First-year coach Legette-Jack ready for season with squad

With a wide smile and a few dance shimmies, Felisha Legette-Jack introduced her first IU team to a crowd of more than 14,000 at Hoosier Hysteria Friday night.\nThe women's basketball team took Branch McCracken Court at Assembly Hall to a standing ovation. After the Hoosiers were announced, an animated Legette-Jack addressed the crowd.\n"Tonight, women's basketball is on a journey to pursue championships," Legette-Jack said. "We won't get tired, we won't quit, but we need our sixth player to come out, and that's you. Will you join us?"\nThe team kicked off Hoosier Hysteria with an autograph session before warming up for the crowd.\n"I think it's a great time for us players to interact with our fans on a more personal level," junior guard Nikki Smith said. "Seeing the little kids all excited and even their parents super excited to see everyone, it's a great time."\nSophomore forward Whitney Thomas shared the same view.\n"It's not every day that we get to see that many people in the stands, and hopefully soon that will be at our games," Thomas said.\nSmith said Hoosier Hysteria is a great time for everyone who loves IU basketball to come together and kick off the season. She said it's really important to get the team's name out there and have as many fans as possible come out since the women's team doesn't normally play in front of a big crowd.\n"It's exciting, and we're ready to get started," Legette-Jack said. "What's that song, 'I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it?' Well I really am ready to lose control."\nThe passion and excitement Legette-Jack has brought to IU will help the team in the long run, senior guard Leah Enterline said.\n"They bring so much energy to the floor every single second, and that's just an awesome feeling that they come in every day with fire," Enterline said. "She's not scared to come up to us, give us a high five and tell us we're awesome. On the flip side, if we're not getting it done, she's right on us and pushing us to be our best every single second."\nAfter Legette-Jack addressed the crowd, the Hoosiers took part in several lay-up and jump-shot drills followed by the ever-popular three-point contest. After the graduation of three-time reigning champion Cyndi Valentin, Smith took the crown with a total of 29 three-point shots made through both rounds.\nWith the loss of their two leading scorers from last year, the Hoosiers will be looking to their players to step up and have Smith's shooting -- which she displayed Friday night -- to carry over into the season.\n"I feel like we're not the only team that lost some great players," Thomas said. "So like every other team, the preseason is going to be about working on your weaknesses and getting stronger"