Princeton University Athletics
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
Women's Basketball Holds First Weekend of Practice
October 15, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Basketballs have been bouncing on the Jadwin Gym floor for weeks since students returned in mid-September. But only since Friday has the Princeton women's basketball team been able to practice as a complete unit, and the Tigers have taken full advantage.
Princeton's first session began at 7 p.m. Friday and continued with workouts of 2 1/2-3 hours Saturday and Sunday. The Tigers will practice again Monday and Tuesday before their first off day Wednesday.
Prior to Friday, the Tigers were limited by NCAA and Ivy League rules that allowed only two hours per week of coach-instructed practice, and even then only six players were allowed to work with a coach at a time. Full-court scrimmages began for the Orange and Black only Sunday.
Despite the restriction, Princeton head coach Courtney Banghart saw a positive in not being allowed to have full-team workouts.
"The smaller setting allowed for more personal attention and the ability to work on individual skill development, which is critical to playing good basketball," Banghart said. "It just didn't allow us the opportunity to put any of our bigger team concepts in, so we entered Friday night with a blank slate in terms of organization."
But now that the team has been able to work with all 13 players and four coaches, Banghart has focused on broader themes for the first few practices.
"We have been working on transition offense and full-team defense, focusing on stopping penetration and defending without fouling. We don't want to put our opponents on the line. Those are free points," Banghart said. "We also worked on limiting our turnovers in the offensive end. We want to focus on scoring easy baskets and I'm very pleased with how mobile our posts are."
Banghart included Meagan Cowher, Julia Berger and Elizabeth Pietrzak principally in that post category while calling Cheryl Stevens the team's "most improved player."
Also key to Princeton's success in the post will be two of its more transitional players in that role, seniors Ali Prichard and Katy Digovich.
"Ali and Katy are so versatile in their ability to function as a post or work on the perimeter as well," Banghart said.
One of Princeton's three captains this season, Prichard spoke about adding another kind of homework to her work from classes.
"There is so much stuff to learn, but it's fun to learn from these coaches," Prichard said. "People are working very hard. It's a necessary process, as Coach Banghart says, and we'll get to a point where we'll know the system enough that we're just playing basketball."
The Nov. 9 season opener at Maryland may seem distant in mid-October, but Banghart can sense the energy in her team as the Tigers focus toward that first game.
"They are fully on board with what we are doing and the players are very supportive of each other," Banghart said. "I am pleased with their ability to focus and give full effort."
A treat for the Tigers this season will be the team's fully remodeled team room. The previous halftime room and adjoining rooms were cleared out and while new carpeting has been put in and a fresh coat of white paint was added to the walls, furniture and flat-screen televisions will arrive soon.
"It's exciting," Prichard said of the new facility. "We haven't been able to do much in there yet, but it's something to look forward to."
"Once we have everything that's going to be in there, I plan on using it to simulate how our halftime meetings will work and how we will prepare immediately before the game," Banghart added.
As the team room and the team itself undergo their finishing touches for their respective debuts, Banghart and the Tigers anticipate that the final product will both be something to appreciate.
Princeton's first session began at 7 p.m. Friday and continued with workouts of 2 1/2-3 hours Saturday and Sunday. The Tigers will practice again Monday and Tuesday before their first off day Wednesday.
Prior to Friday, the Tigers were limited by NCAA and Ivy League rules that allowed only two hours per week of coach-instructed practice, and even then only six players were allowed to work with a coach at a time. Full-court scrimmages began for the Orange and Black only Sunday.
Despite the restriction, Princeton head coach Courtney Banghart saw a positive in not being allowed to have full-team workouts.
"The smaller setting allowed for more personal attention and the ability to work on individual skill development, which is critical to playing good basketball," Banghart said. "It just didn't allow us the opportunity to put any of our bigger team concepts in, so we entered Friday night with a blank slate in terms of organization."
But now that the team has been able to work with all 13 players and four coaches, Banghart has focused on broader themes for the first few practices.
"We have been working on transition offense and full-team defense, focusing on stopping penetration and defending without fouling. We don't want to put our opponents on the line. Those are free points," Banghart said. "We also worked on limiting our turnovers in the offensive end. We want to focus on scoring easy baskets and I'm very pleased with how mobile our posts are."
Banghart included Meagan Cowher, Julia Berger and Elizabeth Pietrzak principally in that post category while calling Cheryl Stevens the team's "most improved player."
Also key to Princeton's success in the post will be two of its more transitional players in that role, seniors Ali Prichard and Katy Digovich.
"Ali and Katy are so versatile in their ability to function as a post or work on the perimeter as well," Banghart said.
One of Princeton's three captains this season, Prichard spoke about adding another kind of homework to her work from classes.
"There is so much stuff to learn, but it's fun to learn from these coaches," Prichard said. "People are working very hard. It's a necessary process, as Coach Banghart says, and we'll get to a point where we'll know the system enough that we're just playing basketball."
The Nov. 9 season opener at Maryland may seem distant in mid-October, but Banghart can sense the energy in her team as the Tigers focus toward that first game.
"They are fully on board with what we are doing and the players are very supportive of each other," Banghart said. "I am pleased with their ability to focus and give full effort."
A treat for the Tigers this season will be the team's fully remodeled team room. The previous halftime room and adjoining rooms were cleared out and while new carpeting has been put in and a fresh coat of white paint was added to the walls, furniture and flat-screen televisions will arrive soon.
"It's exciting," Prichard said of the new facility. "We haven't been able to do much in there yet, but it's something to look forward to."
"Once we have everything that's going to be in there, I plan on using it to simulate how our halftime meetings will work and how we will prepare immediately before the game," Banghart added.
As the team room and the team itself undergo their finishing touches for their respective debuts, Banghart and the Tigers anticipate that the final product will both be something to appreciate.
Friday, May 22
Tuesday, April 21
Monday, April 13
Friday, April 10