UNCW’s Barefoot Refuses to Slow Down By Alex Riley, Wilmington StarNews | May 17, 2017

Karen Barefoot is going to sleep one day.

But not today. And possibly not anytime soon.

“I haven’t had much sleep. Yesterday, I had to put ice on my eyes, seriously. They hurt so bad,” she joked after being formally introduced as the new UNCW women’s basketball coach on Wednesday.

Nicknamed “Red Bull” by a Virginia high school coach because of her seemingly unlimited supply of energy, Barefoot has tested her limits through the first two weeks on the job.

She’s already hired two assistants, landed several transfers, set up her first youth camp and met more UNCW staff members, fans and donors than she can recall.

And it appears she’s just getting started.

“I’m basically homeless right now staying with two people that have really kind of adopted me. But that’s what you do,” Barefoot said with a laugh. “You don’t worry about the living (arrangements), you don’t worry about the sleep right now. You’re just trying to get this program up and going and I’m excited about it.”

Barefoot is trying to kick start a program that has known limited success since it began in 1973. The Seahawks had eight winning seasons in the program’s first 15 years. Since then, nine winning campaigns in 29 years. The program has just four 20-win seasons and two postseason berths.

UNCW interviewed three candidates, but Barefoot’s energy and drive stood out above the rest, leaving athletic director Jimmy Bass and other staff members impressed.

“After the first meeting when she was here on her interview, somebody said we need to give her decaffeinated water. And I’m OK with that I really am,” Bass said. “We can’t do the same things that we’ve been doing, and that in no way is a criticism of anybody. We’ve got to do things differently – the basketball student-athletes have got to see that we’re doing things differently.”

The change appears to be a welcome one as Rutgers transfers Shrita Parker and Ashli Jeune have already committed. East Columbus standout Charity Powell, the only member of Adell Harris’ last signing class, is still coming to Wilmington. ODU transfer Gianna Smith, who was at the press conference, could be joining the program with two years of eligibility left.

The returning UNCW players haven’t gotten much time with their new coach, but already they can see things are going to be very different.

“I’m ready for her. I’m excited. I’ve got as much energy as she does, so we’ll see,” sophomore Timber Tate said.

With former Delaware coach Tina Martin and Old Dominion assistant Jermaine Jones already on staff, Barefoot is close to filling a staff before she’s even found a place to live.

That’s just how she operates. The season is still months away and Barefoot recognizes she’s got a ton of work to do if the Seahawks are going to be more than a mediocre program. It won’t be hard finding time to get the job done.

“I think with this group, they just need a little bit of belief. As soon as we start to see success, I think we’ll start climbing that ladder up to the top,” Barefoot said.

At 100 Days Into Her Tenure, Barefoot Going 100 MPH By Alex Riley, Wilmington StarNews | Aug. 28, 2017

Before this conversation can start, Karen Barefoot has to finish other conversations.

The stream of text messages from assistant coaches, staff members, current players and recruits doesn’t seem to stop. Everyone wants to check in, get feedback or just say hello.

By the time this conversation is done, Barefoot has another half dozen messages to answer. Everyone needs a moment of her time.

Right now, time is a precious commodity. After 100 days in Wilmington, the new UNCW women’s basketball coach sees where the program is. She’s developed a plan for where it needs to go. To get from here to there involves a lot of talking, working and time.

“I think the little thing we have to do is constant communication and making sure I address all the issues that could come. We let everybody know here that to build something everybody has to be all in,” Barefoot said. “We say that all the time – all in. You cannot be 90 percent or 80 percent, it’s got to be over 100 percent. We do one more than everybody else. We have to work harder.”

Changing the culture

The joint of Barefoot’s ring finger on her left hand has a slight crookedness to it. It wasn’t always that way.

Her first practices with UNCW lacked energy. There was no aggressiveness or urgency. Along with her assistants, Barefoot stepped into drills, challenging players to improve.

She knew when the message stuck.

“I tried to block someone’s shot and I learned real quick that I need to be careful because they started getting tougher,” Barefoot said. “All of sudden, my finger snapped. One thing about it was I didn’t quit, I kept playing, taped it up and I showed them a little bit of toughness.”

What Barefoot inherited when she came to the Port City was a downtrodden program with little to be excited about. The Seahawks have 16 winning seasons since debuting in 1973, but only four with 20-plus victories. They’ve made two WNIT appearances, but never been to the NCAA Tournament or captured a CAA title. The last winning campaign was 2011-12.

Last season was supposed to different, but turned into more of the same with an 11-20 finish. No Seahawk player earned All-CAA honors for their play, making UNCW the only league team without an all-conference selection.

Turning struggles into success isn’t a quick fix. Thanks what enticed Barefoot to the job.

“It’s not just about me coming in here and saying, ‘This is my way, here’s my system.’ I want to make sure I know who they are, where I’m coming from and my expectations,” Barefoot said. “They’re taking it serious. I’ve had a lot of meetings with them and I think that’s important as you’re building trust.”

Barefoot’s up-tempo pace has been very different from what the Seahawks were accustomed to. The first few days of practice left players winded, exhausted and sore. Conditioning has been an offseason priority.

The transformation, Barefoot says, has been “a 180” from those initial days. The Seahawks are stronger, quicker, more focused and able to withstand the rigors of what she is putting them through.

“One thing I wanted them to do was compete. I wanted to see some emotion after a win or loss. I wanted to see they really cared. At first, I was really pushing for that,” Barefoot said. “I kind of saw a pulse in them. That was a good sign.”

Challenging the status quo A large portion of the schedule was already built when Barefoot arrived, yet she wasn’t completely satisfied. The easy route would have been to fill openings with regional mid-majors in hopes of earning a victory. At worst, she could have added a Division II team that would have almost certainly been a guaranteed win.

Instead, she went the opposite direction.

In addition to playing at North Carolina on Nov. 22, the Seahawks will travel to Pittsburgh on Dec. 9. It’s the second- straight year UNCW has faced two Power Five opponents in nonconference action. The Seahawks have only three wins in program history against that level of competition, the last coming during the 2002 against Pittsburgh.

“I believe that you can build a great program and we have seniors. So why not challenge this group and raise the bar?” Barefoot said. “I was like I want y’all to have a strong belief, to know that you can compete with these teams and you can win some games.”

To prepare the squad for that challenge, as well as CAA play, Barefoot is relying on talent the general public won’t see in a Seahawk uniform for at least a season. Her first three signees were all transfers from other Division I programs.

Former Rutgers guard Shrita Parker and ex-Old Dominion standout Gianna Smith, who Barefoot coached the last two years, will spend the next year sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules. Both players were key starters at their old institutions. Ashli Jeune, also a Rutgers transfer, is still appealing to the NCAA for the chance to play this after sitting out 2016-17 with an ACL injury, but she could also be a behind the scenes talent that could help make the team better.

“It’s been great because I think that the three that we have have experience and they’re great leaders. And I think that for them, they want to come in here and make this group better,” Barefoot said. “We want to make it like everything that we do is championship mentality. I think that’s what they’re going to bring. I think that’s what they’re going to bring out – the best in everybody else and how important it is to compete and give your best all the time.”

Ready to win

There are a couple different versions of the photo, but they all look similar. The moment is generally captured during homecoming or some major weekend conference battle, but it always showcases Trask Coliseum packed to the brim with teal clad fans watching the men’s basketball team.

Barefoot has seen the image on display around the school. She wants one of her own. Not a copy of the photo – she wants to create one.

“I can’t wait to take a picture like that and put it in there when we get butts in the seats and stuff like that because that’s fun,” Barefoot said. “I think that we can create that environment because (opponents) won’t want to come here and play because now you’ve got to go against (the fans). It’s going to take time, but I think in time, and hopefully soon, we’ll have this thing rocking.”

For that to be a reality, Barefoot knows the community has to buy in to what her team is doing.

The moment she got settled into her home, Barefoot invited supporters over for a chance to meet and mingle. She’s already setting up coaches clinics for October as an outreach at the local level. She’s spoken at several community events with more in the works. Her list of service activities for the Seahawks to take part in grows longer each day.

Men’s basketball is UNCW athletics’ flagship program. She intends to make the women’s team just as competitive, giving Wilmington one of the best mid-major basketball programs in the country.

