Todd Skrivseth was sure of one thing when his men's basketball practice began in October. His team needed to feel a sense of normalcy.
 
"Our first order of business was to just bring a sense of normalcy to our players' lives," said Skrivseth, acknowledging the mandatory face coverings was a constant reminder of the pandemic. "To be able to get together in the gym on a regular basis and begin working on a common goal was as important as anything for our guys."
 
Abiding by COVID protocols, practices had a different look and it wasn't just face coverings. Social distancing and more focus on skill development took center stage.
 
"The guys did a great job focusing on improving their individual skills," praised Skrivseth. "They were excited every day to have the opportunity to get in the gym with a basketball in their hands. They worked extremely hard and accomplished quite a bit."
 
Even with the high rate of return on the workouts, Skrivseth still didn't get everything covered that he would have liked.
 
"Like the rest of the programs, we had to battle quarantines and isolations," admitted Skrivseth. "Our priority for the fall was the safety of our players. We understand that's all part of the process this year."
 
Skrivseth knows just how brief a college athletic career can be and wants his team to be able to savor every single day, especially given the uncertainty of the season as the team practiced for a few weeks this fall.
 
"The window of opportunity to play college athletics is very small," he explained. "It's a significant blow and can be a difficult thing to deal with knowing you could potentially miss a season. I hope my guys have a better appreciation for their opportunity every time they hit the floor when they remember the fall and spring teams had to deal with their season's being canceled."
 
Four freshmen joined five sophomores, six juniors and eight seniors in prepping for a season that may or may not come. If nothing else, the squad began forming the bonds that will carry them into the future.
 
"It's important to be in a group that is working for the same thing," said Skrivseth. "In a normal year, the guys would have been able to get together on their own and begin the process of bonding as a team. This year, we weren't able to get together as a team until October, but the upperclassmen took the lead. Once we got into October and got together in the gym, those bonds began to form. Our upperclassmen did an excellent job welcoming the new guys."
 
Now, the team is back on their own…as individuals until January. That's nearly two months away from organized activities, but Skrivseth did give his team some advice at the final practice still not knowing the future of the winter season.
 
"You've got to stay in shape," was Skrivseth's simple proclamation. "We had to enter the long break preparing as if our season was going to begin in January, regardless of what might really happen. They may have to get creative if gyms and fitness centers in their area is closed or restricted. Ultimately, we need the guys to come back in January ready to go regardless."
 
The Scots fears of a canceled season were realized yesterday when the Midwest Conference Presidents' Council voted to forgo the 2020-21 winter seasons for all winter sports, basketball included. The decision, made Wednesday at the MWC President's monthly meeting, wasn't a total surprise, although Skrivseth had hoped for the best and will now need to reassess January and February's practice plans.
 
"I'm really not sure what we're going to do at this point," admitted Skrivseth of potential practices. "I need some time to process it and then come up with a plan. We're still more than a month away from classes resuming and we'll just have to wait and see what practice restrictions will be in place by the end of January. We'll adjust our practice, if we can practice, in accordance with the latest COVID restrictions. Honestly, right now, we're just in a wait-and-see situation."