A Quick Q-and-A with Freshman Brittany Shine
Friday, October 29, 2010 | Women's Basketball
The countdown to the Florida women's basketball team's 2010-11 season-opener is just 15 days away, when the Gators play host to UCF on Sat., Nov. 13 in the first round of the Preseason Women's NIT.
The 2010-11 squad features 12 players that features one senior, five juniors, one sophomore and five freshmen. Six of those players will be suiting up in the Gator Orange and Blue for the first time.
Freshman guard, Brittany Shine (Sacramento, Calif.) is one of the six newcomers to the Gators' club, five of whom play the guard position, including Shine. She, who was named the named the Sacramento Bee's 2010 Player of the Year in her senior season at Sacramento High School, is the third player from California to suit up for the Gators.
During her senior season, Shine led SHS to a 28-7 record and averaged 16.4 points, 4.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 steals per game. Her success led the Dragons to the 2010 Northern California Division III Championship game, where she scored 17 points in the title loss versus national No. 1-ranked Saint Mary's. Shine was also a member of the Sacramento High School track team, anchoring the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, while running the 100m and 200m.
A Short Q&A with Brittany Shine:
-As someone from the West Coast in the heart of Pac-10 country, what about Florida's program drew you to Gainesville?
“What I liked the most about Florida was how everyone is just so family oriented and everybody just does whatever they can to help you succeed and a far as the team, they always look out for you, the coaches look out for you and it isn't just all about basketball. My advisor Judy Traveis helps out a lot too, making sure I'm getting the tools I need to stay on top of my schoolwork. There is a family atmosphere both on and off the court.”
-What is something that Gator fans should know about your style of play?
“I like to bring a lot of energy and I like to help my team get real pumped up and try to play up tempo.”
-What was it like being coached by your mom from a young age until you were a sophomore in high school?
“I had an advantage over the other kids because I could be with my mom at home and we'd be doing drills, we could just go outside and do drills in front of the house. We would watch film in the house and she would know what she was talking about because she's been there and done that and just going to practice with her coaching me since I was four-years-old all the way to my sophomore year helped out a lot too because whatever I did know at practice, she would just take me home and show it to me on tape.”
-What was it like when you had a different coach than your mom for the first time?
“I think it was harder on her than it was for me because when I was in the game she would try to coach me too, but she knew she couldn't coach from the stands, so after the game she would always have a lot to say. On the ride home from the games she would be telling me about what I can do to improve and even at the house she'd be telling me to cut the defender off this way or rebound like this, block shots like this, so just little hints. Still to this day she gives me advice and that helps out a lot.”
By Andrew Piper, UF Communications Student
