Women's Basketball Media Day Player Quotes
Player Quotes
Syracuse Women’s Basketball Media Day
Friday October 12, 2007
Nicole Michael
On waiting for the up coming season
"It's very hard. It's very hard to wait and it's coming really soon – before you know it. So I'm excited."
What do you take away from last year, from what you've learned on and off the court, to help this team keep building the program this year?
"Just being a team, just being one. Hanging around each other all the time, just having fun"
What are you telling these freshmen that are coming in this year?
"Work hard and compete. That's all we need to do."
How different is your mindset, knowing the year you had last year as a freshman, now that you've obviously been there and done that?
"It's so different. I was young last year; I'm still young, but playing on the court and being a freshman, you make a lot of mistakes. I have matured."
Coach Q said he expects you to be a leader even though you are only a sophomore. You're ready for that challenge?
"Yes, that’s what I always want to be. It's better to be a leader than a follower. I want to lead and help my team to grow. We are going to win games because we are pretty good."
How important is it for you and this team to show that you guys can compete in the BIG EAST? How important is it for you to show that and get to the tournament?
"We have a lot to prove. We have one of the top recruiting classes and we're really good. There's a vast difference (between this year and last) and we are going to get there."
Are you going to surprise a lot of people this year?
"I'm sure we will. We'll have to see."
Coach was saying the ultimate goal-undefeated, national championship. What do you think about that?
"I think that is everybody's goal. We are going to work hard to see if we can get there.
Erica Morrow
On adjusting to Syracuse
“I didn’t come here alone. I came here with my best friend (Tasha Harris). I came here with her, and she’s also my roommate. We push each other through everything. If she’s slacking, I’ll pick up. If I’m slacking, she’ll pick me up. We need help with different things, as far as school. We work out together, and the older girls are great too. They help us make the transition, and then with the coaching staff and all of the support services – academic-wise and athletics – it’s just a great help.”
On her friendship with Tasha Harris
“We’ve known each other since freshman year of high school. We played together in AAU. I think it brings a little chemistry to the court. We’ve played with Nicole Michael, and Vionca Murray. We play close to the same position, so if she doesn’t know something, I’ll pull her. If I don’t know something, she’ll pull me. If I’m doing something wrong, we work through it with each other.”
On the decision to come to Syracuse
“I just believed in what coach was saying. I believe in his system. I believe in what he told me he could do for me as a player and as a part of this team. I just wanted to be a part of something and Syracuse is doing something big as far as rebuilding the women’s program. I just wanted to be a part of doing something big.”
On expectations for the season ahead
“You can just expect us to come out and play 40 minutes of hard basketball. Coach has let us know that no matter what happens, we have to come out and play hard every second and execute, communicate and work together.”
On expectations for herself
“I think, just like everybody else, I just want to be one of those pieces that does whatever I can do; whatever coach needs me to do. Defense, if he needs me to run around in circles, whatever he needs me to do, I’ll do.”
Vaida Sipaviciute
On having a successful year
“It’s possible. You never know, it’s tough. It’s going to be tough for me. It’s my senior year, I need to step up and have some good games.”
On aspects she is working on
“Just getting stronger, I still feel like I’m kind of weak. I’m getting there.”
On being a leader on the team
“I mean, it feels good. Everyone is looking up to me and I’m a team role model right now. It feels good to tell young people what they should do and shouldn’t do.”
On her relationship with Marisa Gobuty
“She’s a smart girl, she doesn’t need to be told what to do a lot. I feel good that we have somebody from overseas. I have Lina (Lisnere) and now I have Marisa. She’s a really smart girl. She still needs some guidelines, but not a lot.”
On the importance of proving that the team can compete in the BIG EAST
“I feel like we don’t get as much respect as we should get. Just with myself, I just want to do good and want to come out there and play hard, so we’ll see how that goes.”
On the young class coming in building on last year
“It’s going to help a lot. First of all, we have so many people who are capable of going out there and playing hard. Last year, we were shortened with injuries. So this year we have a good bunch of people who can play and that’s really important to us.”
