Delicia Washington told reporters on Monday that first-year coach Cameron Newbauer has some moves, but he also has some more to learn.
“I’m gonna teach him the dab,” Washington said. “He hasn’t hit it yet.”
During the team’s shootaround before practice, Newbauer was asked how his dance lessons with Washington are going. Then, Newbauer called over his sophomore guard to the sideline.
“You’re going to teach me dance moves?” Newbauer asked Washington. “That’s confusing because Delicia has already came to me twice asking where I learned my stuff.”
Apart from the dancing, the Gators women’s basketball team has begun practicing for the start of its season, which begins Nov. 11 against Georgia State at the O’Connell Center.
Newbauer getting specific:
Forward Haley Lorenzen said Newbauer’s practices have been intense and “detail-oriented.”
“He hasn’t been afraid to stop practice multiple times to make sure we get it right,” Lorenzen said. “And I think that’s something that’s really unique to him.”
When asked about the progression of the team in its first week, Newbauer said he has seen great enthusiasm and effort from the squad.
“You have a coaching change and someone like me that’s big into details and likes to do a lot of different things, it demands a lot from our players in terms of their focus and their resolve to play through mistakes while learning new things,” Newbauer said. “So I’ve really been excited with their resilience as a group and the character that they’re showing.”
Transfer tears ACL:
Despite only being on the court for a week, the Gators will be without one of their 14 players on the roster for the rest of the season.
Corey Staples, a junior from Buford, Georgia, tore her left ACL during one of the team’s first drills on its opening day of practice. According to coach Newbauer, Staples knee buckled a little bit to the side.
Newbauer said UF’s medical staff is waiting for Staples’ swelling goes down before it makes a decision on when she’ll have surgery.
The 5-foot-8 guard was in a brace during practice on Monday, working to the side with one of Florida’s assistant coaches.
“She was gonna play,” Newbauer said on Monday.
Staples, a transfer from Santa Fe College, averaged 12.4 points per game last season with the Saints. She was a second-team All Conference player for the Mid Florida conference last season.
You can follow Justin Ahlum on Twitter @justinn_case1, and contact him at jahlum@alligator.org.
UF guard Delicia Washington looks to pass during Florida's 84-75 loss to Ole Miss on Feb. 6, 2017, in the O'Connell Center.
