USF Athletics

USF WBB Counts the Minutes Until Its Return to Hardwood

March 17, 2021

By Joey Johnston
Special to USF Athletics
 
After 48 hours of self-isolation and quarantining inside a San Antonio, Texas hotel, the USF women's basketball team will return to the practice court on Thursday.
 
The No. 8-seeded Bulls (18-3), who face the No. 9 Washington State Cougars (12-11) in Sunday night's first round of the NCAA Tournament, can't wait for that return to normalcy.
 
"It has been different, said USF coach Jose Fernandez, referring to the strict COVID-19 protocols put in place for each NCAA Tournament team. "The physical part has been way different. Normally, we'd be preparing like crazy, like we have been, but we'd also be practicing.
 
"Everybody has been in the same boat. Hopefully from this point on, we can get in the normal rhythm of getting ready for the game.''
 
Once USF players arrived in San Antonio — after undergoing their COVID tests — they were confined to their rooms. Unlike normal trips, it was one player to a room — no roommates.
 
For COVID testing, it was about a 15-minute walk to the convention center. USF's strolling contingent received a police escort. The cops were on bicycle and hopped off if they needed to stop traffic.
 
There were group FaceTime sessions and Zoom calls to go over Washington State personnel and game strategy. Each room does have a balcony, so fresh air was available. But players weren't allowed in the hallways and they were prohibited from using the elevator, even to grab a snack from the gift shop. Meals were delivered to each room's door.
 
"We always talk about controlling what we can control and not worrying about the rest,'' Fernandez said. "Same thing here. We've just got to roll with certain things and it's all going to work out fine.''
 
So how did USF players pass the idle time when they weren't watching game tape of the Cougars?
 
Senior center Shae Leverett read self-development books — her favorite — and did random sketches off designs she liked on Instagram.
 
Junior point guard Elisa Pinzan watched some Netflix.
 
Senior forward Bethy Mununga braided her hair.
 
Everyone caught up on homework and school projects.
 
"It's sort of hard, but not harder than any of the things we've been through,'' said Mununga, who is from Belgium. "I haven't seen my family back home in nearly two years, so this is just another thing we have to go through.
 
"Being all alone in the room is different for us. It's not a big deal for me. But some of the younger players were maybe a little scared and they wanted to be called, so they could feel like somebody was in the room with them. Once we start practicing and playing, it will all be fine.''
 
Leverett said the team has learned resiliency, especially after enduring a 31-day COVID pause that interrupted the season.
 
"The end goal is what keeps you going,'' Leverett said. "We know all the sacrifices will be worth it to play in the NCAA Tournament. We're very excited about that and I guarantee you that all of us will stay dialed in.''
 
Pinzan said the anticipation is building. The Bulls, American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament champions, are almost on the clock.
 
"It has seemed like the days have gone slow,'' Pinzan said. "Once we're back on the court, it's going to go fast. We have waited a long time for this moment and we will be ready to go.''