Barefoot knows that won’t happen overnight, but the reality is it could happen over time. It’s why she doesn’t mind the endless stream of texts, the broken fingers or challenging schedule. It’s all part of the plan.

“I want to set the bar high on how we do things and not just why but how we do things. I want them to be a team nobody wants to play come March,” she said. UNCW Sending Help to Harvey Victims By Alex Riley, Wilmington StarNews | Aug. 31, 2017

Karen Barefoot wanted to do something to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey.

When Houston men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson sent out a tweet asking for donations from athletic departments around the country, the UNCW women’s basketball coach knew where to send help to.

She never realized just how much help she’d be sending.

After a department-wide message, the Seahawks got clothing and footwear donations from women’s basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, track and field, women’s golf and sports marketing for victims of the devastation. The UNCW men’s basketball team also sent a box of supplies ahead of the department-wide effort.

“This is the least we can do. I feel so thankful and grateful for our athletic department,” Barefoot said. She noted that when the donations were dropped off it was the first chance she had to meet several of the coaches. “It’s a reflection of who everybody is here. They care. That’s just who the people are here. It almost brings us closer as a coaching group.”

As of Thursday, Sampson had received more than 1,000 commitments for donations from college, pro and high school athletic programs around the country. Several local high schools are gathering materials to send, including Ashley High School and the Hoggard boys basketball program.

The situation in Texas hit home for both Barefoot and men’s basketball coach C.B. McGrath. Former Old Dominion player Becca Allison now serves as an assistant on the Houston Baptist women’s basketball staff. She and Barefoot have been in communication since the storm started. McGrath noted that he has family in the Houston area.

Sending a few shirts and shoes is a simple gesture, but everyone hopes it will bring a little comfort during the distress.

“We have stuff that we can give and there’s people that are more in-need than we are. We get a nice product from Adidas, they do a nice job supplying us with enough gear, so we wanted to do our little part to give back,” McGrath said.

Five Questions Facing UNCW Women’s Basketball By Alex Riley, Wilmington StarNews | Oct. 2, 2017

With a new coaching staff in place, the Seahawks are hoping to see different results on the court.

1. Will the team be better than last year?

Let’s be honest – things can only go upward. UNCW hasn’t finished above .500 since 2011-12. Its longest win streak since is a mere two games. Looking at the team on social media, it appears Karen Barefoot’s energy has rubbed off on her squad. Whether a coaching change translates into victories is yet to be seen, but it certainly can’t hurt.

2. What style will the team play?

Barefoot wants an up-tempo attack with a pressing style. She demands energy, referencing a mindset of “floor burns and high-fives” in reference to hustle place and encouragement. During her last year at Old Dominion, Barefoot’s squad was fourth in Conference USA with 71 points per game. The Monarchs led the league in rebounding at 41.4 per outing while shooting 34.5 percent from long range and 44.2 percent from the field.

3. Will the Seahawks have depth?

It’s an interesting question given who’s on the roster. Three players are sitting out the 2017-18 season after transferring in, while Chinyere Bell won’t be eligible until the first semester ends because she transferred mid-season from George Mason. That leaves 14 players, but only Madison Raque, Rebekah Banks and Diamond Willis started 10 or more games last year. While many players have seen time on the court, their roles this year will certainly be different.

4. Who will be the breakout player?

This is a tough question, namely because it could be anybody given who’s returning. Jenny DeGraaf was supposed to be the transfer that helped turn things around last year, but never found footing under the old staff. She’s got a chance to really take off given her ability to play anywhere on the court. Timber Tate could also see stronger numbers after having a year to adjust to the college game. Her outside shot must fall.

5. Who will benefit most from the coaching change?

It’s hard to imagine Rebekah Banks playing better, but it’s certainly possible. After leading the team with 7.7 rebounds per game last year, she figures to fit well into Barefoot’s plan, especially on the boards. If she can raise her numbers on the offensive end (4.9 points per game), Banks could become one of the CAA’s better post players.

Seahawk Assistants Ready for Task Ahead By Alex Riley, Wilmington StarNews | Oct. 4, 2017

Karen Barefoot needed a little bit of everything. If she was going to get UNCW women’s basketball heading in a positive direction, she had to have help capable of seeing her vision.

What she ended up with was a diverse staff in age, experience, expertise and skill set. It’s a blend that she hopes will lift the Seahawks going forward.

“I think it just works when you have a diverse group that can bring different things to the table, whether it’s X’s and O’s, defense, energy, relating to the players or the recruiting process,” Barefoot said. “I think everybody brings something different to the table. I’m very excited about this group because they’re very knowledgeable.”

The up-and-comer

David Caputo was sold rather quickly.

The message from Barefoot was a sale pitch about potential, helping UNCW get somewhere the program had never been. For the last four seasons, he’d helped lead Division II Bloomfield College to an 82-36 record, three conference titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances.

Caputo felt like he’d done all he could to help the school and was looking for a new challenge. That’s exactly what Barefoot was offering.

Now, he’s selling that vision to the players who will try to make it reality.

“What we’re selling, big time, is you can be the name to get us our first – our first championship, our first bid. You can go to another school and be another name, but you can really set your mark on a university and a program and accomplish firsts with us,” Caputo said.

Every member of the staff has a role in recruiting, but Caputo is the man overseeing all the details. He’s often the first set of eyes evaluating a player’s ability. He’s looking for skill and talent, but there’s more to the process than that.

“Everything we do administratively is vital, but at the end of the day if you don’t get good basketball players you’re going to be in trouble,” Caputo said. “(Members of the basketball staff) all have a lot of experience recruiting and recruiting high level kids. So I think that’s been the biggest thing that we’ve done well so far – we have a lot of good kids coming to visit officially and unofficially.”

The seasoned vet

It was supposed to be a congratulatory phone call. Instead, it turned into a job interview.

Tina Martin wanted to wish Barefoot the best at her new gig with the Seahawks. Minutes later, Martin was being asked if she might be interested in coming south.

Martin, who retired from here head coaching position at Delaware after 21 seasons in April, wasn’t quite ready to give up the game. Though she’d been to Wilmington many times, her knowledge of the city didn’t extend far beyond Trask Coliseum and whatever hotel the Blue Hens stayed in.

Now, she’s got a different view of things.

“I think out of all the destinations in the CAA, this is the best city to go to. I can tell you that right now, hands down,” Martin said. “I know people might dispute that in Charleston, because I know the College of Charleston’s a nice place too, but now that I’ve lived here for two months, I can tell you I love the beaches, I love the town of Wilmington and I’m very happy with my choice of coming here.” Martin, who’s work will focus on the post players, is excited for a change of scenery and role. After spending the last two decades being the face of a program, she’s looking forward to coaching players and letting someone else handle the big stuff.

“This is the fun part. I used to tell my assistants all the time, ‘I’ll switch places with you for a day. When you do get stressed out or anxious about something, let me switch places with you.’ And now I have that opportunity, literally,” Martin said.

The rookie

Look too quickly and you might mistake Brittany Morris for a current player on the UNCW roster.

She’s just a few years removed from a record-setting career at Seton Hall and has worked the last two years as a graduate assistant at N.C. State. Caputo and Martin have head coaching experience. Morris has recent experience.

“The things they’re going through, I’ve gone through as a player as well,” Morris said. “When they’re complaining to me, I just have to remind them, ‘Hey, this is what it takes to be at this level and have success.’”

When she left Seton Hall in 2013, Morris was top 20 all-time in scoring history, setting a school record with 78 made 3- pointers her senior season and 178 made 3-pointers in a career.

Shooting beyond the arch was her specialty in college. Now, she’s being asked to turn her focus to the point guards. Morris wants to see the point guards develop into team leaders who have a command of the offense and an understanding of everything going on.

More than that, she wants to help players grow as players and people. After all, she understands where they’re coming from.

“My coaches in college, they were really big on developing me on the court, but also off the court into a young lady and preparing me for my future,” Morris said. “I definitely think the relatability will help me understand what they’re going through and stay connected.”

UNCW Women’s Basketball Has New Vibe as Seahawks Host Media Day By Alex Riley, Wilmington StarNews | Oct. 13, 2017

For every serious snapshot, there is an outtake.

Friday’s media day was a chance for members of the UNCW women’s basketball program to be photographed before the start of the season.

Every time people poised for a shot, there seemed to be a corresponding opportunity for goofiness. The laughter inside Trask Coliseum rarely died down as the afternoon wore on.

