The Creighton men’s and women’s basketball teams practiced for the first time this season Friday night at the Vinardi Athletic Center. Friday at 5 p.m. was the NCAA-regulated start time for all schools across the country.

For some, the opening of practice is a relief.

“It’s nice to be done with conditioning,” said men’s junior forward Chad Millard.

Others on the men’s team are excited.

“This is the most excited I’ve ever been for the winter,” sophomore guard P’Allen Stinnett said. “This year is pretty different for us. We’ve got some things we’ve got to accomplish this year that we didn’t do last year so I think our preparation has been more intense.”

Last year, the men’s team used nine newcomers en route to a 22-11 record. The Jays’ 10th consecutive 20-win season extended a league record and is something that has only been accomplished by six other schools nationally: Duke, Florida, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kent State and Syracuse.

This year, however, the Bluejays return 10 letter winners from a year ago, including Stinnett, the leading scorer and reigning MVC Newcomer of the Year; three-year starting point guard Josh Dotzler; and redshirt sophomore center Kenny Lawson, who begins his third year in the program.

“I don’t think it’s going to be easier,” Lawson said. “If anything it’s going to be harder because we have different expectations, especially considering last year when we felt we fell short of our expectations.”

Everyone said they are working as a team, especially when it comes to helping the newcomers.

“It’s best to just help them adjust as best as we can,” fifth-year senior Dustin Sitzman said. “It’s different every year. You’ve got a different group of guys. I think we’re gelling together and becoming closer off the court as well as on the court.”

But, even with the guidance of the veterans, sometimes it’s just not enough.

“I’m nervous,” freshman guard Antoine Young said. “I don’t really know what to expect, so we’ll see how it goes.”

“As long as we go out there and play as hard as we can, we’ll be fine,” senior guard Booker Woodfox said. “Everybody’s helping everybody. It’s not just about the new guys. Everybody needs to help everybody if we want to be successful.”

One of those new guys is just as anxious as the others to get going.

“I’m real excited,” junior college transfer Justin Carter said. “They’re telling me it’s a whole lot of work and this is going to be a long practice.”

And that excites Carter?

“Yeah, I guess. I’m just ready to get going.”

On the women’s side, the team returns eight players that played last year for the 21-12 Jays, and also gets back junior guard Chevelle Herring, who redshirted last year after knee surgery.

Center Kristina Voss started all but one game last year for the Jays.

“I am so excited,” Voss said. “It’s weird being a senior on the first day of practice, but it’s exciting.”

Junior forward Sam Schuett returns after leading the team in rebounding last year.

“As you get older, it gets a lot more familiar,” Schuett said. “It’s not as nerve-racking and we know what to expect.”

“It’s different every year,” Flanery said. “We hope we can build on last year. I think we’ve got a chance to be a little different team.”