Basketball begins pre-Canada practice Monday

FAYETTEVILLE – The first day of fall semester class is always busy, but for the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback basketball team it also marks the first day of full-squad practice for the upcoming season.

Thanks to the NCAA 10-day window of practice prior to a foreign tour, the 2007-08 Lady’Backs get a jump start on their regular season practices today at Bud Walton Arena.

Head coach Tom Collen returns to the Walton Arena sidelines this afternoon at 1:00 p.m., with the team set for 11 practices over the next 10 days before heading to British Columbia.

“We’ve got a young team, and with a new staff these extra practices will be a huge benefit,” Collen said.

The staff plans practice each afternoon this week with a day off on Saturday then two-a-days on Sunday. The team has four more practice days before departing next Friday, Aug. 31.

Collen also announced the addition of Hailey Nutt as a walk-on for the Lady’Backs. The former Fayetteville High player can begin working out with the team immediately.

“She passed on several opportunities at smaller colleges to remain a part of the Razorback family,” Collen said. “I know she will have an impact with her competitive spirit she has inherited from her family.”

The daughter of Razorback head coach Houston Nutt, Collen joked that he’s made an arrangement with the long-time football coach.

“I assured Houston that I would not coach (Heisman trophy front-runner) Darren McFadden as long as he didn’t sit behind our bench and coach Haley,” Collen said with a smile.

On the already hectic news day for the Lady’Backs, Arkansas learned it has its first Southeastern Conference road game of the 2008 slate selected to be a part of the SEC’s Fox Sports Net package. The Arkansas at Ole Miss game on Jan. 13 will be the lead game of a double-header on the FSN affiliates. Tipoff stays at the regular 2 p.m. at Oxford. Vanderbilt at LSU is the other half of the package.

The Lady’Backs’ TV packages for Cox Communications and with local Fox television are expected to be announced in the next few days.

Tickets for the upcoming 2007-08 season are now on-sale to the general public. For more information on women’s basketball tickets, including the new Cox Communications Lady’Back Family Pack, call the Lady’Back ticket office at 877-LADYBACK or 57-LBACK. Fans can also go on-line at LADYBACKS.COM for more information on the women’s basketball team and season tickets.