Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Memphis assistant coach Cody Toppert

Posted on September 28, 2020 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content

We hope you are ready for a season unlike any other: testing, distancing, and bubbles, oh my! Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, or whether anything actually will happen…but in the meantime we will try to restore some order with season previews featuring the best players/coaches/administrators in the country. We continue our coverage with Memphis assistant coach Cody Toppert. He became 1 of the best 3-PT shooters in Ivy League history at Cornell, won a D-League title in Albuquerque, and is now an assistant at Memphis. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Toppert about his time with the Phoenix Suns and his expectations for this year.

Your father Bob/mother Linda/brother Chad all played basketball at New Mexico: how did you end up 3000 miles away for college at Cornell? I had some good grades and did well at some basketball camps so I started to get recruited by Ivy League schools back east. Once Coach Steve Donahue was hired at Cornell I became a high-priority guy for them and I ended up going where I was wanted.

What makes Donahue such a good coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? He really sees the game from an offensive perspective at the highest level: I call it a chess match. A lot of the concepts he runs are similar to those run by a lot of NBA teams: he has a high basketball IQ.

Your 237 3PM remains among the most in Ivy League history: what is the secret to making shots from behind the arc? When your coach has confidence in you that is always a big boost. If you understand that you will not make them all then you can let go of the misses and simply hunt for your next shot.

You won the 2006 D-League title as a player for the Albuquerque Thunderbirds and then played several years of pro basketball in Europe: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? Anytime you can win a title in anything it takes something special: you need to fill your role and your reward for sacrificing what you wanted is that everyone can win. At that point in time the game in the US was heavily-focused on isolation basketball, while the European game was predicated on ball movement. Now we have seen a blend between the 2: the US game is still played at a fast pace but there is more of an European influence with quick screens and players learning how to make reads rather than just run plays.

You spent a year as Assistant Coach/Director of Player Development for the Phoenix Suns: do you think that Devin Booker is on his way to becoming the best player in franchise history, and why on earth did they trade away TJ Warren for cash in 2019?! Booker is well on his way: he is a tremendous professional who is serious about his craft. He dives into everything and is locked in so he will be a perennial All-Star…but the bar was set pretty high by 2-time MVP Steve Nash. The funny thing is that TJ shot over 40% from behind the arc despite having some injuries but he proved that he could be an efficient 19 PPG scorer, and guys like that are not very common.

On June 26th you were named head coach of Eberlein Drive in the TBT…and then 9 days later your team was disqualified after 1 of your players tested positive for coronavirus: what was your reaction when you 1st heard the bad news, and what would you have done with your share of the $1 million prize money if your team had won it all? We were shocked to say the least. We had some great practices and I thought that we had a roster that could have won it. I am also an assistant with the Haitian national team and we have a non-profit that tries to build courts and fund basketball-related activities so I was planning to donate any prize money toward that cause.

You work for Coach Penny Hardaway: how does working for a “regular” coach compare to working for a 4-time NBA All-Star who earned more than $120 million during his pro career? It is different on so many different levels. He lives 1 life as our coach but has another life as “Penny Hardaway”. He means so much to this city and continues to do so much for this community that he is pulled in many directions: that alone could be a full-time job! Our players are getting a cheat-sheet not only on what it takes to get to the NBA but the consistency it takes to stay there. It is super-exciting to see how much he pours into caring about our team at the ultimate level. Since he does not need the money/status he is free from that burden and can really help our guys chase the process of development rather than chase wins. I think we will see a sustainable program that can withstand the test of time that is successful for many years to come.

You had an amazing roster last year but lost James Wiseman to suspension, Precious Achiuwa to the draft, Tyler Harris to transfer, and Isaiah Maurice to graduation: how are you going to try to replace all of that talent? We had the very youngest team in the entire nation so that was also a battle. We have added some new guys via transfer including Landers Nolley II, who is immediately eligible.

Landers transferred in from Virginia Tech: how does he look so far? He has proven that he can score/play in 1 of the best conferences in the country (ACC) and he wants to continue to develop his versatility and show that his skill set can transfer to the highest level. I know that he can make shots and I am confident that he can make plays for us as well.

