Coale Q & A on First Day of Practice

[swok34]

http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=300&ATCLID=651076

SS: Does this team feel any different with 14 players, as compared to 11 last season?
CC: “Oh yeah. There is already a competitive fire in our gym, that only comes when you have depth at every position. No one wants to be Wally Pip, be sick and out for a day and never be heard from again. That is an edge that we are excited to have this season.”


Against Michigan State we didn’t play as a team. We learned that we could be a very good team or a below average group of individuals.

[sybarite]

Wow! Sherri seems to have some confidence in these guys.

I am surprised that anyone Sherri's age knows who Wally Pipp was.

[sybarite]

I thought this was an interesting comparison from her interview.

SS: How high is Nyeshia’s ceiling in terms of talent?
CC: “I have never had anyone like her.

An immediate comparison that comes to mind, and they don’t play the same position or the same way at all, but I remember when Sophia Young was a freshman in the league and everyone said, ‘Oh my goodness, if she figures it out, we are all in trouble.’ Then as a sophomore, you were worried about guarding Sophia for the rest of her career and the nightmares that would entail. I see Nyeshia like that because her level of athleticism is so extreme, that if she gains a good fundamental basis and owns the right competitive mindset, you won’t be able to stop her.

That was the thing about Sophia , you could do everything right and she would still get to the rim or get the rebound. Then she developed a mid range jumper that was so smooth. Right now it is just potential, but Nyeshia has it and it will scare some opposing coaches if she puts it all together.’”

[YCN]

Does that not give you a real reason to be excited about this season? Coach had kind words for everyone it seems. This is going to be a very interesting season on all kinds of levels. I'm ready for the games to begin! (Of course, Sherri would prefer that practice time first...)

[Peaceplease]

Kendra Moore isn't specifically mentioned in the article. Any word on how she is doing this year?

[vickie1ok]

My guess would be the interviewer did not specifically ask about her.

[sybarite]

Chelsi and Erin didn't get a lot of attention either. It's just what a reporter is interested in writing about.

[Peaceplease]

Chelsi and Erin didn't get a lot of attention either. It's just what a reporter is interested in writing about.

You are right about Chelsi and Erin. It just seemed everyone was mentioned and since this was a Soonersports interview, I figured it covered what Sherri wanted covered which would make sense to me.

Anyway, I take it Kendra is still here and, also, is not injured. My guess is that Sherri meant to mention everyone and that it was inadvertent that Kendra was not mentioned. Of course, much was about cp3 and the newbies that everyone is curious about. Anyway, I enjoyed hearing what she had to say about the team.

Oh yeah:
I agree about the perimeter defense being weak in the past. We just did not have the speed and athleticism. Looks like the team will have it all this year, even though "some of it all" will lack experience.

[Jennifer]

http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=300&ATCLID=651663

From the above linked article:

Coale encouraged her team after practice and named Kendra Moore as the practice player of the day. The OU staff has been praising Moore for her work ethic and leadership all fall and summer.

"As a senior, I have to help set the tone in practice," said Moore. "That is what I tried to do today. I really dedicated myself this offseason and I think that it showed today. Hopefully, I can continue to lead this group."