Women's basketball fields squad of male students as opponents for scrimmages
By Roya Ghorbani-Elizeh
"Practice makes perfect" is an often used saying in sports.
The women's basketball team and their coaches have taken this old adage to the next level by adding a whole other dimension: the addition of an all-male practice squad whose sole purpose is to compete against the women's team during daily practices.
This battle between the team and practice squad occurs on the courts in the Chiles Center with competitive scrimmages and drills.
The practice squad, which consists of 10 students picked for their basketball skill level, has been assembled to help the women's basketball team add another level of competition during practices.
According to junior Shane Moser, the practice squad is "essentially part of the team and practices with the girls everyday."
Along with Moser, the team consists of seniors Kalin Vigil and Kris Slavenski, juniors Zach Uhles, John Avila and Patrick Thomas and sophomores Colton Collins, Isaac McKinley, Kyle Figura and Zach McMullen.
The practice squad participates in drills and plays scrimmages against the women's basketball team about six days a week.
"The coaches have set up practice in a way to utilize the guys as much as possible," Moser said. "Thus, the only things that the guys don't participate in are things like watching film or walking through the offense."
According to Figura, practicing with the women's team has been a great way to stay in shape.
Although the practices can be grueling for both teams, the practice squad has had fun running drills with the team and joking around with one another.
"There is never a dull moment with us," Uhles said. "Except for when we're all out of breath, which happened a lot during our first couple days of practice."
Last year, the practice squad was assembled by Moser to bring a higher intensity level to the practices.
Moser, who was on the men's basketball team his freshman year, was approached by the women's basketball team coach, Jim Sollars, to help with the team.
"Coach Sollars approached me and offered me the managers position for the women's program," Moser said. "I decided to take the job."
Halfway through the season, Sollars approached Moser again with another proposition.
Moser was asked to assemble a group of guys who would be willing to help the women's team during practice.
According to Moser, putting together a group of basketball players was easy because of his time spent playing pick-up basketball games in Howard Hall.
Moser picked friends who he knew enjoyed basketball.
"All of the guys on the team have been involved with basketball for quite some time," Moser said. "Basketball is like every other game, where the only way you're going to improve is by practicing."
By having the two teams work so closely together during practices, the players on the practice squad have definitely seen improvement in the women's team during the past months of practice.
"They are beginning to play tougher and stronger during practices with us," Avila said. "The practice squad is faster, so the girls are learning to play at a quicker speed."
Competition can become fierce for the two teams who face off against one another daily during practices.
"These girls play hard and beat us up a little," Figura said. "But it makes for great competition."
The women's basketball players have also seen a change in their performance since playing against the boy's practice squad.
"No matter how many times we try to box them out some how they always end up getting those offensive boards," senior guard Laiken Dollente said. "They may be a little quicker and jump a little higher, but I think it makes our team more competitive and work harder."
According to Dollente, the best part of practices is when the women beat the practice squad in drills. Doing this "makes the team better and practices more fun."
The unity within the team had been waning before the practice squad began working with the team.
With the loss of key players last year, the inclusion of the boys into the practice has made a difference to the players on the women's basketball team.
"The team has come a long way since the boys started practicing with us," junior center Lauren Angel said. "We lost five important players last year so they have made out team become more of a unit."
Sollars has also recognized the impact the practice squad has made on his team.
"They not only give us the necessary numbers but also add to the intensity of practice," Sollars said. "They are the only way to add speed, size and skill for competition."
Practices are not only benefiting the players on the women's basketball team, but are also allowing the students on the practice squad to play in a competitive environment.
"The biggest benefit of practicing with the girls is being able to play competitive and structured basketball," Moser said. "All of the guys on the team truly enjoy the game of basketball, so they will take any chance they can get to play."
According to Figura, his love of playing basketball while helping the women's team improve is why he enjoys playing on the practice squad.
Before the season, the 10 players on the practice squad had to pass all NCAA regulations and physicals before they were able to practice with the women's team. They had to get certain paperwork and contracts to the University and the NCAA before they were allowed to play.
According to Figura, Moser has been the leader for the practice squad in terms of leadership and keeping the practice team together.
"This is all through Shane's hard work at getting guys committed to playing," Figura said. "He made sure everybody attended the meetings, got their paper work filled out, and also lets us know when practices are."
The practice squad was recently given jerseys for their scrimmages with the women's team.
They are currently looking into obtaining team shoes and more gear for their team.
From the move from Howard Hall to the Chiles Center, the practice squad has grown close to one another as teammates and friends.
"The neat thing about this scout team is how close we are and how much fun we can have together," Moser said. "These are all guys that I thoroughly enjoy being around, both on and off the court."
Although the practice squad doesn't receive the glory and attention as the women's basketball team, the practice squad's significance is not lost on Dollente and her teammates.
"Our team really appreciates the boys working so hard at our practices," Dollente said. "They are coming to help make us better."
