Florida Women's Basketball Hosts Annual Media Day
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 | Women's Basketball
All 13 Gators met with the media on Wednesday to talk about the 2011-12 season, their goals and a variety of other topics.
WATCH GatorVision Online's interview with senior Azania Stewart and Brittany Shine.
Check out the PHOTO GALLERY from Media Day
The following is a sampling of what they had to say:
#3 Lanita Bartley
On Deana Allen
“It's hard to guard her. You think she's just going to stand there, but then she does her fake and she's gone. I don't have to guard her much in practice – normally it's Jaterra Bonds and I going at it. We have high hopes for this season.”
On her senior season
“I feel like as a team, everyone just has to get it done this year. We want to accomplish winning SECs and making it to NCAAs - that's really our goal. We're going to take it one game at a time. We worked a lot on our team chemistry – it will be better this year.
On facing adversity last season
“I think it has helped us grow a lot. We would be down by one point – that's hard. We've been working hard in practice so we expect more this year.”
On the new season
“We need to make smart decisions. Our main focus this year is defense. We're amping it up this year. Our goal is to be more aggressive. We're not going to sit back this year.”
On turnovers
“We know that we need to take care of the ball this year. That's the most important thing right now.”
#4 Carlie Needles
On what has surprised her
“The thing that surprised me was how hard we work every day, Monday through Friday. Even on the weekends sometimes, we will have two- and three-a-days, so you work a lot harder than you expect. You think you worked hard in high school, but when you come here, it's a different level.”
On transition from high school to college
“I can't single one person out because everyone has really come together and helped me come along as a freshman, but not feel like a freshman. They made me feel like I was a part of the family, so I can't single one person out. They all really helped me.”
On the new 3-point line location
“I don't think it is going to affect me when I shoot, as I don't really look down when I shoot, I just shoot. We haven't even really talked about it because we don't think it is going to set us back at all. When shooting in practice, we will say if someone's foot is on the line and let people be aware of it, so it has been fine.
#10 Jaterra Bonds
On the new 3-point line location
“There's not really much of a difference. It still seems the same to me.”
On goals for sophomore season
“My goal is when they talk about college basketball, I want them to mention my name.”
On non-conference competition
“It's going to be good to get us prepared, especially when we play FSU and Rutgers for the type of competition we will face in the SEC.
On team's intensity
“Team intenisty has always been there. We mess up sometimes, but intensity and effort are present at every practice.”
On team leadership
“Coach Butler is going to put a lot (of pressure) on the seniors and point guards, so there is nothing that I haven't dealt with before.”
#12 Deana Allen
On personal goals for her senior season
“Just improving in my stats. My goal is to average a double-double every game. I really have my mind set on that. I am on track to graduate, so I don't have anything setting me back. If I want to go forward with basketball, whether it's overseas or WNBA, I have the opportunity to do so because I am a graduate.”
On more responsibility as a senior
“We meet with Coach Butler once a week to re-emphasize things we are doing with the rest of the girls: how are we challenging them, how are we challenging ourselves. We have more responsibility as far as holding others accountable. Coach Butler is putting it all on the seniors. And that's the way it needs to be.”
On what she is most looking forward to this season
“I'm excited about starting to travel. It's always fun when basketball season kicks off and we get on the road. I love staying in different places. And of course, I'm excited about graduation; it's another stage of my life. I'm about to graduate college. It's an accomplishment on my part.”
On the new 3-point line location
“No, (the new location) hasn't really affected me. I have improved in a lot of areas and when the season ended last year, I made up my mind that I'm going to get more advanced.”
On non-conference play
“I'm excited about this schedule. I think we have more heat, more competition and I think that's going to mold us to be as strong as we need to be once conference starts.”
#13 Azania Stewart
On personal goals
“Really, I just want to be consistent on the offensive end. My defense has been pretty sturdy and that is what I rely on, so I want to get that same confidence on both ends. Right now, we are figuring out our team identity and it has been defense. We just want to down teams and have teams be worried about playing Florida, so right now that is our focus. We also obviously want to do big things and make history.”
On playing in international competition
“Every year I get better and better from it, playing more experienced women who have been playing for years. So it definitely steps up my game and changes my game by having to go out and defend at the 3-point line, so it improves my game tremendously.”
On winning a national championship vs. competing in the Olympics
“One would be just as good as the other and (just as) sweet. This is my senior year and I really want to do big things here and I think, as a team, we deserve it. This will get me ready for the Olympics because as soon as I'm done here, I will be in training camps and ready for the Olympics.”
#14 Ndidi Madu
On if she is approaching her senior year differently
“I am definitely approaching it differently. This is my last go-around, so I am more focused than ever and have more urgency because I really just want to get things done and reach goals I haven't accomplished yet.”
On if this is the best team she's played with at Florida
“I think so, because we are returning just about everybody and everyone knows each other after a year of experience with each other.”
On who has stepped up the most in practice
“Everyone is stepping up as a whole and everyone is bringing the fire and intensity that needs to be brought in practice every day.”
#15 Viktorija Dimaite
On choosing Florida
“I went to high school here and loved it. I couldn't turn down the chance to come back. The talent here is amazing and the coaches and staff are great.”
On entering the world of collegiate athletics
“It's been awesome so far. It was hard in the beginning, but it's a great experience and I'm adjusting. College is hard compared to high school, but I have all the support that I need – between the coaches, staff, professors and tutors. Basketball-wise, it's hard because of my ankle injury, but I'm getting there.”
