University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Closing In on Departure for Italy
8/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
It’s day four of a week of practices for the Golden Gopher women’s basketball team as they prepare for their trip to Italy.
During the week, Becky Bohm, the associate director of athletic communications, will post reports on the Gophers’ preparation for the first summer international tour in the program’s history.
Thursday, Aug. 14
Maybe those ice baths brought up in last night’s blog helped because it’s a spirited, lively start to today’s 1 p.m. practice. Today, it’s assistant coach Marisa Moseley’s turn to oversee the entire practice. She’s ready too, down to having her ankle braces secured tightly if she needs to jump into action to make her point.
After warm-up and some transition drills, the team splits once again into guards and posts. Now Marisa focuses on the posts overall, but today as the director of the whole practice, I have already spied her taking a glimpse now and then on what the guards are up to.
OK, that didn’t take long. Marisa is already coaching with a large pad in check simulating having a defender on your back in the post. Her multi-tasking skills are solid so far as she’s quickly changing drills.
The guards are working with a couple of the scout guys with lots of handoff, pitch or drives going on at the Williams’ east basket. Brittany McCoy froze a defender with a sweet crossover dribble lay-up. Gopher fans close your eyes and you can imagine this one...Emmy Fox with the drive, the head fake right, dribble left and spin right, ponytail flying, and the result a nice lay-up. You could picture it, couldn’t you?
During a full-court drill where the Gophers needed to get the defensive rebound to start transition, it’s usually Coach Barb Smith with the jumper to get the action going. Now, we all know Barb was player back in the day, but today she couldn’t miss. The drill started about five straight times with practice taking the ball out of bounds (definitely something we don’t want to get used to!) after Barb swished another shot despite the block-outs underneath the hoop.
The exchange prompted a light-hearted, “Geez, Barb” from Coach Ted Riverso to which Barb simply smiled and replied “I really am trying to miss.” She finally did manage to clunk a few off the rim eventually.
I also heard Marisa talking it up with Ashley Ellis-Milan. “Dang Ash, you don’t have to use what I’m teaching against me,” said Marisa with a laugh after her defense had turned to be ineffective against the Gopher post. Turns out Ash had just taken her coach to school on a drive to the basket. Ash flashed that big smile of hers on that one.
One of my favorite parts of a practice is when a team practices specific situations in this particular case it’s coming out of a time out. Sometimes three seconds on the shot clock, sometimes eight or 12. The team gathers around Coach Riverso for the call. Good one that time, Ohmie for a three from the corner. The next one too Emmy with a jumper out front. The drill ends on a nice post-up by Zoe Harper, who makes good on a pass from Emmy.
Substitution on the bench. Marisa for Ted. She now makes the call. Coach Borton listens in to Marisa’s call and takes a peek at her scribbles on the white board. As the play starts, Pam must have been pleased since I caught a little smile exchanged between the two.
As practice ends and more free throws go up, I find Coach Moseley and Ash fire a little fun smack back and forth, probably a result of the play from earlier.
Big plans for tonight has the players are grilling out at Coach Borton’s house.
Tomorrow, the Gophers have their final practice of the week at 1 p.m.
During the week, Becky Bohm, the associate director of athletic communications, will post reports on the Gophers’ preparation for the first summer international tour in the program’s history.
Thursday, Aug. 14
Maybe those ice baths brought up in last night’s blog helped because it’s a spirited, lively start to today’s 1 p.m. practice. Today, it’s assistant coach Marisa Moseley’s turn to oversee the entire practice. She’s ready too, down to having her ankle braces secured tightly if she needs to jump into action to make her point.
After warm-up and some transition drills, the team splits once again into guards and posts. Now Marisa focuses on the posts overall, but today as the director of the whole practice, I have already spied her taking a glimpse now and then on what the guards are up to.
OK, that didn’t take long. Marisa is already coaching with a large pad in check simulating having a defender on your back in the post. Her multi-tasking skills are solid so far as she’s quickly changing drills.
The guards are working with a couple of the scout guys with lots of handoff, pitch or drives going on at the Williams’ east basket. Brittany McCoy froze a defender with a sweet crossover dribble lay-up. Gopher fans close your eyes and you can imagine this one...Emmy Fox with the drive, the head fake right, dribble left and spin right, ponytail flying, and the result a nice lay-up. You could picture it, couldn’t you?
During a full-court drill where the Gophers needed to get the defensive rebound to start transition, it’s usually Coach Barb Smith with the jumper to get the action going. Now, we all know Barb was player back in the day, but today she couldn’t miss. The drill started about five straight times with practice taking the ball out of bounds (definitely something we don’t want to get used to!) after Barb swished another shot despite the block-outs underneath the hoop.
The exchange prompted a light-hearted, “Geez, Barb” from Coach Ted Riverso to which Barb simply smiled and replied “I really am trying to miss.” She finally did manage to clunk a few off the rim eventually.
I also heard Marisa talking it up with Ashley Ellis-Milan. “Dang Ash, you don’t have to use what I’m teaching against me,” said Marisa with a laugh after her defense had turned to be ineffective against the Gopher post. Turns out Ash had just taken her coach to school on a drive to the basket. Ash flashed that big smile of hers on that one.
One of my favorite parts of a practice is when a team practices specific situations in this particular case it’s coming out of a time out. Sometimes three seconds on the shot clock, sometimes eight or 12. The team gathers around Coach Riverso for the call. Good one that time, Ohmie for a three from the corner. The next one too Emmy with a jumper out front. The drill ends on a nice post-up by Zoe Harper, who makes good on a pass from Emmy.
Substitution on the bench. Marisa for Ted. She now makes the call. Coach Borton listens in to Marisa’s call and takes a peek at her scribbles on the white board. As the play starts, Pam must have been pleased since I caught a little smile exchanged between the two.
As practice ends and more free throws go up, I find Coach Moseley and Ash fire a little fun smack back and forth, probably a result of the play from earlier.
Big plans for tonight has the players are grilling out at Coach Borton’s house.
Tomorrow, the Gophers have their final practice of the week at 1 p.m.
Players Mentioned
F/C
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
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