Nicole Garbin is trading in her soccer ball for a basketball.
The Oregon soccer star officially joined the women’s basketball team Wednesday and participated in her first practice. She said she expects to suit up for the team’s second exhibition game Monday against Vanguard.
Garbin practiced with the team as a freshman, but never played in a game.
“It felt good,” Garbin said after practice. “I feel a little rusty though and need to get back in the swing of things and get used to the feel of the ball in my hands instead of at my feet.”
The sixth-year senior’s soccer season ended unexpectedly Monday when the team was denied a berth in the NCAA Tournament despite a second-place finish in the Pacific-10 Conference. Women’s basketball coach Bev Smith contacted soccer coach Tara Erickson and asked if Garbin would be interested in playing basketball.
Garbin always fed her basketball craving with intramural teams after her soccer seasons ended and participated in three-on-three tournaments.
“It’s going to take her some time,” Smith said. “Obviously, she has been focused on other things, but we’re really looking for her ability to compete in practice and help us in terms of the numbers situations at our guard position.”
More specifically, Garbin is helping to fill a hole created by Kristen Forristall’s decision to leave the program. Oregon now has 11 players on its roster.
Already in shape from soccer, Garbin must adjust to the different kind of fitness required in Division I basketball.
“Right in the beginning there, I felt like we were going 100 miles per hour,” Garbin said.
The same adjustment goes for using a basketball, Garbin said.
“Soccer, you see the ball coming but it can stay in the air. It has some time to travel to you,” Garbin said. “In basketball, you have less time to think about what kind of runs you’re going to make, or cut, just what you’re going to do to your opponent. You have less time to react and think.”
Garbin will travel with the team and dress for games. Whether or not she plays in games, depends on how she plays and whether or not she can break into the playing rotation, Smith said.
Garbin arrived for practice early Wednesday and practiced her jump shot on one end of the court. Although it was apparent she’d been away from basketball with some missed jumpers, Garbin displayed a natural shooting touch as her new teammates entered a side door at McArthur Court.
“They’re really friendly and they’ve welcomed me on the team well,” Garbin said.
Garbin completed her final soccer season with 12 goals – 9 game-winning goals. Garbin’s school-record setting career included 34 goals, including 22 game-winners.
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