{"id":119832,"date":"2023-10-06T01:29:43","date_gmt":"2023-10-06T01:29:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/?p=119832"},"modified":"2023-10-06T01:29:43","modified_gmt":"2023-10-06T01:29:43","slug":"womens-basketball-cu-buffs-hit-ground-running-in-early-days-of-preseason-practice-the-denver-post","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/world-news\/womens-basketball-cu-buffs-hit-ground-running-in-early-days-of-preseason-practice-the-denver-post\/","title":{"rendered":"Women’s basketball: CU Buffs hit ground running in early days of preseason practice – The Denver Post"},"content":{"rendered":"

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More than a half hour before the start of practice earlier this week, Colorado women\u2019s basketball senior Quay Miller was on the court, working with several of the freshmen, even before coaches arrived.<\/p>\n

That extra work \u2013 and the leadership displayed by Miller \u2013 is necessary for a CU team that has lofty goals this season.<\/p>\n

Typically, head coach JR Payne and her staff will spend the early days of preseason practice going back to some of the basics of the scheme and the game.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s more urgency this year, though. Coming off a Sweet 16 appearance last season, the Buffs return four starters and eight rotational players and could be a preseason top-25 team. There are goals of getting back to the Sweet 16, and beyond. Add in the fact that the season begins on Nov. 6 in Las Vegas against the defending national champion LSU Tigers and there\u2019s definitely no easing into things this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re kind of getting to a place where, if you know what we\u2019re doing, we\u2019re on the train and we\u2019re moving,\u201d said Payne, entering her eighth season at CU. \u201cAnd, if you don\u2019t know, you\u2019re gonna have to put in some extra work to find out because we can\u2019t slow down too much for too long.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why Miller\u2019s work was so vital. While the Buffs do return the core of last year\u2019s team, they also brought in two veteran transfers and five true freshmen.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to balance, we have a lot of veterans trying to move forward but also we have some important newcomers to try to make sure that they\u2019re caught up to speed,\u201d Payne said.<\/p>\n

The urgency of getting up to speed is different than in past years, Payne said, because the Buffs have high expectations \u2013 plus a showcase game right out of the gates.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just think we have so much returning that we just can\u2019t stay in the same place too long,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to make sure that we make some adjustments to how we\u2019re training and what we\u2019re doing and make sure that we\u2019re moving as quickly as we can.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s way more fun for the coaches and the players to be able to sort of hit the ground running, but you also need to make sure that you\u2019re doing things correctly. Moving fast isn\u2019t always (good), unless you\u2019re doing it properly, like pay attention to details.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prior to facing LSU, CU will host Adams State in an exhibition on Oct. 28 at 1 p.m.<\/p>\n

Promotions<\/h4>\n

On Thursday, CU announced that staff members Matt Hower and Shelley Sheetz have been promoted to assistant coaches.<\/p>\n

A new NCAA rule went into effect on July 1 that allows teams to increase the number of allowable assistant coaches from three to five.<\/p>\n

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Hower has been CU\u2019s director of basketball operations since December of 2021 and Sheetz, a CU hall of famer, is beginning her second season as the Buffs\u2019 director of player development.<\/p>\n

Both will continue in those rules, but the new rule allows Hower and Sheetz to coach and instruct the players on the court. They cannot be involved in off campus recruiting, but adding them as assistants will be beneficial when Payne and her assistants are on the road recruiting.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are really excited to have Matt and Shelley back on the court coaching,\u201d Payne said in a press release. \u201cThey both have so much to offer from a basketball knowledge standpoint. Both Matt and Shelley have many years of coaching experience and it will be great for our team to be able to utilize them as a resource both on the court and in the film room.\u201d<\/p>\n

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