Head coach Matt Spencer pleased with 'buy in' from student-athletes
By Corey LeBlanc
It may only be a few lines into a new chapter, but there is a sense of optimism about how the story will unfold for the STFX X-Women basketball program in the 2022-23 Atlantic University Sport (AUS) season.
With a new head coach – Antigonish native Matt Spencer – not to mention an infusion of talent and experience, along with a returning roster of student-athletes ready to take on expanded roles, the White and Blue are focused on improving steadily as part of a return to prominence in a highly-competitive conference.
"We have a talented group that really believes in our vision," Spencer – a STFX alumnus – says, adding that there has been "player buy-in" since day one.
While seeing progress and tasting some success during training camp and the pre-season, he notes that his X-Women are on a "bit of a high."
"We have a very engaged team – we are hungry," Spencer says.
He explains that everyone with the program has also been focussing on unity and dependability.
"We have been and want to continue to play with purpose and embrace the grind," he adds.
When it comes to wins and losses, there is nowhere to go but up for the White and Blue; two victories last season were the second fewest in an abbreviated conference season due to the COVID-19 global pandemic; only the winless Dalhousie Tigers kept the X-Women out of the league basement.
Despite the disappointment for players, coaches and fans alike in recent seasons, ones highlighted by losing records and no playoff appearances, Spencer notes, "There is a lot of reason for optimism."
He explains that the X-Women are doing the work that is necessary to "change the direction" of the program.
"We want to give our fans a reason to be proud," Spencer says.
'Push the pace'
As for what those fans should expect to see on the floor – when the White and Blue is playing well – the former associate coach with the Calgary Dinos women's program explains it starts with "how we defend the basketball."
"We want to protect the paint first and foremost, and then be as disruptive as possible," he says of their approach on defense.
Once the X-Women gain possession, Spencer adds, "We want to push the pace and get out in transition."
He notes that there have been great displays of carrying out that plan in their first three pre-season games and two scrimmages.
"We have a playing style that can catch fire quickly and produce major game changing runs," he says of their scoring ability.
Spencer stresses the importance of attacking the rim "as relentlessly as possible."
Benefitting from having a deep roster, he expects the STFX offense will be balanced; so far, four X-Women are averaging in double digits in the pre-season – and eight players have reached double digits at least once.
When it comes to who will be on the court, Spencer starts the conversation with Katie Upham (North River, NS), "a very experienced point guard," who played three seasons for him at the University of Calgary.
Although she began her university career out west, she is no stranger to basketball fans in this region; Upham starred in high school for the Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars of Truro – a perennial rival of the Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional Royals of Antigonish, where Spencer started his coaching career under the tutelage of his maternal aunt, Gail MacDougall, who recorded more than 900 victories as head coach of the storied program.
"Katie is going to be a key player – she has already helped to jump start things for us," Spencer adds.
During the phone interview, the X-Women head coach was driving to Moncton to pick up another important newcomer: Ekaterina Karchevskaya (Mogilev, BY).
Describing her as "very talented," Spencer says the 6'1" forward from Belarus is "very selfless and has great court awareness." Although she is new to Canadian university basketball, Karchevskaya has tremendous experience, including time at the professional and international levels.
Spencer adds that she will bring "poise and composure" to the team, especially when there are tough and challenging moments during a game.
While Upham and Karchevskaya will anchor the point guard and center positions, the attribute that excites Spencer most is the team's depth and versatility.
"Our roster is deep and talented. We have multiple options at each position and that should allow us to really commit to pushing the tempo and keeping multiple players involved and engaged."
No 'weak link'
The X-Women will tip-off the AUS regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 6 p.m., when they host the defending conference champion Acadia Axewomen on Coach K Court at the Amelia Saputo Centre.
"I think that you have to make them the favourites," Spencer says of Acadia, considering they will welcome back All-Canadian Haley McDonald – who didn't play last season – for a fifth varsity campaign.
He notes that he expects the conference will be the "most balanced" it has been in at least a decade.
"I don't think that there is a weak link," Spencer offers, noting the strength of recent contenders – such as CBU, UPEI and Saint Mary's – and programs that are "trending up," such as the X-Women and Tigers, who also have a new head coach; Tanya McKay returns to her alma mater from a championship-level stint with the University of Winnipeg.
When it comes to expectations for the X-Women – such as a return to the playoffs – Spencer offers, "The approach is to take care of every day as it comes."
He adds, "We have been doing that since the first day that we came together."
Spencer shares one of the mantras that guides the program: "The future is a whole string of 'now's'."
"If you do that – take care of the 'now' – the future writes itself," he suggests.
No matter how this season's chapter unfolds, Spencer says X-Women supporters – whether at home or on the road – "will appreciate what we do."
"I think that people will genuinely enjoy how we play the game."
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