long way in instilling confidence into a team that was picked to finish near the bottom of the BIG EAST.
After two days off following the 69-61 loss to Xavier, the women's basketball team was back to work studying film and preparing for its first conference game.
The University of Louisville comes to Fifth Third Arena for a Dec. 15 game officially kicking off conference play.
Problems loom for the Bearcats and head coach Jamelle Elliott, though, as concerns about lack of depth will eventually wear down the team.
High scorer Shareese Ulis is one of two players averaging over 30 minutes per game at 32.3, which is a concern as she already plays on two bad knees and is constantly rubbed down during her rare timeouts.
Elliott says there are ways to combat playing so many minutes but in the end it's bound to build up.
"We're not going to be able to maintain, from a physical standpoint, the level of play that we've been playing the first seven or eight games," Elliott said. "Our practices can be taxing on the players that play a lot of minutes so we have to kind of adjust our practices to the point where we're out there being productive and getting the most out of our time."
For Ulis in particular, Elliott will try to pull her from a game a minute or so before media timeouts to give her a little extra time.
She also tries to use substitutions to her advantage by subbing more frequently, but when seven players are playing over 25 minutes per game, it can be tough.
Kayla Cook is the other player to average over 30 minutes per game but the freshman doesn't show any signs of slowing down.
Injuries have also reared their head for the Bearcats.
Sophomore Daress McClung started the first four games of the season before she was sidelined.
"She had some Achilles' issues, she's had some stress fracture issues," Elliott said. "Right now she's still in a boot and I don't have a timeframe for when she'll be back." McClung was averaging over six rebounds and eight points a game before the injuries.
Senior Shelly Bellman has filled in well in the starting role for McClung but after four knee surgeries, her health could become more of a concern.
"One of my concerns is playing seven kids 30-plus minutes a game," Elliott said. "Eventually once we get into conference play, we're going to start to wear down so that's a big concern for me, the number of players we have healthy and active and able to play."
Still this team rallies around Ulis who is averaging 15.7 points per game and her health is most key for the Bearcats' success. Elliott says it's her job to make sure Ulis stays as healthy as possible.
"She goes out and gives it 110 percent while she's on the basketball court but there are times on the court when it's obvious that she's in pain and we have to do a good job of recognizing it and getting her out," Elliott said. "You want her out there to win basketball games but my main concern is this kid's health."