We are still a couple of months away from the tip-off of a new college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing 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 Fairfield JR PG Kaety L’Amoreaux, who talked about being a good PG and her expectations for this season.
You were born/raised in New York: what made you choose Fairfield? I liked the location because I wanted to be near my family. As soon as I set foot on campus and met the coaches in person, I knew that it would be a great fit: they are family-oriented like I am.
You play for Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis: what makes her such a good coach, and is it weird to have her husband Blake as 1 of your assistant coaches? I think it is refreshing to see how well they complement each other: recruits often cannot tell at 1st that the 2 of them are married! Carly truly cares about her players and everyone involved with our program.
In 2024 you made the conference all-rookie team: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? It was not an easy environment but everyone was very welcoming. We share the ball and move quickly so I fit in from the start, but it also helped that the upperclassmen made me feel comfortable as a freshman.
Last December you scored a career-high 30 PTS/12-16 FG in a 9-PT loss at St. John’s: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? It was something like that. St. John’s plays a 1-on-1 style on defense so I was able to get some open layups.
Last year your 4.2 APG/2.1 SPG were both top-5 in the conference: what is the key to being a good PG? Being able to play 2 ways is important. I know that my teammates will make the right play and knock down shots when I pass to them.
Your team has gone 45-1 against MAAC opponents during the past 2 years: how on earth did Quinnipiac outscore you 23-4 to start their game last March and end up breaking your 42-game conference winning streak in the regular season finale? Quinnipiac was a fantastic team that was well-coached. We did not connect well and they just outplayed us from the start: anyone can win on any day. However, it was eye-opening for us and carried us through the rest of the season.
You have played 6 conference tourney games and won each of them: what is the key to winning games in March? Whether you win by 2 or lose by 40 during the regular season, you can always learn something that can help you in the future.
Last May you participated in the USA Basketball 3×3 Nationals in Arizona, where you drained a buzzer-beater from beyond the arc in a 2-PT win over a team of student-athletes from ASU/GCU: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? It is up there. It was super-fun to play with my teammates and was a cool moment to have at a national-level tournament.
In 2024 your sister Allie was named conference POY in softball at Binghamton: who is the best athlete in the family? I think that she would give it to me as an overall athlete, but she is an incredible softball player.
What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? I have high expectations for our team. We have a good returning group and a nice crop of freshmen so we will try to run it back.
