Entering the season with a #4 ranking in the AP Preseason Poll, Texas Women’s Basketball fans had ample reason to celebrate at the Welcome Back Dinner in Austin, Texas last week.
Four hundred season ticket holders constituted the fortunate few able to attend this invitation-only event at the Touchdown Club at Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium, and a long line of burnt orange faithful stretched onto Deloss Dodds Way well in advance of the doors opening at 5:30pm on Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024.
Thirty minutes later, “Texas Fight” blared through the club level's sound system, eliciting enthusiastic claps from every table. At the end of the song, The Voice of the Longhorns Craig Way (functioning as a Master of Ceremonies of sorts) made his introductory remarks and previewed a Longhorn hype video for the upcoming Texas Women’s Basketball season.
After the convocation and a buffet dinner, the evening began with a fascinating exercise where each class of Longhorn players (from freshman to senior) had to answer a personal or introspective question.
For the three Longhorn freshman, comprised of Bryanna Preston, Jordan Lee, and Justice Carlton - the question was: "Who influenced your basketball career the most?" All replied that it was a family member like a mom or brother.
Then came the sophomores, including Pre-Season First Team All American Madison Booker. Their question was: "What are your hobbies?," and we found out from the superstar herself that she definitely can not cook (food that is, she absolutely cooks on the court).
The juniors were asked: "What is something we don't know about you?" The replies showed that these talented athletes are also creatively inclined, with chops in acting, painting and poetry.
Finally, the seniors were asked to give an impression of Coach Schaefer, and their priceless impersonations made the old ball coach feel like he was at a personal roast.
After the interviews, which had the crowd enthralled, Coach Schaefer finished off the evening acknowledging the team's challenging conference and non-conference schedule. For instance, the Longhorns play the reigning champ South Carolina Gamecocks twice in a home-and-away, and we face Notre Dame on the road.
While Coach Schaefer will not miss the pure shooting prowess of the Big 12, he remarked Longhorn that the SEC was more physical and his team would have to adapt.
Then extolling the team's maturity, he spoke about each player's contribution to the team and the lofty expectations for the first year in the new conference.
Coach Shaefer has always been generous of his and the team’s time with diehard Longhorn fans, which I have articled here, and I commend the Texas Athletics department for allowing an inside look into this crucial basketball season.
When the Texas Women's Basketball season opens on November 10th at Moody Center in Austin, I will be there to report.
Until then, Hook Em Horns!
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