College basketball programs have had to adapt recently like never before.
Since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, situations have spiraled into uncertainty, games have been canceled, protocols have been developed and altered, and nearly two years after the start of the pandemic, the sport remains in a state of flux.
To play or coach college basketball is like trying to ride a wild horse without a saddle. The horse is in control – you're just trying to hold on.
Melanie Moore's in her third season as the women's basketball coach at Xavier University. Because of the pandemic, her team was only able to play 15 games last season.
This season, the Musketeers have already played 13. But it hasn't been without difficulty.
On December 19th, Moore had one player enter COVID-19 protocols. Another followed the next day.
"Here we go again," Moore thought. "Some injuries, you kind of get a ballpark (idea) of when people are gonna get back. And I just think with this, it's like, you don't know."
More:Xavier's win at Butler was a reminder that playing basketball is more fun than practicing
When her team returned to campus on Dec. 26th after the holiday break, another player entered the protocol, then just before Xavier was set to host Butler on Dec. 29, the Musketeers lost a fourth player to COVID protocols, and with two players already injured and unable to play, it left Xavier with seven available players and a decision to make.
Of the seven players available, five were post players and two were guards.
"I said, 'Well, we have seven. We can play or take a forfeit,' and right away, (junior guard) Shai Beeler was like, 'We're playing this ... let's do this,'" said Moore. "And then everybody else was like, 'Yeah, let's go.'
"... We could still practice. We could still keep our mindset positive. This team has been awesome. It wasn't hang your heads, it was next man up. It was one of our best weeks of practice with just seven kids. They came in, they got better, they got after it. It was really cool just to see them all come together in these times. So instead of 'here we go again,' it was like, 'let's go, let's adapt, let's change, let's get after it.'"
And they did get after it.
With only seven players, the Musketeers had to reimagine their offense, move post players to the wing, and needed to implement a zone defense as opposed to man-to-man coverage.
Xavier beat Butler 77-55 and they did it with unexpected players sliding into new roles. Everyone who touched the floor had a hand in the win. Some of them were accustomed to playing major minutes. For others, it was their first experience.
Kae Satterfield led the Musketeers with 18 points and nine rebounds. Beeler, who lobbied for the game to even be played, had a career-high 11 assists. Mackayla Scarlett had 16 points and four 3-pointers. Ayanna Townsend had 12 points. Mikayla Hayes had eight points and seven boards. Megan Harkey played a career-high 22 minutes and posted career-highs in points (10) and rebounds (11). Courtney Prenger, one of Xavier's players who was asked to switch positions, had six points, five rebounds and three assists.
"Courtney Prenger was never once like, 'I can't do that,' she was like, 'OK, I'll learn the offense, I'll watch film, I'll do whatever it takes,'" said Moore.
It was a game Moore said she'll never forget, seeing her team come together and do whatever was asked of them in order to get a win.
"I haven't stopped smiling," said Moore. "That's why you coach, for what they've been able to do. And when they look back at you and they're nodding their heads like we got this, we're alright, that's why you do it.
"I'm inspired by this group and to continue to give them my best. I'm making sure that our staff is giving them everything we have, too. Because that's what they're doing for us."
On Jan. 2, Xavier had the same seven players available against Creighton and even though the Musketeers lost, 67-51, they kept it close for a long time against one of the top teams in the Big East.
All of Xavier's players that entered COVID protocols are doing well and recovering, said Moore. When they return, there's bound to be a renewed confidence waiting for them considering what the Musketeers have been through recently.
Xavier (6-7, 1-3) returns to action on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. against Providence at Cintas Center.
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