We are still a couple of months away from the tip-off of the college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to prepare for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage with Kentucky SR G Maddie Scherr, who talked about being a great FT shooter and her expectations for this season.
In 2020 you were named a McDonald’s All-American but the game itself was canceled due to COVID: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most (Cameron Brink/Paige Bueckers/Caitlin Clark/Angel Reese/other)? I have played against that whole class since we were all little but it is such a talented group that it was an honor to be included.
As a freshman at Oregon you made the Sweet 16 in 2021: what is your favorite memory from that postseason run? It was just a fun experience despite COVID. I knew that I had to step up and play as a freshman. We had high expectations and it was so fun to keep winning games with my teammates.
Why did you decide to transfer, and what made you choose Kentucky? A big part of it was wanting to be closer to home. The older I get the more I appreciate seeing my grandparents in the stands. I also really hit it off with Coach Kyra Elzy.
You were top-5 in the SEC last year with 110 AST/55 STL: what is the key to being a good PG? Just your ability to understand the game. I have been fortunate to have good trainers/coaches my entire life who helped grow my basketball IQ: when to pass the ball, how to tell your teammates where to go, etc. I watch a lot of film to get mental reps, which is a huge key.
You also finished the regular season as the SEC leader with 91.8 FT%: what is the secret to making FTs? Lots and lots of practice. When I was in high school I would make 25 and had to end on 5 swishes in a row with no rim, which added a LOT of extra reps.
In the 2023 SEC tourney you set a school record with 6 BLK in a win over Alabama: how do you balance all of the different aspects of your game? It just comes from doing whatever you can to help your team win. My role here has allowed me to do all of those things. A lot of it is just effort: not quitting on plays or taking time off. As I get older I have become more aware of that aspect of the game.
You are 1 of 5 seniors/grad students on the roster: how much pressure is there on you to be a leader this year? My experience is important but we have a lot of other leaders on this team, which takes some pressure off of me. Everyone has been good at being vocal so I do not need to do that all of the time. I do not look at it as pressure because I want to be in that role.
The SEC has had 3 different schools appear in the past 6 NCAA tourney title games (South Carolina twice/Mississippi State twice/LSU once): do you feel that it is the best conference in the country? Absolutely! I might be a little biased but playing in the Pac-12 was different. We have a really talented league that is very physical/tough.
You will be playing in the Paradise Jam during Thanksgiving weekend: how excited are you to head to the US Virgin Islands?! We are very excited for that and it is always something to look forward to: some warm weather in November!
What are your goals for this season, and what are your expectations for this season? We want to be at the top of the conference and I think that we can do it. We have a whole lot of experience and raw talent so if we can figure out how to put it together then we can be really good.