What are your goals for this season, and what are your expectations for this season? We set the bar high by finishing 1st in the country in FG% defense. It was remarkable to hold opposing teams to 36.1 FG% on average and that needs to remain a staple for us. On the flip side, we had an incredibly high # of turnovers and lost a lot of games by 4 PTS or less, which means that a couple of turnovers cost us a couple of possessions in those close games. Instead of swinging for the fences we need to hit singles, hold onto the ball, and make some FTs. If we can do that then we will have the opportunity to be pretty darn good.

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The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews Dr. Kenn Johnson about 1960 Olympic gold medalist Al Kelley

Posted on September 28, 2020 by Jon Teitel

The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with Dr. Kenn Johnson, KU alum and author of multiple books about KU basketball, about Al Kelley winning an NCAA title in 1952 and a gold medal in 1960.

(photo credit: kansascity.com)

Al was born in Dearing and went to high school in McCune: what made him choose Kansas for college? He chose KU because he had been a Jayhawk fan all of his life and his older brother Dean had previously been recruited by Coach Phog Allen: for Al it was an easy choice. Later in life he often said, “I am a Kansan by birth…but a Jayhawk by the Grace of God!”

What kind of relationship did he have with Coach Allen? Al was an easy choice for Phog: not only because he was Dean’s younger brother but because he was an excellent high school player who helped his McCune teams win 3 conference championships, 4 district titles, and a 2nd-place finish in the state tourney during his senior year. Phog had a great relationship with almost all of his players. In the offseason he would write letters to all of them, keeping them informed of what was happening at KU. He loved the Kelley brothers and kept in touch with them for many years.

In the 1952 NCAA title game he scored 4 PTS in a win over St. John’s and in the 1953 NCAA title game he scored 20 PTS in a 1-PT loss to Indiana: what did it mean to him to win a title, and what did it mean to him to lose a title? Al was a sophomore: back then players were not allowed to be on the varsity during their freshman year. Phog had a tendency to mostly play his five best players so Al did not get much playing time that year. However, it is always a thrill to win a national championship and he was very proud of his brother, who was KU’s starting PG. In 1953 Al has become the starting PG and was the 2nd-leading scorer in the championship game. It was an exciting game and KU was tied with Indiana late in the game but the Hoosiers made a free throw with 27 seconds left and held on to win the game. It was most disappointing for Al and the Jayhawks, particularly because the game was played in Kansas City in front of a mostly Jayhawk-friendly crowd.

In 1954 he finished 2nd in the nation with 86.2 FT%: what made him such a great FT shooter? After making only 70% of his FTs in 1953 he spent the summer working primarily on improving his shot…and it worked. From the start of the 1954 season he was focused and productive from the foul line, helping KU bounce back after losing the 1953 national championship game to Indiana.

That spring he was drafted 56th overall by Milwaukee but instead chose to join the Peoria Caterpillars where he won multiple AAU national championships: was it a difficult decision to turn down the NBA, and how did he like having his brother Dean as 1 of his teammates? Back then the AAU was competitive with the NBA. The salaries were about the same: he was offered only $5,000 by the Milwaukee Bucks but the AAU offered players the additional opportunity to gain business employment experience while also playing basketball. In his first season with the Caterpillars (again joining his brother) Al helped lead the team to the AAU national title and the 1954 World Basketball Championship in Brazil. Then in 1960 the Caterpillars won their league title and were selected to play in the Olympics. He retired in 1999 after a 45-year career with Caterpillar so all-in-all his choice of the AAU over the NBA was a great one.

He spent 2 years in the Air Force: what impact did his service have on him either on or off the court? After two years at Caterpillar, Al served in the US Air Force for two years in 1956/1957 and starred on their basketball team, helping them to win the AAU National Championship in 1957. The experience helped him maintain his basketball skills, such that the next year after returning to Caterpillar he helped the team win the AAU championship again and qualify for the Olympics.

