Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams gave people a reason to get excited for the 2015-16 season last Wednesday with the annual White and Purple scrimmage at the Dee Events Center.
The night kicked off with motivational talks by men’s coach Randy Rahe and women’s coach Bethann Ord. After the spirit squad was finished assaulting innocent students with rolled up T-shirts, the women’s team started to get the crowd warmed with some drills, followed by a 3-point shoot-off between the men’s and women’s teams.
Weber State’s five returning players for the men’s team and a big group of new players saw action in the first public scrimmage.
“We’re looking forward to one of the best seasons we’ve ever had,” said the Head Coach Randy Rahe. “I’m really proud with what we’re starting with. Our chemistry is terrific, our effort is very good right now and we’ve got a great connection about our team, which is what we’re really trying to accomplish around this time of year.”
Senior Joel Bolomboy and junior Kyndahl Hill each led the Wildcats with 13 points. Bolomboy, who is the lone senior on the team this year, added seven rebounds and was 6-of-10 from the field. Hill had five rebounds and was 5-of-7 from the field. Junior Jeremy Senglin had nine points and junior Richaud Gittens had five.
What was exciting for the night was the introduction of several newly recruited team members and their solid performance—nine points and four rebounds made by redshirt freshmen Zach Braxton, as well as sophomore Dusty Baker, who added six points, six rebounds and three assists.
On the women’s side of the court, the team is returning three seniors and has brought in four freshmen to the roster. Returning to the team is senior Regina Okoye, who led the nation and the conference in steals with an average of 3.68 per game and 107 overall. There were no results from their game.
The Wildcats will hold one exhibition game on Nov. 7 as they host Southern Virginia at 7 p.m. The men’s team regular season begins Nov. 13 as WSU hosts Utah State.
Weber State was picked to finish first in the Big Sky preseason coaches poll for the seventh time in the last eight years.
“Like I said, we cannot have success without you, [the fans],” said Coach Rahe. “We really really need you. We need you in the stands, and we need you to bring friends and help us out. We are going to make this place the toughest place to play in the Big Sky conference.”
The women’s team will open up their season with an exhibition game on Nov. 5 as they face off against Western Oregon. They play their first game of the season on Nov. 13 against Bethesda. That game will begin at 4:30 p.m. and will be closely followed by the men’s game versus Utah State at 7 p.m.