Karen Barefoot hasn’t coached a game in Wilmington. Tipoff is still a month away. Yet the vibe emitting from the program is different.

“I love it. The change, it’s been a 360 degree change. I think that it’s probably one of the most positive changes we could have had as a program,” senior guard Madison Raque said.

Translating a new attitude into a winning effort will take time, many within the program acknowledged on Friday. Change doesn’t happen overnight. Breaking bad habits and creating new ones is a process.

Even so, Barefoot has started to see a difference. When she arrived, the Seahawks struggled to communicate in practice. It led to turnovers and sloppy play during workouts.

Now, every practice starts with drills where all the team does is talk for the first few minutes of practice.

“I want them to have a great experience. I want our seniors to go out on a great note. I want to be the best coach,” Barefoot said. “I want them to be prepared for battle and I feel like they’re battling every day and I think they’re doing it for each other.”

The result has been a team eager to start something new. The Seahawks talk of contending for a CAA Championship and making a postseason tournament for the first time since 2012. That was also the last time UNCW finished the season with a winning record.

Barefoot has sparked that attitude and it’s trickled down. What happens next is completely up to the players.

Senior Jenny DeGraaf calls it “a chance to do something special.” That’s after she jokingly lay in front of the other seniors during a group photo, causing an uproar of laughter. This group plans to play hard, and they’re going to have a lot of fun doing it.

“The way (Barefoot) coaches and the way she motivates people is enjoyable and it motivates you to do your best. It hasn’t been a big adjustment because it just feels natural again,” DeGraaf said.

Thanks to Barefoot, Attitude Surrounding Women’s Basketball Has Changed for the Better By Lanre Badmus, The Seahawk | Oct. 18, 2017

With a new season often comes new optimism, hope and expectations. For a team with a brand-new coaching staff, that sense of optimism is usually heightened.

That is the case for the UNC Wilmington women’s basketball team, for whom the 2017-18 season will be the beginning of the Karen Barefoot era. Barefoot, who was named UNCW’s 11th women’s basketball head coach in May, will be looking to help the Seahawks improve on last season’s 11-20 record and second-round elimination in its conference tournament under previous coach Adell Harris.

UNCW went 42-112 overall and had three seasons of single-digit wins in five years under Harris, who took over before the 2012-13 campaign. Harris had replaced Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, who guided the Lady Seahawks to a WNIT berth in 2011-12, the last time the program saw any postseason action.

After six seasons as head coach at Old Dominion, Barefoot was ready for a new challenge and liked the potential she saw in the Seahawks team when she chose to take on the job at UNCW. As a result, a new wave of enthusiasm is reverberating around the Wilmington camp.

“When I first got here, I was very excited to come in and meet [the players] and get to know them and build relationships,” said Barefoot. “I see them getting better and becoming a family. The team chemistry is amazing and they’re great, great individuals.”

Barefoot, who is affectionately nicknamed “Red Bull” for her energetic approach to coaching, noted her commitment and her dedication to her players but also wanted them to have fun all while competing out on the court.

“I want them to be them,” she said. “I want them to go out there and be free and loose. I want them to go out there and enjoy this great game. I think they feel comfortable and they’re not afraid to make mistakes. Because as we go, those mistakes will lessen, so who cares?”

UNCW will be looking to seniors Madison Raque, Jenny DeGraaf, and Rebekah Banks to lead the team this season. Barefoot said she believes Banks, a center, can lead the CAA in rebounding in 2018.

The Seahawks will also be hoping for big contributions from sophomore guards Timber Tate and Lacey Suggs, the latter of whom was singled out as having really impressed Barefoot in practice despite her lack of playing time – she scored only two points in three games last season.

Raque, a guard, was UNCW’s leading scorer last season at 10.7 points per game. She said she has noticed a difference in the atmosphere surrounding the team heading into her senior season and that her confidence and scoring ability have been the two biggest improvements she’s noticed from her freshman year till now.

She’s aware of her role as a leader in the team to help inspire the freshmen to top-level performances.

“We’ve had a more positive atmosphere, so just having Coach Barefoot in our heads telling us that we can do anything is a big help for us,” said Raque, who also noted that the team has made a 180-degree change in the first 100 days of Barefoot’s tenure.

DeGraaf, a forward who transferred from Penn. State two years ago, said that Barefoot brings tons of energy and positivity to the team, and the team enjoys playing under her.

“Everyone’s excited to start the new season,” she said. “It’s always exciting to get to play again, but the positivity of the new coaching staff has made it that much more exciting.” When asked whether her role would change, DeGraaf said that she is in Barefoot’s plans, but she will “do whatever coach wants me to do” to the best of her ability. She averaged 7.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 20.5 minutes per game last season, coming off the bench in all but eight of the 30 games she played.

Tate said the team loves Barefoot. She added that she has worked on her jump shot and she has more confidence in her ballhandling skills and knows she brings to the team. Tate said she was looking to improve on her numbers — 5.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game in 26 games last season. She shot 29 percent from three-point range in her freshman year.

The Seahawks will play an exhibition game at Trask Coliseum against Greensboro College on Oct. 29 before opening the regular season in November with two home games against in-state opponents UNC Pembroke and East Carolina.

UNCW Basketball Programs Host Midnite Madness to Kick Off the Season By Alex Riley, Wilmington StarNews | Oct. 20, 2017

The music blared. The lights flashed. The smoke billowed. The crowd roared. Jaylen Fornes powered home dunks. Jenny DeGraaf drained 3-pointers.

Friday night, the madness returned to Trask Coliseum.

With fans filling the arena’s lower bowl, UNCW’s basketball teams introduced themselves to the Seahawk faithful as part of Midnite Madness, giving everyone a preview of what’s coming in early November.

After weeks of practice in a mostly silent gym, the raucous environment was a welcome change in atmosphere.

“Definitely getting the student section out there helps a lot. It just brings in the spirit of basketball,” UNCW men’s basketball senior Marcus Bryan said. “There’s a reason most people call it a home court advantage and I think we have one of the best in our conference. Getting fans out here and getting them ready for the season is good because having that home court advantage is a big part of it.”

The event gave fans a chance to meet first-year head coaches C.B. McGrath and Karen Barefoot, while also taking part in contests. DeGraaf blew past Jeantal Cylla in the three-point shooting contest, sparking the women’s bench to erupt in celebration.

Jaylen Fornes was impressive in the dunk competition on the men’s side, earning a perfect score to claim the title.

Friday gave the men a chance to savor the recent success of the program, which Jordon Talley did flashing his most recent championship ring, while looking forward to what could be in 2018. The Seahawks hope to exceed expectations after being picked to finish fifth in the CAA preseason poll.

On the women’s side, it’s all about turning around a program that has been near the bottom of the CAA in recent years. The Seahawks sat tied for eighth in the CAA preseason voting. UNCW’s turnaround hopes center around building something special, a process which starts sooner than later. The Seahawks return to the court on Oct. 29 for an exhibition with Greensboro College.

“(Midnite Madness) makes you realize we need to get down to business. We have a game in a week, so it’s crunch time definitely,” UNCW women’s basketball sophomore Lacey Suggs said.

Banks Ready to Be Among CAA’s Best Rebounders By Alex Riley, Wilmington StarNews | Nov. 8, 2017

There’s always room for improvement. Rebekah Banks is quickly learning that.

A year ago, the UNCW senior was sixth among CAA players in total rebounds, averaging 7.7 per game. In a season that featured few bright spots, Banks proved to be one of the team’s stars.

The goal is to make that star even brighter this winter.

“I think Bekah can lead this conference in rebounding. She has that kind of ability to do that,” first-year UNCW women’s basketball coach Karen Barefoot said.

To do that, Banks has been hard at work with Barefoot and assistant coach Tina Martin fine tuning her game.

Last season, the 6-foot-1 post player did a good job collecting missed shots, particularly on the offensive end. The problem came when she tried to go back up or get a pass off to a teammate. Uneven footwork and bringing the ball too far down led to opponents poking the ball out or blocking second efforts.

Barefoot and Martin watched tape in the offseason on Banks, quickly dissecting how someone who collected 90 offensive rebounds only managed to average 4.9 points per game.

