Oct. 10, 2002
Truman Basketball Teams Begin Practice Next Tuesday
The Truman State University men's and women's basketball teams will officially start the 2002-03 season next Tuesday afternoon with their first practices of the season.
The women's basketball team, led by third-year head coach John Sloop, will practice from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Pershing Arena. The men's squad, coached by Jack Schrader, will take to the court for their first practice from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Both teams have reason to be optimist about the upcoming year with good mixes of returning players and newcomers. The women's squad will be led by senior forward Jennifer Fisher (Fordland, Mo.) who averaged 8.4 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Bulldogs last year. Another forward, Annie Westhoff (Webster Groves, Mo.), also returns after putting up 8.7 points and grabbing 4.1 rebounds a game a year ago. The men's team will return three starters including senior forward Jiri Mikl (Ostrava, Czech Republic) who averaged 12.1 points and 3.9 rebounds a game last season. Forward Matt Beran (Victor, Iowa) and center Adam Glosier (St. Charles, Mo.) both averaged around seven points and seven rebounds a game last year.
The women's team will be in action for the first time at Missouri (Columbia) on Nov. 15 for an exhibition game against the Tigers. On Nov. 22, the Bulldogs open the season for real at Western Illinois. The men's team opens play on Nov. 22-23 at the Northwest Missouri Milner Classic where they will face South Dakota State and Florida Tech.