Coach Pebley Reflects on the Women's Basketball Trip to Australia

June 1, 2005

 

Utah State's women's basketball team was on an 11-day basketball tour of Australia (May 20-31). The team and coaches shared their daily events and thoughts about the trip, posted on the Athletic's Web site.  Australia is approximately 16 hours ahead of Mountain Standard Time.

 

Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - I can't figure out right now if it is yesterday, today, or tomorrow. We left Australia on May 31st and traveled exactly 26 hours. Our flights took us from Cairns to Sydney, Sydney to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Salt Lake and then a bus brought us to Logan. We left Cairns at 4:00 am on May 31st, but arrived in Salt Lake City at 12:00 pm on the 31st. Apparently, my life now includes two May 31st, 2005's and both of them have horrible jet lag to speak for themselves. I have to say that my husband and I saw some beautiful things while in Australia, but nothing compared to the vision of our son's smile while coming down the escalator stairs at the Salt Lake Airport today.

 

This trip has been extremely rewarding for our team on and off the court. Our games gave our team great experience with our new defenses and the expansion of our offense. Some players asserted themselves as more mature, stronger, and anxious to take on a new role. Our practices were the best thing for our team. They were some of the most productive, energetic and efficient practices I have ever been apart of. We had a great opportunity to play against quality teams including the Australian Junior National team. Each of the teams possessed the athleticism of the teams we will see in the WAC. They all shared the characteristic trait of proficient and continuous off-ball movement. I was told that the players develop this instinct in due part to growing up playing netball. This is a game similar to basketball only dribbling is not allowed.

 

I know our players have done a good job of telling you about all of the adventurous things they have done off the court. They have received an education that only travel can provide and have done things that they will remember forever. They learned that the Aboriginal culture believes in nurturing all things big and small. We learned how a country's beginnings (Australia was established by England's exiled convicts) does not have to define your present but it is an important part of your past. We also learned that even something as successful as the Sydney Opera House requires daily maintenance and forward thinking for improvement. The Australian government spends 11 million dollars a year on the Opera House's repairs and renovations. Each one of these lessons can be directly applied to our team.

 

In order to build Utah State Women's Basketball into a program with strong roots that will last a long time, we must also nurture all things big and small. Our first year's record of 5-22 does not have to define who we will be forever, but we know that it has everything to do with where we are now. We have to continue to learn from each season, each game, and each practice in order to become better. Finally, we have to continue to maintain and improve ourselves individually and collectively. It will be an investment and a sacrifice, but equally a source of pride for Logan and Utah State University.

 

I want to publicly thank all who provided the resources for our team to have this once in a lifetime opportunity. We could not have learned these things without your support.

 

 

For more Aggie athletic news see the Utah State Athletics Web site.