University of Minnesota Athletics
The Learning Curve: Sophomore Brittney Davis
12/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Davis’ rookie season was certainly a learning experience, not only on the basketball court. Her journey at the beginning of her collegiate career included several sharp curves. A bout of mononeucleosis forced her to miss most of the preseason. Upon her return to the team, academic issues prompted her to be declared academically ineligible for the second season. All told, Davis saw 12 minutes in a combined three games a year ago. The rest of her season was spent working as a member of the scout team in practice and on rewriting a path toward academic success in the classroom.
“Last year was so overwhelming,” said Davis. “There was so much going on. I had never missed out on basketball at all for anything. If I had an injury, I played through it. I never had anything stop me from playing the sport that I love. Sitting out last year was so frustrating.
“I just tried to stay positive,” she added. “My teammates, family and coaches were very supportive.”
Davis looks back and sees a vast change in herself. Though her year of watching her team in street clothes from the sidelines during games was painful, she learned some very valuable lessons. These lessons were more about life than running the motion offense.
“I’ve always been the type of person who likes to do stuff on my own and figure things out,” said Davis. In explaining what she learned over a rough freshman year she replies with a confident tone, “I had to learn how to use my resources or talk to people earlier if I was having trouble in a class.”
Perhaps an even more important life lesson was also learned. “I have to open up and let other people in and not try to do everything on my own. I learned a lot outside of basketball last year.”
Fast forward to this season where Golden Gopher fans will finally get the chance to see a quick guard from Portland, Ore., make her mark on the program. Davis is looking forward to showing what she can do.
“Coming back, I now have an opportunity to make the team better and prove that I am capable of being on the floor. It’s exciting that I get to prove myself this year.”
And it doesn’t take anyone long to figure out that the best way to prove yourself in the eyes of Pam Borton’s coaching staff is to embrace any role on defense. The talented few are labeled as defensive stoppers. Players such as Shannon Bolden and April Calhoun have earned their stripes and proudly play the role of defensive stopper for the Gophers.
“Bolden and April are inspiring to me as defensive stoppers when you see their hustle plays and defensive intensity to stop someone or get after a loose ball,” said Davis. “All the senior class has leadership but those particular three (adding Shannon Schonrock) are something special on the court as the starting guards. They have the defense. They have the leadership. They have everything. As a younger player you have to watch them and learn. They have a nasty mentality when it comes to defense.”
Davis sees a challenge heading her way. She wants to become the next in a long line to be considered a defensive stopper. To accomplish this it will take plenty of dedication and hard work, but Davis is unafraid of the challenge posed to her by the coaches.
“That’s one of my roles on the team is to come in and be a defensive stopper,” Davis said. “It’s a great challenge and I feel that I’ve accepted the role and work hard on it in practice. I look forward to being a defensive stopper the rest of the season.”
With great role models on her team, Davis describes her defensive game as, “a lot better.” Jokingly but truthfully adding that she “can stop somebody this season and not cross my feet on defense.”
She goes on quoting Gopher assistant coach Dave Stromme who coaches the overall defense, “Kick steps, kick steps. Dave’s famous line.” You can almost see Davis executing the drill as she envisions it in her mind.
Another work in process to hone her overall game is what Davis termed mind control. “My mind and body were always going too fast,” she explained. “I have settled down to a pace that allows me to stay in control. I have much more confidence in myself. I work every day to be consistent and show them that they can count on me when I step on the floor.”
Overall Brittney Davis may have had a rough start to her collegiate career. She had to overcome several challenges along the way but is unafraid to still undertake more.
“When the coaches give me a challenge. I try to live up to them by going after each challenge every day and tackling them in practice and games to show that I can live up to the expectations they have for me and that I have for myself.”
Sounds like a sophomore talking.
Story by Becky Bohm Coaches often say that the best thing about their sophomore players is they aren’t freshmen anymore. One would have to believe that Golden Gopher sophomore guard Brittney Davis is a believer in that concept.
Davis’ rookie season was certainly a learning experience, not only on the basketball court. Her journey at the beginning of her collegiate career included several sharp curves. A bout of mononeucleosis forced her to miss most of the preseason. Upon her return to the team, academic issues prompted her to be declared academically ineligible for the second season. All told, Davis saw 12 minutes in a combined three games a year ago. The rest of her season was spent working as a member of the scout team in practice and on rewriting a path toward academic success in the classroom.
“Last year was so overwhelming,” said Davis. “There was so much going on. I had never missed out on basketball at all for anything. If I had an injury, I played through it. I never had anything stop me from playing the sport that I love. Sitting out last year was so frustrating.
“I just tried to stay positive,” she added. “My teammates, family and coaches were very supportive.”
Davis looks back and sees a vast change in herself. Though her year of watching her team in street clothes from the sidelines during games was painful, she learned some very valuable lessons. These lessons were more about life than running the motion offense.
“I’ve always been the type of person who likes to do stuff on my own and figure things out,” said Davis. In explaining what she learned over a rough freshman year she replies with a confident tone, “I had to learn how to use my resources or talk to people earlier if I was having trouble in a class.”
Perhaps an even more important life lesson was also learned. “I have to open up and let other people in and not try to do everything on my own. I learned a lot outside of basketball last year.”
Fast forward to this season where Golden Gopher fans will finally get the chance to see a quick guard from Portland, Ore., make her mark on the program. Davis is looking forward to showing what she can do.
“Coming back, I now have an opportunity to make the team better and prove that I am capable of being on the floor. It’s exciting that I get to prove myself this year.”
And it doesn’t take anyone long to figure out that the best way to prove yourself in the eyes of Pam Borton’s coaching staff is to embrace any role on defense. The talented few are labeled as defensive stoppers. Players such as Shannon Bolden and April Calhoun have earned their stripes and proudly play the role of defensive stopper for the Gophers.
“Bolden and April are inspiring to me as defensive stoppers when you see their hustle plays and defensive intensity to stop someone or get after a loose ball,” said Davis. “All the senior class has leadership but those particular three (adding Shannon Schonrock) are something special on the court as the starting guards. They have the defense. They have the leadership. They have everything. As a younger player you have to watch them and learn. They have a nasty mentality when it comes to defense.”
Davis sees a challenge heading her way. She wants to become the next in a long line to be considered a defensive stopper. To accomplish this it will take plenty of dedication and hard work, but Davis is unafraid of the challenge posed to her by the coaches.
“That’s one of my roles on the team is to come in and be a defensive stopper,” Davis said. “It’s a great challenge and I feel that I’ve accepted the role and work hard on it in practice. I look forward to being a defensive stopper the rest of the season.”
With great role models on her team, Davis describes her defensive game as, “a lot better.” Jokingly but truthfully adding that she “can stop somebody this season and not cross my feet on defense.”
She goes on quoting Gopher assistant coach Dave Stromme who coaches the overall defense, “Kick steps, kick steps. Dave’s famous line.” You can almost see Davis executing the drill as she envisions it in her mind.
Another work in process to hone her overall game is what Davis termed mind control. “My mind and body were always going too fast,” she explained. “I have settled down to a pace that allows me to stay in control. I have much more confidence in myself. I work every day to be consistent and show them that they can count on me when I step on the floor.”
Overall Brittney Davis may have had a rough start to her collegiate career. She had to overcome several challenges along the way but is unafraid to still undertake more.
“When the coaches give me a challenge. I try to live up to them by going after each challenge every day and tackling them in practice and games to show that I can live up to the expectations they have for me and that I have for myself.”
Sounds like a sophomore talking.
Story by Becky Bohm
