TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona Women’s Basketball Team held its annual Media Day on Monday in its state-of-the-art locker room lounge at McKale Center.
Head Coach Niya Butts and all 14 student-athletes chatted with members of the media to preview the upcoming 2015-2016 season.
The Wildcats will open their season Nov. 14 at Toledo after an exhibition warmup on Nov. 10 against Eastern New Mexico.
“I’m looking forward to getting the season going,” Butts said. “This is the first time in three or four years, maybe five, where we’ve had every one on the roster be able to step on the floor and be able to participate and not be out with an injury.”
Butts and the Wildcats will continue to hit the practice court over the next two weeks before opening up games.
Here’s a look at some select quotes from today’s Media Day:
Sophomore guard Charice Harris:
On the team’s offseason: “We worked on weights and conditioning. It's been going pretty well. It’s been a lot of work, but everyone has had a good attitude about it and it has carried over to practice so far.”
On what she worked on coming into the season: “My defense and my energy on the court as far as being a leader and talking as the point guard. I just have to keep working hard and have energy all the time. That’s the biggest thing for me, playing with energy every play.”
Redshirt freshman guard Taryn Griffey:
On coming back from a knee injury that sidelined her last season: “It feels really good. It’s different, but I like it. I like the challenge. It’s going pretty well. I have to compromise on a lot of things, change my game a little bit. But everything is going really well.”
On what she’s most excited for this season: “Just being able to play. It’s been a long time. The message Coach Butts has given us is keep pushing, and the message is pretty much just ‘shock the world.’
Sophomore guard JaLea Bennett:
On the team’s mindset this preseason: “Just to recognize where we are and the position we put ourselves in and take that and run with it. We have to come into the gym with a chip on our shoulder because we have a point to prove. We have to prove people wrong.”
On what she worked on in the offseason: “Defense and attitude. Mental toughness. Mainly defense. Defense wins games.”
Junior forward Dejza James:
On her thoughts on the season: “I think we’re going to do really well. We have new bodies, healthy bodies. We’re 14 strong. A lot of new people. New atmosphere. We gel really well, especially for so many new bodies coming in. We look good. We have a lot of potential. I think we’re going to do well.”
On what she’s excited for this season: “I think a big thing is my confidence. My confidence went down after tearing my ACL as a freshman. Last year, I thought I was going to come back exactly where I left off. Now this being my second, third year in the program. I think my confidence has gone way up.”
Junior guard Malena Washington:
On preseason practice: “It’s been good. The first week, we had all of our new people, we were getting after it. We have our bad moments, but every team does. We’re becoming more of a team and trying to make it a good practice every time out. We need leadership. We need a team that’s going to be a family and come together when times get tough.
