Consistency and Confidence

With only one regular season game remaining, we are sitting at .500 with less wins than the Golden Eagles have had since 2002. We could end on a winning record or a losing one depending on the final away game. In the big scheme of things, I suppose the outcome of the final game is just not that important. What is important is how we finish the game. Do we come together and play hard, giving our best effort, or do we simply throw in the towel believing next year will be better?

My intention is for the players to fight, to battle, and to discover another piece of themselves they did not know they possessed. What I mean by this is I hope for them to use this last game, this last challenge as a means to improve themselves, to push through one more self-imposed barrier. It is, after all, what collegiate basketball at the Division II level is really about--growth. At our level, it is not about the money, the big time television contracts, the gate receipts, or even the opportunity to play pro ball. It is about using the modem of sports as a means of education.

I have several young players who have not shown their talent this season. I keep waiting for them to recognize what they possess. There is Nichole Perry, a player who is in the gym every day shooting 500-600 shots. She has made her release quicker and developed a better jumper and increased her range. Kali Cuttaia is an athlete who is quick, has great hands, a shot blocker, who can really sky on a rebound. Kayla Dozier is exceptionally quick, a player who blasts by defenders leaving a trail of smoke in her wake. LeAnne Ross can shoot the deep three pointer, stop and pop the jumper or finish a lay-up with a double pump. All of these freshmen have shown bits and pieces of their brilliance at times, but none of them have allowed their talents to be on display consistently.

This has been our problem all year--consistency. Without a go-to player, we seem to falter when we need a basket as not a single player on the team knows who wants the ball as nobody consistently asks for it. Every team needs that player who wants the ball and is willing to take the tough shots and who believes in her heart she can make them. We have players who will show talent and desire on a single night, but not one player has determined she has the talent to affect the outcome of the game.

Oh, I believe we have some players next year who will step up, who will think of themselves differently after they become a sophomore or a junior, but that thinking does not help us finish this season well and they need to finish this season well in order to start the next one with more confidence.

Confidence is a frail thing. It seems to only come after a player has seen results but she needs confidence to make the results. Ironic, isn't it?

I hope my freshmen will realize their talents and allow them to flow through them in our last game.

PLAY HARD. PLAY TOGETHER.