He played for team USA at the 1960 Olympics: what did it mean to him to represent his country, and what did it mean to him to win a gold medal? Serving as the backup PG to Oscar Robertson/Jerry West, Kelley was proud of the 1960 team and said, “We were voted the best amateur team in Olympic history.” After being named to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010, Al remembered beaming with pride as the national anthem played during the gold medal ceremony.

His older brother Dean won a gold medal with team USA in 1952: was there a sibling rivalry involving who won a gold medal 1st or were they just happy to be the only brothers to ever win an Olympic gold medal in basketball? I do not recall ever reading anything about a sibling rivalry: only about respect for each other. After playing with 1 another at McCune and KU, they again played together with the Caterpillars and reportedly were very proud of each other’s contributions both on and off the court.

In 2010 his Olympic team (featuring 10 future NBA players) was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of his career? He said, “It was a real thrill for me to go to the Olympics. It was an honor for me to have a front-row seat.” His gold medal is prominently displayed in the Booth Family Hall of Athletics at KU.

He passed away in 2016: when people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? KUSports.com columnist Tom Keegan said of Kelley the fact that “his warm smile and friendly manner will be missed by many would be an understatement akin to calling Allen Fieldhouse a pretty nice place to watch a basketball game.” The Lawrence Journal-World obituary said it best: “Al will be fondly remembered by family and friends in many ways: As a loving and devoted husband to Barb, and as an inspiring and adoring patriarch to his children and grandchildren. As an admired and loyal friend. As a proud patriot and Air Force Veteran. As a gold medal Olympian and a member of the 1952 KU champion basketball team. As a shining example of the benefits of hard work and perseverance. His character framed his accomplishments beautifully.” After Kelley retired from the Caterpillars he and his wife moved back to Lawrence and frequently attended many KU sports events. Coach Bill Self said, “Al Kelley is Kansas basketball. He was always a pleasure when he would come to the office or a practice and was a fixture at home games.”

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Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Creighton assistant coach Terrence Rencher

Posted on September 27, 2020 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content

We hope you are ready for a season unlike any other: testing, distancing, and bubbles, oh my! Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, or whether anything actually will happen…but in the meantime we will try to restore some order with season previews featuring the best players/coaches/administrators in the country. We continue our coverage with Creighton assistant coach Terrence Rencher. He set the Texas record for most career PTS, played pro basketball for more than a decade, and then got into coaching. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Rencher about getting drafted in 1995 and his expectations for this year.

You were born/raised in the Bronx: what made you choose Texas for college? The Big East schools that I was interested in going to were not recruiting me so I felt like I wanted to try something different. Texas was 1 of the outliers but I just took a visit: I had a gut feeling that it was a good place and it worked out for me. It was just about doing/experiencing something different.

In 1992 you scored 19.1 PPG and were named conference ROY: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? As a kid I watched nothing but college basketball and was an NBA fan too. I always visualized becoming a college player. I come from a very very good high school program with an outstanding coach. Everything we did was like college so when I finally got to college I felt prepared by my high school coach thanks to the way that he ran our program.

You remain the all-time leader in school history in PTS/STL: how did you balance your offense with your defense, and do you think that anyone will ever break your records? We played fast and pressed: we were kind of like Havoc before Havoc. A lot of our offense was created off of our defense. I am not saying this to be sarcastic…but the way the game is now and what good players are trying to do once they get to college, I do not think that anyone will stay in school long enough and be productive enough to break my records. I have been safe for 25 years and am hoping for another 25!

In the summer of 1995 you were drafted 32nd overall by Washington (11 spots behind Michael Finley): did you see that as a validation of your college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? It was more of a validation of my college career. Guys were not leaving early as much (besides stars like Shaquille O’Neal/Penny Hardaway/Alonzo Mourning) and were doing multiple years in college. I was productive in college against high-level players. The NBA was like a bonus: I just wanted to be a great college player and enjoy that experience, but obviously having the opportunity to hear your name called and go down in the books as an NBA player was a lifelong dream.

