A Weekend With The Wave
Dec 19, 2003 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2003
NEW ORLEANS, La. - -
The average college basketball game takes about an hour and 45 minutes to play from tip-off to the final buzzer. However, there are hours of work, unseen by the average fan, put into preparation for a given game. Players spend time on the court during practice and in the locker room studying film. There is also a strength and conditioning program as well as study hall to complete. Factor in travel for road trips and the amount of time players spend on one game is surprising.
The Tulane women's basketball team is about to set off on a cross-country journey to play in the Oakland Tribune Classic, hosted by the University of California. The following is a day-by-day account of the journey.
Thursday, Dec. 4 1:20 p.m. Central Time - After loading bags and equipment onto the team bus, most of the Green Wave travel party leaves for the airport. This version of the travel party includes 13 players, one manager, an athletic trainer, a media relations director and the team's academic advisor. Lisa Stockton, in her 10th season as the Wave's head coach, as well as assistant coach Michele Savage and Tim Grubbs, the team's radio announcer, will meet the team at the airport.
2:00 p.m. - The team checks in at the Delta counter, using the relatively new electronic kiosks. "3790, 3790," can be heard over and over as each new player steps up to a kiosk and realizes she needs to know the flight number. But, the team finally makes it through check in and security, leaving a short wait in the terminal. With finals approaching, most players crack open their books to get some studying in. However, cell phones appear periodically, from both the players and staff, and head phones are also prevalent.
3:10 p.m. - The Wave takes off on flight 3790 to Dallas on a small jet. Thankfully the flight is only an hour and a half, as the plane has just four seats on each row, making for cramped quarters, especially for the Tulane post players. Stockton and Savage take advantage of the time to get some last minute scouting done on the Wave's first opponent - Wichita State. The coaching staff has game film of the Shockers burned onto DVD, thanks to the Tulane athletic video department, and is watching for offensive and defensive tendencies. "We had a short week in terms of preparation for this tournament, since we played on Tuesday night," Stockton said. "Being able to get a little extra film time in is extremely helpful."
5:30 p.m. - After what was supposed to be a brief lay-over, the Wave gathers at the departing gate for their flight to San Francisco, only to hear that their flight is delayed at least an hour due to bad weather in the San Fran area. Juniors Lakethia Hampton and Kinya Lennix, along with sophomore D'Aundra Henry, break out a deck of cards and run through a few different games, using candy in place of money when betting is required. Some of the players wander off to find a snack, while others again break out their books.
7:00 p.m. - The flight to San Francisco finally takes off, an hour and fifteen minutes late. It is a three and a half hour flight, and the players either nap or watch Tomb Raider 2, the movie shown on the airplane. The two segments of the flight are the first for Green Wave freshman Jami Montagnino, but she seems nonplussed. "I am not really nervous," Montagnino says. "People fly every day, so I figure there's not much to be nervous about. Besides, I like trying new and exciting things."
9:20 p.m. Pacific Time - After searching for nearly 30 minutes, the staff finally locates the team bus, but it means a several hundred-yard hike for the team - all carrying multiple bags. Most of the players just throw the bags over their shoulders or drag them along behind them, but after loading the bags, it appears two freshmen - Courtney Simmons and Cashmir White who, as newcomers, have to help carry extra team bags - are missing. However, the two enterprising newcomers had paused momentarily to obtain a baggage cart and come wheeling their bags to the bus. Freshman Destiny Drew, a 6-2 post player, enjoys the roomy surroundings of the bus and the fact that she gets two seats to herself, remarking, "This bus is bigger than our first plane today."
9:40 p.m. - You would never be able to tell that the players on the team had just endured a three and a half hour flight, as the noise level from the back of the bus is unusually loud. "They just seem to come alive at night," says Heather Ryan, the team's academic advisor. When the bus driver points out a large, lighted Christmas tree perched on a hilltop off the interstate, a brief round of Christmas carols breaks out.
11:00 p.m. - After a stop for a quick bite to eat, the team checks in at the hotel. When assistant coach Christie Thieler mentions that the entire team is in the same building, Ryan answers with a laugh, "Is anyone else in the building with us, because they're going to wish they weren't." After a long day, which included practice at Fogelman Arena, the team turns in for a well deserved night of rest.
Friday, Dec. 5 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time - Stockton lets the team sleep in Friday morning, not requiring them to be at breakfast until now. "We had a long day yesterday, so we wanted them to be able to get some rest and get used to the time change a little bit," Stockton said.
11:00 a.m. - The team meets in Stockton's room to review film and the scouting report on Wichita State. Stockton and Savage point out that the Shockers are an athletic team who force a lot of turnovers. The Shockers also have more size than the Wave in the post, so the coaches review the defenses that the team will use to try to neutralize that advantage.
12:45 p.m. - The Wave arrives at Cal's Recreational Sports Facility, an equivalent to the Reily Student Recreation Center, for a practice. While the team stretches, the coaches make some last minute practice preparations. "We really need to work on meeting the ball today, because causing turnovers really leads to points for them," says Savage, who was responsible for preparing the scouting report on Wichita State. On offense, the Wave is reviewing its offenses that have players away from the ball running off screens. "I don't think Wichita State defends screens very well, but if we turn the ball over and don't box out, it won't matter."
2:10 p.m. - After some warm-up shooting drills, the Wave begins practicing its offenses. However, after several possessions that end in turnovers, Stockton pulls the team aside. "I want you to eat this ball before you turn it over. Let the offense work for you. I'd rather the 30 second clock go off without a shot than us turn the ball over." The team seems to take her talk to heart, as both the starters and reserves buckle down and begin to run the offenses with much more fluidity.
