University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Women's Basketball Holds Annual Media Day Luncheon
11/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 1, 2010
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss women's basketball program held its annual Media Day Luncheon Monday in Reed Green Coliseum. Head coach Joye Lee-McNelis and the Lady Eagle players met with reporters to preview the upcoming season.
Southern Miss returns only five letterwinners from a team that finished with a record of 9-21 last season.
Southern Miss will play its first exhibition game on Wednesday, Nov. 3 against Mobile in Reed Green Coliseum at 7 p.m.
Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis
Opening Statements "I think every media person has asked me since last season at the end of the year how will it be without Pauline Love? What is the post-Pauline Love era going to be? That's the question so many want to know the answer to. I believe that this team will be a better team than what we were last year. We have many different weapons that will be able to help make up for Pauline Love not being her. Yes, she was a star. I believe we have many young stars that have the potential to be able to make a difference."
"One of the challenges we faced last year was our injuries. We had nine different players miss games due to injuries. There were many times, particularly late in the year, where every coach had to practice and that was challenging for us. Unfortunately, the injury bug has bitten us already. Our injured players have practiced a total of five days combined."
"When we look at the leadership of this team of Ashlee Kelly, Brittany Johnson, Geneshia Dunbar, Tanesha Washington - that has been what separated us in the offseason. They have tried to lead vocally, as well as by example. They've tried to help these younger players understand the do's and don'ts and the overall philosophy of our program. Has it been challenging for them? Yes. Have they been frustrated? Yes. But when you have a bunch of new players coming in and don't understand the expectations, that's where your leadership is very critical and their leadership has been fantastic."
"I think as the players continue to learn each other and continue to blend together, it will make our season very exciting."
"With our eight new players, they have a lot of potential. It's very important that they learn discipline. It's the unknown of how these young players will react when the lights on go, the cheerleaders show up and the people in the stands. When you have players who won't be able to suit up for games, that's a real challenge to have that leadership on the floor to be ready to help us control that."
"I think we have a good mixture of returning players and new players. One of the questions I've been asked is the potential of our newcomers. Can our newcomers make a difference? They're going to have to make a difference. They're going to have to be able to play. They've got to lace up their boot straps. They have to be ready to be coached and understand that when we walk on that floor, it's time to be totally committed. It's time to be uncommon. They have worked all summer, spent extra time in the weight room, spent time running stadiums, spent time on the floor, spent time working on their skill development. That's why we have challenged them to be uncommon. Don't be the average Joe. Everybody in the country is practicing, but it's got to be an and-then-some attitude in order for us to be successful. Because of our youth, we have to be able to do those little things that make a difference. "
"Come Wednesday when the lights come on, the cheerleaders show and people are in the stands; you'll get an opportunity to see a team that lays it all on the line. A team that's going to get after loose balls, crashes the offensive glass, that get's up and plays with that intestinal fortitude to guard the basketball. We are going to make a living in the early going off of our defense, our rebounding and our all out hustle to give us an opportunity to get some easy baskets. With a team this young, early on, you're going to have some miscues. We will have to rebound, defend and get on the floor for loose balls to make up for the miscues."
About the toughness of the schedule "We play 12 teams that played in postseason last year. Eight teams played in the NCAA Tournament last year. We play seven teams in our non-conference schedule that played in the NCAA Tournament. That is going to be a challenge. Those eight teams that played in the NCAA Tournament are definitely not as young as we are. Almost every one of them is a seasoned squad. If you're going to beat the best, you have to play them. If you're going to compete with the best, you have to play them. This team will be ready to go to war."
Senior Tanesha Washington
Do you think it's possible for you to jell early in the season and how important will that be when you get to conference play?
"I think we will be able to jell together by the time we hit the big schools. It's all about how we practice. If we can get the younger players to focus mentally and just be ready to play, then I believe we will be okay."
Has the recruiting talent showed up on the court? "Yes, it has. The freshmen are willing to learn and take directions. They make our job easier. We tell them what to do, what not to do and they listen."
