UMBC guard Carlee Cassidy?s toughest test this week had nothing to do with her basketball team?s game against Towson on Wednesday.
Cassidy was upset with how the Retrievers played in a 69-61 loss to the Tigers, but she was much more concerned with how she fared on her environmental science final exam and on a term paper about women in media.
Cassidy?s worries mirrored those of dozens of college basketball players across the state as most teams took an extended break from competition so players could concentrate on final exams. UMBC?s game at Towson was the Retrievers first in 10 days.
“That is just something you have to do when you?re a student-athlete,” Cassidy said. “I was glad to have a break from playing while finals were going on, but you still have to balance studying with working out, practicing and trying to remain sharp on the court.”
Many area coaches said they also try to curtail practices during exam week because final exams often are weighted so heavily. Coaches and players also acknowledge it?s difficult to schedule practices when the whole team can attend because players? finals are taken at different times.
UMBC guard Brian Hodges said even with fewer games, it can be a tiring experience to juggling practice and exam schedules, especially for someone taking international trade theory and microeconomics analysis.
“The hardest part is finding the determination and motivation to go to the library and study when you?re already worn out from practicing,” Hodges said. “But you have to remind yourself what you?re in school for. Also, once you get through those tests it?s great to know you can concentrate on basketball for the next six weeks while we?re on winter break.”
Morgan State men?s basketball coach Todd Bozeman said exam week is the perfect time to practice with players individually to improve their weaknesses. The Bears play their first game since Dec. 8 when they host Longwood in a non-conference contest at 7 tonight at Hill Field House.
“We could schedule games during exams, but choose not to do that,” Bozeman said. “They need to be able to concentrate solely on their academics during this time and so they can concentrate on the rest of the season after that.”
Maryland women?s basketball coach Brenda Frese said exam week is an ideal opportunity to allow her players a chance to heal physically before entering their Atlantic Coast Conference schedule in January. The Terrapins played their first game in 11 days last night when they traveled to James Madison.
