Central Michigan University Athletics
Douglas Enjoying Return To Basketball
1/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 2, 2003
It has been a roller-coaster ride the past two seasons for Central Michigan University women's basketball forward Tiffany Douglas.
The Lansing native arrived at CMU after wrapping-up a career with one of the best high school teams in the state, Everett High. But, after making it through the preseason conditioning drills, Douglas tore her ACL in the first practice of the season. In matter of minutes, she went from playing to spectating.
"It was hard to sit out last season," Douglas recollects. "I came in and I was excited and ready to go. I made it through the hardest part, the preseason, but then I got injured and I had to miss the fun part."
A year later, Douglas is back on the hardwood and couldn't be happier getting back to what she enjoys.
"I am very excited about this season," Douglas commented. "It was a long process to get where I'm at right now. I'm glad it's over and that I can get back to playing." But, after a major injury to the ACL, it's hard to get back into the swing of things without a little hesitation.
"It took a lot of time to get used to my knee again," said Douglas. "In your mind, you keeping thinking that it's still injured but after a while I got used it. "In fact, the trainers had to keep telling me that it was fixed, and that I had nothing to worry about."
Coupled with the transition that Douglas is going through with her knee, the redshirt freshman is still trying to adapt to the college game. Douglas may have played for one of the most competitive high school squads in the state, but college ball is still something completely different.
"In high school, I was starter," noted Douglas. "But, now that I'm in college, I had to start all over again."
The transition to college ball hasn't been as dramatic, though. Douglas did have one year to sit on the sidelines to observe, and appreciate the sport of college ball.
"I can tell that there's difference from high school to college ball," she said. "I had the opportunity to learn a lot by watching. I became familiar with plays, and prepared for college ball.
"In the end, though, I'm just happy to be here. There are many people who are not as fortunate as I to play Division I college basketball."
