BATON ROUGE – The LSU women’s basketball program played host to its annual media day Wednesday inside the practice facility at the Maravich Center. Head coach Nikki Caldwell previewed the upcoming the season and took questions from the media for approximately 15 minutes.
After Caldwell’s press conference, all 13 players had the chance to speak with the media inside the team’s practice gym for one-on-one interviews.
LSU has secured three consecutive 20-plus win seasons and three straight NCAA Tournament appearances highlighted by back-to-back NCAA Sweet 16 trips under Caldwell.
LSU will play host to its second-annual Bayou Madness with the men’s team on Friday, Oct. 17 at the Maravich Center. The free event begins outside with a pep rally at 6:45 p.m. followed by court activities inside at 7:30 p.m.
The Lady Tigers will host a pair of exhibition games against Loyola at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5 and Mississippi College at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 9. Following its exhibition contest on Nov. 9, LSU with Club South Runners will hold a 5K Banana Relay/Walk. Registration information is available at http://lsul.su/1o3H6aX.
Season tickets are on sale for $75 online at http://www.LSUtix.net/. The LSU Athletics Ticket Office can be reached at (800) 960-8587 or (225) 578-2184 and is located on the first floor of the Moran Family Center for Athletics Administration Building. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
For all of the latest news and information on Lady Tiger basketball, visitwww.LSUsports.net/womensbasketball. Fans can also follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/LSUwbkb, @lsuwbkb and @NikkiCaldwell on Twitter, @LSUwbkb and @LSUNikkiCaldwell on Instagram.
LSU Basketball Media Day
October 15, 2014
HEAD COACH NIKKI CALDWELL
Opening Statement …
“It’s exciting to start up my fourth year here at LSU. We’ve had a lot of growth and success during my first three years. One of the things that we adopted over the summer was how we could be better than we were last year. We trained harder, we came together more as a team and we did the unthinkable when training with the Marines. We pushed a Humvee over 100 yards. We just wanted to take the next step in getting this team to the next level which our ultimate goal year in and year out is to compete for not only a SEC Championship but a NCAA Championship. We have a great nucleus that is returning. With the addition of the newcomers, we expect nothing but greatness from our team this year.”
On Danielle Ballard‘s leadership role with the team …
“Danielle did a phenomenal job last year in really stepping up her game in postseason. She did a nice job of carrying the load if you will from the point guard position especially when Jeanne Kenney went out and Raigyne Moncrief went down. When you have a player like Danielle Ballard on your roster, obviously offensively, you’ve got to get her the looks that she needs. Defensively, she’s one of the best defenders in our game and has proven that with her steals record. We’re expecting her leadership to carry over. She did a nice job for us over the summer in working out and being that leader who led by example. We have her, Raigyne Moncrief and DaShawn Harden to add to that guard play. Those three coming back gives us the threat that we need to be in the hunt for those championships that we are talking about.”
On the development of Jasmine Rhodes, Rina Hill and Anne Pedersen …
“I think that they have to carry over those great moments that they had as first years. Jasmine Rhodes during the tournament run was amazing. We are going to expect the same type of play from her but more often. I’m going to make sure as her coach and our staff that we find her those minutes and get her that playing time because she was always that player when we needed something to happen, she would make it happen. When her number was called, she answered it. I thought Rina Hill did a nice job for us especially early on. She’s somebody that I could see with the ball in her hand and running this team. She’s shown that in the first week of practice that she is a great leader on the floor for this team. Our guard play is going to be solid. We are hoping for Anne Pedersen to have a breakout season because her ability to shoot the basketball is really something that we are going to rely on. When you look at our guard play, we have a strong nucleus.”
On if the depth at guard will allow the team to play more fullcourt pressure …
Definitely, we are going to extend and try to disrupt the basketball in the backcourt as many possible opportunities that are available. We are going to make sure that we have constant pressure on their ball handler on makes and misses. Obviously, turnovers, we want to make sure that we are settling our defense but not making it easy for our opponent. We want to get back to what LSU was really built on. Whenever you would come into the PMAC (Pete Maravich Assembly Center) or whenever you played a LSU team, you knew you would be in for a struggle defensively. We want to get back to that type of defensive pressure not only in the half court but obviously in the full court as well.”
On the replacing the team’s post players lost from last season …
“I don’t know if you could replace Theresa (Plaisance) – she was one of a kind and a different breed so I don’t think we can replace her. She is somebody that allowed us to extend the defense with her ability to shoot the three. Right now I see Alliyah (Fareo) being that player because of her ability to shoot the three. She also brings us size, and she’s a quick study of the game so we are looking forward to getting quality minutes from her. We have the returning play of Sheila Boykin. She’s that player who was really solid for us and was great away from the basket as well because of her ability to pass. That’s something that we’re expect for her to do for this team is to be a great passer and facilitator for our team away from the basket. I like the fact that our transfers are now able to compete. Akilah Bethel is one of the quickest if you will four players in the game. She will be a mismatch for a lot of people because of her quickness. Ann Jones – she just gets it done. She finds a way. Our post game – yes, we lost Shanece (McKinney) and we lost Theresa who were two very valuable players. But collectively our post game – we’re going to have to get the job done, and we’re going to have to make up for those missed points.”
