Column: Developing Leadership And Unity Key For Success At The College Level

Until last semester, I had never attended a basketball game at Boston College. Basketball has never had the same appeal to me as football, soccer, or baseball, and while the success of the BC men's hockey team has turned me into a fan, I've never had any strong desire to go to a basketball game at BC. So in December, when the opportunity came up for me to sit at the press table with a fellow Heights editor and watch the women's basketball team take on the University of Massachusetts Minutemen, I accepted largely out of an interest in seeing what I had been missing in Conte Forum.

While the team won the game by a final score of 80-64 and racked up a season high in points scored, they struggled, especially in the first half, in which they scored only 32 points and did not seem poised to close the game out. During halftime, however, something must have fired the team up in the locker room, as they came back for the second half ready to win the game.

A lot of basketball enthusiasts will say that the women's game provides a better display of basketball fundamentals, and that the sport, which is not typically as popular as men's basketball, is often overlooked. That's not what I'm going to be discussing in this column. I've never been a serious basketball fan, and I couldn't tell you about any major differences between men's and women's basketball other than that the men's game involves much more dunking.

What I can speak about after attending my first basketball game at BC is that certain fundamental attributes characterize any successful team.

It would be difficult to call the 2011-2012 women's basketball team successful, and their struggles are evidenced by their disappointing 0-7 start to ACC play and their 5-15 overall record.

But success comes in many forms and isn't sourced from scores and stats. While these things are indicators of success, how goals are achieved is often much more compelling than the goals themselves.

Take leadership as an example. For a team to be successful, individuals need to share the same goals, and those who step up as leaders are able to guide and inspire others. After the game, I was able to speak with head coach Sylvia Crawley, who emphasized the importance of the team overcoming issues during the first half to win the game.

Another trait that winning teams embody is unity. Especially at the collegiate level when players are still developing their abilities, not every player will have the same strengths or experiences as her teammates. Some players are great dribblers but lack defensive abilities, while others have mastered rebounds but have little experience shooting from behind the arc. This junction is where knowing one's teammates becomes important. Inside and outside of sports, discovering your own strengths and learning how others balance, you can help you achieve things you could not on your own.

These ideals cannot be achieved overnight, or even during the duration of a single season. Teams that are able to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament have the balance and depth that can only come with experience. Looking at the roster of the team, it's clear that experience is lacking, as only one player is a senior, and she's in her first full season with the team. Ten out of the 13 players on the team are either freshmen or sophomores. Before this team is able to start posting more wins, the players need to learn how they can work together well, which will come as they spend more time learning together.

I'm not going to speculate on the specific struggles this team has faced. While the team undoubtedly possesses a lot of talent and potential, it is clear that something is missing, and that in order for BC to start winning games, thought needs to be put into how each player can use her own strengths to fortify the strengths of the team. Once its fundamentals are present, success will come.