“We talk a lot about getting her eyes up and just finding the backboard and using the glass more that she’s used it in her life,” Martin said. “There’s a margin of error when you use the backboard and being a low post player with all those bodies hitting you and banging you, there’s a lot of contact down there. So we’ve talked a lot with her about trying to use the backboard more.”

To fix the issue, every practice has a set of drills that involve facing pressure in the paint and finding a way to get around the obstacle. There’s a focus on keeping her feet stable and setting a good base so when a bump comes Banks is able to remain balanced.

It’s all part of the new world Banks and her teammates are adapting to.

Under Barefoot, the pace of practice is very different compared to the last few seasons. As a senior, she’s been tabbed as one of the team’s leaders but admits she’s not a very talkative person.

Normally, Banks lets her play do the talking. This coaching staff is fine with that, but there also has to be chatter mixed in. In fact, every practice starts with a drill solely focused on communication between teammates. It’s a change Banks has been glad to accept.

“I think it’s mostly because I was here for three years under a different coaching staff. It’s been different adjusting but I’ve really enjoyed it so far,” Banks said. “It’s a very positive atmosphere. A lot of energy all the time. Not just from the coaches, they demand it from us too.”

Banks isn’t alone. Every player on the UNCW roster has an area that needs work and the coaches are eager to address those issues.

The preseason skill development has helped the Seahawks build confidence, something they might have lacked in previous years. Banks knows that you can go through all the drills and have the right form, but if you don’t believe in what you’re doing it won’t matter. That might end up being the biggest obstacle of all.

“I feel like it’s mostly a mental thing, a confidence thing on the court. Each person on our team has talent. They wouldn’t be here if they didn’t. It’s just a matter of letting our confidence come through,” Banks said. “The people that have been here before just have to change their mindset. We might have been bad in the past, but we’re going to bounce back.”

Offseason Changes Mean Plenty of Unanswered Questions for UNCW Hoops By Alex Riley, Wilmington StarNews | Nov. 8, 2017

It’s a clever slogan that stands out on posters, billboards and even buses around town. It works as a hashtag used by every team, coach and player on Twitter when the time is right.

UNCW’s New Era, Next Flight campaign puts reality into a concise, catchy turn of phrase. New coaches for both the men’s and women’s programs means things are about to be different. The question -- how different?

This is third time in school history both programs have changed leadership in the same season. Kevin Eastman and Sherri Tynes came on in 1990, while Buzz Peterson and Cynthia Cooper-Dyke took over in 2010. Along with UNCW, four other programs in Division I basketball are making the double switch this winter – Georgetown, Illinois, Miami of Ohio and New Mexico State.

One switch is a byproduct of winning. The other is a result of failure.

Kevin Keatts’ success in the Port City made him a candidate for other opportunities. It was no surprise when N.C. State came calling and Keatts took his up-tempo, guard-heavy offense to the Triangle. The situation, both on court and in the bank account, made sense.

That opened the door for C.B. McGrath to finally land his first head coaching gig after sending his résumé to Wilmington for the second time. But this is a very different job than the one he applied for four years ago.

In 2014, UNCW was a shell of its glory days from the early 2000s. The Seahawks hadn’t put together a winning season since 2007 and hadn’t been to the postseason since 2005. Three years later, the Seahawks come in with a trio CAA regular season titles and three straight appearances in a postseason tournament. Only once in school history has UNCW run off four straight postseason appearances.

No pressure, right?

If anyone understands winning, it’s a man coming off his third national championship as an assistant coach. McGrath knows what he stepped into -- a fan base not ready to let go of the CAA’s top spot. He hasn’t shied away from the challenge. If anything, he’s embraced it.

There was little surprise when Adell Harris resigned after the conclusion of last season. In her five years at the school, success had been elusive at best, unattainable at worst. UNCW sniffed .500 just once in her tenure and still managed to finish two games under even.

What Karen Barefoot inherited is a program that doesn’t know what it’s like to win. In 45 years of competition, the Seahawks are 173 games under .500 with only 17 winning campaigns.

Barefoot’s career path has centered around rebuilding programs. This one should qualify as the biggest of them all.

At this point, fans would probably take any sign of improvement and call it success. An even record? Sounds good. A winning season? Great. Finishing top five in the conference? Miracle worker.

But those aren’t the goals she’s set for her team. She wants to win and win now. The 2014-15 turnaround by the men’s team is a loose blueprint to show it can be done. She believes her team can win. It’s about making sure the players believe in themselves.

There is little doubt this is a new era for basketball in Wilmington. Whether the next flight soars to the top of the league standings or stays grounded is yet to be seen.

No matter the outcome, it should be an entertaining journey. BLOG: DeGraaf Displays Willingness to Diversify Her Game By Alex Riley, Wilmington StarNews | Nov. 13, 2017

When asked the question about handling the role of a starter, Jenny DeGraaf cracked a smile and gave a small laugh. She transferred from Penn State with the hopes of being a major contributor for UNCW. Last year, that didn’t work out as planned.

On Sunday, DeGraaf showed exactly what type of player she could be, going for a career-high 19 points in the Seahawks’ 73-64 win over UNC Pembroke to open the 2017-18 campaign.

“I know that the coaching staff and my team has a lot of confidence in me. I’m going to go in every single night and feed off that confidence everybody has in me and try to help the team be as successful as possible,” DeGraaf said.

Her effort from the field wasn’t perfect (3-of-12 from the floor, including 1-of-7 from three-point range), but she changed her approach when the Seahawks needed it most.

After a strong start from beyond the arc in the first half, UNCW struggled from long range over the final two periods. With coach Karen Barefoot imploring the team to attack the rim, DeGraaf found her chances to score. She was sent to the charity stripe 13 times, hitting 12 attempts. As a team, UNCW made 22 of its 30 free throws on the evening.

Barefoot called matching up with DeGraaf “a nightmare” because of her ability to hit shots anywhere on the court. Last year, if her attempts didn’t fall, DeGraaf was prone to getting down on herself and letting it impact her game.

She worked hard in the offseason to erase that mentality and find a way to contribute even if things are off. Sunday showed she can do just that.

“It’s just kind of a feel thing. If I know I’m not knocking down shots from the outside, I have confidence in my teammates to be able to get me the ball inside so I can get to the free throw line and be successful there,” DeGraaf said. “It just goes with the flow of the game, whatever happens happens and I’m going to do whatever I can to do what I need to do to help us win.”

Banks stands tall

Rebekah Banks watched as her teammates struggled. With an ice pack on her wrist after a hard tumble in the first half, no one was sure if she’d retake the court over the final 20 minutes.

When she did, she made all the difference.

Banks grabbed nine second half rebounds, including five on the offensive end to help the Seahawks hold off the Braves. Pembroke actually outscored UNCW in the paint 20-14, but Banks’ prowess on the glass helped the Seahawks dominate the second chance points, 20-1.

“If that’s what I can contribute to my team, then that’s what I’m going to keep doing,” Banks said.

After barely sitting ahead of the Braves at halftime in total rebounds (17-14), UNCW finished well ahead on the final stat sheet (46-37). Banks ended up with 10 boards in just 21 minutes of work.

Haskins returns home

John Haskins was hoping to see a little bit more from his team Sunday afternoon, especially in terms of aggressive play against UNCW. Unfortunately, UNC Pembroke fell a little short in that category.

“I think I took 10 times more charges and got on the floor 10 times more for loose balls than our team did tonight in my career here,” Haskins joked.

It was a bit of a homecoming for the UNCW alum who played two seasons in Wilmington. He served as a captain on the 1979-80 team that went 19-10. UNCW’s Suggs Earns Respect, Scholarship Through Hard Work By Alex Riley, Wilmington StarNews | Dec. 20, 2017

Lacey Suggs doesn’t cry.

At least, not very often.

Yet there she was, with her mother’s arms around her and her father’s hand on her back, wiping tears from her face, hoping the brim of her ball cap would keep everyone from seeing the stream on her cheek.

Her UNCW teammates watched and grinned. Her parents and high school coach, Patty Evers, fought back tears of their own. Karen Barefoot, the Seahawks’ first-year women’s basketball coach, searched for the right words to describe Suggs.

With every sentence, more tears.

Seconds earlier, the players and coaches with the UNCW women’s basketball program were belting out lines to bad karaoke songs, laughing during a holiday party at Barefoot’s home.

The room changed when the coach walked in with a wrapped gift and asked everyone to quiet down.

