CANDAS SMITH CLEARED TO PRACTICE WITH UW

Wisconsin State Journal

Nov 1, 1999

Authors: Jon Masson Sports reporter

University of Wisconsin freshman point guard Candas Smith has been cleared

by doctors to begin practice with the Badgers.

Smith, an all-state player at Madison West High School, sustained facial

injuries when a car in which she was a passenger struck a light pole in

an Aug. 28 accident in Madison.

Smith, who has had several plastic surgeries, was attending classes and

doing light conditioning but couldn't participate in practice. She was

cleared on Friday.

"That's great news that we have," UW coach Jane Albright said Sunday at

the Big Ten Conference women's basketball media day. "It was unexpected

to have it this soon."

Albright previously said the worst-case scenario for Smith's return to

game action was early December. Now, when Smith might play isn't certain.

Albright said Smith "theoretically" could play in UW's exhibition opener

against Athletes in Action Nov. 9, but Albright didn't want to rush Smith's

return, particularly for an exhibition.

Smith will wear a mask to protect her nose and upper lip, which were severed

in the accident.

Leading the way

First-year Purdue coach Kristy Curry takes over a program that won the

NCAA Division I national title last season. She replaced Carolyn Peck,

who became coach and general manager of Orlando's WNBA team.

"It's a great opportunity," said Curry, most recently an assistant coach

at Louisiana Tech. "It's one I welcome and am very excited about."

Purdue doesn't have Stephanie White-McCarty or Ukari Figgs - two standouts

from last season's team. So Curry wasn't surprised Illinois and Penn State,

each with a solid core of players returning, were the conference's preseason

favorites.

Curry doesn't plan significant changes at Purdue.

"No major life-changings have happened in West Lafayette," she said. "We

will continue the philosophy of having fun, taking each day and how precious

it is and working hard each day."

And the envelope please . . .

The preseason all-conference team as picked by the coaches was UW forward

LaTonya Sims, center Andrea Garner and guard Helen Darling of Penn State,

Illinois forward Susan Blauser; and Purdue guard-forward Katie Douglas.

The media's all-Big Ten team consisted of Sims, Garner, Blauser, Douglas

and Illinois forward Tauja Catchings.

While Douglas was the media's choice for player of the year, Garner was

surprised to be the coaches' pick. Garner said she appreciated the preseason

honor but is more interested in team results.

"As far as the team, we expected to be among the top teams (in the Big

Ten)," Garner said. "We've worked very hard for a few years to work our

way up. We are happy to get the recognition. I don't think the preseason

matters as much as the postseason."

UW's starting five

Albright hasn't announced her starting lineup yet, joking Sunday: "Maybe

we'll start six players and take a technical."