BATON ROUGE — With four starters returning, all of whom are smaller than 6-0, LSU women’s basketball coach Sue Gunter opened 2000 LSU basketball media day by speaking about her talented Elite 8 team and its difficult challenge ahead.
Women’s Basketball Media Day Quotes
Sue Gunter, Head Coach
On starting the new season….
“It seems like each year this time comes a little faster. For those of us who have been involved for so long, it’s the most exciting time of the year. I think John (Brady) would agree with me in saying that this always marks the end of last year. Everything can be forgotten in regard to last year. As coaches we’ve already let it go.”
“Last year was truly a bumper year for both women’s and men’s basketball. It was perhaps about as good as it gets with exception to 1987 when we were in the elite eight and the men made it to the final four. For us this is an exciting time.”
On the lack of depth in the frontcourt…
“There’s a since of anticipation from this staff going into this year just due to the lack of people we have. Jamie Hawkins is no longer with us. Kaisha Lymon transferred to Tulane, and Jamilah Johns who transferred to Alabama. Its certainly left us in a little bind on the frontline, specifically at the five spot (center). Right now, DeTrina White is the only true five player that we have. Somehow it seems like every time you have some adversity, someone needs to step up and that’s what we’re facing right now. We are going to have to be very energetic and creative when it comes to inside play. We will find a way.”
On her teams talent…….
“I have said earlier, this is perhaps one of the most talented teams we have had. It’s just that we don’t have a lot of depth at key positions. Perimeter wise, it may be the best team we have ever had. We have great depth there and great ability there.”
Quotes on players…..
“Marie Ferdinand had an outstanding summer. She played on the U.S. junior team. She had a chance to play the U.S. Olympic team in Hawaii. Marie has continued to develop and I think most of you sitting in this room know that she’s a very dynamic young player. She showed her leadership skills that we expect from our seniors.”
“Stacey Newton will be with us from the softball team this year. She played with us two years ago and it’s nice to have her back. She brings a great attitude and work ethic.”
“April Brown is one of the most unsung hero of all our players. She is a very intense character, a very bright basketball player and we expect great things out of her next year.”
“Kisha James is in great shape. She got her knee scoped a couple of weeks ago, but it was just a cleanup job. We’re really looking forward to have Kisha back at full tilt. She worked very hard rehabbing all summer.”
“Ke-Ke Tardy is looking great. She really came on this summer working out, lifting weights and that sort of stuff. Ke-Ke is one of those players on our front line who is going to have to play big. It’s a challenge and she’s looking forward to it. I think her attitude and work ethic has really been a counter line. We’ve been really pleased with what she’s doing.”
“The Hodges twins have come in and you are going to enjoy watching them play. I think there everything that we thought they would be. They’re hard to describe. They don’t ever seem to get frustrated. Roneeka is the bigger of the two, she will probably play the three for us, she can play the two or the four also. Doneeka is really a two or could play a one for us if need be. Both are outstanding players, great scorers, great presence on the court for being freshmen.”
“We’re looking forward to having Tomeika Johnson join us in January. Her situation is a lot like Stromile’s was his freshmen year.”
On the non-conference schedule…..
“The schedule is a difficult one. Non-conference schedule is one of the tougher ones we’ve had in some time. We go to New Mexico and face New Mexico and then either Duke or UCLA. I think Duke would like for it to be us and we would certainly like it if we got to play the Dukees again. We go to St. Thomas, which seems like a wonderful place to spend Thanksgiving, then you realize Penn St., Texas Tech and SW Missouri will be there. Texas Tech beat us last year, Penn St. made it to the final four, SW Missouri has the leading scorer in the country. Jackie Styles has been the leading scorer in the country the last two years. That’s going to be a challenge. Then we go to Indianapolis and play Purdue. It should prepares for a tough schedule down the road.”
On the conference schedule…
“The way our conference schedule falls is frightening. I think the league did a poor job with the women’s basketball schedule. We start off on the road at Tennessee and at Mississippi St.. Then we play four out of our last five games on the road. I we can survive this we can survive almost anything.”
Women’s Basketball Media Day Player Quotes
“Basically, I’m just doing a lot of different rehabs and getting my back strong for this season.”
“I wouldn’t take it as a lot of pressure because for the last two years that’s what I’ve been doing. I’ve handled the inside game.”
“I think we area better team than last year. We have much more athletic players. The people we brought in at the perimeter will help a lot. We have a lot going for us this year. Preseason has gone really well. Hopefully we’ll be even better by the time the season starts.”
Kisha James, G
“It’s feels great to be back. Sitting out for a year really hurt. Last week they went in and scoped my knee just to clean it up a little. It kept giving out on me and causing some pain. I had a slight meniscus tear. It feels pretty good now.”
“The thing that hurt me most last year was just sitting there knowing that I couldn’t contribute to the team.”
“There’s going to be a big fight for the point guard position. Angie (Crockett) came in last year and she did a heck of a job. Tomeika (Johnson) is very quick and she will come in January and battle with us. It’s going to be up to who works the hardest. Hopefully I can earn my starting position back, if not it will be O.K. I’ll just come off the bench and contribute.”
April Brown, F
“Things are looking pretty good for us.”
“Well I think our role won’t change very much from last year. Obviously we don’t have a post player, we just have to go out there and do what we did last year. We need to execute, rebound, and do the things that we need to do to make up for not having the height advantage. I think everyone is up to that challenge.”
“We just take the attitude to go out there and do whatever it takes to win.”
“I think we are a better team in some aspects. We are a quicker team with better athletes.”
“Last year I felt like I could just come into a game and sneak away with twenty points. But this year I will have to be prepared for whatever they throw at me. It is a challenge I have to be ready for and a challenge I have to live up to.”