INDIANAPOLIS – Bulldog fans will get their first look at the women's basketball team this Thursday night when Butler hosts Trine in exhibition action. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM.
GODLEVSKE'S 2018-19 SEASON PREVIEW: There is a different feel to practice this year because we have so many upperclassmen on the roster. I've never had this much experience on the floor. Our coaching staff is able to rely on our juniors and seniors to teach the system to our younger players. They can get in there and show the underclassmen where to be on the floor, how to get in position, and explain to them what we are looking for in different situations. We love having our seniors teach the younger kids. It's going to be strange at practice next year without this core group of seniors. I feel like their time here went by so fast.
Having this experienced group makes a huge difference with what we can accomplish at practice. The amount of time that we are able to spend on the overall aspect of our game is much greater than in previous years. In previous seasons, we would try to focus on one little area at a time, but now we can knock out four or five different areas and then push ahead and implement everything in a five-on-five situation.
2018-19 TEAM GOALS: Our end of the year goal is to be in position to compete for a BIG EAST regular season championship. We want to put ourselves in position to compete for the BIG EAST Tournament title and with that, we want to make sure we get into some type of postseason play.
As coaches, we have learned a lot about this group and we really have to focus in on the daily process. We don't want to get too far ahead and start thinking about what our long-term goals will be. Instead, we need to take care of ourselves and get ourselves ready to play. Our message to our team, every single day, will be preparing for Eastern Illinois. The next game is the biggest game. It's the most important game on the schedule.
SCHEDULE TALK WITH COACH G: Our first six games of the regular season will be played inside Hinkle Fieldhouse. The teams that we went out and played last year on their home floors have become much better. A year ago, some of those early games were against teams in a re-build situation, but a majority of them are vastly improved this year due to the recruits they brought in.
I think Murray State will be a much improved team in 2018-19 and Western Illinois is another team that comes to mind that has been very consistent over the last three years. I also expect Illinois State to be better this year after bringing in two high level players. We like the challenges that are ahead.
Signature games for us include home tilts against in-state rivals Indiana State and Ball State. We look forward to playing at Indiana and we also get to matchup against Ohio State on a neutral floor. All of those games are important to prepare us for the conference season.
Looking ahead, I think the conference schedule is more balanced for us this year. What people need to know about BIG EAST women's basketball is that it is close to what the men's side has been like these last few years. I think we have a legitimate six teams that could fight for a NCAA Tournament bid. There isn't a team in the BIG EAST where I can look at the schedule as say that's a win. You have to be ready to play every night and if you're not ready you're going to pay for it.
STYLE OF PLAY: We will try to play more up-tempo this year than what we have played in the past. With our experience, we are trying to give the reigns back to the players and let them play free.
Defensively, you will see a lot of the same concepts to what we have done in the past. I will say we have changed our philosophy a little bit. We believe we can come out and be more aggressive just because we have the bodies to do so.
