We are less than 5 weeks 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 UT Martin G Kenley McCarn, who talked about being a great FT shooter and her expectations for this season.
You were born/raised in Arkansas, and at Melbourne High School you won 4 state titles while going 130-7: did it reach a point where people just expected you to win every time that you stepped onto the court? I would say that was the expected outcome. We worked very hard and had a great bond on the court: once we won 2 in a row we were expected to keep winning a 3rd/4th in a row.
You got off to a great start at UT Martin in 2022 by setting a program record for a freshman debut with 31 PTS in your season opener against Troy, but suffered a season-ending injury following your 4th game against Marshall: how bad was it, and how were you able to get back onto the court? I had a stress fracture in my ankle: I could have come back after Christmas, but my coach and I agreed it would be a waste so I decided to redshirt. I had to wear a boot on my foot and use crutches for 2 months and then slowly started lifting/working out.
In 2024 you were named All-OVC 1st-team: what did it mean to you to win such an outstanding honor (especially since you were coming back from an injury)? It meant a lot because it was a hard season. It is hard to come back from injuries, especially during college.
Take me through the 2024 postseason:
In the OVC tourney title game your team had a 28-PT loss to Southern Indiana, but since the Screaming Eagles were ineligible for the NCAA tourney, your team got the automatic bid: how weird was it to get blown out but still get to keep playing? It was a little weird. Our coach did not play our starters (including me), which was hard to go through because I am very competitive. However, we felt like we deserved a spot in the NCAA tourney due to everything that we had been through.
In the 1st 4 you scored 12 PTS in a loss to Holy Cross: what are your memories of your only March Madness experience so far? It was a little rough because we did not play the way that we wanted to. If we get back there again then I hope we play better.
Last year you made 60-64 FTs (93.8 FT%): what is the secret to making FTs? I do not want to admit it…but I guess it is listening to my coach! He helped fix my form and now I usually make them.
You earned an OVC Academic Medal of Honor during each of the past 3 years: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? I make sure to show up to class. It is hard to put in all the hours that are required, but you just need to find time to get everything done.
You have a birthday coming up next month: any plans for the big day? Not really: it is an off day so I assume we will just go eat dinner or something.
In November you will host Tennessee in the Pat Summitt Heritage Classic (the Lady Vols’ 1st trip to Martin since 1997): how excited are you to play against the highest-ranked team to ever visit the Elam Center? I am very excited: it will be a cool event to honor Coach Summitt and I think it is sold out!
What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? Our goal is to win a conference tourney championship: we are young but are working hard so I think that we can get there.
