Hi All,
Just a quick update from the road. We're at shootaround and our trainer Michael and I are sitting on the floor of Columbia's Levien Gym, polishing off a crossword puzzle while the team goes over the game plan one last time,
We had an uneventful trip down, though I must point out that I had a sweep, 2-0, of good movies for the bus ride down! We watched Couples Retreat - not an Oscar-contender or anything but it was funny and everyone liked it and we watched Up, which is another amazing animated Disney Pixar film
Now we're looking for a sweep on the court this weekend! I'm off to help pass during shooting drills.
All the important weekend links/notes are here.
Go Big Green!
- Dara
Friday, February 19, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Like A Band of Gypsies We Go Down the Highway
"On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends.
Insisting that the world keep turning our way
And I can't wait to get on the road again."
Something tells me that this weekend, Willie Nelson might lose us on the last line. We're getting set to embark on the most grueling road trip of the year and arguably one of the toughest in college athletics. For our Columbia-Cornell weekend swing, we'll log just about 800 miles from Thursday evening to early Sunday morning! It's a five hour trek to Columbia on Thursday night, taking on the Lions on Friday night, then just under 5 hours up to Ithaca, take on the Big Red on Saturday night and six-plus hours home after that
Getting into your second destination well after midnight and having to play at 7 p.m. is really grueling. I continue to contend that it is both unfair and unhealthy and that it is the one Ivy weekend that should be played Friday night, Sunday early afternoon. But that's for a whole other other story.
Anyhow, as our followers know, we are very much used to life on the road and our players like the structure those days bring. Even though the rides can get LONG, I like it too as it's a break from the office and it's when I best get to know the players and coaches, which is what helps me do my job well.
But I'll turn it over to Coach Wielgus, who has come a long way from the days of driving the team in vans, eating homemade sandwiches.
- Dara
******
"Bus Life"
Like rock stars on tour, we travel the main corridors of this country going from one gig to the next. Our home is the bus. Each of us has our own space and our own routine. There are the readers, the texters, the movie buffs and the sleepers. To be a sleeper is to be truly blessed. There are two players I have never seen awake on the bus.
For most of us however, we are awake or dozing, but rarely sleeping. We go from idle conversation to a movie and back again to idle conversation. Movies are tough ... to pick out. The criteria is mind boggling: content, movie stars, relevance across generational lines and now loudness must be taken into account. Whoever picks out a movie is subject to much scrutiny and ultimately ridicule. I should know. I picked them out for the last trip - it has been strongly suggested that I NOT venture into Video Stop for the duration of the season.
But the bus is where it happens. During the endless hours of banter we learn about one another and our families. We also learn to entertain ourselves. Of course there is always students studying and staff disrupting them, but every once in a while there will be an open mike, player entertainment and iPod karoke. Every once in a while, we start laughing and can’t stop.
The bus is our clubhouse that forces us to just hang out together. Hanging out - face to face interaction is a treasured experience in this high speed internet, text or e-mail me world in which we live. Hanging out with our staff and players is a blast!
- Coach Wielgus
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends.
Insisting that the world keep turning our way
And I can't wait to get on the road again."
Something tells me that this weekend, Willie Nelson might lose us on the last line. We're getting set to embark on the most grueling road trip of the year and arguably one of the toughest in college athletics. For our Columbia-Cornell weekend swing, we'll log just about 800 miles from Thursday evening to early Sunday morning! It's a five hour trek to Columbia on Thursday night, taking on the Lions on Friday night, then just under 5 hours up to Ithaca, take on the Big Red on Saturday night and six-plus hours home after that
Getting into your second destination well after midnight and having to play at 7 p.m. is really grueling. I continue to contend that it is both unfair and unhealthy and that it is the one Ivy weekend that should be played Friday night, Sunday early afternoon. But that's for a whole other other story.
Anyhow, as our followers know, we are very much used to life on the road and our players like the structure those days bring. Even though the rides can get LONG, I like it too as it's a break from the office and it's when I best get to know the players and coaches, which is what helps me do my job well.
But I'll turn it over to Coach Wielgus, who has come a long way from the days of driving the team in vans, eating homemade sandwiches.
- Dara
******
"Bus Life"
Like rock stars on tour, we travel the main corridors of this country going from one gig to the next. Our home is the bus. Each of us has our own space and our own routine. There are the readers, the texters, the movie buffs and the sleepers. To be a sleeper is to be truly blessed. There are two players I have never seen awake on the bus.
