Sooners Begin 'Third Season'

March 22, 2008

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The University of Oklahoma women's basketball team met the media and held its first practice on site Saturday in preparation for the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship.

Head coach Sherri Coale, junior center Courtney Paris and sophomore forward Amanda Thompson represented OU in the official pre-game press conference before the Sooners held an hour-long open practice at Mackey Arena on the campus of Purdue University.

The team then traveled to West Lafayette High School for a closed practice session to work in greater detail for Sunday's game versus Illinois State.

OU and Illinois State tip-off Sunday at 11:12 a.m. Central. The game will be televised on ESPN2 and broadcast on the Sooner Sports Radio Network.

  Oklahoma Press Conference and Practice Photo Gallery
Head Coach Sherri Coale
  Freshman guard Danielle Robinson
  Sophomore forward/guard Nyeshia Stevenson
  Junior forward Ashley Paris

Tournament Main Page

Head Coach Sherri Coale

Opening statement:
"We're excited to be here in West Lafayette, really excited to be a part to be a part of the field for the NCAA Tournament in 2008. I have fabulous memories of this city and this floor and how we were able to catapult our program at this spot in 2000. We're excited to be back here and it's been a long time since we've played a basketball game and we're ready for this third season."

On returning to West Lafayette, Ind., where the Sooners have had past success in the NCAA Tournament:
"I was flooded with emotion that came from our first trip ever to the NCAA Tournament and our first trip just happened to send us on to the Sweet 16. Originally, it seemed serendipitous because that team and the way we won was really what we built this program on, the foundation of OU women's basketball. Even the game itself that we won to go to the Sweet 16 -- we were behind by 17, we trailed the whole game, everybody on the floor got involved in making the comeback happen -- we never quit, never went away. It was the collective will of Phylesha Whaley, our lone senior. Just lots of things that really define who we are, to be able to go back and visit that."

On the team's long layoff:
" I don't feel like it's been long (since we've won), to tell you the truth. It feels like it's been a long, long time since we played, which is good. You're trying to get a breath of fresh air. You're trying to start over. It needs to feel like a news season and I think it does to all of our kids. The timing is perfect for what we needed.

"Absolutely there's a new energy. That's why we didn't really, officially, start our new season until after the selection show Monday. The days leading up to that were kind of breaking it apart and getting back to square zero. Then we saw that selection show and came in. Tuesday's practice was fabulous. Wednesday's was a little better. Thursday's was better still. And Friday's was fantastic."

On what has been the solution to 'righting the ship':
"We've been very candid. They've been candid with one another and I've been candid with them. Everybody really stepped back, all of us, coaching staff, everybody included, swallowed our pride and said let's figure out how to get this thing right. Because we have time. This is not a thing that we have to go through all spring and summer. We've got time this year to fix it and I feel good with what we've done."

On if she likes Oklahoma's placement in the bracket:
"I would like any draw. We weren't really concerned with who we play or what they do."

On if the team was excited to be in the Oklahoma City Region:
" Heavens yes, absolutely. That's probably something our players thought about more than they ever let on, more than I ever knew, through the course of the year. Those kinds of things are huge opportunities but they can also be extra pressures that place upon yourself. I think when our guys saw, `hey, you know what? We've got a chance to play there anyway knowing you've got to win two tough games first,' we've still got that as part of our destiny. All's not lost."

On if she believes if the team plays to its capabilities, it can advance to the Final Four:
"Absolutely. Without question."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors