| NEWS |
  
|
| FEATURES |
| ENTERTAINMENT |
  
|
| COLUMNS |
     |
| CONTACT US |
|
| HOW TO SUBMIT |
|
|
| BACK ISSUES |
|
|
 (Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption:
|
Tiger Women's Hoops Tipping Off Season Hoping Attitude Adjustment Brings Wins
By Bill Alden
Richard Barron's passion for basketball hasn't always been matched by his charges on the Princeton University women's hoops team.
With the head coach and players not on the same page, the team has struggled to a combined 16-39 record the last two seasons, including a frustrating 7-20 overall mark (4-10 Ivy League) last year.
Barron, who is entering his fourth year at the helm of the Tiger women's program, senses a new attitude around his squad as it prepares for its season opener on November 19 against visiting Monmouth.
"This group is clearly different," said Barron, who acknowledged that there had been "friction" between him and the players at times over the last two years over their competing expectations of the work rate necessary for success.
"This group is eager to hear what else they can do to get better. We see a good work ethic and a responsiveness to coaching we haven't seen in the past. When whatever they do is inadequate, they are a lot more receptive to hearing that."
The players are demonstrating that eagerness on a daily basis, according to Barron. "There are a number of ways you can pick that up," explained Barron, whose overall mark during his Princeton tenure is 27-55. "The eye contact we have in the huddle is better. We have people who stay late after practice or come in early. They are eager to play, they are antsy to get out there."
With the Tigers having been picked to finish seventh in the Ivy League by the media preseason poll, Barron is eager to unleash his team on its league foes.
"You look at what we return versus the rest of the league and I feel good about where we are starting," declared Barron, who brings back all five starters and four key reserves from a team that finished tied for seventh in the league last season.
"Where we go from here could depend on injuries. We feel like we look better in practice. There are days when we have to pinch ourselves, it's not at all the same team. You've got to temper that excitement with the fact that there is a lot of work ahead of us."
Barron has a lot to work with in terms of his veteran core. In the backcourt, junior co-captain Katy O'Brien will be a key performer as she looks to improve on the 9.1 points per game that she averaged last year. O'Brien will be joined at guard by classmate and co-captain Ali Smith (4.6 points per game in 2003-04).
On the wing, Barron welcomes back sophomore co-captain Casey Lockwood (10.8 points, 7.8 rebounds) and classmate Katy Digovich (10.4 points, 6.4 rebounds), who were both named to the Ivy League All-Rookie team last year. Lockwood will miss the start of the season as she recovers from an ACL injury suffered late last season while Digovich is primed to be a factor from the opening tip-off.
Down low, Princeton will look to junior Becky Brown to carry the scoring load in the paint. The 6'2 Brown was a second-team All-Ivy performer last season when she averaged 14.8 points per game and 6.0 rebounds.
Barron, who also welcome back such solid reserves as Lauren Nestor, Lillie Romeister, Shelly Slemp, and Elyse Umeda, believes that balance will be a stong suit for his team.
"I think the versatility of our forwards will really be one of the biggest strengths of our team," said Barron, who is expecting big things from his trio of talented freshmen, Ariel Rogers, Ali Pritchard, and Meghan Cowher, the daughter of Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher.
"All of a sudden we can put a team out there where four of our players are around six feet. Any of them can post up, any of them can handle the ball. We have O'Brien's outside shooting. She has deep range, she can really be deadly from the three-point range. Becky Brown is a real asset inside, no question."
But the Tigers' chief asset right now may be the players' focus on the moment. "I don't sense that we're thinking about Monmouth," said Barron with a smile.
"I think they are enjoying learning right now. They are enjoying the competition and figuring out where they stand on the team. They're enjoying that process."
