Greg Williams discusses pre and post Christmas break
After Thursday's 66 to 65 win by Rice over Rider, Rice head coach Greg Williams spoke with the media about the effects the two weeks off for final exams had on his team in the game as well as the two games after the Christmas break.
"It (the layoff) always does. That's the situation at Rice: we have to take two weeks off; and, it had been two full weeks. It's difficult to take 14 days off -- you know we didn't take them all off -- but, it's hard to practice consistently because of finals. Mentally, at Rice, they're very drained. They're very fatigued -- mentally and physically.
"Plus, we had some beat up players. We had to rest Kadie (Riverin) an entire week. Val (Berezhynska) sprained her ankle in the last seconds of our TCU game (on December 6). Val had no contact for two weeks and had limited contact yesterday (Wednesday, December 19). That's all she had. Shyrelle Horne did not practice yesterday at all. Her shoulder had flared back on her; but, she gave us real solid minutes tonight. Despite the break, we had so many injuries that we could only practice with seven healthy players.
"This game (the game before Christmas break) is always a concern. We tried to tell the players, 'Hey, Christmas break starts at 9 o'clock tonight not before the game.' We have four freshman players that are playing some; and, they are all looking to go home (for Christmas). We know that.
"I think the lack of focus was reflected in the first half."
After the Christmas break, Rice plays at Prairie View (Friday, December 28, at 6pm) and at Baylor on December 30.
"The first game after Christmas break is maybe even worse because the players would have gone home for five days; and, we'll only have two practices before we play Prairie View at Prairie View. That's going to be tough. We know that. That's the way we set up our schedule. We know that Christmas time is important for the kids to spend time with their families; so, we take the good with the bad there."
Playing PV (4 - 7) on the road will not be easy.
"Prairie View has played an extremely difficult schedule and very few home games; but, we know what we're getting into -- the players may not know it -- but I do. It's going to be very difficult. Then, two days later, we play Baylor whose only lost one non-conference game since Kim Mulkey has been there (as head coach). That's why this game tonight was important to at least give us that cushion of being two games above .500 (7 - 5). In case we stumble these next two games, at least we're .500 going into conference (Conference USA)."
"It (the layoff) always does. That's the situation at Rice: we have to take two weeks off; and, it had been two full weeks. It's difficult to take 14 days off -- you know we didn't take them all off -- but, it's hard to practice consistently because of finals. Mentally, at Rice, they're very drained. They're very fatigued -- mentally and physically.
"Plus, we had some beat up players. We had to rest Kadie (Riverin) an entire week. Val (Berezhynska) sprained her ankle in the last seconds of our TCU game (on December 6). Val had no contact for two weeks and had limited contact yesterday (Wednesday, December 19). That's all she had. Shyrelle Horne did not practice yesterday at all. Her shoulder had flared back on her; but, she gave us real solid minutes tonight. Despite the break, we had so many injuries that we could only practice with seven healthy players.
"This game (the game before Christmas break) is always a concern. We tried to tell the players, 'Hey, Christmas break starts at 9 o'clock tonight not before the game.' We have four freshman players that are playing some; and, they are all looking to go home (for Christmas). We know that.
"I think the lack of focus was reflected in the first half."
After the Christmas break, Rice plays at Prairie View (Friday, December 28, at 6pm) and at Baylor on December 30.
"The first game after Christmas break is maybe even worse because the players would have gone home for five days; and, we'll only have two practices before we play Prairie View at Prairie View. That's going to be tough. We know that. That's the way we set up our schedule. We know that Christmas time is important for the kids to spend time with their families; so, we take the good with the bad there."
Playing PV (4 - 7) on the road will not be easy.
"Prairie View has played an extremely difficult schedule and very few home games; but, we know what we're getting into -- the players may not know it -- but I do. It's going to be very difficult. Then, two days later, we play Baylor whose only lost one non-conference game since Kim Mulkey has been there (as head coach). That's why this game tonight was important to at least give us that cushion of being two games above .500 (7 - 5). In case we stumble these next two games, at least we're .500 going into conference (Conference USA)."
posted by Kris G @ 10:46 AM
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