2:30 p.m. - It is a busy practice for Carey-Beth James, the team's trainer. Hampton is forced to the sideline briefly after being hit in the mouth and then Drew, who is still recovering from a knee injury, goes down during one drill. Hampton returns, however, and seems to play with more fire, scoring on several nice moves after offensive rebounds, drawing cheers from her teammates. James performs a quick battery of tests on Drew who then has to test her mobility with some running on the sideline. She, too, turns out none the worse for wear and returns to practice.
11:00 p.m. - After some free time in the hotel and a relatively quiet dinner, it is time for lights out. Savage goes room-to-room collecting cell phones, facing only token resistance from the players. "We take the phones up on the night before a game to try to make sure the girls get some rest," Savage says. "I think if we didn't, they'd spend all night talking to people," she adds with a laugh.
Saturday, Dec. 6 8:30 p.m. - The Green Wave elects not to use its 7:30 a.m. shoot around time at the gym and instead uses a ballroom at the hotel to review the scouting report. The team uses tape to make a lane and, since the team doesn't bring basketballs on the road, uses a large Christmas ornament to simulate a ball.
12:00 p.m. - Tulane is scheduled to be the home team in its game against Wichita State, but both teams come out onto the floor for warm-ups in home white uniforms. After tournament officials do some investigating, the Wave find out that Wichita State didn't even bring dark uniforms on their trip. The Wave did, but they are at the team hotel. Ryan and team manager Shuey Ko are sent back to the hotel to retrieve the team's away uniforms, pushing the game's start time back approximately 25 minutes.
1:25 p.m. - Tip-off. Tulane comes out on fire and races out to a 16-8 lead early in the first half. But Savage's predictions begin to come true when Lakethia Hampton is sidelined with foul trouble. Without the Wave's leading rebounder, the Shockers begin to use their height to gain an advantage on the boards, slowly cutting into the Wave's lead. The Wave also turn the ball over 18 times in the opening stanza and end up in the locker room looking at a seven-point deficit. The second half, however, sees the Wave hitting the boards and taking care of the basketball. A lay-up from Hampton gives Tulane a 42-41 lead at the 13:47 mark. The teams trade baskets for much of the half and the score is tied at 59-59 with 13 seconds left. Tulane's Delacey Joseph takes the in-bounds pass and dribbles down the court. She dribbles off a screen at the top of the key and launches a wide-open three-point attempt with six-tenths of a second left. Her shot hits nothing but net, giving Tulane a 62-59 win. In the locker room, the mood is jubilant, but Stockton takes advantage of the time to reinforce a couple of points. "Guys, great job of fighting and staying in there," Stockton says. "But we need to listen better at time outs and value every possession."
3:30 p.m. - The team is obviously enjoying their last-second win, but there is still work to be done. The Wave head back out onto the court to watch the tournament's second game - host California against Miami of Ohio.
5:00 p.m. - Though there is still time left in the second game, the coaches let the team head off to dinner as Cal has what seems to be a safe 10-point lead in the second half. The coaching staff stays at the game to finish scouting the Golden Bears, leaving James in charge of the squad. After dinner, the team returns to the hotel, hitting the books to prepare for exams.
Sunday, Dec. 7 9:45 a.m. - After a quick scouting session in Stockton's room, the team heads to the gym to work on pre-game preparations for Cal. The team reviews Cal's complicated motion offense. "When you are defending on the perimeter, you have to make sure you know where your girl is," Stockton says. "Cal does a good job of moving and cutting without the ball."
3:00 p.m. - Tulane has some unexpected fans in the stands, as former Green Wave standout Britt Themann, her father George and brother Mark have taken an early morning flight from Seattle to catch the team in action.
3:30 p.m. - Tip-off of the Oakland Tribune Classic championship game, pitting Tulane against the host California Bears. The Green Wave can't seem to find their rhythm on offense, while Cal seems to be getting every break, as the Bears build a 12-point advantage at halftime. It is more of the same in the second half, and Cal pushes its lead to as many as 20 with just over 12 minutes to go. Stockton gambles, switching from a zone half-court defense to an aggressive full-court press. The move pays immediate dividends as Tulane forces five turnovers and rattles off 10 straight points to cut the deficit in half. Cal halts the run with a pair of free throws, but the Wave continues to be aggressive on offense and defense, cutting the lead to four points with 1:42 left in the contest. But Cal hits five of six free throws inside the final38 seconds to seal the win. After the game, Stockton emphasizes the positive in the locker room. "We played very gutsy basketball with that press," Stockton says. "We showed we wanted it tonight. Every person who stepped onto the floor was aggressive in the second half. We are improving. We are definitely a better team than we were before we came out here. Our goal is to get better in preparation for Conference USA play in January."
11:00 p.m. - The team enjoys a nice dinner before heading to the airport for an overnight flight to Atlanta and then a connection home to New Orleans. The players again take advantage of the down time to either study or talk among themselves. Stockton again has her DVD player out, but this time it is to just watch a movie. Senior Kelly Nadeau puts the trip in perspective. "It is tough to have this kind of a long road trip, especially when we have final exams right when we get home," Nadeau says. "It was a long trip, but I think we definitely had some positives come out of it as a team. It will be nice to get back home, though. And thankfully we don't have another trip for a while, so we can enjoy sleeping in our own beds."
Monday, Dec. 8 9:30 a.m. Central Time - After a red-eye flight through Atlanta, the team finally returns to New Orleans. The team is glad to be home, but the rest won't be a long one. In just over 24 hours, at 12:30 on Tuesday, the team will begin preparations for their Dec. 18 game against James Madison with a weight lifting session. Hampton adds one final thought. "Travel is very tiring, especially when we start conference play and we are in two different cities in one weekend. But it is fun to be with your team mates. We go through a lot together. I really enjoy it."
