The UH women’s basketball team enters this season with fewer questions than’ it did a year ago, and by no surprise’ is a’ confident bunch.
Last season, the Cougars dealt with the loss of a potent backcourt while welcoming back head coach Joe Curl, who recovered from a heart attack. They exceeded expectations, finishing 19-10.
This year, the Cougars return four of five starters and are eyeing deep runs in the Conference USA and NCAA tournaments. Curl believes that last year’s experience will only benefit the players this season.
‘I think (that) we’re still young, but we’ve got some experience because we started a couple sophomores, a couple freshmen last year,’ Curl said. ‘We’re excited, we really are.’
Curl also explained that while the team is excited about the upcoming season, their expectations may differ from those of fans.
‘The thing we talk about is the difference between expectations and goals,’ Curl said. ‘Expectations are external, like what people might think we should do. Goals are what we think inside our team and family. Certainly, expectations are good, but we turn expectations into certain goals.’
One expectation that carried over from last season is the role of junior forward Courtney Taylor.’ Like’ last year, she will be looked up to as a leader this season.
‘Courtney Taylor is on the verge of doing something that would be pretty special,’ Curl said. ‘She has 25 double-doubles in her career, and (former Cougar) Sancho Lyttle, who made the WNBA All-Star Game this year, has 35. We really expect her to surpass that record this year, hopefully 10 games into the year.’
Taylor agrees with her coach and knows that her play will serve as the ultimate leadership tool.
‘I plan to do everything I did last year and more,’ Taylor said. ‘I have to be more of a leader and more of a teacher. To do that, I need to lead by example.’
She also knows that her role will require her to be more of a go-to option with an emphasis on scoring.
‘My scoring is going to go up. You will see me stepping out more and taking the big-point shot a lot more,’ Taylor said. ‘I am in better shape than I was last year.’
Like the men’s team, Curl knows that his squad will have to fight a lack of size with a more speed-oriented game. It’s just another example of Curl using what his roster gives him and maximizing the potential of his players.
‘Our weakness is probably height,’ Curl said, ‘but I think what (players) we do have can get the job done.
‘The strength of our team is speed, no question. I think we can shoot the ball a little too, but speed (and) full-court defense will be a strength and trying to make the other team turn it over, and when you’re trying to score off those turnovers.’
Still, the Cougars understand that all the talent in the world doesn’t guarantee success. Players have to excel at the basics and play fundamental basketball.
‘I expect us to do three things,’ Curl said. ‘I expect us to really play hard, smart and together. Those are kind of the three things we want.’
The Cougars will continue their recent trend of playing stiff competition in hopes of bettering their own game. After traveling to Boiling Springs, N.C. on Friday and Arlington on Tuesday to play Gardner-Webb and UT-Arlington, respectively, the Cougars host Oregon State on Nov. 19.
They hit the road again when UH travels to Baton Rouge, La. on Nov. 21 and Coral Gables, Fla. on Nov. 24 to play LSU and Miami, respectively.
‘We have always played that kind of schedule and I think that makes you a better team,’ Curl said. ‘I don’t think the schedule can break us because of the type of kids we have. They’re too competitive, too good of kids, too much heart.
‘It will not break us, but will only make us better.’
