Women's Basketball Head Coach Kay Yow-Quotes From the Women's Jimmy V Classic Coaches ESPN Teleconference
11/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2002
NC State Head Coach Kay Yow
Opening Comments:
"First I want to thank ESPN and George Boedenheimer for supporting the Women's Jimmy V Classic and the three other participating teams. They have made it special with the caliber of programs that have agreed so readily to participate in this inaugural Women's Jimmy V Classic."
"This is a tremendous tribute to Jim (Valvano) and all he stood for. It's a chance to spread the importance out there about cancer research and the Jimmy V Foundation, in this area and nationwide."
"This event is very special to me, having been personally involved with cancer myself and when Jim and my mother (Lib) had cancer. What more could I ask for than the opportunity to help raise money while participating in a basketball classic that will raise money for cancer research."
Comments on the Quality of Opponents Coming to Raleigh:
"People in the triangle are excited to have these three teams coming to Raleigh. We hope by having the classic here we can create more interest in women's basketball, both here and with all the schools in the triangle. This is basketball country and sometimes we need to have the best teams to get the most attention. We really are looking for support for women's basketball and the cause."
Comments on How The Women's Jimmy V Classic Was Started:
"This is something I had in mind one to two years ago and I spoke with Nick Valvano (V Foundation) and we talked about it with the V Foundation board members. They were really interested and one of the board members, George Boedenheimer, also the CEO of ESPN, said ESPN wanted to do it. The V Foundation really got behind ESPN and then we talked with the teams. I just want to say thank you to all of the teams for so readily agreeing to participate."
Comments on How NC State is Approaching the Game versus Connecticut:
"Well, we have a game versus UC Santa Barbara on Friday, which is a tough team from the West coast. We're just going to play that game and then think about Connecticut. With their loss of seniors from last season, they are moving people in and getting ready for another great season with different faces. I have a great respect for Geno (Auriemma), he brings in great players with Taurasi and others. It will take our best effort to compete with Connecticut. Once we get past Friday night's game, we can focus on Connecticut."
Comments on the Support of Jim Valvano and His Take on Women's Basketball:
"I wish I had an hour or two to tell about Jim's support. He knew all about women's basketball, what the top teams were, who the best players and coaches were. Jim would very pleased that we would have the classic in Raleigh. I know his family is very excited. It would be special to him and that's why it's so special to me."
Duke Head Coach Gail Goestenkors's Comments
Opening Remarks:
It is an honor for all of us to be involved in the inaugural Jimmy V
Classic, especially this early in the season. More than anything we
feel very honored to be invited and included. We are looking forward to
a great weekend.
Do you like having the No. 1 vs. No. 2 match-up so early in the year?
We are just excited. I think it is a great opportunity for us and that
is how we are looking at the game; as an opportunity to learn about
ourselves. I don't think you learn a whole lot when you beat teams by 20
or 30 points. I think Tennessee is a great team and I don't know if we
are ready for that with the five freshmen we have. Sometime we struggle
in practice, but we are just looking at the game as an opportunity to
see where we are and what we need to work on.
How has the team reacted to the injury to Monique Currie? What do you
need from her replacements?
We are getting better daily. Right after Monique went down, we
struggled. There was a big gap there. We know that one person can't
replace her. It has to be a team effort. We are looking at some
different things. Sheana has really stepped up. She's a senior so she
has been through the wars. She doesn't give us the same things that
Monique gives us, but she can help us in other areas. There maybe times
when we have to go a little bit bigger with Michele Matyasovsky, who is
also a senior and knows what we expect of her. Iciss Tillis may also
play more on the wing as well. As time goes on, we will improve.
How do you think your freshmen are going to react playing in such a big
game so early in the season?
I hope that they will play the way they have been practicing. They have
been doing a great job. But, you never know what is going to happen with
freshmen once they get out on the floor. It's a big game with a big
crowd and it is on television, plus the great competition. They are
going to be thrown into the fire, I'm not sure what to expect, but I'm
hoping for the best. We'll just have to wait and see.
Can your team draw on the experiences from last season with the early
attrition in dealing with the loss of Monique?
I hope so. Every year, every team faces adversity either with illness,
or injury, or transferring or people just going through tough times
where they lose their confidence and the team loses games that you don't
think you should lose. Every team has to deal with that. We have talked
about the fact that we have always shown great character when we have
had to deal with adversity and this is another one of those situations
where our character will be tested. We will find out who we are and what
we are made of.