Oct. 12, 2010
Fighting Illini coach Jolette Law met with members of the media on Tuesday at Illinois' annual media day. The Illini started practice on Oct. 7 and have their first game in one month, on Nov. 12 against Illinois State.
Watch Law's Entire Press Conference
Opening Statement:
"I'm really excited we had an opportunity to start early. I looked at the calendar this morning and saw it was October 12. One month and we start the season. Things are really coming together, which started way back in the summer. The energy in the gym is at an all-time high right now. A lot of times you think about some of the hype losing Jenna Smith and losing Lacey Simpson. Our team has really embraced that. Right now, we have to come together as a team - we have to do more. We have to work hard and do a lot more. We are challenging each other to continue to get better each and every day.
"We have a very tough schedule. I want the kids to be tested. Last year, our schedule was not as tough as I would have liked. This year, we will play the likes of North Carolina in Hawaii, and possibly Ole Miss. We will definitely play Marquette again. There are so many different teams that I want my team to get challenged earlier on to prepare us for the Big Ten conference. After I leave here, I am going straight to practice. I am encouraged."
On starting to practice earlier this year:
"It was definitely a plus for us, being that we have a young team in classification. My freshmen had the opportunity to get a lot of minutes. It gives me the opportunity to get started a little earlier on implementing some more offenses and working on our defense. I have two freshmen with Centrese McGee and Alexis Burke. It gives me and my staff an opportunity to work with them on some individual things like getting better footwork and teaching them a little bit about college basketball. It has been a blessing for me."
On losing last year's starts, Jenna Smith and Lacey Simpson:
"Right now, I try not to think about losing an All-American like Jenna Smith and an exceptional player like Lacey Simpson. Even Whitney Toone, losing those three kids is going to be tough. I think the run in the WNIT prepared everyone to come back, but there is more that we have to do. We went to the quarterfinals and lost in the quarterfinal game. Since that day, I did not have to encourage them to get in the gym. They were in the gym and they say `Coach, we just have to do more. Each individual here has to do more.' We are not looking at what we don't have, we are focusing on what we have. Our coaching staff and I have to coach, teach, and motivate. This is what I am all about. I am just trying to deal with what I have and not worry about what I don't have. I'm trying to work on the team we have at hand."
With no seniors on the roster, who has stepped up to be the team leaders?
"Lydia McCully has stepped up really big. She really has been taking on that leadership role. Also Kersten Magrum, I have always thought she has had leadership qualities. Karisma Penn is coming out of her shell and speaking up and being a vocal leader. I really can pinpoint those three kids as having taken on the leadership role, especially Lydia McCully and Kersten Magrum."
On Amber Moore coming back from last year's ACL injury:
"She is adjusting extremely well right now. When you have an injury of that magnitude, you have some things in the back of your head like `what if I hurt my knee again,' but she has been taking it in and doing extra. I just pray and hope that she will come back the way she was when she left. She is really looking good. I am just trying to slowly get her into the group."
On the new additions to her coaching staff:
"Lisa Cermignano has been with me for a year. Michael Peck is back with me. He coached at Penn State, so he is familiar with the Big Ten. He also coached at Florida and in the WNBA. He is bringing that experience of pushing and driving our post players. He has been a great addition for me. As a coach you always want to have one of your former players (on your staff). Usha Gilmore was with me at Rutgers when we went to the Final Four, and we went on to play in some very tough games. We had the opportunity to play in the National championship with her. She has coached at various places and she knows me. She knows what I am all about. She can also help these young ladies because she went through what they are going through. She can be that voice to keep pushing them. I am extremely pleased that finally, I have a full staff."
On there being a reason to be excited about this team:
"Definitely. Right now we have kids who want it and they are working extremely hard. The main thing that I have been really pushing for and what I am seeing is the chemistry of my team. They are starting to support each other. They are doing things together. They are bringing each other to the gym. That is something that I have been used to. I think that right now they are confident and they believe that they can win. As a coach, I believe we can win. Right now I am confident and the fans should be excited about this team."
On who will fill Jenna Smith's shoes:
"I knew at the beginning of last season that I would probably miss Jenna on the inside (this year). A lot of people were wondering last year why I had Jenna playing the perimeter. I was looking at Jenna going on to the next level and helping her that way, but also getting Karisma (Penn) used to calling for the ball on the inside and being that go-to player on the inside. Also just preparing her for this year. I also look at Lana Rukavina, who has paid her dues for two years. She has been playing behind an All-American for two years. With what I am seeing in her, just know that she is ready and she is going to play a lot of key minutes for us. Just knowing last year what I was going to have to do this year, I tried to get those young ladies in and get them the experience."