You played pro basketball in the US/overseas for more than a decade: what was the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball in other countries? In the US we are gamers: everyone loves game day and the bright lights and putting your talents on display in that arena. In Europe it was quite the opposite: everything is based on skill development, practicing twice/day, and really digging into the process of becoming a good player. There are big games over there as well and everyone enjoys competing but the culture of the game is more about the practice gym than game time.

You work for Coach Greg McDermott: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? It is hard to pinpoint 1 thing: his years of experience, the high level he has worked at, the players he has coached, and so many different elements. 1 thing I have learned thus far is his ability to just stay calm and allow guys to be themselves. There were some games last year we lost and myself and some of our other coaches were pretty hot and steaming a bit, but Coach was very composed with his message and our guys responded to it. I have worked for many different guys with different personalities and the majority of college coaches are “rah rah” guys, especially when things are not going right, but you are what you become accustomed to. I was used to intense coaches but he just showed me that poise and not “majoring in the minors” is a big deal and very effective. There are so many different ways to be successful.

You were preparing to play in the Big East tourney last March when you learned that the entire postseason was canceled due to the coronavirus: what was your reaction when you 1st heard the news, and do you think that it was the right decision? I was extremely disappointed for a number of reasons. Our guys had worked hard all year and had the opportunity to make a mark for both our program and themselves so it was tough to deal with. To get a chance to go home to Madison Square Garden and play in the Big East tourney was great…and then to have it snatched away was very disappointing. At 1st I thought they might have been jumping the gun because nobody was educated on the situation, but as time has gone by and you get more educated on the effects of COVID I think it was absolutely the right decision to shut the tourney down.

You lost Kelvin Jones to graduation and Ty-Shon Alexander to the draft but return almost everybody else on the roster: how crucial is all of that experience going to be to your team’s success this year? Due to the unique circumstances that we have been thrust into with no summer and a limited fall on the court with our guys, I think it is big to have an experienced core returning. We have some new pieces to inject into the puzzle but the lack of teams being able to practice and being together over the summer could be a benefit to us due to our veteran core. It will be a fluid season in a different kind of way but we have the experience/maturity to deal with some of these funky times that we are about to run into.

What is it like to be an African-American man in 2020? I was born in 1973 and it feels the same way to me every year. From the outside looking in, the injustices are more prevalent/plain to see for people outside our culture but for me nothing has really changed. I still live by the same codes/principles that I always have and am still very vigilant based on my experiences as an African-American man.

What are your goals for this season, and what are your expectations for this season? I want to defend our title: it would be great to be back-to-back regular season champs! I want our guys to have a chance to experience March Madness and make a run. It will sound corny/cheesy but I talked to myself all last year about living in the moment and enjoying everything and not taking anything for granted, which was fulfilling. I want to enjoy our seniors and appreciate their contributions and help them have big years on the way out. I just expect us to build on what we accomplished last season.

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Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Iowa JR SG/SF Joe Wieskamp

Posted on September 26, 2020 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content

We hope you are ready for a season unlike any other: testing, distancing, and bubbles, oh my! Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, or whether anything actually will happen…but in the meantime we will try to restore some order with season previews featuring the best players/coaches/administrators in the country. We continue our coverage with Iowa JR SG/SF Joe Wieskamp. He is the all-time leading scorer in Iowa high school history, is the best FT shooter in the Big 10, and has 2 great teammates returning this fall. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Joe about turning 21 and his expectations for this year.

At Muscatine High School you became the all-time leading scorer in Iowa high school history with 2376 PTS: what is the secret to being a great scorer? It is just about all of the time/preparation I put in, playing a lot of AAU summer ball against more talented players. I try to have an aggressive mindset all of the time.

What made you choose Iowa for college? It is so close to home and my family. I dreamed of playing here and Coach Fran McCaffery did a great job of recruiting me.

What makes Fran such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? He trusts his players and knows that we will make mistakes but lets us work through them. He gives us the freedom to do what we are capable of, which plays to our strengths.

