Comments from Connecticut's Barbara Turner
After Saturday's WBCA All-Star Challenge Game, UConn senior F Barbara Turner spoke with the media about the game; her performance; Geno Auriemma; the upcoming WNBA Draft; and more.
Here are a few of her comments transcribed:
Q: Is there anything in particular you're looking forward to about the Draft?
A: I don't know...wearing a nice outfit I guess (laughing)...for once in my life.
Q: Why is Geno a Hall-of-Famer?
A: He's made this women's game grow a lot. If you walk around, a lot of people are looking at Connecticut. He's put that program on the map. He's put the game on the map. Everywhere that we go, people want to know how he is; and what does he do that makes him so good. I think all of that makes him a Hall-of-Famer. The way he helps his players grow as people. All of them come back to see him. He has a great relationship with them. All of those things make him a Hall-of-Famer.
Q: With the Draft on Wednesday, do you feel yourself getting closer to one of your goals?
A: Oh yeah. That's something that every little girl dreams of growing up is to have the opportunity to play in the WNBA. I'm not going to sugarcoat it or anything like that. You know I always wanted the chance (to play in the WNBA). No matter where or when it is (I get drafted), I really don't care as long as I get the opportunity --- I'm going to take advantage of it.
Q: Did you always believe you could play in the WNBA?
A: Oh yeah. It was just a matter of, every year, growing as a player. I think the more you do that, the more scouts tend to look at you. When you continue to progress from your freshman to sophomore to junior to senior-year, scouts look at you a lot. (Growing) is something I wanted to do throughout my career; and, that was something I was able to do for the most part.
Q: Do you believe the NCAA Tournament told WNBA coaches "You just can't overlook me."?
A: I hope so. I hope so. Like I said, whichever team selects me, I'm going to feel real fortunate; and, I hope that they know that I'm going to do everything in my power to represent the franchise really well.
Q: What position will you play in the WNBA? 3, 4, or are you just a player?
A: It doesn't matter. A lot of people question my size being able to play at the 4 in the WNBA which is realistic because there a lot of bigs, a lot of really good bigs like Yolanda Griffith in the league; but, as long as I get the chance, it really doesn't matter where they play me. I'm going to try to make the best of it.
Q: Are you good enough to play the 3 in the WNBA?
A: Yea. A lot of people haven't seen that because I played with my back to the basket in my college career; but, it's something I've always worked on and it's something I've always had in my back pocket. Hopefully, I'll be able to show that a lot on the next level. Improving my perimeter game is something I know I have to work on.
Here are a few of her comments transcribed:
Q: Is there anything in particular you're looking forward to about the Draft?
A: I don't know...wearing a nice outfit I guess (laughing)...for once in my life.
Q: Why is Geno a Hall-of-Famer?
A: He's made this women's game grow a lot. If you walk around, a lot of people are looking at Connecticut. He's put that program on the map. He's put the game on the map. Everywhere that we go, people want to know how he is; and what does he do that makes him so good. I think all of that makes him a Hall-of-Famer. The way he helps his players grow as people. All of them come back to see him. He has a great relationship with them. All of those things make him a Hall-of-Famer.
Q: With the Draft on Wednesday, do you feel yourself getting closer to one of your goals?
A: Oh yeah. That's something that every little girl dreams of growing up is to have the opportunity to play in the WNBA. I'm not going to sugarcoat it or anything like that. You know I always wanted the chance (to play in the WNBA). No matter where or when it is (I get drafted), I really don't care as long as I get the opportunity --- I'm going to take advantage of it.
Q: Did you always believe you could play in the WNBA?
A: Oh yeah. It was just a matter of, every year, growing as a player. I think the more you do that, the more scouts tend to look at you. When you continue to progress from your freshman to sophomore to junior to senior-year, scouts look at you a lot. (Growing) is something I wanted to do throughout my career; and, that was something I was able to do for the most part.
Q: Do you believe the NCAA Tournament told WNBA coaches "You just can't overlook me."?
A: I hope so. I hope so. Like I said, whichever team selects me, I'm going to feel real fortunate; and, I hope that they know that I'm going to do everything in my power to represent the franchise really well.
Q: What position will you play in the WNBA? 3, 4, or are you just a player?
A: It doesn't matter. A lot of people question my size being able to play at the 4 in the WNBA which is realistic because there a lot of bigs, a lot of really good bigs like Yolanda Griffith in the league; but, as long as I get the chance, it really doesn't matter where they play me. I'm going to try to make the best of it.
Q: Are you good enough to play the 3 in the WNBA?
A: Yea. A lot of people haven't seen that because I played with my back to the basket in my college career; but, it's something I've always worked on and it's something I've always had in my back pocket. Hopefully, I'll be able to show that a lot on the next level. Improving my perimeter game is something I know I have to work on.
posted by Kris G @ 1:59 PM
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