In just a few short days, the Luce gym will be filling as basketball season is officially here for the 2023-2024 season.
The men and women have already been training hard as practices began on Oct. 15 to prepare for the season kickoffs that are just around the corner.
The university’s women’s basketball team is set to begin their season in the Luce Center tonight at 6 p.m. The women will take on Centre College in a scrimmage, whom they defeated during a regular season game last November 65-63.
To follow, the women will be on the road to John Carroll University on Nov. 10 for their first official game of the season.
“This season is going to be very different, but exciting and an interesting season,” head women’s basketball coach Chad Mayes said. “I’m looking forward to this season more than any other season in the past. I believe this team has tremendous potential but has a long way to go to reach its potential due to graduation and our incoming players.”
Mayes stated in a recent interview that he expects his girls to compete, play hard, and win. With that comes dedication.
“Each year, we pride ourselves on being the hardest working team we can possibly be. This year is no exception. We set out to do hard things that average student-athletes can’t, don’t or even won’t do,” Mayes said.
They have amped up the training for the season, which, while challenging for the girls, is something Mayes thinks may help.
“This year, we decided to test our limits physically and mentally by practicing five times in 48 hours, along with doing our normal weight training at 6:00 a.m. Everyone successfully completed the challenge, tired but still competing just as hard in the final minute as in the first minute. I was very proud of them,” Mayes said.
A new season also brings new players, which the team is working to adjust to.
“As a team this year, I can definitely feel the chemistry is totally there, the incoming Freshman, the transfers, we connected right off the bat and I can definitely tell that this season is going to be truly different,” senior captain Trinity Shearer, said.
The university’s men’s basketball team will start out the home games at Asbury University for their season kickoff and first official game against Centre College on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. They are then on the road to Nashville, Tennessee, for their matchup against Lipscomb University at 4 p.m.
Last year, the men leaned on their standout player, Nick Fort. This year they are adjusting their lineup without him.
“I’m looking to fill a big hole left by our All-American Nick Fort graduating. Not only was did he score lot of points and rebounds, he had great leadership on the team and the guys really looked up to him. When those tight moments happen in the game everybody kind of looked to Nick to see what to do,” head men’s basketball coach Will Shouse said.
The Eagles are going to have a smaller lineup this year. With that, they are looking to prioritize defense.
“We are going to be a little bit smaller this year, so using our quickness in the right way and trying to find out what that looks like on the court because it’s mostly going to be defensively, we try to disrupt teams. I’ve got some really good guards, and I think we have the pieces to do that,” Shouse said.
Throughout their practices, the men have been working to figure out how to play as a unit.
“Figuring out where certain guys fit in and how we are going to run together and who’s going to play what position is all kind of getting figured out,” senior captain Clayton Winter said. “So we are doing a lot of competing, a lot of getting in shape, and getting ready since we are only about two weeks away.”
After falling short of their goals last season, both teams have really amped up their efforts for this season and are working hard for a successful season.
Article written by Haleigh Releford.