Sports Editor Travis Marmon recently spoke to women’s basketball guard Keshia Butler ’12. The women finished 11-15 last season. This year, Butler and the other four returning starters look to improve on that. The Scots host the Nan Nichols tournament tomorrow and Sunday at Timken Gymnasium.
TM: The team graduated seven seniors last year. It now has seven freshman. How are you and the other upperclassmen adapting to your new roles as leaders?
KB: Considering we only have five returning players, I felt like that was a struggle at first. But all five of us have taken a role of being big sisters to the freshmen. We’ve all adapted well and the freshmen have grown pretty fast considering they were thrown into playing time.
TM: What is going to be the key to success and improvement for this year’s team?
KB: Playing together as a team. Trusting each other and communicating with each other.
TM: What are some aspects that the team is improving on this year?
KB: We have a closer bond. We all spend quite a bit of time together, even off the court. We don’t have one star, we’re all one group.
TM: What can the team do to compete with the top teams in the conference like Wittenberg University again?
KB: Focus on every game, playing together in every game. As soon as we learn to play together, we can be unstoppable in this conference.
TM: On Saturday, Wooster hosts the Nan Nichols Tournament. Do you think you will win the tourney in front of the home fans?
KB: Yes, I think we can. We have great potential to do that. I think it would be a booster to win these two games in front of our home fans and families that come in.
TM: How do you see the NCAC shaping up this year? Where do you think Wooster will finish?
KB: I feel it’s kind of the same [as last year]. A lot of the teams haven’t lost too many key players. I think we can be competitive in the top four of the conference, which is finishing better than last year. It’s going to be a rebuilding year, but we can still do well in conference.
TM: Is there one game on the schedule you are really looking forward to?
KB: Of course Wittenberg. I want to say Ohio Wesleyan [University] is another one that the team likes to focus on and get pumped up for.
TM: The men’s basketball team seems to be getting most of the attention after they went to the Sweet 16 last season. Do you think the women can turn some of that attention back to them?
KB: I would like to. It is hard competing with the guys, because they’ve always had good seasons. I’d like to see more people come out to the games and support us because we’re playing well. We have a new team, new head coachÖit’s like a new start.