Princeton’s Berube ‘staying connected’ despite canceled season
Carla Berube may not be coaching this winter, but she’s still teaching.
“Just like a basketball player, you’ve got to keep on playing or else you’re going to lose something,” said Berube, Princeton’s secondyear coach. “Mentally, you want to keep fresh.”
Of course, Berube — the former UConn Husky — has had to go about her business a bit differently since Nov. 12, when the Ivy League canceled all winter sports, including basketball, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With no games or practices, Berube, 45, is trying to stay connected with her players, some of whom won’t be back next season. Half of them opted to take the year off from school to preserve their eligibility. Contrary to the NCAA, the Ivy League requires athletes to use their eligibility during their first four years of enrollment.
“Had we played, we would’ve had a very small roster,” Berube said. “My seniors aren’t going to play at Princeton again. We’re trying to keep them a part of my team and looking forward to this fall, whether it’s staying connected via Zoom or watching film or reading leadership books.”
The Ivy League hasn’t played since March 7. Princeton beat Cornell 69-50 that day to improve to 26-1 overall and 14-0 in league play. Just three days later, the Ivy League called off its women’s and men’s basketball tournaments because of COVID-19, and March Madness followed suit.
At this point, Berube doesn’t know when the team may return to the floor. She’s guessing August, but that obviously depends on the trajectory of the coronavirus.
Either way, she said, “That’s a long time to not be with each other.”
As difficult as it was to
see another season end prematurely, Berube says erring on the side of caution was the right call.
“I’m on the side of ‘let’s make this the most meaningful experience for our student-athletes, but in a way that keeps them healthy,’” she said. “It’s hard on my players too that they’re home and not with their teammates, but they’re safe.”
The season has gone on, but not without difficulty. Games have been canceled. Players, coaches and various other individuals have tested positive.
Duke called off its season on Christmas, becoming the first Power 5 program to opt out amid COVID-19. Southern Methodist did the same a few days later.
“I do think the Ivy League made the right deci
sion,” she said. “I don’t know what’s right, what’s not right, but I am in agreement with our (school) presidents.”
SLIGHT CHANGE TO TOP 25
Despite winning its lone game last week — 87-50 against Providence on Saturday — UConn dropped to No. 4 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll, released Monday. The Huskies were tied with NC State for third last week, but lost a first-place vote.
Stanford received 29 first-place votes to remain atop the poll. Louisville and NC State were ranked second and third, respectively, while South Carolina stayed at No. 5.
New to the rankings was Tennessee, which came in at 23rd after upsetting Arkansas. The Lady Vols are slated to host UConn on Jan. 21.
ANOTHER HONOR FOR BUECKERS
For the fourth time in five weeks, UConn’s Paige Bueckers was named the Big East Freshman of the Week Monday. The 5-foot-11 point guard scored a gamehigh 23 points against Providence. Meanwhile, sophomore forward Aubrey Griffin was named to the weekly honor roll following her 18-point, nine-rebound performance.