Fun Times in O-HI-O

We have had a great trip to Cincinnati so far. We arrived at about 4 p.m. on Friday and had practice at Cincinnati’s arena that evening. The team enjoyed a huge family style Italian dinner at Maggiano’s restaurant before heading back to the hotel for the night.
Today, Saturday, we got to have an exciting NFL experience thanks to some Dartmouth connections here in Cincinnati – Dartmouth alumni really are a family, no matter how many years or miles removed from Hanover.

Mike Brown ’57 is the owner and president of the Bengals and his daughter, Katie Brown Blackburn ’86, is the executive vice president of the team. Thanks to their Dartmouth ties and friends in common, we were able to visit the Bengals Paul Brown Stadium. Katie and her daughters, Elizabeth and Caroline, gave us the royal treatment! We got to watch the Bengals do their walkthrough for their game against the Browns tomorrow right on field level. The players got lots of pictures in the stadium and even some with quarterback Carson Palmer, head coach Marvin Lewis and other players.

After watching practice we got a full tour of the stadium, which also houses the team’s training facilities and offices. We went everywhere from the team meeting rooms, to the head coach’s office to the full size basketball court near the locker room, where the team and Elizabeth played a mean game of knock out. Meghan McFee `11 edged Michelle Meyer ’10 for the win!

The whole experience was a thrill for everyone, but especially for Ohio natives and Bengals fans, Michelle and Louise Vanden Bosch ’11.

We’re back at the hotel now for the afternoon and we’ll relax here until film and practice at 5. Then it will be a quiet night in as we prepare mentally and physically to take on the University of Cincinnati tomorrow at 2.

- Dara

Go Big Green and Go Bengals!

The Process Continues

We lost again to Vermont on Wednesday night. We faced an experienced and talented UVM team and they pulled away in the second half.

Okay, I admit I have a hard time losing and we are losing big. But there will be no pity party from me. I am watching some players grow up right in front of my eyes. Sasha Dosenko and Faziah Steen stepped up and competed as they saw significant playing time last night. Overall we are competing better, but we are not  “there” yet.  No sure I have ever been … "there."

Perseverance. That concept is at odds with this here and now world. It is dull and slow … not shiny and sleek. There are no short cuts to perseverance and its journey will be arduous. Those without a vision will never see the finish line. There is no vision without faith. Basically, you have to believe and put one foot in front of the other and get going … one step at a time.

Off to Cincinnati in the morning. Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for following us!

- Coach Wielgus

Hitting the Road ... And Being at Home

We're all set for our first road game of the 2009-10 season at Vermont tonight (7 p.m.). It's certainly a bit odd for us to three games into the season and yet to play on the road - the last few years have been filled with early road trips. But now, we won't be back home at Leede Arena until the Blue Sky Classic on Dec. 29-30. Because of our location, we don't have day trips for road games very often. They can be a bit hectic. Usually the staff works and the players go to class, then we head out and eat pregame meal along the way.

Few links for tonight's game - check out the game preview and notes here, where you will find links to the WUVR radio broadcast, livestats and Vermont's video feed (which costs $7 if you want to watch the game).

For those who had questions about what game day is like at home, here are some thoughts. Home game days are usually pretty hectic for everyone. I obviously have a lot of responsibilities to make sure the gym is set up and that media and game operations will run smoothly, but the coaches and players have full days too.

So for the players, when we are at home, most of the day goes like any other - they have to attend all of their classes. The team has its "shootaround" or walk through sometime during the day, usually at 1 or 2, and sometimes people can't make it because of class. We all come together for a delicious pregame meal at 3:00 up the street at Molly's - like clockwork it's salad, grilled chicken, mashed potatoes and veggies. I think most players enjoy a quick nap after pregame to relax before taking the court. Oh and Coach Wielgus never comes to pregame meal at home ... she's a little superstitious ;)

In terms of getting to the gym, it really varies depending on how much time an individual player needs to spend in the training room, but 5:30 in the locker room is pretty common. People get heat treatments, ankles taped, etc over in the training room before reporting to the locker room. There are lots of different little rituals - I know some people get dressed in a certain order, some like the solitude of their own headphones, others like the bustle of the locker room.

Players make their way onto the court at different times to shoot and loosen up before starting a formal stretching routine. The coaches and players head into the team room to go over strategy about 35 minutes before tip-off and come back out with about 20 minutes to go for their stepped up warmup.

After the game the players usually get something to eat on their own - spend time with their family if they are here - and try to relax if they don't have too much studying to do!

Thanks for the questions and comments, keep 'em coming! 

Happy Thanksgiving as well ... We'll have an update before heading out to Cincinnati on Friday.

-Dara

Growing Pains

The season has barely started and we have hit some major bumps in the road. We lost Cassie Cooper to a knee injury on Friday and had one practice to adjust. I feel awful for Cassie. It was her turn to see what she could do and she was more than ready to play.

We will have to work our way through the early part of this season against some very strong opponents. The competition is above us now, and youngsters who should be watching will have to play. Amidst the setbacks, there are enormous opportunities for growth. Hopefully, we rise to the occasion.

There is nothing to do but lace up our sneakers and hit the hardwood. This is going to take time.

-Coach Wielgus

More Than Just Basketball

The game this Sunday against Hartford is special for a number of different reasons. First, it gives us another chance to prove that we can play with the nations best. After a disappointing loss to Temple on Thursday night, we are preparing for the next challenge. The key will be to put forth a sustained effort throughout the game and help each other out on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. This is our last home game before the Blue Sky Tournament so we want to make it an exciting battle for our fans. We have some of the best fans in the nation and the community support means so much to the success of the program.

