University of Minnesota Athletics
Preseason Blog: Pam Borton Meets With Media
10/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Head coach Pam Borton met with members of the news media on Tuesday afternoon at Williams Arena, answering questions about the team's official start to practice on Monday and the upcoming 2010-11 season.
Minnesota is coming off a 13-17 season, including a mark of 6-12 in the Big Ten. Six games into the 2009-10 Big Ten schedule, the Golden Gophers were coming off a 74-47 win against Purdue and sitting at 11-6 overall and 4-2 in the conference. But point guard China Antoine, who had been averaging 14.3 ppg over a six-game stretch heading into the game with the Boilermakers, injured her knee in that game and her injury had a significant impact on the team the remainder of the season.
This season, Antoine is once again healthy and ready to lead the Gophers as one of three Minnesota captains. The senior from Madison, Ala., will be a key cog in the Gophers' backcourt, where she'll team up with junior guard Kiara Buford. The 5-11 Buford is coming off a sophomore season in which she started all 30 games and earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention accolades after leading Minnesota with 13.1 ppg.
Antoine, Buford, and the team's other senior, Kristen Dockery, will serve as team captains. One of the big question marks for the Gophers will be how well the team's youthful lineup will adjust to the collegiate game. Minnesota has a talented class of four incoming freshmen, and several other players who are going to be seeing their first substantial playing time this season.
"I think we go into every year with the same expectations, and even though we've got a little bit of a younger team this year, our expectations don't change for this program," Borton said. "I think, whether you're a player or a coach who comes off a disappointing end of the year -- you're hungry, you're excited, and you can't wait to get out here and start working. And I think we have a very hungry team that's working hard every day with a great attitude...and I think the intensity and the work ethic that the players displayed in practice yesterday was better than it was at any point last season."
The Golden Gophers open their regular season Nov. 13-14 with the Best Buy Classic at Williams Arena. Minnesota will face Northern Illinois in the opening game of the tournament, and will then play either UW Green Bay or George Washington on Nov. 14. The consolation game will take place at 1:00 p.m., foloowed by the championship game at 3:30 p.m.
For ticket information, call 612.624.8080 or 1.800.U.GOPHER, or visit www.mygophersports.com.
