Gators Hold First Practice of 2009-10
Saturday, October 17, 2009 | Women's Basketball
With the University of Florida campus bursting with excitement of its annual Homecoming Weekend, the Gator women's basketball team conducted its first official practice of the 2009-10 season led by a former alumnus.
Head Coach Amanda Butler, who received her bachelor's and master's degrees from UF, begins her third year at the helm of the program.
The Gator practice was fast-paced and intense throughout the two and half-hour session.
“We have a lot to look forward to this season, but there's no question that we have a long way to go,” Butler said following Friday's initial practice. “We have a lot of work to do. The first thing we have to realize is how hard we have to work to attain the things we want to achieve.
“I thought we had some great individual performances tonight,” Butler continued. “Jennifer George (Freshman, Orlando, Fla.) had a great practice. Ndidi Madu (Sophomore, Antioch, Tenn.) stood out today. We scrimmaged and Jordan Jones (Sophomore, Suwanee, Ga.) hit a game-tying shot that sent it into overtime. Those are things that are great to see on the first day of practice.
“Because it is the first day of practice, we also saw all of the things we need to work on in the upcoming days. Practice shows you what you need to work on and it's the right time of year when you have time to correct things and get the reps in that you need,” Butler said.
At the end of practice, Butler had the team sit in a circle as she provided her assessment of their day's work. She also read to them a quote from a book by John Maxwell, “Talent is Never Enough.”
All of the players were given the book and she gave them an assignment to read the chapter titled, “The Power of Practice.”
“The quote I shared with the team at the end of practice is actually from another author, Tom Mullins, who is former football coach,” Butler said. “He said in this book that, 'All the national champion coaches told me the key to going from good to great is two areas. The preparation of the team and the practice of the players. They were forever upgrading their practices and sharpening their practices.'”
Rookie Review
Two of Florida's four freshmen shared their thoughts on their first collegiate practice.
“It was really intense,” Christal Caldwell (Charlotte, N.C.) said. “There was nothing I didn't expect, but it was a lot faster pace. Our individual workouts were fast-paced, but this was gun-and-gun. Coach Butler is mistake-free. She wants to fix something immediately. Overall, I thought it went pretty well.”
“I would say today was a lot like our workouts from the last couple of weeks, but it's a step higher in intensity,” Lily Svete (Granger, Ind.) shared. “The three hours flew by, I couldn't believe it when practice ended.”
Welcome Home!
Coach Butler wasn't the only UF alumna inside the Basketball Complex on Friday. Former Gator Brittany Davis (2002-06) was on-hand to watch the 2009-10 edition hit the floor for the first time.
Davis recently returned to her hometown of Gainesville from Australia, where she has been playing professional basketball in the Brisbane area for the last year.
“It was a great time, fun and enjoyable experience,” Davis shared. “I didn't know anyone there when I first stepped off the airplane and I left with some lifelong friendships. I got to see a lot of Australia and was very fortunate.”
While she's not sure what's next in store for her future and hasn't ruled out continuing to play professionally, the one thing she is sure about is the bond of Gators.
“It's always welcoming to come back here to the practice facility, it's home,” Davis said. “The Gator Nation is always welcoming and Amanda (Butler) and the other coaches have been so warm in welcoming all of us former players back. It's fun to watch a new group of players work hard and try to achieve different goals with the focus on winning championships.”
Practice Pics
Photos from the first day of practice can be viewed on www.CoachAmandaButler.com, by clicking on the “SCRAPBOOK” text along the top of the main page of the website.
-UF-
