{"id":180352,"date":"2023-09-28T01:29:55","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T01:29:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotworldreport.com\/?p=180352"},"modified":"2023-09-28T01:29:55","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T01:29:55","slug":"womens-basketball-notes-veteran-transfers-fitting-in-with-cu-buffs-the-denver-post","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotworldreport.com\/world-news\/womens-basketball-notes-veteran-transfers-fitting-in-with-cu-buffs-the-denver-post\/","title":{"rendered":"Women’s basketball notes: Veteran transfers fitting in with CU Buffs – The Denver Post"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Adding new players to a veteran roster can be tricky, but for the Colorado women\u2019s basketball team, it\u2019s been a smooth transition.<\/p>\n

CU, which officially started practice on Tuesday, returns four starters and eight rotational players from last year\u2019s team that went 25-9 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.<\/p>\n

In the offseason, however, the Buffs added senior transfers Maddie Nolan, a 5-foot-11 guard from Michigan, and Sara-Rose Smith, a 6-foot-1 guard from Missouri.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re incredible,\u201d CU head coach JR Payne said. \u201cThey\u2019ve done a great job. One week in (after arriving this summer), you wouldn\u2019t have known that they were new to Colorado or new to our team. They\u2019re very confident, they are great teammates, they believe in a high level of accountability.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaddie has been a leader on her team. I don\u2019t know if she was captain or not (at Michigan) \u2013 she certainly acts like she would have been, because she\u2019s holding us to a very high standard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Senior returners Frida Formann, Quay Miller and Jaylyn Sherrod, as well as junior Kindyll Wetta, already play big leadership roles for the Buffs, but Payne said Nolan and Smith \u201care contributing to that, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miller said the two transfers had a smooth transition, but the five true freshmen are still finding their way.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think (the freshmen) were really shocked that this is life now,\u201d Miller said. \u201cJust coming from high school and going into college, I want to say a culture shock because it is hard. I think they\u2019re just still adjusting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anticipated opener<\/h4>\n

CU opens the season on Nov. 6 and it might be the most anticipated opener in program history. The Buffs will face defending national champion LSU in Las Vegas to kick off the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very excited about that,\u201d Miller said. \u201cWe know that we can compete with them. I don\u2019t think people are thinking about it, but I know for me I\u2019m excited because that\u2019s gonna be a big stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

LSU figures to be ranked No. 1 going into the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes sure that our focus is where it needs to be on a daily basis, because there is no time to ease into anything,\u201d Payne said. \u201cWhen you\u2019re going to play the national champion on opening night who returns everyone and added arguably the best transfers in the country to their roster, you don\u2019t have time. You\u2019ve got to be relentless every single day in how you train, how you focus, what you\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

CU\u2019s 11-game non-conference schedule includes five games against Power 5 opponents and only five games at home. The slate includes a three-game trip to the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Thanksgiving weekend.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s definitely the hardest preseason schedule we\u2019ve ever played,\u201d said Payne, going into her eighth season at CU. \u201cWe like the balance. I wish we had more home games, but we\u2019re setting ourselves up for a challenging schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n

Notable<\/h4>\n

CU will have an exhibition game at home on Oct. 28. \u2026 Home opener will be Nov. 8 against Le Moyne. Game time is still to be determined.<\/p>\n

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