For most of us however, we are awake or dozing, but rarely sleeping. We go from idle conversation to a movie and back again to idle conversation. Movies are tough ... to pick out. The criteria is mind boggling: content, movie stars, relevance across generational lines and now loudness must be taken into account. Whoever picks out a movie is subject to much scrutiny and ultimately ridicule. I should know. I picked them out for the last trip - it has been strongly suggested that I NOT venture into Video Stop for the duration of the season.
But the bus is where it happens. During the endless hours of banter we learn about one another and our families. We also learn to entertain ourselves. Of course there is always students studying and staff disrupting them, but every once in a while there will be an open mike, player entertainment and iPod karoke. Every once in a while, we start laughing and can’t stop.
The bus is our clubhouse that forces us to just hang out together. Hanging out - face to face interaction is a treasured experience in this high speed internet, text or e-mail me world in which we live. Hanging out with our staff and players is a blast!
- Coach Wielgus
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Onward and Upward
As I’m sure you all know, we took a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to Yale last night. We unfortunately got behind which really hurt us, again, having to come all the way back from 10 points down just to force overtime.
I won’t say much other than I know that the effort our players put in was tremendous. They came all the way back and left it all on the court, all of them exhausted and two pushing through injuries sustained midway through the second
We have three losses in Ivy play, but still a full seven games left to play — we get another shot at everyone. How exciting is that?! I know our players are not giving up. Just two years ago we were in the exact same boat and wound up tied for the Ivy Championship. This league is crazy and, as we’ve seen, anything can happen and any team can beat any other.
Times like this I am drawn to a quote that I imagine many of you have read before. It is from the great Teddy Roosevelt’s speech, “Citizenship in a Republic” delivered at the Sorbonne in Paris on April 23, 1910:
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
I’d like to say is thank you to all of you out there who support us so faithfully. Our players and coaches and staff would not make it through without the unyielding care we get from parents, friends and fans. I know many of you, especially parents, wish you could be with us more often, but there is a lot of love here.
The players were pretty beat up last night after a long, physical game, but after a day off today, I think everyone is ready to get after it this week. We are driven to go 7-0 during the next three weeks.
Couple of notes. First, check out a feature on one of the more inspiring stories to come out of the program, senior captain Michelle Meyer ’10.
Also, serious congratulations are in order for junior Brittney Smith ’11 who is already charging up the record books. She scored her 1,000th career point and grabbed her 700th career rebound against Yale last night. She is just the sixth player in program history to reach both those career marks. She became the 15th 1,000th point scorer for Dartmouth and did so seventh fastest, in just 81 games. Remarkable work, Britt.
- Dara
I won’t say much other than I know that the effort our players put in was tremendous. They came all the way back and left it all on the court, all of them exhausted and two pushing through injuries sustained midway through the second
We have three losses in Ivy play, but still a full seven games left to play — we get another shot at everyone. How exciting is that?! I know our players are not giving up. Just two years ago we were in the exact same boat and wound up tied for the Ivy Championship. This league is crazy and, as we’ve seen, anything can happen and any team can beat any other.
Times like this I am drawn to a quote that I imagine many of you have read before. It is from the great Teddy Roosevelt’s speech, “Citizenship in a Republic” delivered at the Sorbonne in Paris on April 23, 1910:
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
I’d like to say is thank you to all of you out there who support us so faithfully. Our players and coaches and staff would not make it through without the unyielding care we get from parents, friends and fans. I know many of you, especially parents, wish you could be with us more often, but there is a lot of love here.
The players were pretty beat up last night after a long, physical game, but after a day off today, I think everyone is ready to get after it this week. We are driven to go 7-0 during the next three weeks.
Couple of notes. First, check out a feature on one of the more inspiring stories to come out of the program, senior captain Michelle Meyer ’10.
Also, serious congratulations are in order for junior Brittney Smith ’11 who is already charging up the record books. She scored her 1,000th career point and grabbed her 700th career rebound against Yale last night. She is just the sixth player in program history to reach both those career marks. She became the 15th 1,000th point scorer for Dartmouth and did so seventh fastest, in just 81 games. Remarkable work, Britt.
- Dara
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Looking for a Sweep
Hi All,
Last night we pulled out YET ANOTHER close Ivy win over Brown, 67-63. But we were all proud of the way our players gutted it out against Brown, who has definitely improved this year. We had a seven point lead with about six minutes to play and were on a real run - it felt like we'd pull away. Brown had other ideas, and scored eight points in one minute to take a lead!
We kept pace but didn't get the lead back until Betsy Williams drove, scored and converted a three-point play with 17 seconds to go for a 64-62 lead. She ended up also hitting two free throws in the last two seconds to help us hold on for a 67-63 win. She finished the game with 17 points - the fourth time in her career she has tied that career high! Sasha Dosenko was awesome with 17 points and nine rebounds and Brittney Smith reached double-digit rebounds for the seventh straight game with 14 and had 11 points for her fifth double-double of the last six games.
