Women's Basketball Media Day: Gators Excited for 2010-11
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 | Women's Basketball
The University of Florida women's basketball team hosted its annual media day on Wednesday.
The entire transcript of her press conference can be read online, too.
The following is a sampling of what each member of the 2010-11 Florida women's basketball team had to say about the upcoming season:
#3 Lanita Bartley, Jr, G
On her success at the free-throw line …
“It's all just about fundamentals and that I keep practicing and shooting free-throws every day. I probably take about 50 free-throws a day and it is just a fundamental part of my game.”
On transferring to Florida from Santa Fe College …
“I'm so excited to be here at Florida. Coming from a JUCO program, playing for a D-I program is something you dream of. I think if Gator fans should know one thing about my game, it's that I always hustle. I'm always going to go for a ball and give all I have.”
#10 Jaterra Bonds, Fr., G
On her expectations of the collegiate level …
“I definitely expected the coaches to be hard on you, to push you past your limit in everything you do, and they want perfection.”
On whether she favors playing offense or defense …
“I like playing both, but I would say the offensive side when it is crunch time, at the end of the game, I would like to have the ball in my hand.”
On playing college basketball in her hometown …
“It's exciting. I get to play where I grew up and in front of all my family and friends. I'm just excited to get out there and play great SEC competition.”
On what Gator fans should know about her play …
“If there's one thing Gator fans should know about me as a player, it's that I'm going to get out there and get it. I'm never going to give up.”
#12 Deana Allen, Jr., G
On what she's most looking forward to about being at Florida …
“I'm looking forward to a championship team. My freshman year at Pensacola JC, we had the talent but couldn't put it together. My sophomore year, we made it to the state championship but didn't make it out. This is a new year and I couldn't be more excited to play Florida basketball.”
On Florida's team chemistry …
“We have a team emphasis of the day that Coach Butler posts around the complex, so we just take that into very strong consideration. Ebonie (Crawford), she's like our leader, and we go to her for everything. When all of our personalities blend, I think there's no stopping us. Our team chemistry is the best of any team I've been on.”
#13 Azania Stewart, Jr., C
On playing at the international level this summer …
“I was the youngest on the team and the only one still in college, but they all play overseas and I was getting my butt kicked for a while. They have post players that can take you out of the paint, so it was a whole different vibe, so it was a good experience.”
On the Gators having a young squad in 2010-11
“I love it actually, it is a completely different chemistry, and they are young, vibrant, and ready to work. They just want to win and they'll do anything to win, and that's what I love.”
On what part of her game she feels is most effective …
“I worked on my shooting and that was good, but I would say defense. I love playing defense, offense is part of it and you have to, but I think defense wins championships and defense turns into offense.”
#14 Ndidi Madu, Jr., F
On the difference between last year's team and this year's team …
“Team chemistry. We're building a really solid base right now and I'm really encouraged in how well this team gets along. It's definitely a big difference. We're younger and it's a lot of new people and inexperience. We're working hard together, as a team, and we're trying to get ready for what challenges we face this season.”
#22 Kayla Lewis, Fr., G
On the decision to attend Florida …
“With the coaching situation and having Coach Butler who went to school here, I just felt like she wouldn't let this program slip. I felt like here I could become my best, while playing against the best. With this atmosphere and everyone winning, it is all about excellence and I love the tradition here.”
On what she is most looking forward to about this season …
“I'm most looking forward to getting in here and getting to work. I'm so excited to play for Coach Butler. I think we have a lot of talent. Especially with this new freshman class, we're ready to work and prove that we can be game-changers. We're excited to compete this year.”
On what Gator fans should know about her play …
“I'm versatile. Because of my length and my height, they can put me in a lot of different places, a lot of different positions to score and play defense. I just want to contribute as much as I can and use what I have.”
#23 Brittany Shine, Fr., G
On the transition from the west coast to the east coast …
“The transition has been really smooth. It is easy to get sad and homesick, but I don't get like that at all because my teammates are close to me and like family, and my coaches are really cool.”
#24 Deaundra Young, Fr., F
On the decision to attend Florida …
“I always wanted to be a Gator and nothing makes me prouder than to be here wearing the orange and blue.”
On the hardest part of moving from Sacramento, Calif., to Gainesville …
“The hardest part is with the time change and I was jet-lagged and real tires, but I am good now and caught up on time.”
On what Gator fans should know about her game …
“I'm going to give all that I have and do everything in my power to help this team win championships.”
On what she's most looking forward to about her freshman season …
“Just the experience of being a Gator. It's overwhelming being here because I don't know what to expect, but have all these people supporting you. Gator fans are incredible and I'm so excited to play in front of them.”
#31 Lily Svete, R-Fr., F
On what she learned while sitting out due to an injury last season …
“I learned a lot about being a leader, just from observing our team last year. I also learned a lot about going out and working hard every single day, which is now emphasized so much in how I think and how I go about my day.”
On her approach to the season …
“I am just going out every day and trying to work hard to get better.”
#32 Jennifer George, So., F
On what she has worked on for the upcoming season …
“I have worked really hard this summer on my weaknesses such as shooting a little bit outside of the paint.”
On Florida's team goals for the 2010-11 season …
“Definitely winning the SEC Championship and then the national championship are big goals for our program this season.”
On the difference between her freshman and sophomore seasons …
“The difference is being more knowledgeable and knowing more plays. It's invaluable to have a year under your belt and just calm down and know what's going on.”
On her advice to the team's newcomers …
“Calm down and don't get caught up in what's going on around you. Just know what you're capable of and work to achieve it.”
#33 Jordan Jones, Jr., G
On wanting to take more 3-pointers than any SEC player this offseason …
“I shot almost every single day, a couple hundred shots a day, so it was not just about taking them, but making them. I think so much of shooting is confidence, and the way you get confident is watching the ball go through the hoop. In a game it is not going to change from practice. The goal is still going to be the same height and the ball is still the same size, so I watched it go in all summer and hope to watch it go in all season.”
On what she hopes to build on from last season to this season …
“Maybe not building on, but taking what happened last year and making sure it doesn't happen again. We need to use last year as motivation, just play with a chip on our shoulder and really prove to people that last year was not Gator basketball. We're ready to change it around this year.”
On her advice to the team's newcomers …
“Play hard and represent this university. There are so many people who would love to be in our shoes. How many girls would love to be in our shoes, putting on the Orange and Blue, and playing for such an amazing coach and such a competitive program? Soak it up, take every day, practice hard, and play hard.”
#50 Ebonie Crawford, Sr., C
On her goals for her senior season …
“Being a senior is a pretty big deal and I'm really excited and our goal this year as a team is to have a championship season. My goal personally is to have a championship season as well. We are all out here working hard and eager to win this year. This is a talented team and with our coaches' words and advice, I think we're going to go far this year.”
On assuming a leadership role as a senior in 2010-11 …
“Each year I have learned something different from each senior that I have played. Now I'm taking those things and my leadership style and using that with the team.”
On former Gator Murriel Page joining the coaching staff …
“I'm really excited that she's coming in. She's another former Gator, so that is always good to have on the staff with her and Coach Butler. They are both passionate about coaching here, being with this basketball program and seeing us do the best we can. She was always a great post player and that is always good to have - a post coach that can help us when working inside and giving us tips that she used and that we can use.”
