We have our first game of the season tomorrow. Practice in October and the first half of November proceeded smoothly. Although we all needed to get to know Coach Fed, Coach Snoddy, the practice coach, has been with us a couple years so that made things easier. While our new coach is sticking with the sets we used last season since most of us have gained familiarity with those, he’s added a 2nd halfcourt zone (2-3 zone) and a second full count (1-2-1-1) press zone. But I think it will be a while before we’re ready to spring those on our competition. He also put more emphasis during practice on being aggressive defensively, avoiding turnovers, and crashing the boards. As a senior I’m used to the lengthy fall practice in October and November, it’s a relief to be finally apply what we practiced into game situations and real opponents. Our first game will be at home against San Jose State.
Oh, yeah, I guess you might like to know who you’re talking with. I’m Craig Smith. I expected to be the starting PF but Coach Fed has switched me to C. While not starting there before I had played the position during games a little in previous seasons. Jason Vickers, a freshman, will start in my old PF position. Jason is coming along pretty well, but the rest of our freshman players probably won’t see that much action.
Speaking of freshman, we made then endure our frosh experience…wearing a costume throughout the day last Friday on campus and then to a party the team had that night. Jason was “Captain Hook”, Bart Rose, a SF, was a space cowboy, SG Ryan Taylor was cartoon character Robin from Teen Titans, and redshirt SF Ross Davis was Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury character from the Avengers. They were a hit around the campus and at our party.