Northwestern University Athletics
NU Begins Preseason Practices
10/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 16, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. - How excited was NU men's basketball coach Bill Carmody for today's practice?
"It was like I was in Little League," he said, tugging at his sweatjacket and pants. "I slept in my warmup suit last night. I couldn't wait to get out here."
Talk about Midnight Madness.
The 2004-05 Northwestern men's basketball season officially began at 10:02 a.m. Saturday morning and proceeded for more than three hours that went by quickly.
What was involved in the practice? Some drills, some scrimmaging -- and lots of teaching.
"I feel pretty good about the players and their conditioning," said Carmody. "It is where it should be.
"We as coaches do a lot of talking during the first 10 days or so of practice," he said. "The new guys, and the guys that have not been out there, these days are all about learning what we are doing, so the talking is teaching. With the veterans, any talking we do is about precision -- tightening up cuts, finding open seams, stuff like that. But the new guys are learning, so that talk is teaching."
A total of 16 players were suited up for Saturday's session, and everyone looked fit and healthy throughout the day. As a result, several players were afforded long breaks throughout the session; a majority of that went to the veteran players as Carmody and his staff broke in the newcomers.
"You want to give more time to the guys who don't know the stuff," said Carmody. "I also want to give the younger guys a chance to prove themselves out here, they need to be given an opportunity to show what they can do. Then we can judge them on their ability and adjust accordingly."
Northwestern will continue practice sessions for the next few weeks, leading up to its exhibition game with DePauw on Thursday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m.