Also, this Sunday we are sponsoring a non-perishable food drive to benefit the community food shelf at the Upper Valley Haven, a local shelter specifically for families with children. Our team has a special connection to the Haven because we have volunteered at “homework club” during our preseason the past two years. At homework club, we help the children with their homework, construct various art projects, read books with them, and play outside on the playground. My favorite activities with the kids include painting with watercolors, playing two-square and collecting acorns. One of the children is a very talented painter and made beautiful portraits of Faziah and me in our basketball uniforms. I happen to have mine hanging in my locker.

Volunteering at the Haven is a great way to connect with local children and give back to the community. I’ve had such a wonderful time getting to know the kids. We feel so fortunate to support the noble work of the Haven and hope to expand on our community service endeavors in the years to come.

- Betsy Williams (Norwich, Vt.), Senior, Guard

One Down, 27 to Go

Dartmouth - Bryant Game Story

We opened the 2009-10 season at home against Bryant and got a W, 57-47! Felt great to start the season and even better to be 1-0. It was the first time since 2005 that we've opened the season at home and also our first season-opening win since that year's victory over Quinnipiac.

Lots of people contributed to the win. Props to junior Cassie Cooper '11 who scored a career-high 14 points and added seven rebounds in her first collegiate start - she's been waiting two years for this and she's ready. Brittney Smith '11 and Betsy Williams '10 scored in double figures too and Margaret Smith '10 hauled in 12 rebounds. It was also really special to see senior Michelle Meyer '10 on the court for the first time in more than a year (after an injury took all of last season) and gave us a big boost off the bench. Welcome back #12.

Coach Foster broke down the film today and they'll be review of the game this week as well as preparations for a very good Temple squad that comes to Hanover this Thursday night. Temple started its season with an impressive 18-point comeback win over Illinois and hosts Auburn on Tuesday. The Owls will be a tough early season test for us, but as Dartmouth has proven time and time again, playing the best is what makes you the best.

After Temple comes yet another solid team in Hartford, who we HOST (yes that's three in a row) on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. If you're coming to that game we'll be holding a non-perishable food drive - please do what you can to help us help our community.

-Dara

Twas the Night Before Bryant ...

Bryant Game Preview/Notes

GAME TIME has finally arrived! Tomorrow’s center jump at 7 p.m. in Leede Arena marks the first step on our journey. There is a high energy level in the gym — the players and coaches are clearly excited. Radio personnel, photographers and newspaper reporters have been to the gym to watch practice; seniors and coaches have been interviewed and there has been a parade of loyal fans and alumni stopping by the office. WE HAVE A GAME!!!

We won’t have an accurate scout on Bryant … and vice versa. This is the first game of the year for both teams, so there is no available current game film. But I did the scout anyway and based it on last year’s game film (we used a second half comeback to win, 71-56). Scouts are very important to me and to our success.

And my scout tells me ... drum roll please ... it should be a good game for both teams.

- Coach Wielgus

The Buzz About Brittney

Dartmouth junior forward Brittney Smith has been getting some well-deserved preseason recognition. In consecutive seasons, she won the Ivy League's Rookie and Player of the Year awards.

In 2009, she became Dartmouth's 11th Ivy Player of the Year honoree. She was also one of two unanimous selections to the first team All-Ivy. The 6-1 forward was a force inside throughout the season, averaging 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game overall. In conference play she upped her numbers to 15.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game while contributing to the Big Green's dominant defense, allowing just 47.1 points per game.

This preseason, Smith has garnered praise from two national publications. First, USA Today put her on its "All-Brittney" team, which was published in the annual college basketball preview magazine (click to enlarge).

In addition, Full Court Press online women's basketball journal named Brittney honorable mention on its Preseason Mid-Major Top-25 players. That article can be viewed here.

These accolades are exciting for Brittney, the team and all of us. But I think the best thing about Brittney is that she is a team player and will do whatever she has to for the team to succeed - her teammates are the same way!

Getting excited for tipoff on November 14!

-Dara

Dartmouth Gets Hyped for Hoops!

For the first time since the 2005-06 season, Dartmouth will be hosting a "midnight madness" style event for basketball this week. Obviously it's not midnight madness before the first practice, but we think our Hoops Hype is coming at just the right time.

Dartmouth students always need a little time to ease into a new sport it seems, so this week our marketing department, with a tremendous effort by new staff member Josh Hartman, is sponsoring Spirit Week and Hoops Hype. Spirit Week includes a variety of activities building up to the Hoops Hype event on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. in Leede Arena. This Tuesday, Nov. 3, the women's team will be holding an open practice from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Leede Arena. Both events are open to the public so we'd love to see you there if you're in the area.

Personally, I'm really excited for Hoops Hype for this team. We ended the season on such a great note, beating Harvard in front of a nearly full house to clinch the Ivy title. A ton of students came to the game and made it a tough environment for the Crimson. Hopefully they liked what they saw and will come back for more. Having this event on Nov. 5 is especially important to us because it's just nine days before our home-opener on Nov. 14 against Bryant. Yes, we not only get to open the season at home but we have three straight home games to start. Two very good mid-major programs in Temple and Hartford come to town on Nov. 19 and 22.

Click here for more details on Spirit Week, Open Practice (Tues. 11/3 @ 4:30) and Hoops Hype (Thurs. 11/5 @ 8). Hope to see a lot of faces at these events this week and at our upcoming games.

-Dara