Each season, nine Creighton men step on the court to cross-train Creighton’s women’s basketball team in their own unique way.
Head coach Jim Flanery selects this group for a specific purpose — to replicate plays of upcoming opponents and provide strength, speed and size to challenge the women to reach their full potential.
This year’s practice squad includes Alex Heimes, Ajay Pizza, Matt Schemmel, Peter Frei, Peter Mullen, Peter Bertolini, Alex Gavin and Patrick Dorneker. Most of the practice squad played basketball throughout high school, Bertolini said. Depending on the week, the men practice for about an hour, two to three times a week, according to Mullen.
The process of participating on the practice squad is either by word of mouth or sometimes the coaches will go to the Kiewit Fitness Center and watch guys play, head coach Jim Flanery said.
“My brother was a part of the practice squad before I was here, so he helped me get involved,” Mullen said.
Flanery said he appreciates having local guys on the practice squad because they are able to practice with the team over breaks when most students are gone.
When it comes to the structure of the practice, the practice squad’s task is to replicate opponents’ plays to help the women get a feel for what they will be competing against.
“You can’t always replicate quickness, length and strength by practicing against each other,” Flanery said. “It forces you to have to play a little quicker; the first time you play against quicker, you tend to get sped up. The more you play against quicker and bigger, the more you can slow down and play the game at the speed you’re going to need to play it.”
They often split the women into two teams and have one men’s team rotating throughout the scrimmage. Usually there are about seven of the practice men there so they are able to sub in and out to help keep them going strong to challenge the women.
The women’s team has been using a men’s practice squad for the past 20 of Flanery’s 22 years coaching for Creighton.
These players may never put on a jersey or play in front of the fans, but they are still a key part of the women’s basketball program.
“There is a great value in what they do, and I know our players appreciate them,” Flanery said.
The practice squad members appreciate the opportunity as well.
“My experience has been great,” Heimes said. “It’s been one of the better decisions I’ve made at Creighton when deciding on extra curricular activities. The girls have been absolutely awesome and we’ve all gotten to be good friends as a group.”