The speech. The tears. The ripping of wrapping paper. Suggs clinched a framed document in her hands while reading the words – her days as a walk-on were over. When the 2018-19 fall semester starts, she’ll be a scholarship athlete.

“I think that’s why I was so emotional about it because last year was just not a great year. When coach Barefoot came in, she believed in me,” Suggs said. “The stuff that she says about me, it means a lot. For her to do that in front of everyone and have my parents come and everyone for that moment, it meant a lot.”

The moment, now a viral video that’s been played nearly 45,000 times between Facebook and Twitter, is one Suggs never could have conceived. All she wanted was to play basketball. Not long ago, that seemed improbable.

A new home

Mike Suggs called it the blessing and the curse. The Suggs’ youngest child was good at everything.

With two older brothers challenging her, Lacey had to earn success. That at-home training translated to sports. During her four years at East Bladen High School, she played basketball, volleyball, softball and soccer.

She was conference MVP in volleyball her senior year and first team all-conference in softball numerous times. In her lone season of soccer as a senior, Lacey was a first team all-conference pick after leading the team in scoring.

Basketball was where she stood out the most – three time all-state, four-time conference MVP, finishing with 2,166 points and 829 rebounds.

Still, she never leaned one way or another when it came to what she was doing after high school. At one point, Lacey had considered playing softball at South Carolina. Coaches from other sports had shown interest, but Lacey’s indecision resulted in them finding other talent.

“We finally just said, ‘Honey, basketball or whatever sport is going to end one day. You’ve got to go to school where you want to go to school and get a degree in something you want. That’s really the most important thing. If ball works out, it works out,’” Mike said.

Over holiday break during her senior year, Lacey came to Wilmington to watch the UNCW women’s basketball team.

By the time the final horn sounded, Suggs had made up her mind.

“I think that was the moment I was like, ‘Yeah, I think I’m going to go with basketball,’” Suggs said. At that point, then-coach Adell Harris and her staff hadn’t reached out. Lacey approached them and discussed what options were available. Because of the timing, all available scholarships were tied up with current or future players, meaning she’d have to be a walk-on.

“In the end, I think she realized that basketball, it’s kind of what defined her in high school. When you’re all-state and you score over 2,000 points, there was never a question in my mind that she should play basketball,” said Evers, who coached her in basketball and softball.

Waiting game

Karen Suggs knew it was a possibility when Lacey opted to walk-on at UNCW.

Coaches spend countless hours evaluating talent, making visits, hosting recruits and trying to woo players that fit their scheme. Going into her fifth year at the school, Harris didn’t have that connection with Lacey. That meant she would have to prove herself in practice.

“As a walk-on, you’re going to have to work 10 times as hard and you might not play this year because sometimes you have to pay your dues,” Karen told her daughter. “Even if you get recruited and have a scholarship, as a freshman, a lot of times you have to pay your dues.”

For a competitor like Lacey, it was hard to reconcile what she was putting in with what she was getting out.

During the 2016-17 season, she made three appearances for a total of seven minutes. She didn’t attempt a field goal, didn’t grab a rebound, committed one turnover and went 2-of-4 from the free throw stripe. Her three appearances included a 36-point loss at Tennessee, a 25-point defeat at Drexel and a 34-point setback at Elon. UNCW had six other games (one win, five losses) decided by 22 or more that Lacey did not appear in. The team finished the year 11-20.

Every time the Seahawks were at home or within driving distance on the road, Mike and Karen were there. All they could do was offer words of encouragement and support.

“She’d just get frustrated at times and I can understand that, looking at their record. I thought that she should have had a shot, but she didn’t get one. That was the most frustrating part,” Mike said.

As the season wore on, Lacey began mulling a word that wasn’t normally in her vocabulary – quit.

With no prospects of seeing the court, stepping away became a possibility. Her parents refused to let her do that mid- season, telling her she had to see the year out before walking away.

The only thing that kept her going was support from those around her.

“To be honest, I kind of doubted if I made the right decision. My confidence level kind of went down. If it wasn’t for my teammates, I don’t think I’d be here right now,” Lacey said.

New beginning

When Evers heard the name, she knew.

After a few months of searching by the school, reports hit the internet that Barefoot was going to be introduced as the new UNCW women’s basketball coach after Harris resigned. Evers had gotten to know Barefoot while being at the Final Four a few years back. She was instantly struck by her energy and passion for the game. Even though they manage teams at different levels, both had similar styles and philosophies.

Evers had been talking to Lacey during the offseason about keeping positive and waiting to see what was going to happen. When she heard the name, Evers knew that opportunity had arrived. “I just knew Lacey was going to love her. She is one of those blue collar work ethic people and that’s exactly what Lacey is,” Evers said. “I told Lacey when I found out who it was, I said, ‘Girl, you’ve got to stay. If you work hard, she’s going to give you an opportunity. She’s just that kind of coach.’”

During her freshman year, Lacey was often the first player to finish a sprint. In practice, she was tenacious on defense and aggressive on offense. She never backed down from a challenge, even against bigger, more experienced players.

That continued during offseason workouts. When Barefoot began installing her system, Suggs was often the first player in the gym and the last one to leave. She’d stay after and get up extra shots, asking coaches for help in developing her game.

Back home in Bladen County over the summer, she’d ask Evers to borrow the keys to the East Bladen gym when she had downtime. She wanted to get in a few extra hours of work.

“It doesn’t matter what you ask of her, she never has a bad attitude, she never has bad body language, you can get on her, you can do whatever and she just stays the same. She just does whatever it takes for the team to win, literally whatever it takes,” Barefoot said. “If you look up hard work in the dictionary, her name would probably pull up. That’s how I feel about her work ethic. It’s off the charts.”

Back in rhythm

Over her high school career, Lacey made the state semifinals once and the quarterfinals twice. She’d taken part in big games on big stages.

Yet, a Sunday afternoon game with a lower level opponent in front of less than 800 fans had her stomach in knots.

UNCW’s lone exhibition against Division III Greensboro College was the first time the Seahawks would play with Barefoot as coach. It was also the first time Lacey would play significant minutes in more than a year.

With Jenny DeGraaf nursing an injury, Lacey was put into the starting five – 25 minutes, 15 points and seven rebounds later, the walk-on from White Lake was back doing what she loved.

“The butterflies and nerves were there,” Lacey said with a laugh. “I did what I did but if it wasn’t for my teammates, I wouldn’t have been able to do. It was good being back out there and having a feel for the game again.”

Since the season-opener with UNC Pembroke, Lacey has served as UNCW’s sixth-man. She’s been the first player off bench in every game this season.

Lacey leads the team in points scored (144) and her points per game average (14.4) is sixth-best among CAA players. She’s also third in total rebounds (44), first in field goal percentage (52.9) and second in free throw percentage (74.4) on the squad.

Her contributions have helped UNCW get off to its best start since opening the 2010-11 season at 7-2. The Seahawks are 6-4 going into Thursday’s game with Georgia State.

Honored at last

The voting was supposed to be private, but Madison Raque has no problem sharing.

In late October, Barefoot allowed the players, assistant coaches and support staff to vote on who deserved to be permanent team captains for the 2017-18 season.

Raque, the returning leading scorer, and DeGraaf, the multi-talented forward, were among the top picks. And so was Lacey.

“She was my first choice, so I wasn’t surprised at all,” Raque said. “It might be surprising to people in the stands who might not have known who she was or where she came from, but it’s not surprising to me or any of us.” Emails, messages and questions from those people in the stands have come to Barefoot about Lacey. Several times she’s been asked if Lacey transferred in or where she was last year. Some people thought she was a recruit no one knew about.

Seeing what Lacey has done and knowing where she was last year is something that Barefoot admits she struggles to comprehend. The Seahawks wouldn’t be nearly as successful if Lacey wasn’t on the court doing what she has done.

“The thought that she would ever quit or not play basketball, that blows my mind because she’s such a good role model,” Barefoot said. “She’s just fun to coach, honestly. She buys into the vision. She helps other people do that. She’s that leader every coach has to have when you’re building a program.”

That’s why the scholarship presentation became something the Suggs wasn’t expecting. When Mike and Karen were invited to the team event, they thought it was for a quiet presentation. Instead, the team spent about 30 minutes telling Lacey how much her hard work meant to them.

“It was a tearjerker,” Mike said with a laugh.

