Scamp
03-29-2008, 10:19 AM
... In many ways, it was as rewarding a year as Mulkey’s had in eight years at Baylor.
But at the same time, it was as difficult a year as she’s gone through, getting down to a seven-player rotation after dismissing sophomore guard Latara Darrett before the season and then losing junior guard Jhasmin Player on Feb. 2 with a knee injury that required surgery.
After Player went down in a 63-49 win at eventual Big 12 champion Kansas State, the Lady Bears were just 5-6 down the stretch and lost four of their last five.
“I just think the biggest thing that was difficult for me as a coach with only seven players is I missed the intensity in practice every day of competition,” Mulkey said. “Kelli (Griffin) couldn’t go against Angela Tisdale every day, and be schooled and learn. And it doesn’t matter how many Dream Team guys were there. There’s just a different level of intensity than going against an upperclassman every day.”
With really nothing to hold over their heads — like playing time — there was little reason to bust it in practice, Mulkey said.
“I think they knew they were going to play regardless, and I don’t like that,” she said. “If you don’t come to practice walking on eggshells, fighting for playing time and knowing that you can be pulled from a game because of mistakes, you don't get better as a player. You’ve got to keep them on their toes.”
... with Tisdale gone, Mulkey said Allison will have to develop as a leader.
“I think leadership is something that’s hard for some kids to do, because of the fear of I’m not going to be your buddy or I’m going to hurt your feelings,” Mulkey said.
“That’s not what it’s about. When you leave that floor, did you make your teammates better? Did you challenge your teammates to get better? Jhasmin has no problem with that, because she doesn’t care what you think. She knows it’s not personal.”
... When Pitt plays second-seeded Stanford in the Sweet 16 tonight in Spokane, Wash., Mulkey doesn’t plan on watching.
“Believe it or not, I don’t watch much of the playoffs once we’re out of it,” she said. “It eats at me.” ...
http://www.wacotrib.com/sports/content/sports/college/2008/03/29/03292008wacladybears.htmlKim looks back and ahead: lots more at that link.
But at the same time, it was as difficult a year as she’s gone through, getting down to a seven-player rotation after dismissing sophomore guard Latara Darrett before the season and then losing junior guard Jhasmin Player on Feb. 2 with a knee injury that required surgery.
After Player went down in a 63-49 win at eventual Big 12 champion Kansas State, the Lady Bears were just 5-6 down the stretch and lost four of their last five.
“I just think the biggest thing that was difficult for me as a coach with only seven players is I missed the intensity in practice every day of competition,” Mulkey said. “Kelli (Griffin) couldn’t go against Angela Tisdale every day, and be schooled and learn. And it doesn’t matter how many Dream Team guys were there. There’s just a different level of intensity than going against an upperclassman every day.”
With really nothing to hold over their heads — like playing time — there was little reason to bust it in practice, Mulkey said.
“I think they knew they were going to play regardless, and I don’t like that,” she said. “If you don’t come to practice walking on eggshells, fighting for playing time and knowing that you can be pulled from a game because of mistakes, you don't get better as a player. You’ve got to keep them on their toes.”
... with Tisdale gone, Mulkey said Allison will have to develop as a leader.
“I think leadership is something that’s hard for some kids to do, because of the fear of I’m not going to be your buddy or I’m going to hurt your feelings,” Mulkey said.
“That’s not what it’s about. When you leave that floor, did you make your teammates better? Did you challenge your teammates to get better? Jhasmin has no problem with that, because she doesn’t care what you think. She knows it’s not personal.”
... When Pitt plays second-seeded Stanford in the Sweet 16 tonight in Spokane, Wash., Mulkey doesn’t plan on watching.
“Believe it or not, I don’t watch much of the playoffs once we’re out of it,” she said. “It eats at me.” ...
http://www.wacotrib.com/sports/content/sports/college/2008/03/29/03292008wacladybears.htmlKim looks back and ahead: lots more at that link.