National Team 2013 - Phase 2 - Day 6 in Russia

Day 6 is over. Game Day!!!!

Morning started with an early breakfast. Earlier than normal. 6:45 to be exact. Eggs, bacon, cheese,  bun with meat and those yummy cheese pancakes

Finished that and went back to get ready for the game and enjoy the air conditioning. The humidity is pretty high here today.

We departed the village at 8 am for the game as the gym is 40 minutes away. Along the way we passed through some nice countryside and some industrial area. Some of it wasn't so nice and I couldn't help but think that these people were probably battling in everyday life and wouldn't care one bit about our game. Here we were on a nice bus coming from a nice village going to a nice gym. A moment to stop and think about things for sure.

We arrived in a nice little village and the gym was phenomenal. It looked like the floor was brand new for the games. The people here are exceptionally friendly as well.

As the girls were warming up I had a good feeling About their energy. However I knew our keys to the game would be how we could take away their 3 point shots and not let them get easy fast break baskets.
We started out very well and the offense was clicking and our defense was high energy. After 1 quarter we led 18-6. We had an even better 2nd quarter offensively and took a 42-20 lead to the locker room. We didn't slow down after half and opened up a 63-32 lead after 3. Lots of subs and playing time for everyone in the 4th and we coasted to a 76-48 win.

The girls felt great after the game and they deserved it. So far, they are such a pleasant group to coach. They do what is asked and work hard. They have tried to make every adjustment I ask for.

Tomorrow we have a large task. And by large I mean large. The Ukraine has some huge ladies and most of the team is close to 6 feet if they are not bigger. They are talented as well. They struggled against Taipei and lost but Taipei is skilled, QUICK and can shoot it. Today we had to take away 3 points shots and tomorrow we have to take away the basket. Total change in philosophy.

We had stayed to watch the game and the girls went back on the bus. During the game a heavy rain started to fall. You could tell it was going to rain. It started getting louder and heavier and became a distraction in the gym. I went to the entrance and it was one of the hardest rains ever and then a security person came in with a handful of hail the size of peas or a little bigger. It was nasty. Afterwards however the humidity broke and there was a nice cool breeze. 

So after the game we get into a cab that was assigned to us. The driver was very friendly but had no idea where we were going. Jeff made a call to Alina, our attache, back in Kazan. She spoke to him and we were off. Well to say the ride was interesting would be the understatement of the century. Bill Lynch would stand up and salute this guy and any theme park would sell out his ride. I knew what it would be like to drive home with an F1 race car driver. We were speeding, and I mean speeding, through the busiest traffic, weaving in and out of cars. More than once I heard a "HOLY FUCK" out of the back seat. I tried to stay pretty calm until we were almost sandwiched between 2 buses. He just sped in between and honked the horn. If there was 10 inches on either side I would be surprised. I may have dropped an F bomb myself and the driver just laughed. We eventually made it back in one piece.

So now the tricky part of the FISU games. We play at 10AM and practice at 5pm for tomorrows game. We got back to the village at 3pm. Enough for me to change, watch some film clips of the Ukraine and plan practice. Out the door at 3:50 for the bus to practice. Hectic and no chance to eat but that is what happens. Tomorrow will be the same type of day. 

We had a light but good practice and worked on some things for tomorrow. Hopefully we can translate that all into the game. We will have our hands full but if we battle we will be OK.

Got back from the practice just around 7pm and I had just enough time to review some film clips for the video session we were having at 8pm. Got it done in time and had a good video session with the team. They got to see the Ukraine and then watched some of the good offense from us today. They felt good afterwards. I have showed them a bunch of "critical" video or things they had to learn in the last few weeks. With this being a 17 day road trip I have made sure the last little bit have been all positive. they need to feel good about their progress. 

After the film session I went to the clothing room for team Canada and they gave me two pair of shorts that may fit after there was a bit of a screw up with sizes.
I then walked over to the meal hall with Denise and Michele. 

Lots of different choices today. I went with a piece of pork that was spicy, a chicken patty which was good, a chicken skewer and some sauerkraut and mushroom dumplings. Actually very very yummy. 

Came back and now i am settling in and will maybe relax before bed for a minute. Draw up the final game plan first though. I am excited about tomorrow's challenge so we will see how things go.

Another early start with a pre-7am breakfast and an 8am departure for the game so make that a 1AM Atlantic time departure and a 3AM Atlantic time.

Until Tomorrow......