University of Cincinnati junior guard Shelly Bellman is entering her fourth year on campus, but to second-year head coach J. Kelly Hall, she’s something of a newcomer.
“I’ve never coached her. We had her maybe three practices last year. Her injury was really, really quick,” said Hall.
Bellman suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear in her left knee during a pre-season practice last year. She sat out the entire season after undergoing surgery, and was declared a medical redshirt, preserving a year of her playing eligibility.
“It was a huge blow,” said Bellman. “I’ve never had an injury as big as that. I tried to keep a positive attitude as much as I could, and just had to rehab everyday.”
After posting double-digit scoring figures and leading the team in rebounding in her first two seasons, Bellman was expected to have a major role going into last season. Without her, the team posted only a 1.9 rebounding margin over Big East opponents, compared to an 8.9 margin with her in 2006-07.
Coach Hall said that he‘s looking for more of an inside presence from this season’s team, and that from Bellman, he expects averages of six to seven rebounds and double-digit scoring per game. So far, he’s been encouraged of what he sees.
“I love the way the kid rebounds the basketball,” Hall said. “She will go get it. Averaging six rebounds is outstanding for a guard.”
Even with the limited practice time he's had with Bellman, Hall called her one of the hardest workers he’s ever coached on any level, and said the other players feed off of her tenacious work ethic.
“She plays hard on every single play,” Hall said. “It’s good for young kids to see that and realize that’s what it takes to be successful on this level.”
Hall intends to make Bellman a team captain and thinks she can be a player who can run the offense without playing the point guard position. Her understanding of the offense, and her rebounding persistence make Bellman one of the key components to this year’s squad.
Bellman said watching her teammates from the sideline last year, will help her become an even better team leader, and overall player.
“I got a different perspective of the game. Sitting out has made me into a more mature player. Before, I’d play a little hectic. Now I’m more calm and collected out there.” Bellman said.
As an upper-classman, Bellman knows she has to be a role-model on and off the court to the freshman players.
“As a leader, I try bringing the freshman in here to talk to them and keep their courage up, and being a vocal leader on the court as well,” Bellman said. “When I’m out there, I give it a 110 percent all the time, and focus on what our coach stresses the most, which is defense and rebounding.”
Since the injury, Shelly is required to wear a brace on her repaired knee. She says she only thinks about the brace when she occasionally needs to pull it up.
“It’s up to my trainers when the brace comes off, but hopefully it’s not too far into the season,” Bellman said of the brace.
Hall said he considers Bellman’s health to be around 90 percent heading into the season. He said while structurally her knee is fine, he thinks she’s still gaining her lateral quickness.
With the addition of Bellman, the Bearcats will dress 13 players for games this season: a sizeable difference to the nine they dressed last year. They’ll need to be at full strength in a talented Big East conference where the Bearcats were picked by coaches to finish fifteenth in the league.
“The past two years haven’t been the greatest seasons, but we want it to take it a step higher,” Bellman said. “It’s no fun to lose and it’s no fun to not have a good season, but we want to get there. This team works hard and pushes through and were looking to take care of business.”
Sounds like Coach Hall will enjoy having his new leader on the court this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment