Left: Peyton Ilderton works through a shooting drill as the Marshall womenòòò½ÊÓƵ™s basketball team conducts a practice Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.
Leyocha Marigney works through a defensive drill as the Marshall womenòòò½ÊÓƵ™s basketball team conducts a practice Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.
Left: Peyton Ilderton works through a shooting drill as the Marshall womenòòò½ÊÓƵ™s basketball team conducts a practice Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.
Leyocha Marigney works through a defensive drill as the Marshall womenòòò½ÊÓƵ™s basketball team conducts a practice Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON òòò½ÊÓƵ” New Marshall womenòòò½ÊÓƵ™s basketball coach Juli Fulks said getting her initial roster together was a whirlwind. But once the players were all in the gym, it was time to find out what she could get out of them.
A slew of new players, personalities and coaching styles hit the Cam Henderson Center floor this week when the defending Sun Belt Conference champions began summer workouts.
With as much new as there is around the Thundering Herd, the overall mindset hasnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t changed, particularly in the case of those who were a part of last yearòòò½ÊÓƵ™s title run which ended in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI think the returners here that are with us are able to communicate that with the other girls that are new, communicating just how much it takes to win,òòò½ÊÓƵ Marshall junior Meredith Maier said. òòò½ÊÓƵœNow that we know what that feels like, we donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t want to lose it.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Maier is one of 10 players from that championship team to return in 2024-25. Fulks said that is important to maintain the culture that has been built while adding new pieces and installing a new playing style.
òòò½ÊÓƵœOne of the best things about retaining parts of the team from last year is that winning is hard,òòò½ÊÓƵ Fulks said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWinning championships is hard, so learning what that takes every day, what practice looks like, that was a really big piece for them.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThen on the flip side, every June you have rotations of rosters and systems based on who you have,òòò½ÊÓƵ Fulks continued. òòò½ÊÓƵœSo I think just helping them understand that everything weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re doing is trying to play to your strengths is important, so right now, weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re figuring out what those are.òòò½ÊÓƵ
CC Mays said sheòòò½ÊÓƵ™s enjoying the challenge of managing expectations and getting back on the court with teammates new and old and that week one of workouts went a long way in developing team chemistry.
òòò½ÊÓƵœItòòò½ÊÓƵ™s definitely an adjustment for sure, and itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s always going to be a little difficult in the beginning where itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s all so new,òòò½ÊÓƵ Mays said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWeòòò½ÊÓƵ™re learning and getting to know each other, but itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s been a great adjustment so far. Weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re really gelling, and itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s only been the first week of workouts.òòò½ÊÓƵ
From Fulksòòò½ÊÓƵ™ perspective, summer workouts are a time to develop as a team, work on individual skills and have fun doing it. The Herd hasnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t had any trouble with that, she said.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThe good news for our team is that they view competing as fun,òòò½ÊÓƵ Fulks said. òòò½ÊÓƵœSo we have a summer 3-on-3 tournament where every day we change teams until we figure out who wins always.
òòò½ÊÓƵœAfter 20 years of being a head coach,òòò½ÊÓƵ she continued, òòò½ÊÓƵœone of the things I know is that some players, they just always win. We want to know who that is and identify those (players) right away.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Luke Creasy is a reporter for The Herald-Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @LukeCreasy or reach him by phone at 304-526-2800.
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