Added Karen: “We knew all that stuff, but for her teammates to recognize it and tell it to Lacey, I think it meant a lot.”

It was a moment to recognize Lacey’s dedication through everything that had happened before.

Even with a scholarship, Lacey promises to keep the hard work up. She truly knows no other way. The days of winning sprint battles and diving for loose balls are far from over.

“I’ve even said to people around here that we didn’t win a state championship with her. We probably could have two of those years that we were in the regionals. But I felt like this meant more than winning a state title. That was the feeling of emotion that I had when it was announced,” Evers said. “It’s stories like these and the kids that have the character and the drive like she does to not quit, it’s just an inspiration.”

Suggs, UNCW Refocus After Early Focus, Other Notes vs. Georgia State By Alex Riley, Wilmington StarNews | Dec. 21, 2017

With 1:10 left until half, the whistle blew and a little worry set in.

Lacey Suggs, UNCW’s best player off the bench, was being called for her third personal foul in just 10 minutes of work. Suggs has been prone to being called for a violation. She’s played to three or more fouls in eight of the team’s previous 10 games.

But three fouls with 21 minutes left meant her role could be limited going forward.

“When you have three fouls like that in the first half, you’ve just got to play smart. You can’t draw stupid fouls so being smart in the main key,” Suggs said.

And so, she did.

The sophomore played 17 minutes over the final two periods and didn’t get charged with another infraction during the team’s 74-62 win over Georgia State.

Suggs ability to play under control in the second half was a microcosm of UNCW’s refocused effort. The Seahawks (7-4) were hit with 10 first half fouls, including seven in the first period. The team settled in as the game wore on, committing just nine fouls in the second half. Jenny DeGraaf also had two fouls through the first 20 minutes, but didn’t get whistled over the final 20.

That maturity is something coach Karen Barefoot was thrilled to see from her team.

“To be able to sit there and say, ‘We’re not playing our best basketball. We’re in foul trouble. Let’s take a deep breath. Let’s not get deeper in the hole.’ I think that’s what we did,” Barefoot said. “We kind of regrouped and it came down to leadership, to be honest with you. It wasn’t me, it was them talking it out.”

Suggs continues to shine

By playing smarter, the UNCW standout got a chance to keep doing what she’s been doing of late. Suggs finished 17 points for her seventh straight game in double-figures and her eighth such game in 11 outings so far.

Her points per game average jumped to 14.6 for the season. She also nabbed seven rebounds to bump her average in that category up to 4.6 per game.

Jenny doubles up

Jenny DeGraaf was close to a double-double against Wofford. On Thursday, she made sure she got it.

The UNCW senior finished with a career-high of 21 points to go along with 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season and fourth since enrolling at UNCW.

“I’ll do whatever it takes for our team to win and regardless of what it is, on the boards, getting steals, getting blocks, scoring the ball, whatever it takes, I know Lacey feels the same way, we’re going to do what we have to do for our team to win,” DeGraaf said.

Scoring big

With DeGraaf, Suggs and Madison Raque (11) all finishing in double-figures, UNCW has now had six games where three or more players finished with 10-plus points so far this season. The Seahawks had four against N.C. Central and just missed out on five against Georgia State. Moriah Crisp and Timber Tate each had 8.

Strong start

By going 7-4 in nonconference play, UNCW has matched its best start since posting the same record during the 2010-11 season. The Seahawks made the WNIT that year and finished 24-9 overall.

Alumni (Gym) Reunion: Ex-Elon Coach Returns With UNCW By Adam Smith, Burlington Times-News | Dec. 28, 2017

ELON — Karen Barefoot is buzzing with energy and full speed ahead in supervising another women’s basketball rebuilding job.

The coach’s new project, UNC Wilmington, meets one of her former efforts, Elon, in a Colonial Athletic Association league opener Friday night at Alumni Gym.

“Floor burns and high-fives,” she said. “Our identity is playing hard. I’ve always come with that work ethic first.”

This latest iteration with UNCW, for years a floundering program, has become rooted in what the fast-talking Barefoot calls a “teal collar mentality,” a clever turn of phrase incorporating the Seahawks’ primary color.

UNCW, which struggled to a 42-112 mark across the previous five seasons, is 7-4 and off to its best start in 10 years, fueled by a collective approach that features four players who average more than 11 points per game.

Barefoot arrived in May after spending six seasons in charge at Old Dominion.

“Some people would probably tell you that we have overachieved,” she said. “I think it’s just the fact that we’ve bought in to team basketball. We’ve gotten better. Every game we’ve gone up, and it’s not about one player on this team. We’re going to need a little bit from everybody to get it done.”

Barefoot said the beginning of conference play makes for an exciting time and that Elon (8-3), the reigning CAA champion, poses a considerable task as the first step for her Seahawks in their league journey.

She said returning to Elon stirs fond memories of her three seasons coaching the Phoenix from 2008-11. On Friday night, she faces her successor, Charlotte Smith, who last season guided Elon to a meaningful breakthrough, its first NCAA Tournament appearance.

Barefoot and Smith exchanged messages in March after Elon claimed the CAA Tournament title, with Smith thanking Barefoot’s laying of the successful foundation on which the Phoenix now is perched.

Barefoot went 37-58 at Elon, quickly transforming the Phoenix, then a Southern Conference member, from 5-26 in her first season to 20-13 in her third and final year. That marked Elon’s first 20-victory campaign on the Division I level. At that point, the 2010-11 season, 29 years had passed since Elon’s previous 20-win experience.

She distinctly recalls, upon taking the Elon post, athletics director Dave Blank giving her a pin with the initials EGBAR — Everything’s Gonna Be All Right. And it was, eventually.

After pulling out of the throes of a 19-game losing skid during her first season, Elon ultimately reached the postseason by way of a Women’s Basketball Invitational berth in her third year, before she left for Old Dominion.

“Elon will always be a special place in my heart, always,” she said. “I will never forget the things we did together. I have great memories there, so to go back and be around those people, it’s neat, and I’m looking forward to it.”

A Newport News, Va., native who enjoyed a Hall of Fame playing career at Christopher Newport before getting into coaching at The Apprentice School, Barefoot often described Old Dominion as her dream job.

It didn’t unfold as that kind of experience. Her teams were 103-93 across six seasons that included three trips to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, but no NCAA Tournaments.

There was one season remaining on Barefoot’s contract at Old Dominion, which finished 17-14 last season, following a 17-17 mark the preceding season, before she departed for UNCW, which hasn’t had a winning record since 2012.

She inherited a messy state of affairs in terms of Old Dominion’s Academic Progress Rate (APR) status. The Monarchs graded out third-lowest among the 342 Division I women’s basketball programs in the NCAA prior to her arrival. “I’m happy with the things we accomplished there,” Barefoot said. “Every situation I’ve been in has been a challenge, whether it’s been resurrecting academics or building programs. I think that every situation I have been in has made me better. I’ve learned a lot.

“Where I’m at right now, I’m very excited about this program, to turn it around and do our best. So far, so good, but we’ve got a long ways to go.”

Building and Believing By Venita Jenkins, UNCW Office of University Relations | Dec. 22, 2017

Karen Barefoot first shot a basketball when she was six years old. She’s been in love with the game ever since.

Her passion for the sport led to a successful career as a star player at the high school and collegiate levels and ultimately as a head coach. Barefoot, who was named UNCW Women’s Basketball head coach in May 2017, is known for creating championship teams. She plans to continue her winning streak at UNCW.

Barefoot has led five successful programs, including Old Dominion University, where she guided the Lady Monarchs to a 103-93 record, five winning seasons and three postseason appearances.

“I always thought I would be a coach one day,” said Barefoot. “Everything fell into place when I was 22 years old. A college athletic director asked me if I wanted to build a program from scratch. I had no college coaching experience. The program that I built went on to win a national championship.”

For the past few months, Barefoot has been building relationships with her players and having the Seahawks focus on playing solid, fundamental basketball.

Her Hanover Hall office is filled with championship trophies, photos and memorabilia. A basketball covered with handwriting sits in the corner near Barefoot’s desk. Each word was written by a team member to describe who the player is, Barefoot explained.

“My word is ‘believe’,” Barefoot said, as she held the ball in her hand. “I believe in myself, and I want them to believe. When I first got here, it felt like they didn’t believe in themselves. We bring this ball to the basketball court every day to remind everyone to own their word and to bring out that attribute in others.”

