DELAND, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Women' Basketball Coach Janell Crayton allowed herself a laugh when it was suggested that her team NEEDS to have the players' names on the back of the jerseys.

Such is the challenge of having nine new players on the roster. And the joy.

Crayton's second season at the helm of the Wildcats began official practice Wednesday with a revamped line-up and a lot of optimism.

Senior Morgan Beacham and sophomore Kayla Clark are the lone returning starters. Kayla White and Tahisha Dossous saw playing time last season. Yamani McCollough suffered a season-ending injury during the preseason.

Crayton and her staff had a very buy offseason, to say the least. Now is when everything begins to come together.

"It's a lot," Crayton said. "We were lucky to have summer access and a good preseason. They've gotten to bond and know each other. We recruited them. It's been a good start."

Wednesday was one of those Day One reminders that "there's a lot of work to be done" especially with everything being disjointed due to Hurricane Ian, but also one of promise for Crayton.

"We have a lot of talent," Crayton said. "We have people who can do what we want to do. We just have to get things cohesive. It' fun because right now we have to play each other and there' the spark of looking forward to playing someone else."          

B-CU opens the season November 7 at Florida State.

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