July 3, 2006
The University of Dayton women's basketball team has made great strides over the past two seasons. UD Head Coach Jim Jabir and the Flyers look to continue the trend against a difficult 2006-07 non-conference schedule, which was announced on Thursday.
Dayton was 17-12 last season, which was the third most wins in school history over the past 20 years. The Flyers were also just one win shy of a program record in A-10 play with a 8-8 mark. UD finished sixth in an Atlantic 10 Conference that sent five teams to the post season in 2005-06.
Since then, UD has added six new players to the Flyer basketball family including four freshman and two transfers. Head Coach Jim Jabir sat down to talk about his thoughts on next year's schedule and the progress of the program during the summer.
After another step forward in 2005-06, what has the team's focus been this summer in preparing for next season?
Our players have worked very hard in getting stronger and developing their skill level. I've been pleased with our strength and conditioning as well as our mind set. Winning 17 games was an improvement, but only a step in the road to where we want to go.
As you look at the team's progress, what will be the Flyers' strengths in 2006-07?
Our sophomores have had two solid seasons now and their physical and mental maturation will be important. We will have strong leadership for our captains, Jennifer Strong and Amber Peterink.
We are very excited about our incoming players. Our guard play will be improved and I feel we'll be able to attack from different areas. Our strength may well be our balance and improved athleticism.
The non-conference schedule looks to have a good mix of common opponents and new teams. Talk about next year's schedule.
Our 2006-07 campaign will be the most challenging schedule seen by our UD community. We will play several BIG EAST teams in Cincinnati and Louisville as well as Indiana from the Big Ten, Clemson from the ACC. We will also play very strong teams like Boston University, Memphis, Tennessee-Martin, Winthrop and Drexel.
UD is scheduled to play in two tournaments next season. Does this help the Flyers get ready for the A-10 Tournament?
Our two tournaments will help us get ready for the A-10 Tourney. The Louisville Tournament is taking place thanks to the new format provided by the NCAA with three games in three days. Our tournament at Dartmouth will be a challenge with the great teams we will face.
National power Duke is on the schedule in late December. How does a game against a high-caliber team like Duke prepare Dayton to face the best in the A-10?
If we beat a very tough Boston team in the first round of the Dartmouth Tournament, we would probably face a great Duke team. What this kind of game does is very clearly expose what you are good at and what you need to work on. The better the competition is, the more obvious our weaknesses and strengths become.
UD is hosting four home games in the non-conference schedule in addition to playing at local rivals Akrom, Cincinnati and Wright State. How much does geography play a role in scheduling?
Scheduling does have a lot to do with geography. We want to challenge ourselves. We want to travel to expose our players to new and different places, but we also have concerns of missed class time. Also important is the natural rivalries created by playing people in our own backyard.
The Flyers have the benefit of playing at UD Arena, which is a host site of the NCAA Women's Regionals this season. What is it like to play at a top notch facility?
My coaches and players laugh at me because I always say that I get chills every time I take the floor at UD Arena and I do. Our administration and everyone connected to UD that so much pride in every aspect of the athletics programs. That is why we are hosting another Women's Regional. We are among the leaders in NCAA history in hosting NCAA Tournament games. I have the best job in the country.
