The wait is almost over for Faith Dupree. And what a wait it has been.
It has been more than 14 months since the 6-foot-3 forward announced that she was transferring to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from her hometown Tennessee Lady Vols. And it has been more than two years since she played in a college basketball game.
Dupree joined the Lady Mocs last December after fall-semester exams were completed but had to sit out a year per NCAA transfer rules.
"I'm eager to get out there and I'm really excited to finally get to play with these girls," said Dupree, a redshirt sophomore who will make her UTC debut when the Lady Mocs (4-3) host Kennesaw State on Monday.
Her last game was on Nov. 17, 2009, the second game of the Lady Vols' 2009-10 season. She was a true freshman and against Texas Tech she had five points, six rebounds and three assists in 18 minutes.
Back problems forced Dupree to sit out the rest of that season after playing in two games, and she received a medical redshirt.
"My last game was on my birthday two years ago, so I've been practicing for two years," she said.
Last summer, Dupree played in the Rocky Top Summer League in Knoxville, her first competitive ball in a long time. It was a valuable experience, she said.
"Because I hadn't been able to play on a team in a long time, it was helpful to be able to get out there and compete with four other girls, instead of just shooting out here by myself or going through practice," Dupree said. "It was a big help to get back into that groove."
Lady Mocs coach Wes Moore said he's not certain how he will use Dupree. She could line up in the paint beside 6-2 forward Whitney Hood to give UTC one of the most potent inside games in the Southern Conference. Or she could rotate with Hood.
"We will probably experiment a little bit with both of them being on the court at the same time," Moore said. "But on the other side of the coin, I like the idea of having the depth there and having 10 fouls to play with and keeping people fresh.
"I'm not sure yet. Defensively, we would have to be creative if you have both of them out there at the same time."
Dupree's long layoff has been frustrating for her and for Moore. Numerous appeals to the NCAA were filed in an effort to get her eligible to play sooner. None was granted.
"That part was frustrating," Dupree said.
Last January, when Dupree was forced to sit because she transferred (after sitting out the year before at Tennessee) and the NCAA allowed Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor and the other Buckeyes who received improper benefits to play in the Sugar Bowl, Moore's frustration was off the charts.
The two cases were completely different, but Moore's contention was that a player who obeyed the rules was going to go more than two years between games, while some guys who broke the rules were allowed to play in a bowl game.
Now that she's finally eligible, Moore's just happy to have her.
"From my standpoint, would we have loved to have had her from the [start of this season]? Sure," he said, "but she's missing seven games and that leaves a whole lot of basketball to be played."