Barefoot has also incorporated her philosophy into the program: Learn every day. Overcome adversity. Visualize. Expect nothing, give everything.

The team has embraced her philosophy.

“I didn’t realize when I put my philosophy together that the first letter of each word spelled ‘love,’” she said. “I am passionate about teaching the game because I am teaching life lessons through an orange ball.”

Obusek Excited to Join UNCW Women’s Program By Alex Riley, Wilmington StarNews | Jan. 26, 2018

Carol-Anne Obusek is coming home. Well, not literally, but pretty close.

A native of Cary, Obusek spent nearly every summer of her childhood in the Wilmington area with family at the beach. She called the city her “second home.”

So, when the chance to transfer to UNCW presented itself, Obusek jumped at the idea.

“I’ve always thought, ‘Oh, I love this school’ and I’ve wanted to come here for a while. When I got the opportunity to come and play here with coach (Karen) Barefoot, I really liked that,” Obusek said.

A 6-foot-3 forward who spent her freshman year at High Point, Obusek is already on campus as a mid-season transfer. She’ll be eligible after the first semester of the 2018-19 season wraps up and have three years of eligibility left.

Last year at High Point, she appeared in 18 games, averaging 3.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per contest.

Obusek is the latest Division I transfer to make a second home with the Seahawks. The current roster features six other players who previously suited up for another Division I school. There are also two players on the current roster who spent time at the junior college level with another signee coming from JuCo.

In a release from the university, Barefoot called Obusek a player with “a great basketball IQ and low block presence.”

Obusek got to know Barefoot and assistant coach Tina Martin during her high school recruitment. Martin, who previously served as Delaware’s head coach, has been tasked with developing the post players. Learning from the best is something Obusek is eager to do.

“It’s absolutely amazing because she has worked with some of the best post players in the league right now,” Obusek said. Martin coached Delle Donne while at Delaware. “Just having her knowledge to be able to train me is just an exciting thing to have. We’ve already been working together since I’ve gotten here and I can tell a difference in my game.”

White Provides UNCW Women’s Hoops With Helping Hand By Alex Riley, Wilmington StarNews | Feb. 15, 2018

It’s 2:45 p.m. when the click of an opening door echoes through Trask Coliseum.

For the last 20 minutes, Ashley White has been in the gym. She’s rolled out the ball rack and set up the clock. Now, the UNCW senior is just waiting for the women’s basketball team to start practice.

The first four players into the arena are redshirting. While the rest of the Seahawks are in film study, this group is killing time. After a few warmup attempts, a shooting contest breaks out. Everyone sets up on the perimeter. Seven misses and you’re out.

White lines up on the right side near the top of the key and launches. The ball banks off the glass and trickles through the net.

The game goes around as four players, an athletic trainer and White, a team manager, take shots. She doesn’t make it to the finals, but she’s not the first eliminated.

The action resets and starts over. The group is laughing and cutting up. The four players in jerseys don’t see the girl with autism. They see a teammate.

Finding a family

Like any mother, Carolyn McKinney had reservations.

White, who was born in San Diego, has lived in Wilmington since fourth grade. She graduated from New Hanover High School and Cape Fear Community College. When it came time to attend a four-year school, her daughter enrolled in distance learning courses at N.C. State. Monthly trips to Raleigh were required for some of the classes. Eventually, there would be no more distance learning and White would have to be on campus.

The family discussed a move to Raleigh before White met Dr. Sue Combs at UNCW.

During Special Olympics competition on the Wilmington campus, White was both a player and coach in unified basketball, where athletes with and without intellectual disabilities are teamed up. Combs got to know White and her family. She saw White’s passion for the sport.

“She felt like she saw a lot of potential in me,” White said. “That brought me back to Wilmington.”

Combs, who serves as the school’s physical education and health program coordinator, talked with McKinney about the possibility of White working with the women’s basketball program in a small role. The idea was presented to former coach Adele Harris and her staff. They allowed White to come on as a volunteer, but sometimes struggled to fully integrate her into the program.

“(Having Asperger’s) really is not relevant to Ashley, but to some people, when you say that, it freaks them out. Women’s basketball was willing, but they were a bit hesitant,” Combs said.

That sentiment didn’t last long.

With a deep knowledge of basketball, White’s personality clicked with the team. She could talk about the game at- length with anyone. She was willing to do whatever was asked.

McKinney knew her daughter had found a special place when the UNCW women’s basketball team threw her a surprise birthday party at Olive Garden last year.

“It was one of those places where she felt like as far as the girls were concerned, she belonged. They loved her. She fit in and that was really cool,” McKinney said. A new chapter

Halfway through reading the Instagram message, Karen Barefoot knew there was a good chance she would like White.

Upon being announced as the new UNCW women’s basketball coach, Barefoot got all sorts of well-wishes, but White’s direct message intrigued her.

She talked about being a manager the previous season and hoped the new coach would give her an opportunity. Barefoot had asked her to come out for one of the first workouts and instantly put White to work.

White ran the clock during a competition where players stood at each end of the floor and shot to see who could make the most during a time allotment. By the time the first two players had finished, White was eager to offer Barefoot their percentages – not just their total makes or misses.

“She had already calculated makes and takes and the percentage before I could even turn my head. I was like, ‘Well this is pretty impressive,’” Barefoot said.

A short time later, Barefoot gave the team a water break, but the coolers were on the other end of the court. White bolted to them and pushed the cart towards the team.

“I looked at the players and said, ‘That’s the kind of effort I want for y’all.’ I talked about her and I said, ‘I told her I wanted some water and she sprinted across there to bring me water back. If you can match that, you’re going to be OK,’” Barefoot said.

Over the summer, White did her internship with the women’s basketball team. After that wrapped up, she was offered one of the program’s paid manager positions. When the staff informed White of the promotion, she fell to floor in excitement.

Amber Reeves, who graduated from UNCW last year and now serves as a graduate assistant, saw White’s passion for the game last year. Now, she’s been given a chance to fully express it.

“When you’re rebuilding a program, you need as much positivity as you can get, whether it’s from the managers, coaches or anybody like that,” Reeves said. “To have somebody who really cares is really important to the girls. It keeps their spirit up just to know that somebody really cares about them.”

The next step

With an arm pad on, White gives a nudge to UNCW post players who are cutting to the basket during a practice drill. She’s getting them off balance as assistant coach Tina Martin throws a ball off the backboard, making a rebound tough to come up with. White smiles as players tell her to him them harder.

She might not be in a uniform, but White finally feels like she belongs.

During middle and high school, she tried out for basketball several times. She was always one of the last cut.

Her dream of being involved with basketball felt like a long shot. Now, she can’t imagine life without it.

“Every chance I tell coach it’s truly a blessing to be part of something special and to have her to accept me as a person,” White said. “When (Barefoot) found out I had autism, she didn’t look at me in a different way. ... I was like, ‘Oh my goodness. There is somebody who will actually see I’m just more than this person.’”

Her work load is the same as any other manager. She washes laundry, sets up practice stations, runs the clock, shoots video and does any other task given to her to ensure things run smoothly.

She’s working towards a bachelor of arts in the recreation, sport leadership and tourism management program. She’ll graduate this summer after a final internship. White plans to stay involved in basketball in some way. Her passion for the game and her teammates is unwavering. And to the Seahawks, that’s what matters most.

“She doesn’t let her disability or her lack thereof affect her and affect the roles we give her,” Reeves said. “She’s always asking can I do more, can I do this. That just shows us that disabilities can’t stop you from being just like everybody else.”

Karen Barefoot Celebrating the “Small Victories” at UNCW By Dave Johnson, Daily Press | Feb. 15, 2018

Her leading scorer is a walk-on, the traditional kind, who played all of seven minutes last season. Three of her best players are transfers who aren’t in uniform yet. And the program she now leads hasn’t had a winning season since 2011- 12.

But, of course, Karen Barefoot stresses the positives. “The small victories,” she calls them. UNC Wilmington’s women’s basketball team might be headed for its third consecutive 20-loss season, but she’s as chipper as ever.

“High fives and floor burns,” said Barefoot, who brings her Seahawks to William and Mary Friday night. “You’re definitely going to see that.”

That’s been Barefoot’s mantra since her playing days at Menchville High and into her record-setting career at Christopher Newport. It’s stayed with her through five coaching stops, including the previous six seasons at Old Dominion.

