Courtney Paris' New Perspective

Oct. 26, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- The most dominant player in Oklahoma women's basketball history found out this summer how the other half lives, and Courtney Paris said she's better off for it.

Paris said Thursday, during the Sooners' media day, that the lessons she learned while competing on the USA Basketball senior national squad have taught her to better appreciate the roles her teammates play and have given her additional incentive for this season.

"I just approach the game differently, knowing that there's more to work on," the 6-foot-4 junior said.

Paris has ruled the Big 12 Conference the past two seasons, recording an ongoing NCAA-record streak of 61 double doubles, helping Oklahoma reach the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament both seasons and twice receiving first-team All-America honors.

She averaged 23.5 points and 15.9 rebounds per game last season for a 28-5 squad and was named The Associated Press' national player of the year.

During her first two seasons, few other college players offered a substantial challenge to Paris' combination of size, touch, footwork and power, and if an Oklahoma game was in doubt, she rarely left the floor for more than a few minutes at a time.

That wasn't the case for at least part of this past summer. Paris played a key role on the U.S. team that captured the gold medal in the under-21 age-group World Championships in Moscow, then earned a spot on the senior national team, which went to Chile to try and qualify for next year's Olympics.

The U.S. team swept through the qualifying tournament, but with players like Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Tamika Catchings and Tina Thompson on the roster, Paris did more watching from the bench than playing. She said the experience of not being a go-to player was strange at first, but she used it to try and broaden her knowledge of the game.

"I've had an opportunity to play a lot on every team I've ever played for," she said. "Coming from college, where you take over half the shots, to a team where you take less than 10 percent of the shots, is a huge change.

"But I think it did a lot for me, in understanding my teammates and the different roles that have to be played in the game. I realize that every role is important, that it's not just about the person who scores all the points or is the 'go-to' person, but it's about every single player. I think it was cool for me to get the opportunity to see that."

As the Sooners prepare for their Nov. 11 season opener against Maryland, Paris' teammates say they're already seeing a different post player during preseason practice.

"She has more mental toughness," sophomore point guard Jenna Plumley said of Paris. "She's just ready to come out and play every day. She has that edge on us. She just works extra hard. You can tell that difference in her. She's becoming more of a talker and communicating with the team more."

Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale said she's often asked if she is concerned that Paris hardly took a break from basketball during the offseason. Coale said that because of Paris' youth -- she's 20 -- "she can play forever."

"Look at the opportunities that she's getting. She's come back edgier than she's ever been," Coale said. "She had an opportunity to play in a role with the U-21 team and win a gold medal, then play under a completely different coaching regime and play four, five, six minutes a game and be a role player ... and be able to be kind of the young guy, and a surprise, maybe, instead of the focal point.

"It's been fabulous for her and she's back in our gym, more intense than she's ever been."

Coale said Paris' USA Basketball experience has shown Paris that despite her previous success, she can improve as a player.

"Sometimes you have to look for ways to find an edge, and to find that thing, that carrot," Coale said. "I don't want that to sound as though she was unmotivated, because she wasn't ... but in terms of daily going to practice with a personal mission, I think she has one now.

"She's been on the floor with the best players in America and she's seen, 'I'm not there yet, but I could be.' I think that has whet her appetite."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors