Rutgers ladies’s basketball establishing tradition with short-handed roster: ‘Rolling with what we obtained’ – NJ.com

Underneath new management and with a roster simply eight deep, the Rutgers ladies’s basketball crew adopted some new mantras for the upcoming season: “Rolling with what we obtained” and “All of us we obtained all of us we’d like.”

In her fifth month because the third full-time head coach within the historical past of this system following the historic tenure of C. Vivian Stringer, Coquese Washington and workers have been engaged on establishing a tradition with a roster that features three returning gamers, two incoming freshmen and three transfers.

And up to now, the crew is all in.

“I belief her. She got here in right here very assured, so it isn’t laborious to belief the coach that believes in you with out even realizing you,” returning junior ahead Erica LaFayette stated throughout Thursday’s Media Day on the RWJBarnabas Well being and Athletic Efficiency Heart observe facility.

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They’ve additionally embraced their short-handed roster and rapidly established a powerful connection each on and off the court docket. Their connection was evident throughout the open session of Thursday’s observe because the group ran up-tempo, full-court drills whereas the observe crew went over performs at a basket off to the facet.

“I find it irresistible. We is likely to be little, the group itself, however our chemistry and our bond is so robust. It’s unbreakable and that’s going to assist us by means of the season,” returning junior ahead Chyna Cornwell stated.

One other benefit to the small variety of gamers has been the chance to not solely get to know each other rapidly, however the brand new teaching workers as nicely.

“It’s very enjoyable with solely eight,” LaFayette stated. “It’s very quick, and I really feel like we bond extra. Our open conversations are higher. We don’t have time to click on off and do something as a result of we’re such a small group. You see one particular person and also you need to see everyone.”

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Returning gamers embrace LaFayette, Cornwell and senior guard Awa Sidibe. Incoming freshmen are guard/ahead Antonia Bates of Rutgers Prep and guard Kaylene Smikle of Farmingdale, N.Y.

Washington signed a pair of switch guards in senior Kai Carter from UNC Asheville and graduate pupil Abby Streeter from Hartford. She recruited and signed senior middle Kassondra Brown from Saint Peter’s for her ultimate two seasons of eligibility in July.

“It’s loopy as a result of these women I actually simply met this summer season, however I really feel like I’ve identified them for years,” Brown stated. “All of us simply got here in and we clicked straight away. It’s actually enjoyable, we crack jokes – we do know when to be severe – nevertheless it’s simply all the time enjoyable.”

Washington stated they may maintain walk-on tryouts in hopes of bringing in a single or two extra gamers, but when no roster additions are made, she is assured within the group she already has.

“There is no such thing as a query now we have obtained a brief roster, so that may in some methods dictate what we do and what we will’t do by way of how lengthy we observe, rotations and issues of that nature,” Washington stated. “I’ve been so blown away with these eight younger girls and the way they’ve embraced our crew, embraced our teaching workers and embraced our fashion of play.”

Rutgers hosts Hofstra in its season opener on Monday, Nov. 7, at Jersey Mike’s Arena.

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Joey Chandler could also be reached at [email protected]