***
Tonight we host Yale, which is usually one of the most physical match-ups of the season. It will certainly be tough for us after playing a close game last night, but we need to get a sweep this weekend. Right now, Princeton is still alone in first but we are tied with Harvard in second at 4-2. Everyone else has dropped to at least three losses.
Anyhow, I'll be heading to Leede soon to get things set up for the game and pop into shootaround. We're hosting our Pink Zone game tonight which, as I've said before, is always awesome. Hopefully we get a good crowd. It's Winter Carnival this weekend - "I Came, I Saw, I Carnivaled" but it's a little strange to see the Coliseum snow sculpture in the middle of a snowless Green!
Speaking of snow (or lack thereof), is anyone else pumped for the Olympics? I can't get enough of it!
- Dara
Last night we pulled out YET ANOTHER close Ivy win over Brown, 67-63. But we were all proud of the way our players gutted it out against Brown, who has definitely improved this year. We had a seven point lead with about six minutes to play and were on a real run - it felt like we'd pull away. Brown had other ideas, and scored eight points in one minute to take a lead!
We kept pace but didn't get the lead back until Betsy Williams drove, scored and converted a three-point play with 17 seconds to go for a 64-62 lead. She ended up also hitting two free throws in the last two seconds to help us hold on for a 67-63 win. She finished the game with 17 points - the fourth time in her career she has tied that career high! Sasha Dosenko was awesome with 17 points and nine rebounds and Brittney Smith reached double-digit rebounds for the seventh straight game with 14 and had 11 points for her fifth double-double of the last six games.
***
Tonight we host Yale, which is usually one of the most physical match-ups of the season. It will certainly be tough for us after playing a close game last night, but we need to get a sweep this weekend. Right now, Princeton is still alone in first but we are tied with Harvard in second at 4-2. Everyone else has dropped to at least three losses.
Anyhow, I'll be heading to Leede soon to get things set up for the game and pop into shootaround. We're hosting our Pink Zone game tonight which, as I've said before, is always awesome. Hopefully we get a good crowd. It's Winter Carnival this weekend - "I Came, I Saw, I Carnivaled" but it's a little strange to see the Coliseum snow sculpture in the middle of a snowless Green!
Speaking of snow (or lack thereof), is anyone else pumped for the Olympics? I can't get enough of it!
- Dara
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Back to Work
Hey Big Green Fans,
Hope everyone is having a great week so far. I can't believe it is already Wednesday! Lots to do before a big weekend here in Hanover.
We were really disappointed to lose to Princeton on Saturday because we felt we had a solid game plan. Sometimes things don't go your way, but the game was certainly closer than the final score. Our team played really hard from wire to wire, so although disappointed, we couldn't be overly upset about the loss - or at least it makes it easier to swallow. Plus we know we have another shot at them at home!
Couple of important notes this week:
• First, congratulations to Betsy Williams ’10 for being named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 2nd Team. This is voted on by people like me, college sports information directors, and recognizes excellence in the classroom and the court. Our district is easily the most competitive in the nation and there were about 40 women on the ballot for 10 spots. Click here for more details on the award and for a recent feature on Betsy, click here.
• Also this weekend, on Friday during our game against Brown, we'll be celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day. It's a nationwide event meant to encourage and inspire participation in athletics by women and girls.
• Biggest of all, is one of my favorite events of the season, this Saturday night during the Yale game, we're hosting our Pink Zone Breast Cancer Awareness game! This is an initiative by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association that has been going on for the last three seasons, raising unbelievable amounts of money. Last year the WBCA formally partnered with the Jimmy V Foundation to create the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, honoring the late great NC State women's coach Kay Yow who lost a 20 year battle with breast cancer last January. Check out some truly impressive stats on the WBCA's Pink Zone Website.
We're really excited to participate in both events. Also exciting is a special $1 admission deal for ANYONE who WEARS PINK to Saturday night's game and raffles including a pink basketball signed by the team.
It's always great when our team - and teams all around the country - can use their public image and status to help good causes.
Weekend previews will be up soon.
-Dara
Hope everyone is having a great week so far. I can't believe it is already Wednesday! Lots to do before a big weekend here in Hanover.
We were really disappointed to lose to Princeton on Saturday because we felt we had a solid game plan. Sometimes things don't go your way, but the game was certainly closer than the final score. Our team played really hard from wire to wire, so although disappointed, we couldn't be overly upset about the loss - or at least it makes it easier to swallow. Plus we know we have another shot at them at home!
