A well-oiled machine. A finely tuned instrument. A cohesive unit. A team bound for the NCAA tournament. These four statements were all uttered early in the season about the AU Women's Basketball team.
Playing under their fiery, vibrant new coach Melissa McFerrin, the consistency of seniors Chanel Hunt and Joanna Barnes, and the electric-quick and sharpshooting newcomer Tala Hadavi, the Eagles were ready to take the next step and play deep into March.
And then, in a less-than-welcomed Christmas gift, Hadavi landed awkwardly in practice, tearing her knee ligaments and ending her season.
The numbers? McFerrin had to replace nine points and four assists per game.
The reality? The Eagles had to replace their heart and soul, their leader, their identity.
"It's very disheartening for us because at the time of her injury, she was our point guard, our best leader, our best shooter and our best ball-handler," McFerrin said.
Since Hadavi's injury, the Eagles have split the duties of point guard among Hunt, Barnes, fellow senior Damarah Rhymer and sophomore Tara Williams, with varying success.
The then 5-3 Eagles have gone 2-7 since and find themselves floundering at the bottom of the Patriot League standings.
"[The injury] is so devastating because I was just starting to get comfortable, and things were starting to fall into place," Hadavi said.
Hadavi transferred from Virginia Commonwealth and sat out last year due to NCAA rules. She came in this year as the starting point guard on a team expected to contend for a PL title.
In the first eight games, Hadavi was the team's only three-point shooter and its best penetrator, which created open shots for Hunt and Barnes, and opened up the middle for center Kim Salem to flourish and for forward Jenyce Woodruff to enjoy the greatest offensive success in her four-year career.
"Tala was opening things up for the whole team, and she's really the only candidate to do that because of her shot and penetrating ability," McFerrin said.
Immediately following the injury, the Eagles went on a seven-game skid and didn't bounce back until a win at Lafayette last week.
"This year was different because I was prepared to play and be a big part of the team," Hadavi said. "Whenever you take a player out of the rotation, it becomes a totally different team."
And a totally different team is exactly what the Eagles have become. Williams has stepped into the starting role, playing the most important minutes of her young career, Barnes has asserted herself as an offensive machine, and Hunt has struggled creating her own shot.
The players who have been hurt the most are Salem and Woodruff, who now see a lot of zone defense, which finds the middle packed down for them, limiting their lowpost opportunities.
One thing AU fans have been deprived of is the developing relationship between player and coach that Hadavi and McFerrin had working. Any onlooker could tell the chemistry they had, as Hadavi was an extension of McFerrin's mind on the court.
Many times, McFerrin would call Hadavi over for a quick consultation, and within moments, Hadavi had communicated the message to the team and produced results. This rapport had been a huge factor in the Eagles' early success.
"I know it's not my fault, but I just feel so bad for [McFerrin]. I was so excited to play for her this year," Hadavi said. "She came from a top-25 and Final Four program, and she has been so patient and positive with us, and to see it producing results was exciting."
McFerrin's intensity and sheer love for her team is exhibited by her emotional coaching tactics, something Hadavi was able to translate into points.
"She's the type of player I coach best; spirited, passionate and competitive. She's easy and enjoyable to coach," McFerrin said. "We understand each other's fieryness."
The lack of a dominant team in the league plus the experience the Eagles have (six seniors) had them pegged as early league favorites. Since the injury to their floor general, they have been forced to regroup and have done a good job, winning two straight before Sunday's humbling 67-48 home loss to league leader Holy Cross.
"It's been tough to regroup because we're a totally different team now," Hadavi said. "Sunday was definitely a wake-up call for us, though."
If there are any positives to the injury, it's the increased playing time Williams is seeing. She is gaining valuable experience for the postseason as well as her role on next year's team, when she will team with Hadavi and center Abby Lipskis to lead the Eagles again.
"Abby, Tala and Tara will certainly be our core next year, and we'll need them to settle in quickly," McFerrin said.
But before they can think about next year, the Fighting McFerrins have a PL title to chase this year.
"We're trying to win every game obviously, but the beautiful thing about this league is that if we win a couple games in March, we go to the [NCAA] tournament," Hadavi said.
As for Hadavi, she will continue to be on the bench in street clothes supporting her teammates and waiting for next year.
And Hadavi's chances of being ready for the start of camp next year? Just another thing the player and coach agree on.
"I'll be there," says the player.
"Oh yeah, she'll be ready," says the coach.