On the other international players on the team
“I think being at the University of Florida and being a part of any sport here is being part of a family. You have all the people here, taking care of you. It doesn't really matter if you're international or not. You have people looking out and taking care of you. Being an international student, it's like they're showing extra support for me with finding places (around campus) and working on my English and what not.”
On getting on the court
“Once I'm recovered from my injury it will be great, but I'm really excited. I can't wait to get on the court again.”
#20 Andrea Vilar? Aragon?s
On being at Florida
“Here at Florida and in the United States, it's just a different type of basketball – I think that's good for a European player. I came here to learn a different type of basketball. It's nice here with the opportunity that Coach Butler and all the staff have given me. I'm so happy to be here right now. It's far from home, but all the players have helped me feel at home. It's a different experience, but I'm here with my teammates and it's a lot of fun.”
On the difference between college and European Basketball
“The difference is with contact. It's so different. Here it's very fast basketball. In Europe, it's more planned, and here it's more of an improvised game. It's good, I like that it's a little different.”
On choosing Florida
“I decided to come here in May. Coach Butler explained to me about the campus and all the girls on the team. When my family and I decided where to go, they helped me because so far, it's the most important decision of my life, we chose Florida. Now I'm here.”
#22 Kayla Lewis
On returning from injury
“After missing a lot of games last year, I am just being more grateful and thankful that I am able to play this year and that I'm healthy and just able to have a little more fun.”
On if she plays with hesitation after being injured last season
“Not at all because I feel like when you play scared, that is when injuries happen. You just have to go out there and give it your all every time because you never know what time will be your last.”
On if she can dunk a basketball after dunking a tennis ball
“I don't know and I haven't really tried. We measured our verticals and right now, (mine) is 31 inches, so I probably need two or three more inches to get my whole hand over. When I get my wrist over the rim, I will be able to do it.”
On Coach Butler calling her a go-to player
“I'm flattered that she said that, but there are a lot of great people on our team. Especially in our class, (players) like Jennifer George and all the seniors, an impact player on this team could be anybody. I'm going to embrace it and just take more responsibility.”
#23 Brittany Shine
On Florida's new strength coach Rich Jacobs
“It was great. I liked (the change). He was always ready to push us every day and there was a lot of new stuff. The workouts have definitely changed significantly from last year to this year. We have done a lot more running, stadiums, stuff like that. We did the whole stadium, not sure if anyone has done that. It was tougher, but it was a good challenege.”
On what Florida needs to be successful
“We have to come out every game with a chip on our shoulder, ready to play. Keep our leads when we get leads, and just play hard every game.”
On the new 3-point line location
“I don't think it will affect us. We've been practicing on it to get ready.”
On Florida's newcomers
“I think they are doing great. I try to help out. Andrea and I hang out a lot; she doesn't speak much English so I try to help her out. The freshman are real cool to be with, so it's not hard.”
On non-conference play preparing Florida for SEC slate
“Definitely (it will prepare us). We are going to show the world some stuff this year.”
#31 Lily Svete
On practices so far
“They have been really intense. Pretty much what we expect from Coach Butler. She brings all her energy, all the time. And we're not expected to give anything less than our best.”
On the new 3-point line location
“At first when I started shooting this summer, it bothered me a little bit, but now I can't tell the difference.”
On thoughts for the upcoming season
“Yes, I am so excited for season to start. It can't come fast enough.”
On balancing academics and basketball
“I feel like it's taken awhile to find the right balance. I just recently changed to a double major. I had planned on graduating after four years and then doing a master's my fifth year, but now I'm going to take all four years for my undergraduate degree. It's actually helped me to spread out my tougher classes, and finding the right times to study is a challenge. If I go to the movies one night, then I have to make sure I study the next night. It's all about finding that balance.”
#32 Jennifer George
On personal goals
“Some of the personal goals I have set for this season would be to just get better as a player. I have worked on 15-foot jumper in the offseason and I would like to show that off this upcoming season.”
On winning the Gameday Brickhouse award two seasons in a row
“I am looking to go all four years, so I plan on winning it again.”
On what she worked on during the summer
“My all-around game, my post-up game. Everything. I have just been trying to get better as a player and help our team win this year.”
On team chemistry
“We had a team building event where we split into teams and had to tell three lies and one truth and that helped in getting to know everyone a lot better. I definitely think we have gotten more cohesive and closer as a family from last year to this year. I think that's going to help up this year.”
On the newcomers
“I definitely think Carlie and Andrea have done a great job from summer until now. They're picking up the plays very quickly and I think they will play a lot this year.”
#33 Jordan Jones
On the new 3-point line location
“I usually shoot far out and the coaches have told me to get closer to the line, so I think it is something I am used to. The hardest thing is knowing where your feet are and making sure you're behind the line.”
On who has made most improvements from last season
“Deana Allen. She is the strongest guard on the team and our new strength coach has really pushed us. She stayed here all summer and really focused on getting in the gym, eating right and working hard. Now that it is her senior year, I think she has really taken pride in that.”
On personal and team goals
“Well every year, we say SEC Championship and this year, I feel the most confident about it with five seniors coming back. Personal goals will take care of themselves. When the team is having success, then the personal goals will come with that, so I am not worried about personal things. Just focused on the SEC Championship.”