On adding international players…
“I’ll tell you that our trip to Spain (in August 2013) was really interesting. We were walking around with LSU on our chest and so many people stopped us. LSU has a global brand, and it’s an attractive school for international students. We are very fortunate to have Rina Hill from Japan, Alliyah Fareo from Australia and Anne Pedersen (Denmark) to join forces if you will by coming here. They bring so much to our team not only from basketball standpoint but culturally they do. I feel like that has really been one of those hidden secrets about how our team has been successful and how the collaboration and cohesion has taken place is through our international players. It’s great to see that Rina Hill get the coverage back home in Japan and brings the attention not only to herself, but to LSU and the SEC … They also are great people off the court, and we are excited to have them on our roster.”
On training with the Marines…
“We have adopted some of the principles of the Marines. We can’t quite do them service. Obviously, the commitment the men and women of the Marines give to keep to our country safe. We’ve taken on some of their leadership traits. They’ve come out during the preseason during the last two years and put our team through a combat fitness test. Pushing the Humvee was the grand finale … We crossed that line because everybody kept digging and kept digging. It’s great that you have the Marines right here who are willing to come over and set everything up not only work with our team but baseball. It’s pretty amazing to be part and experience a little of what they go through and what they have to deal with. It teaches our team – they use the phrase ‘Your will and your skill.’ We had to apply both of those in accomplishing those tasks.”
On Rina Hill‘s leadership role…
“Rina will be the one that we are going to look to be that leader. She’s shown through the offseason not only that she is one of the hardest working players on our team, she’s the most disciplined. She is player that will compete and somebody that will be a great extension of our coaching staff because of her high basketball IQ. I’m telling her we’re going to introduce a new offense and her first question to me was ‘Can I get it early?’ She wants this information, and she wants to take on the responsibility. She is welcoming it. She has shown in the past week, by us going Purple versus Gold, what she’s capable of as far as her ability to the lead the team. We’re going to expect that from her.”
LSU Basketball Media Day
October 15, 2014 – Player Quotes
GUARD RAIGYNE MONCRIEF
On the experience she gained during her freshman season…
“I now know what playing at the college level is like. It is definitely a lot of harder than what you think. It requires thinking, and you have to be physically strong. This year, I have been working on trying to build more weight and strength and be smarter in the game. I am definitely excited for this season.”
On LSU’s returning guards and the experience they bring to the team…
“We will rely on our backcourt a lot. We have a lot of experience, especially with the transfers A.J. (Ann Jones) and Akilah (Bethel). Shelia (Boykin) is also back as a senior and DaShawn (Harden). The three freshmen coming in are smart and talented too. I wouldn’t call them inexperienced, but they will be new to college ball. That’s something I can help them get ready for.”
On LSU’s back-to-back NCAA Sweet 16 appearances …
“The Sweet 16 has been nice, but we are trying to go farther in the tournament this year. We are going for the Elite Eight and the Final Four. The Sweet 16 isn’t something that we are thinking about right now. We are going game-by-game and step-by-step. We are always trying to advance more than last year.”
GUARD DANIELLE BALLARD
On LSU’s offseason…
“It was a great and awesome. We did a lot of difficult things, but we were really getting in physical shape. We did a lot of mental things as well. It was a tough but rewarding summer.”
On entering her junior season…
“I feel very confident. As a freshman, I made a lot of mistakes. From a freshman to sophomore to now being a junior, I have developed more as a player. I think you will see someone who was better than they were and someone who wants to do what’s best for the team.”
On LSU’s returning guards and the experience they bring to the team…
“We have some good guards that bring different things. We have some guards that can shoot and rebound. We have some guards that can play defense and stop the ball. They will make a huge impact, and that will be a good thing for our team.”
GUARD DASHAWN HARDEN
On entering her senior season…
“I just want my last year to be fun. That is all I am really thinking about. I don’t want to regret anything. I want to work as hard as possible. That is all I am thinking about right now.”
On her choice to transfer to LSU before last season…
“It feels really good to be able to come back to a school and know how everything works. I just love being here.”
On Coach Caldwell and the coaching staff’s style …
“It is different and not what you would think. It is very relaxed and comfortable. You are able to be yourself. I enjoy coming to practice and not worrying about who you are going to get every day. You get the same coaches and the same people every day.”