TXST WBB
Texas State enters the 2024-2025 season with a new look following a 1418 season last year.
Head Coach Zenarae Antoine enters her 14th season leading the program as the Bobcats return just five players from last year’s team with senior forward Jaylin Foster being the only starter returning.
“We have a brand new team,” Antoine said. “We have 10 newcomers, five returners and only one who has started and played significant minutes. So if you ask me to pinpoint any one in particular, I can tell you at this point we’re only at the halfway mark with practices.”
As the team is learning to adjust with new teammates, Antoine is already seeing the team beginning to gel together.
“There isn’t one particular player, but there is definitely a sense of togetherness, fun and excitement in our practices, which is really what you want as a coach,” Antoine said. “You want to keep a healthy environment where we are learning and growing. You have your struggles, but you are able to bounce back and keep plugging away.”
Because of the amount of new players joining the team, the Bobcats will also look at developing and evolving what the team will look like come both the start of the new season and during non-conference play.
“We are developing as a team to what our basketball identity is going to be,” Antoine said. “One thing that fans of Texas State will see is that there’s a lot of changes in the way we play and what we’ll be doing.
“Some of that is still evolving right now. I’m sadly or happily excited to be able to stay with this team and these changes. You are talking about 10 new players, [which] is a lot on a basketball team.”
In addition to having just five returners back, the Bobcats also have four true freshmen along with four sophomores.
With so many younger players on the roster, Antoine noted that it will be critical to figure out what works best for the team as a whole.
“This is my first season having a total of 15 women,” Antoine said. “I’ve never coached on a team with so many young women before and being able to make that work for us on the basketball floor is going to be critical in what we look like.
“If you ask what our identity is right now, we are bringing the juice and the energy everyday in practice. We do have our tougher days in practice but this team turns around and the next day they skyrocket and improve upon who they were and what they did.”
Texas State starts the season on the road against the Eastern Michigan Eagles Monday, Nov. 4.
Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
