In a game as globally recognized as basketball, it is no surprise to see international athletes show up even here in Carbondale to play their sport at the next level.
This is certainly the case for the SIU women’s basketball team. Six of the 14 roster spots are occupied by international talent, including Isabella Palmqvist, from Denmark; Alice Curman, from Sweden; Kelowna Ngoyi, from Canada; and Ternadoo Agatha Agba, Angela Samuel and Gift Uchenna, from Nigeria.
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Of the international players on the squad, three have had the most impact: Palmqvist, Curman and Uchenna. The trio has seen playing time in nearly every game this season and have been significant contributors during their time on the court.
Uchenna, a junior, has been nothing short of a star in her new environment. The junior is averaging almost 16 points per game, good for 10th in the conference and leads the Missouri Valley in rebounding at over 13 a night. Uchenna’s 2.3 blocks per game is also good for second-best in the conference.
For Uchenna, playing in different environments has been a regularity. After growing up in Nigeria, she attended high school in Japan. From there she attended Shih Hsin University in Taiwan for two years, where she saw a lot of success before coming to the United States.
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Success on the court overseas hasn’t been everything for Uchenna, as she has had to adapt to being comfortable away from home.
“That has been something that I’ve adapted to, just realizing that this is not my home,” she said.
But having her teammates close by has been helpful in letting her feel like she belongs.
“You go to your teammates place and you are bonded together,” Uchenna said. “You don’t go to a place by yourself, you go with your teammates, so that helps the team bond more.”
All in their first years at SIU, these international athletes have adapted quickly in their new environments. In fact, they have been able to help some of the U.S.-born players get accustomed to their new school.
“Even some of my international young ladies are helping some of our domestic kids feel more at home,” Coach Kelly Bond-White said.
Basketball is a sport that is often played in slightly different ways depending on the location. Different cultures have different styles of play, with styles like “Euroball” coming to mind.
For students of the game not from the U.S., there can be a bit of a learning curve when adjusting to the American playstyle, and the international Salukis are no exception.
“The biggest part is getting them comfortable in the system. Some rules are different. The physicality is a little bit different,” Bond-White said.
Uchenna also recognized that the game is different in the States and has been something she has adapted to well.
“Playing in the U.S. has been a unique experience for me competitively,” Uchenna said. “The U.S. tends to be fast paced and very physical.”
But the international players have introduced their own cultural styles of basketball to the American athletes as well.
“We bring different styles and perspectives to the game, helping us grow as a unit,” Uchenna said.
Understanding the American style of basketball consists of more than knowing what it is like during a game, though. It was also important for them to understand exactly what the coaching staff was asking of them.
“There were some translation things, just from a cultural standpoint, just from a basketball terminology standpoint,” said Bond-White.
Bond-White also said that being a coach to international students has made her be not just a teacher of the game, but a student herself, one studying how to be the best coach she can be. One of the most important things she has learned this season was how to be more patient with her players, “something that us coaches are short on,” she said.
As part of evolving as a coach, Bond-White has also had to adjust her communication and the way in which she teaches her athletes.
“You learn to do things in a shorter period and to speak clearly,” Bond-White said.
Similarly, the athletes have had to learn how to be better communicators to help their teammates get better.
“We emphasize on open communication and mutual respect,” Uchenna said.
With players from many different places, there has been a lot of learning about different cultures which is something that Bond-White has found to be an enjoyable experience.
“That’s the fun part,” she said.
Learning about the cultures present on the team has been facilitated through a variety of means.
“I’m learning through their cooking, I’m learning through their experiences, I’m learning through their families,” Bond-White said.
Despite the struggles for the Salukis this season, they look to continue to learn more about each other to grow as a unit and find success down the stretch.
“There are just some growing pains that you have to go through in order to keep getting better and better,” Bond-White said.
Sports Reporter Nick Pfannkuche can be reached at [email protected]. To stay up to date on all your southern Illinois news, be sure to follow The Daily Egyptian on Facebook and X @dailyegyptian.
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