Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls complete first week of 'intense' practices
October 21, 2005 | Cowgirl Basketball
“When we first started the school year, the intensity was good, but once the official practices started, the intensity level increased even more,” said forward Destanie Sykes.
Added guard Devry McDonald: “It's a lot more intense, going from one drill to the next to get stuff done.”
First-year coach Kurt Budke said the practices have been great, and there are reasons the team has stepped up the momentum in the past week.
“I really think we took some good strides this week,” Budke said. “I think they understand the pressure cooker is on right now — that real practice has started and that we play a game in a couple of weeks.
“I've been really happy coming into the gym every day. We have a lot to learn, but the staff is having a lot of fun coaching them.”
Beginning this year, the NCAA allowed women's teams to practice as a group for up to four hours a week once school began through Oct. 14. The Cowgirls had the first week off, then began working out.
Sykes said the extra practice time was a big contributor to a successful first week of official practices.
“It helped out a lot,” Sykes said. “We weren't scrimmaging, but we were still building chemistry. It was a controlled chemistry instead of the scatterbrained chemistry of pickup games.”
Even after one week, McDonald is ready for her and her teammates to begin season play, but they will have to wait until 7 p.m. on Nov. 5, when they host the Oklahoma Flyers in exhibition play.
“I'm really excited,” McDonald said. “There is a ton of intensity and a lot bigger will to win.”
