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3-12-08
"My highlight of the season thus far definitely has to be the Minnesota game."
Since my last post, a lot has happed here at Wisconsin. We started off the Big 10 season a little rocky. We lost a lot of close games, two in overtime, and it really just seemed like we couldn’t catch a break. Eventually we started turning things around and the team started gaining some confidence. Finally the season looked like it was turning around. My highlight of the season thus far definitely has to be the Minnesota game. It was an amazing experience to go back to Williams arena, somewhere I grew up watching the gophers play, and to be playing on the same court was the coolest experience of the season so far. It was so much fun to play in front of all my family and friends that came to watch. The fact that we pulled out a win in such a close game pretty much just frosted the cake. The game really just made me realize how much basketball has allowed me to do. It was definitely an experience I will be looking forward to every year.
My first Big 10 tournament was another experience that came and went quicker than I expected. The experience was another thing I will be looking forward to each year. Unfortunately we lost in our first game there, and had to return home early. Indianapolis was a fun city to be in during tournament time. Everywhere you went, the Big 10 tournament was the theme. Street names were even temporarily named after the 11 teams of the big 10. I only hope that next time we are there we get the chance to stay longer.
As of right now, the team is not really sure what is next for us. Hopes of the NCAA tournament are not realistic anymore, but the NIT is definitely a possibility. We will find out in a few days, and as of now, we are trying to just stay in shape and practice as if we will be playing soon.
School and basketball are definitely keeping me very busy this time of the season. Because of the tournament we missed more days of school than usual, but we all just had to keep working hard and stick it out. The season is almost over but we don’t want it to be over sooner than it has to. Spring break is around the corner and it will be nice to not have to worry about school and just concentrate on basketball. I’m very excited to see what the next few weeks have in store for our team. Hopefully we will get a chance to play more, and end the season on a positive note.
1-14-08
"No longer can we just show up and win if we don’t have focus."
After 3 months of regular season play, I am still finding things that keep surprising me. Whether it’s an unexpectedly difficult practice or a packed Mackey arena
(Purdue) with the entire crowd cheering against you. One thing for sure is that I’ve had to stay on my toes throughout this whole experience. Once I finally got comfortable playing our pre-conference schedule, we were thrown into the Big 10 season, and that took some adjusting to. I always knew that the Big 10 was a good conference with very solid players, great teams and awesome competition. I guess it doesn’t really hit you until you unexpectedly get switched onto a 6’9” post player and wonder, “what am I doing?” With only a few games into our conference schedule, already I’ve been put into a few uncomfortable situations that I didn’t think I’d get out of. It has definitely called for some adjusting and being able to bounce back quick after a bad play or game because you know the next one is just around the corner. There really is no time to dwell on a bad performance because the team and coaches are already five steps ahead of you figuring out how to fix it.
Being on break right now is definitely relaxing. Being able to focus just on basketball right now and not having to balance it with schoolwork is really something I could get used to. Although being the only person on my dorm floor can be a bit creepy at times, it’s nice to just relax, catch up on my sleep, and get in the gym. Team bonding has also been a plus over break. With no one else around we definitely have gotten to spend a lot more time with each other outside of basketball. Not that we didn’t get to before but it makes it a lot easier not having to worry about school and other obligations over this time. Knowing the team would be back here made getting up early the day after Christmas to head back here a lot easier.
As we get deeper and deeper into our conference schedule each game becomes more and more important. One of the biggest things I’ve noticed from high school to college ball is the amount of focus each game takes. No longer can we just show up and win if we don’t have focus, even if we have prepared physically the entire week for a game. Even if our team has made all the necessary steps to win a game, without focus we fall apart. Luckily we figured that out early this year and know we need to improve. My Big 10 experience so far has been a roller coaster, already with big wins and disappointing losses. I’m very excited to see where the next few games take us.
11-15-07
" All week prior to the game I was as nervous as I had ever been. "
After two exhibition games and our first regular season game, I have realized that the college game is way different than anything I have ever played in before. I knew the competition would be at a different level, and I knew that all the players would be very talented. I was not ready for that first thrill of stepping onto the court in the red and white. I don’t think I have ever been so nervous in my life than I was before that first game. It was a weird feeling because in high school I was never the type to get nervous before big games. All week prior to the game I was as nervous as I had ever been. My teammates could sense it and told me to calm down and just play. That really helped a lot and it reminds me how great it is to be surrounded by people that really care about you. Sitting anxiously on the bench as the game began, all I could think was “don’t screw up!” When coach called my name for the first time my stomach dropped and as I stepped onto the court I’m pretty positive that everyone in the place could tell I was terrified solely due to my facial expression. The night was an unforgettable one however, probably the most fun I have had in a long time. It was such a thrill to be playing on the Kohl center floor.