Couple of important notes this week:
• First, congratulations to Betsy Williams ’10 for being named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 2nd Team. This is voted on by people like me, college sports information directors, and recognizes excellence in the classroom and the court. Our district is easily the most competitive in the nation and there were about 40 women on the ballot for 10 spots. Click here for more details on the award and for a recent feature on Betsy, click here.
• Also this weekend, on Friday during our game against Brown, we'll be celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day. It's a nationwide event meant to encourage and inspire participation in athletics by women and girls.
• Biggest of all, is one of my favorite events of the season, this Saturday night during the Yale game, we're hosting our Pink Zone Breast Cancer Awareness game! This is an initiative by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association that has been going on for the last three seasons, raising unbelievable amounts of money. Last year the WBCA formally partnered with the Jimmy V Foundation to create the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, honoring the late great NC State women's coach Kay Yow who lost a 20 year battle with breast cancer last January. Check out some truly impressive stats on the WBCA's Pink Zone Website.
We're really excited to participate in both events. Also exciting is a special $1 admission deal for ANYONE who WEARS PINK to Saturday night's game and raffles including a pink basketball signed by the team.
It's always great when our team - and teams all around the country - can use their public image and status to help good causes.
Weekend previews will be up soon.
-Dara
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Big Saturday Night
Hi All,
Just a quick update from Princeton's Jadwin Gym. The Penn-Princeton trip puts us in two of the Ivy League's more unique arenas, with the Palestra's historic feel and Jadwin's unique setup. It has the high arch ceiling of a field house and behind the benches is a bit of an abyss with an indoor track and field set-up.
We had a good victory last night over Penn, 51-37. Again our offense wasn't the most high-octane, but our defense was just stifling to the Quakers. Rookie guard Faziah Steen did a great job with 14 points, six rebounds and five steals! The Smith sisters continued to come up big as well. Brittney had her fourth straight double-double with 13 points, 14 rebounds AND five assists while Margaret scored a season-high 11 points and eight rebounds for us.
The snow is falling outside and tip-off at Princeton is at 6 p.m. tonight. The Tigers are much improved and sitting at 4-0 so we've got a great chance to force a log-jam at the top of the league standings.
Go Big Green!
- Dara
Just a quick update from Princeton's Jadwin Gym. The Penn-Princeton trip puts us in two of the Ivy League's more unique arenas, with the Palestra's historic feel and Jadwin's unique setup. It has the high arch ceiling of a field house and behind the benches is a bit of an abyss with an indoor track and field set-up.
We had a good victory last night over Penn, 51-37. Again our offense wasn't the most high-octane, but our defense was just stifling to the Quakers. Rookie guard Faziah Steen did a great job with 14 points, six rebounds and five steals! The Smith sisters continued to come up big as well. Brittney had her fourth straight double-double with 13 points, 14 rebounds AND five assists while Margaret scored a season-high 11 points and eight rebounds for us.
The snow is falling outside and tip-off at Princeton is at 6 p.m. tonight. The Tigers are much improved and sitting at 4-0 so we've got a great chance to force a log-jam at the top of the league standings.
Go Big Green!
- Dara
Friday, February 5, 2010
Better Late Than Never?
I’ve been a pretty neglectful Big Green blogger this week. Apologies to you our loyal followers — it’s easy to lose track of time during our Ivy travel weeks, when I’m out of the office by 2 on Thursday.
I’m sitting courtside in the historic Palestra with about 50 minutes to go before our tip against Penn. If by some chance you are reading this before the game, all the important links for tonight and tomorrow’s game are here.
Anyhow, some events transpired since I last wrote after the Cornell win. On Saturday we played poorly and took a disappointing loss to Columbia. There were some strong individual efforts, but too many defensive lapses cost us the opportunity to stay undefeated in Ivy play.
I’m sitting courtside in the historic Palestra with about 50 minutes to go before our tip against Penn. If by some chance you are reading this before the game, all the important links for tonight and tomorrow’s game are here.
Anyhow, some events transpired since I last wrote after the Cornell win. On Saturday we played poorly and took a disappointing loss to Columbia. There were some strong individual efforts, but too many defensive lapses cost us the opportunity to stay undefeated in Ivy play.
Taking an early Ivy loss is never ideal, but our team responded well in practice this week. There was a lot of individual film study — the coaches worked hard to break down game so the players could watch themselves and truly analyze what they need to improve upon. I think this is one of the most valuable tools.
We had a great shootaround today and are looking forward to the game. LOTS of snow is headed this way, so we’ll be feeling right at home when we look out the window at Princeton!
- Dara
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