TAMPA - University of South Florida head coach Jose Fernandez took the microphone Wednesday afternoon for the women's basketball weekly press conference.
Coach Fernandez spoke about the Bulls play thus far, about the team's upcoming schedule and much more.
Watch the BullsVision Exclusive with Coach Fernandez
USF Basketball
Basketball Press Conference
Dec. 9, 2009
Women's Basketball Coach Jose Fernandez
Opening statement...
"Well, we are 6-2 right now leading up to Jacksonville on Sunday, then we have a midweek game, then we have a tournament before Christmas. We will play a total of four games in a short period of time. Then, we only have one game after Christmas before the BIG EAST schedule. It has been exam week. We have had two kids out with the flu, Melissa Dalembert and Tahira Johnson. Sequoyah Griffin has not practice the last couple of days with a medical issue. We have been a little short-handed the last couple of practices. We should have everybody back, full-go, today."
On being short-handed...
" I was hoping that with a week off, and getting five or six days of practice, that if we had everybody that we could really do a lot. Starting next Monday, with no school, there is not really a lot of NCAA limitations, as far as hours that you can practice. We were trying to get this week under our belt to get ready for our next two games, and get better defensively. We want to continue to have some offensive and defensive schemes for these games before Christmas. We will probably have to push some of that back into next week. It is going to be crucial, that when we get back from Christmas, to get a lot of time in to get ready for league play."
On the last five games...
"I think we have really improved. We are playing a lot better. I think our kids are getting a better understanding of what is expected to be successful in the BIG EAST Conference. When you bring in five newcomers, five freshmen, that have never played a minute of college basketball and have never participated in a college practice, and three junior college kids and a transfer, that is nine new kids into your system. We lost Porsche Grant early, your leading rebounder. And then, I'm away from the team for 10-12 days before the season. We have had a lot of factors to deal with. Right now, we are 6-2. We can't change the first week and a half of the season. So we just have to move on, and continue to get better every day, every practice, every shoot-around."