Cleveland State was our first away game. Corny as it sounds, it was a cool feeling walking in the airport, dressed identically with a bunch of giants, having people watching us wondering who we are and what we are doing. Playing on an opponent’s court was a lot harder than I expected it to be. Obviously it was a whole lot different than anything I was used to. It took a lot more focus to get ready and pumped up for the game when there are only 10 fans cheering for your team. We had to bring our own energy and that’s not always an easy thing to do.
I don’t think I was ready for the high level competition in our first regular season game. The first time I was put in the game, the pressure was way more than any of our exhibition games. The players were quicker than I expected and I had a hard time just playing without thinking about it. It gave me a good idea of what the rest of the season is going to be like.
One thing that has not changed is the pace that things go around here. I have never been as busy as I am now. I have said it before that college is difficult enough, but balancing school and basketball has been a real task. Its not that it’s by any means impossible, but it really is a commitment and you really have to love to play. Lucky for me, I do love to play and I am having the time of my life.
10-01-07
"I am lucky to be surrounded by such a fun, hardworking and dedicated group of teammates and friends."
After a month of college, I feel like I have a pretty good handle on things so far. This month has been one of the busiest of my life. Being able to get all my obligations and work done for school alone has been challenging. College classes have definitely been a challenge, especially when you need extra help in a class and your days are already packed full. I have found, however, that the athletic department really takes care of us. We have to clock so many hours in the student athlete study center and there are always study groups and tutors around for extra help. They really make it hard to fail. As if being a college student isn’t busy enough, fitting practice time in makes it crazy.
For the past month the team has been in preseason mode. We are doing a lot of the same strength/lifting exercises as we did this summer. I have found, however, that the conditioning part of it all has become a lot harder. I feel good though. I feel like I’m getting in a lot better shape and getting ready to play college basketball. It feels good to work hard and know that our team is doing things to make ourselves better. Team support makes finishing workouts possible. Knowing you have fifteen other girls working their butts of with you and still patting your back telling you to keep going makes it impossible to quit. I am lucky to be surrounded by such a fun, hardworking and dedicated group of teammates and friends.
One thing I have learned after a month of being here is time management. When I have only so many free hours in the day, its important that I get the things I need to get done and not waste time. It’s been hard to get the right amount of sleep in, but with practice about to start I know that I need to figure out how to get enough sleep. So far college basketball has been a lot of hard work, made my life hectic and busy and given me a full plate. I don’t think I would have it any other way. The opportunities that it has already given me and the people I have met have made everything worthwhile. I can’t wait for the season to start, I can’t imagine it being any better than it already has been, but from what I’m told, the fun is just beginning.
8-14-07
"I spent the summer in Madison taking some classes to get a few credits under my belt."
I had mixed feelings arriving home from possibly the quickest, yet most productive summer of my life. Happy to be home to be a normal kid after her senior year of high school enjoying her summer, or at least 3 weeks of it, but sad to leave so many new teammates and friends back in Madison. I spent the summer in Madison taking some classes to get a few credits under my belt, but school was by no means the only thing on my mind. From class to lifting to class to a workout to a scrimmage, I thought my summer was as busy as it was going to get, until my new teammates informed me that this was a cakewalk compared to the season.
I lived with one of my teammates this summer, Tara Steinbauer, it helped that we have played together before on aau teams. Spending my summer away from home going to school was not exactly my ideal summer, but having Tara there helped. Summer lifting was a new experience for me. I have always lifted but nothing like what I did this summer. Some of the exercises seemed odd the first time we did them, but I knew they were working when I couldn’t get out of bed the next day. Getting used to the lifting routine luckily only took me about a week or two. Already I have seen an improvement in my strength. It’s crazy how much more productive 8 weeks can be when you are doing the right exercises. I didn’t make improvements like I did this summer over the entire year last year. Apparently biceps and wrist curls will only get you so far.
Playing pick up games with my new teammates was absolutely my favorite part of the season. It’s so much fun to play with girls who are at a totally different level than in high school. Now everyone is the best player and you really have to work your tail off if you want to have even a chance of competing. Playing with these girls makes me excited to see what we can do this year. I have never played with such a talented team and it makes me excited and want to work even harder.
This summer I definitely learned a lot of discipline. With nobody but your teammates watching your back it was pretty much up to me to get my workouts done. Even on those days when all I wanted to do was sit on my futon and watch TV. when I saw my teammates out there working hard I knew I had to do the same. It got me through a few potentially lazy days.
All in all I had a great summer. I think I improved a lot, met tons of great new teammates, who were the best part of the whole summer, got to know the huge campus, and am now feeling confident for the season ahead. First however I am going to enjoy these last 2 weeks of home with my old friends before my life gets too crazy.
Alyssa Karel
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