Head coach Quentin Hillsman led the Orange to a 22-9 record last season and a birth in the NCAA Tournament. With four keys returnees, the Orange looks to make some more noise in 2008-09.
Women's Basketball Hosts Media Day
10/16/2008 4:39:33 PM | Women's Basketball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse women's basketball team got back into gear Thursday afternoon for the Orange's annual media day at Manley Field House. Third-year head coach Quentin Hillsman fielded questions from the media about a highly anticipated 2008-09 season.
"I want to start off by saying I am just very excited to be here and I thank you all for coming out and supporting our program," Hillsman said. "We are very excited for the year and we have very high expectations. The players that we have right now and the work ethic, time and effort they've put into this season so far has been remarkable. They have been working very hard, we are reasonably healthy and we really don’t have anything going on that is going to hinder us from having a solid season. I am just truly excited and feel that we have a chance to be pretty good this year. Hopefully we can stay healthy, play hard and compete every night. We will make some noise this year.”
The Orange compiled a 22-9 record and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament in 2007-08. It was the best win-loss total for SU in 20 years. In 1987-88, Syracuse posted a 22-9 record under head coach Barbara Jacobs. The last time the Orange appeared in the big dance was in 2001-02 under head coach Marianna Freeman.
The 2008-09 forecast is looking bright once again. Syracuse returns a core nucleus of four including senior guard Chandrea Jones, junior forward Nicole Michael and sophomores guards Tasha Harris and Erica Morrow.
Syracuse also welcomes four incoming freshmen, one redshirt freshman and two junior college transfers. Highlighting this season's crop of talent is Tyler Ash. Ash, a product of nearby Liverpool, N.Y. was named the Post-Standard’s 2007-08 All-Central New York Player of the Year.
"Tyler Ash is stepping up daily and she has been very aggressive and strong," Hillsman said. "Tyler Ash is better than advertised, she has come in and been strong in the preseason, she has made shots, she has made plays and she is getting better and better every day."
Ash averaged 17.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game in her high school career at Liverpool HS.
''I didn’t want to stay around my hometown to play but Coach Hillsman changed that," Ash said. "I like the way Coach Q does things. I wanted to be a part of his team and it feels good to play for him. He always wants to win and wants us to work hard.”
Following Hillsman's delivery, the student-athletes answered questions about the upcoming season. Jones, last season's leading scorer with 15.1 points per game, is excited about this year's incoming freshmen class.
"They're looking good. They're quick learners," Jones said. "Everybody's getting attached really closely and quickly, so I think that's a step in the right direction. I think they're going to do a good job this season."
After accruing a 10-6 BIG EAST record in arguably one of the toughest conferences in the NCAA, Jones understands the Orange will not be flying under anyone's radar in 2008-09.
"Yeah, we were the underdogs last season and not many people were expecting that type of production from us," Jones said. "We just have to go out and do the same thing we did last year. I mean, people are still going to try and doubt us, because some of them might think last season was a fluke. We just have to prove them wrong and do what we have to do."
Michael averaged 11.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game last season and will be a pivotal resources in Hillman's starting rotation.
"Last year was pretty good, but it wasn’t as good as we expected it to be," Michael said. "We just want to keep getting better each time out. We want to make it to the tournament and get past the first round and just try to keep moving on from there.”
Syracuse's first game tips off at Siena on Friday, Nov. 14 in Loudonville, N.Y. at 7 p.m. Following the first game, the Orange travels to play Maryland Eastern Shore on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. and Ohio State on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. SU will take a long expedition to take part in the Great Alaska Shootout on Tuesday, Nov. 25 and Wednesday, Nov. 26.
"We scheduled it (the Great Alaska Shootout) that way because we were very good at home and I think that some of our road losses really hurt us," Hillsman said. If we can get on the road and win some of those road games and get some confidence and continuity on the road, I think that it will serve us well in the BIG EAST because we have some tough road conference games. I believe we really just have to put ourselves in a position where we are prepared and understand what life is like on the road. We’re ready to get on the road and win some basketball games.”
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