DENVER - Around 4:45 p.m. on Friday, the University of Denver men's basketball team wheeled a cart filled with balls into Hamilton Gymnasium and started loosening up.
Due to NCAA rules, the coaches remained in their locker room until 5 p.m. - the exact moment that college basketball teams are allowed to begin practice.
Unlike most years, every player on the court ran through the drills and plays with a familiarity, almost like there are no freshmen out there. That, of course, is because the team got to practice 10 times in August before heading to Denver's tour of Spain.
Chris Udofia is the only freshman on the roster, so despite the taste of practice and games he got prior to and in Europe, he continues to learn. He was helped along by senior captain Kyle Lewis and a few other teammates who spent much of the past month working with Udofia on the team's offense.
If there's a question about the excitement surrounding this year's team, you just had to look around practice today. Numerous people caught a peak through the doors at the back of the gym, and even more stopped at the windows overlooking the court on their way to tonight's hockey game.
A few women's basketball players even stopped in to watch practice for a while. You know the team is fun to watch when other teams take time to watch them practice.
Homecoming: It's Homecoming Weekend at DU, which means a lot of excitement as alums return to campus for a visit.
One of those alumni was Joe Jackson, who was on the Pioneers 2004-08. When Jackson strolled into the gym toward the beginning of practice, he smiled as he greeted old friends, including coaches that found a moment to sneak away and say hello.
Those of us that know Jackson were not surprised to see him grab a ball and head up to Gates Field House to fire up some shots.
Open Practice: As a reminder, the men's and women's basketball teams will have open practices this Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon in Hamilton Gymnasium. It will be the men's team second practice.
Due to NCAA rules, the coaches remained in their locker room until 5 p.m. - the exact moment that college basketball teams are allowed to begin practice.
Unlike most years, every player on the court ran through the drills and plays with a familiarity, almost like there are no freshmen out there. That, of course, is because the team got to practice 10 times in August before heading to Denver's tour of Spain.
Chris Udofia is the only freshman on the roster, so despite the taste of practice and games he got prior to and in Europe, he continues to learn. He was helped along by senior captain Kyle Lewis and a few other teammates who spent much of the past month working with Udofia on the team's offense.
If there's a question about the excitement surrounding this year's team, you just had to look around practice today. Numerous people caught a peak through the doors at the back of the gym, and even more stopped at the windows overlooking the court on their way to tonight's hockey game.
A few women's basketball players even stopped in to watch practice for a while. You know the team is fun to watch when other teams take time to watch them practice.
Homecoming: It's Homecoming Weekend at DU, which means a lot of excitement as alums return to campus for a visit.
One of those alumni was Joe Jackson, who was on the Pioneers 2004-08. When Jackson strolled into the gym toward the beginning of practice, he smiled as he greeted old friends, including coaches that found a moment to sneak away and say hello.
Those of us that know Jackson were not surprised to see him grab a ball and head up to Gates Field House to fire up some shots.
Open Practice: As a reminder, the men's and women's basketball teams will have open practices this Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon in Hamilton Gymnasium. It will be the men's team second practice.
No comments:
Post a Comment