Josh Petersen with guard Dazia Lawrence. (UK Athletics Photo)
Kentucky women’s basketball assistant coach Josh Petersen has a different way of describing how coaches operate to prepare for postseason play.
“We are like auditors and find everything wrong with the team but we have got to remind ourselves about everything good with the team, too,” Petersen said. “Coach (Kenny) Brooks put together a team in one month and came out with a 22-6 record in the regular season and fourth overall in the SEC.
“It has been a very successful year. You always want more as a coach but you also have to remind yourself how far the team has come and that is something to be proud of.”
Brooks has immediately raised expectations for UK fans going into today’s NCAA tourney game against Liberty that had been missing in recent years and that should only escalate when NCAA Tournament play starts this week.
“That’s the best pressure right now. Big Blue Nation has been tremendous to us as a team and on a personal level to me and my family,” the UK assistant coach said. “That gives you some juice. You have to refocus. We have got a great set of young players.”
Kentucky lost to Texas, LSU and South Carolina late in the season and then lost to Oklahoma in the SEC Tournament. But despite going 3-4 in those last seven games, Petersen feels good about UK.
“Our schedule really amped up at the end. We were exposed from a rebounding standpoint a few times,” he said. “Our kids are playing a lot of minutes but there were some great teams we rebounded right with. We just have to keep reminding the kids who we are and sharpen a couple of things to have us ready for the NCAA and then also make sure we are recharged emotionally.”