In the five years leading up to Barefoot’s arrival, Wilmington averaged 22 losses a season. At 8-16 with at least six games remaining, the Seahawks will be at least close to matching that.

But this is only year one.

Daily Press: With only one win so far in the Colonial, what are you seeing from your team as the season winds down?

Karen Barefoot: I love their attitudes. They’re coachable. We’re just trying to change the mentality. I know we’ve changed the culture. They’re taking basketball more serious. They’re working hard. That’s all I can ask.

Everybody says, ‘You guys just play so hard and go after every ball.’ And that’s what you want them to do. We just need to have a few recruiting classes and we’ll be ready to compete in the CAA, which is a very competitive conference.

DP: You don’t see many true walk-ons these days and even fewer leading the team in scoring. Tell me about Lacey Suggs, who is averaging 12.1 points a game but has made only four starts.

KB: She really plays hard. It’s a really powerful story. The energy she brings is helping us build a program, and I’m going to reward her for that next year.

DP: With a scholarship, you mean?

KB: Yes, next year.

DP: You have three transfers sitting out this season: GiGi Smith, who played for you at Old Dominion, and Shrita Parker and Ashli Jeune, who are both from Rutgers. How are they handling not playing, and are they helping you prepare your players?

KB: We’ve got great leadership sitting out helping the players every day in practice. We’re not very deep, but you’re going to see a team that is playing very, very hard and improving in a lot of different categories.

It’s going to be a process to build it, but we’re playing very hard. We’ve improved in every area … we just have to keep growing.

DP: UNC Wilmington has little tradition to speak of in women’s basketball. How do you build that?

KB: You just try to do it the right way. You try to teach and reach them every single day. They’ve never won a championship here. We only have one jersey up there retired, so we’re coming in to put that championship effort in them. The men have done it here before. They have a ton of banners up there. The basketball brand, people are enjoying watching it. We’re playing hard. We’re trying to grow it that way. I believe in this team. I know the future’s bright.

It just takes time. But we hope to turn it around quicker that people expect.

DP: Looking forward to your return to the 757?

KB: It’s awesome. And I’ll tell you what, I’ve had so many people who have reached out to me who can’t wait to go. I take pride in where I’m from and I always have. I was a kid who fell in love with basketball when I was 6 years old.

I’m just so excited to be able to go back home and have so many people be there who can see what I’m trying to do at UNCW. I’m really excited about it.

My dad will be there. My twin sister, my brother, my mom, my relatives, ODU fans, Apprentice School fans, CNU fans. Everybody. I ran out of tickets. Can’t put anybody on the pass list anymore.

Raque’s Unexpected Journey With UNCW Has Been a Thrill Ride By Alex Riley, Wilmington StarNews | Mar. 6, 2018

A sharp-shooter. A point guard. A leader. A reliable teammate.

And now, a cheerleader.

That’s how Madison Raque described her final role for the UNCW women’s basketball team.

After a career filled with highs and lows, the senior will end it on the bench after a knee injury late last week. She won’t be able to help her team score points or get a defensive stop in the CAA Tournament in Philadelphia this week, but she’ll be the loudest player on the Seahawk bench.

“I’ve been trying to just keep a positive attitude for my teammates,” Raque said. “The season’s not really over for us. We still have the first day of conference and hopefully we’ll go Wednesday to Thursday to Friday to Saturday. I’m just trying to keep a positive attitude for them.”

Four years ago, Raque wasn’t sure where her journey was headed, but she certainly didn’t see this. Not Wilmington. Not teammates she adores. Not a coaching change before her senior year. Not a plethora of memories she’ll cherish.

As she sees it, the good will always outweigh the bad. At least, that’s how it’s been so far.

“There’s been a lot of adversity, but God has a plan. I don’t know what that plan is, I wish I did, but I think everything will work out,” Raque said.

A new home

At the time, Raque was not a fan of the idea.

Born in Kentucky, she had spent the last few years in Louisiana with her family before moving back to Louisville prior to her senior year. Adell Harris was offering an official visit to UNCW, a place she’d never been and barely heard of. The notion of relocating more than 10 hours away from home wasn’t appealing.

“I told my parents, ‘Why are we even going to go?’ They’re like, ‘You’re just going to get the experience,’ that kind of stuff. I’m like, ‘OK, I’ll go,’” Raque said.

Four years later, it’s a trip Raque is glad she took.

In Louisiana, Raque was drawing interest from schools as a junior who saw her shooting skills as a plus. Many of the institutions stopped communicating once she moved to Kentucky. Her AAU coach had passed tape along to Harris, the former UNCW women’s basketball coach, which contained highlights of Raque’s game.

There was an offer to take an official visit on the table, but before Raque and her parents could get the trip squared away, Harris was in Louisville.

“For me, once we get into really trying to find out who a kid is and seeing if they can fit from a character standpoint, I’ve got to go sit in their home and I have to be in their environment. I have to listen to what their teachers say about them, what their coaches say, read body language, how their teammates look at them,” Harris said. “I fell in love with Madison’s overall character and thought, ‘Man, she’s just a good kid.’”

Raque eventually made the trip to Wilmington, still unsure if the Port City was the place for her. She committed after a few hours on campus. Harris talked about a chance to be a key contributor to a Division I basketball program. It was something Raque couldn’t pass up.

“She gave me an opportunity of a lifetime and I’m thankful for it today. She’s not here my senior year, which it’s been a big change, but I’m so grateful for what she’s given me,” Raque said. Always changing

Raque has never really given her decision a second thought. And she’s had plenty of moments to do so.

The Seahawks haven’t had a winning record during her time with the program. The closest was her freshman year, going 14-16. They’ve finished with 12 or fewer wins every year since.

Even through all that, Raque maintains a smile. That’s the first thing Karen Barefoot noticed.

“For me, I think the thing I enjoy is to see that smile. She’s always coming into the locker room smiling, saying, ‘Hey coach,’ smiling,” the first-year UNCW coach said. “She’s just having fun. She’s just enjoying the experience. And I think this year she’s been a terrific leader for this team. Whenever you tell her to do something, she’ll do it.”

When the team picked captains in the preseason, Raque garnered the most votes. Despite a sometimes reserved personality, she’s taken on that leadership role in stride.

Things haven’t always been easy.

She was taken out of the starting five for a few games in the middle of the season to allow Lacey Suggs a chance to start. Raque admits it was her suggestion to make the move. She’s been asked to play point guard, a position she says isn’t her strong suit, because of an injury to teammate Moriah Crisp.

Her scoring has been a rollercoaster at times. On Jan. 12, she scored a career-high 29. Nine days later, she was held scoreless. Her 10.9 points per game average is third-highest on the team.

Even with those ups and downs, Raque has enjoyed the ride.

“My parents have always told me to keep a positive mindset no matter what. Things will come to you, things will always get better, and that’s what’s happened this year,” Raque said. “We’ve lost some games this year, but it’s always been just so positive. Coach Barefoot has kept us positive the whole time, and that’s what’s kept us excited to play this last year.”

At the finish

The moment the words came out of her mouth, Barefoot knew what was coming next from Raque.

With the Seahawks in a battle at Hofstra, Raque stood up and told her coach she was ready.

“She’s a player with few words, but when she says something, you’re like, ‘OK.’ She always leads by example,” Barefoot said. She dropped 17 of her 23 points in the second half, lifting UNCW to the 59-55 win. That game was the spark that helped get things going in a positive direction. Since that win, the Seahawks are 4-4, rising out of the CAA cellar into eighth-place.

Success now would be nice, but Raque sees the future. She talks at length about how good the Seahawks could be next year. She’s faced the transfer talent on the UNCW roster that can’t play this season. Practicing against them has helped make her game stronger. She hopes her leadership is an example the returning players will remember next season.

Once the year ends, she’s headed to Summerville, S.C., to work an internship in long term memory care. She wants to help kids with disabilities one day.

But for now, the team has at least one more game to be played. And while she won’t be on the court, Raque will give the team everything she has.

“The ultimate goal is to win a CAA championship and you never know what’s going to happen. There’s teams beating teams, we could beat anyone,” Raque said. “We stuck with (James Madison) at one point and they’re at the top of the conference, so I think the biggest thing is let’s go out and try to win one. That’s the ultimate goal.”