Women's Hoops Guru

(Guru's note: Off the success of players blogging during last season's NCAA tournament, the Associated Press will continue the exercise through this season. Having been alerted by Doug Feinberg, here's the starting group -- Mel)

Players perspectives around women's basketball

STORRS, Conn. (AP) -- Hello everyone! We had our first game the other day, and it felt so good to get out there and play again. Preseason was great this year. Our UConn team was split into four teams of 4, the team names were Salt and Peppa, Gazelles, 2%, and Bomb Squad. I'm sure you are wondering where these names came from but maybe I will explain that another day. The four seniors picked the teams - playground style.

Every Friday these four teams competed in a challenge. The challenges were things such as flipping big tires, urging (if you don't know what this is, consider yourself lucky), running through obstacle courses, tug of war, etc. At the end of six weeks, which is the length of a preseason, the team with the highest point total won. The winners of the preseason competition were Salt and Peppa, and the members of this team were Matt Gade, our head manager, Tina Charles, Meghan Gardler, and yours truly. Our coaches presented us with a framed collage of pictures, and I'm not going to lie, I felt like I had won a real championship.

Now that I've told the lighter side of preseason, I guess I should mention that we didn't just have challenges for six weeks. During the week we would condition by running Cemetery Hill (the name alone should let you know something about its level of difficulty), stadiums, sprints, and anything else Amanda Kimball, our wonderful strength and conditioning coach, could think of. Well that wraps up my preseason, it was great, but now that the games are starting the real fun begins. Thanks for listening.

- Connecticut senior Renee Montgomery

NORMAN, Okla. - Hey "y'all," I'm Courtney Paris and, in case you don't know, I play for the University of Oklahoma, which is where I've picked up my new dialogue.

I'm a senior in journalism and I am excited about finishing my last year of college with my twin sister, Ashley. Time has flown and then dragged. I feel like I've been here forever, yet I can't believe it's almost over.

I've done a lot in my college experience - milked a cow, had my first job, bought a home, paid bills, broken records, been challenged on and off the court and met some pretty incredible people.

There's only two things left for me do as a Sooner and those are complete my degree and help lead my team to a national title.

I feel like I have a good chance at getting both.

I'm probably most known to for my double-double streak and while I don't want it to end, one streak I want over is going to the Final Four by myself. This year I want to be in St. Louis with my team. And playing!

- Oklahoma senior Courtney Paris

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Hello, my name is Angel McCoughtry and I am a senior forward at the University of Louisville. I am from Baltimore, Md., and enjoy spending time with my family. My team is my second family and we have a great time together!

When I was first recruited by the University of Louisville I had no idea where it was located. Once I got there I loved the campus and people and I ended up choosing Louisville because I wanted to help make them a national power in women's basketball. Last year Coach Walz came to Louisville and helped us to reach our goals with our first Sweet 16 appearance but we aren't done yet.

Expectations are high this season and I can't wait to get started because we have a great team returning and added a lot of talent this year.

- Louisville senior Angel McCoughtry.

BERKELEY, Calif. - Hey, all you basketball fans. This is Lauren Greif from the Cal women's basketball team and I am excited to be letting you in on some of the behind the scenes action and drama of college athletics and my Cal team throughout the season.

I would like to start by thanking November for finally showing up because, as every college basketball athlete or fan will tell you, the games are exceedingly more fun than the hours and hours of practice. There is no way around it sorry, coach! Our team, as well as the teams from nearly 1,300 Division I, Division II, Division III, and NAIA programs, have been beating up on our own teammates for months. Now, we can finally take out our frustrations with the tedium of practice and put our coaches' yelling to good use, playing other teams. And, if all goes according to plan for us here at Cal, we will be playing others well into March and April!

- California junior Lauren Greif

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — It's that time of the year again! Yes, the most wonderful time of the year!

No, I don't mean Christmas, but college basketball season!

The time of the year when whistles are a basketball fan's equivalent to jingle bells and the squeaking of shoes on the court are way better than any holiday song. Preseason has come and gone (thank goodness) and practice so far has consisted of, "missed block out! on the line!", "middle drive! on the line!" and "no communication! on the line!"

You know, the typical scene for any team's initial weeks of practice.

The anticipation for this season has been like no other for me. As a senior, there is a newfound sense of urgency and determination. It is going to be a great season for the Terps and Terps fans, so get ready! You are in for a show!

So, I am going to need your help. Like many things do, this blog has become a friendly or not-so-friendly competition between my best friend Abby (Waner) and I. (We did not speak for more than two weeks this summer because of a little comment I made about beating her Duke team in the 2006 National Championship game, so you be the judge whether this is a friendly competition or not).

From what I hear she set the standard pretty high with her blogs last year. I am pretty confident that I will give her a "run for her money."

Well, at least I think so.

My "Turtle IQ" could be clouding my judgment. This is where your assistance comes in. All e-mails, letters, phone calls letting me know my blogs are better will be greatly appreciated.

I cannot leave without mentioning the historic election that just passed. Wow! This was my first time being able to vote and what better an election than this one to be a first timer.

I woke up at 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, as I wanted to be one of the first in line and have the full voter experience. It was so obvious that I was a rookie voter. I brought every form of identification I had as well as my voter registration verification. This was even after my Dad ensured me that I did not need everything I was bringing.

Hey, I did not want to risk not being able to vote in this historic election!

After I cast my ballot I checked it probably about 50 times to make sure I did not hit a wrong button or read something wrong. I walked away like a little kid with a huge smile on my face, finally realizing what it means to be a part of something bigger than me.

Regardless of whom anyone voted for, we made history and that is something to be proud of!

— Maryland senior Marissa Coleman

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — With the 2008 presidential election coming to a close, 'change' seems to be a key word.

Not only is change happening for America, but change is happening for the Purdue women's basketball team. The style and tempo of our game will be changing this season due to a change in personnel.

I am a fifth-year senior, back from an ACL injury. We have four starters returning, plus Jodi Howell returns from a shoulder injury and a top-10 freshman class.

Our team is expected to do great things this season and only three weeks into practice, I feel as though we are on the right path. We are bonding well on and off the court. Coach Versyp is a big believer in team-building exercises, so we've already navigated a corn maze (this is Indiana after all) and played 'Would You Rather.'

We will be put to the test on Dec. 9 when we have our first exhibition game. You'll have to check back with me later to see if we're living up to expectations.

— Purdue senior Lindsay Wysdom-Hilton

EL PASO, Texas — I'm Jareica Hughes, the 5-foot-4 point guard and 2007-08 Conference USA player of the year from UTEP. I'm really excited about starting the year and appreciate all of the looks and attention both myself and UTEP is receiving.

We don't have too much free time right now, with handling practices and dealing with classes, but it's still going pretty well. We've done a lot of conditioning, trying to get into shape. We start our season Friday against Kansas State, which is one of the best teams in the country right now.

We're really excited to play them.

After getting more recognition last year with going 16-0 in C-USA, 2008-09 is going to be a brand new challenge for us. We want to play real hard and do the best that we can do.

Seeing my name mentioned by different people across the country is such a blessing. I'm very honored to have that. I've put in a lot of work, and it is starting to pay off.

I look forward to keep working hard and having a great season.

— UTEP junior Jareica Hughes