Holtmann Era Begins Officially Friday At Gardner-Webb With First Practice
October 15, 2010 | Men's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS - The Chris Holtmann era officially began at Gardner-Webb Friday afternoon, as the Runnin' Bulldogs took the floor for their first practice at 5:20 pm.
Holtmann, the fifth head coach in Gardner-Webb's senior college history, inherits a team with little experience - but has been pleased with his group's effort and energy through limited preseason workouts and conditioning.
"We are excited to get started, there is no question about it," said Holtmann. "Our team is inexperienced at several positions, but we are approaching this season full of energy and a willingness to sweat.
"These next few weeks will allow us to learn a lot more about our team collectively, but we have already seen in workouts and conditioning that these young men are capable of working hard and playing with tremendous effort. That has been and continues to be very encouraging. We will compete and we will compete together this season."
The Runnin' Bulldogs were tabbed 10th in the preseason Big South Conference poll earlier this week following an 8-21 season that also saw GWU lose 53 percent of its scoring from a year ago. Despite the humble projection by the league's head coaches and media pool, Holtmann, his staff and players enter 2010-2011 with a proper mindset.
"This team will focus on getting better every day and on progressing our skills physically and mentally," Holtmann said. "We want our team to make intelligent basketball plays, to play the game correctly and to do so with a high rate of energy and enthusiasm. If we can take on every day with the right approach, then I really do believe we will be pleased with the end results."
Gardner-Webb opens the regular season on Saturday, November 13, at home vs. Mary Washington College. Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm in Paul Porter Arena. Video interview can be watched by clicking here.
