San José, Calif. – They appear under the cover of darkness, bringing an early-morning energy to the stillness that is a college campus in the summer.
It's 5 a.m. at San José State University and while most students are still enjoying the benefits of sleeping in on their summer break, the day is already well underway for the Spartan women's basketball team.
"I usually get up around 4:45-4:50," says sophomore and last year's leading scorer Raziya Potter. "It's hard waking up super early in the morning but it's good to get everything done and have the rest of the day to chill and get work done in the classroom."
Head coach Jamie Craighead, now entering her seventh season at the helm in San José, sees the team's willingness to attack the day so early as a positive step forward for a program looking to get back to its winning ways.
"They want to do well and they don't care what time they have to work out," Craighead says. "They are determined to get better as a team so they have really embraced it."
That team returns nine letterwinners from a year ago while also welcoming a strong group of newcomers into the fray. And as is the case with many programs, San José State is counting on its growth during offseason workouts to carry over into a strong 2019-20 campaign.
"We are communicating and leading much better," says Potter. "I didn't talk much as a freshman but now we're all communicating and that helps us in all areas of the game."
Overly focused, it's far from the time to rest now. #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/k9UHOu5ROC
— San Jose State WBB (@SanJoseStateWBB) July 16, 2019
The Spartans roster features nine upperclassmen and the team will return its top six scorers from a year ago. Also back are SJSU's top seven assist leaders from the 2018-19 campaign, topped by junior point guard Danae Marquez (4.7 assists per game as a sophomore).
The group is rounded out by a trio of freshmen and a pair of Division I transfers in point guard Ayzhiana Basallo (Big West Sixth Player of the Year at Cal Poly) and forward Tyra Whitehead (7.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in last season at Wake Forest).
"We had a lot of good team chemistry," Craighead says while reflecting on the offseason. "They always came to the workouts ready and willing to work hard. I thought we got better every day."
San José State will wrap up its summer workouts over the next week prior to the start of practice later in the month. That's when preparation will begin in earnest for an exciting and balanced non-conference schedule.
Highlighted by dates with 2019 NCAA Tournament participants Buffalo and BYU, the non-conference slate tips off on November 5 at UC Irvine. The team will then play its home opener later that week against Eastern Washington at the Provident Credit Union Event Center.
"I am looking forward to focusing on each game as they come," said Craighead on the slate. "Each one matters and each opponent will get our best."
One luxury this year's team enjoys is its aforementioned experience, something that excites the seventh-year head coach when thinking about their goals for the season.
"We're definitely looking to have a winning season," Craighead says. "We have a group of veterans and they know what we're all about now. They know it's time to win games."
It's also clear the Spartans know that success in the winter doesn't come without hard work in the offseason. And if this summer's strong workouts are any indication, the team is ready to start working towards those goals.