As the women's basketball team prepares for its season opener, here's a look at the woman at the helm. Coach Carla Berube, now firmly established in her third season as the Jumbos' head coach, talked yesterday about her past two years at Tufts and what she expects in the 2004-05 season.
Tufts Daily: First, what's your number one goal this season?
Carla Berube: To get better every day. In the long run, we definitely have our sights set on NESCAC and the NCAAs, but right now I just want us to do better than we did last year and to continually improve.
TD: With the loss of all three of last year's captains, what do you see in this year's captains and their ability to step up into leadership roles?
CB: I've seen really good things from Erin [Connolly] and Allison [Love]. They've been great so far and I'm really pleased with how preseason has been run. They've been handling captains' practices well and they're really committed.
TD: What strengths have you seen during preseason, and what areas does the team need to work on?
CB: We still have a lot to work on, all across the board. Being in NESCAC, it's hard because you go into the season with two and a half weeks less of practice time than non-league teams. We need to work on our defense, intensity, talking and communication on the floor. We put in a new motion offense, so that needs some work.
TD: In recent years, you've really upped your schedule strength and the level of non-league teams you play. How does the competition look for this season, and how does playing against better teams affect your style of play?
CB: We definitely have some tough non-conference games this season, especially against Southern Maine, Brandeis and Emmanuel, all high-ranked teams. It helps us prepare for NESCAC games, which are always difficult and competitive. Competition is how we get better. Why not play the best teams in the area?
TD: What are you most excited about this season?
CB: Our returning players are doing really well - they're sharp and focused and looking good. I'm excited to see how the freshmen make the transition and fit into our style of play. I think one thing we have this year that we haven't seen as strongly in the past is depth. We're very deep down the bench and I'm excited to see everyone contribute on the floor this year.
TD: Can the UConn women make it four in a row?
CB: I didn't think they would pull it off last year, so I'd have to say 'No' to this year too. After [Diana] Taurasi graduated, they'll need some leaders to step up big.
