Friday, September 21 kicked off the start to this year’s men’s and women’s basketball season at MAC Madness. With two new head coaches, both teams seem to be more fired up than ever.
“The skies the limit,” stated women’s head coach Jenny Palmateer.
Palmateer previously spent 10 years on the North Carolina staff. “We’re very top heavy this season,” says Palmateer as they start off their season against Georgetown, East Carolina, and Villanova.
With this schedule, Palmateer hopes to start her team off hard and focused. “We are very settled down now after getting to know each other. The whole team is having a lot of fun.”
With new head coaches, comes a new transition period that each team must work through. However, both teams seem right on track with their new coaches. “It’s been good, we’ve been learning a lot,” stated junior Ed Waite, ”how we play is totally different, we’re a more fast paced team.” This was obvious to see by the high energy each player had throughout the entire event.
“The transition is over so it’s good,” explains junior Abby Martin. “Now we’ve just been learning new things.” The team is very excited to start embracing their new coaches with a whole new approach to this year’s season.
“We want our kids to be the hardest playing kids. We’re at the lower half of the league, we want to be up higher this season,” stated Men’s coach King Rice, who was very pleased with his teams’ transition to him and his new coaching staff. “Hats off to the kids, they accepted me and my staff,” stated Rice, “they come to work very hard and we’re very lucky to coach them.”
The energy between both teams was contagious as Palmateer and Rice introduced each of their players one by one, giving the crowd a taste of what is to come this season. The event offered free food and drinks from local restaurants, including Buffalo Wild Wings, Scala’s Pizzeria and Bubbakoo’s Burrito.
Throughout the event, there were raffle drawings and games that rewarded fans with gift cards and basketball attire.
The overall vibe from the event was laid back and fun. Both players and coaches were incredibly pleased with the turnout for the event. “Very good,” stated Martin on the turnout of the event, “as the years go by I’m sure it will continue to get bigger.”
As each player was introduced, the crowd was able to learn a little bit about him or her. This was the perfect opportunity to give the University’s community a first look at the teams that they come out and support. This season both teams are hopeful and eager to show how hard they have been working. “We’re all very excited for the season,” explains Waite. “We have been working hard so hopefully our hard work pays off.”
Even the coaches were excited about the turnout for the event. “The event went well thanks to the fans,” acknowledged Rice. “This is something new, each year will get better.”
Coach Rice, previously the assistant coach at Vanderbilt for five years and assistant coach at Illinois State for five years, is starting his first head coach position this season. “I’m so excited,” exclaimed Rice. “I’ve worked very hard to be a head coach and I’m so lucky and thankful that they had faith in me.”
Even coach Palmateer is starting her very first head coaching position, “I’m very excited. This is a great place to start my head coaching career. This University has an unbelievable facility and is extremely community oriented.”
Both men’s and women’s basketball teams are working extra hard for a winning season this year. Women’s season opener is home November 13 against UMBC while men’s is on the road November 11 against Villanova. They’re asking the University’s community to come out and support them as they’re season openers are right around the corner.
PHOTO COURTESY of Daria Deluccia