TEMPE, Ariz. -- Charli Turner Thorne had a little present for her players before they departed on a five-day holiday break.
"We call it 'The gift that keeps us winning,'" the Sun Devils women's basketball coach said with a chuckle.
This particular gift came without wrapping paper and a bow. Instead, Turner Thorne's staff provided each player with a workout plan that included conditioning and skill-based drills to keep them prepared for the upcoming schedule.
It's a common practice.
While all of Arizona State's winter sports coaches emphasized the importance of their players spending time with loved ones over the holidays, there is a practical reality they face: The season picks up quickly after the break so they can't afford to let their players fall out of shape.