In the 2019 NCAA tourney you scored 11 PTS in a 6-PT OT loss to Tennessee: how close did you come to winning the game, and where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? We were obviously close despite being down by 21 PTS at halftime. We played great in the 2nd half but it definitely hurts that we did not play better in the 1st half.

Last February you scored a career-high 30 PTS/10-15 FG in a win over Nebraska: was it just 1 of those situations where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? There are definitely points during the season when you feel that every shot will go in. It was 1 of those nights: my teammates were finding me for open scoring opportunities and I was able to capitalize.

You finished the year by leading the conference with 85.6 FT% and made each of your final 22 FTs: what is the key to making FTs? The key is just having confidence: knowing that you have taken that shot a million times and believing that the ball will go in.

In the 2020 Big 10 tourney you were scheduled to play Minnesota before learning that the rest of the postseason was being cancelled due to the coronavirus: what was your reaction when you 1st heard the news, and do you think that it was the right decision? It was very tough at that moment after working hard to get to that point. I think the NCAA tourney cancellation was even more devastating because every kid dreams of playing in that, but looking back it was probably the best decision to keep everyone safe.

Earlier this year Jordan Bohannon was out due to left hip surgery and Luka Garza was thinking about going pro, but now they are both back on the roster: how crucial will their senior leadership be to your team’s success this year? It is huge for sure. They are extremely good leaders both on and off the court. We have 5 freshman coming in so having that leadership is crucial.

You had a big birthday last month: what was it like to turn 21 during a pandemic?! It was still pretty nice. My girlfriend’s family has a lake house so I got to join all of them there to celebrate: it was not the typical 21st birthday but it was still fun.

What are your goals for this season, and what are your expectations for this season? The goal is to win the Big 10 regular season/tourney titles and then a national title. We also have smaller goals to check off all throughout the year.

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Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Duquesne C Laia Sole

Posted on September 25, 2020 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content

We hope you are ready for a season unlike any other: testing, distancing, and bubbles, oh my! Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, or whether anything actually will happen…but in the meantime we will try to restore some order with season previews featuring the best players/coaches/administrators in the country. We continue our coverage with Duquesne C Laia Sole. She grew up in Spain, was named conference 6th Player of the Year as a freshman, and graduated last May. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Laia about winning a gold medal and her expectations for this year.

You were born/raised in Spain: how did you 1st get into basketball, and how big a deal is the sport in your home country? I come from a very tall family so as a kid I did not like being taller than the rest of my class. However, being able to use my height as an advantage in basketball made me feel good about myself so I started going to the park and playing basketball with my dad on the weekends. I remember having a lot of fun with him and my dad mentioned the idea of going to play for my town’s club when I was 11. I did and have loved the sport ever since then.

As a freshman at Maine you were named 2017 conference 6th Player of the Year and also made the conference All-Rookie Team: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start despite coming off the bench? I think that all international players (especially freshmen) go through a challenging transition due to the differences between basketball styles in Europe and in the US. It was a hard transition at first but I was able to adapt pretty fast within the system. I was able to impact the game and help my team in important moments and I will always be thankful for that. Coming off the bench gave me some extra minutes to see how the feel of the game was going so I knew that when it was my time to play I would be ready to go.

Later that year you transferred to Duquesne where your sister Judith was playing: how close are you 2, and who is the best player in the family? We are very close: everyone who knows me knows that I absolutely adore her. I would be lying if I said that the fact that she was playing at Duquesne at the time did not make the decision of transferring there that much easier for me.

You played for Spain at the 2018 FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship: what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? Playing for the national team is one of the best parts of the year…especially if the team wins a medal at the end of the European Championship/World Championship. I will always remember every medal that we have won and the hard work/dedication behind each one. However, what I value the most is being able to play against the best players in the world for my age group since I get to learn a lot from them.

You play for Coach Dan Burt, who is 24 wins away from becoming all-time winningest head coach in school history: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? Coach truly takes care of us. He is a big believer that winning basketball games starts with maximum effort in practice and then continues with good habits such as property fueling our bodies and reparative sleep. Therefore, he (along with all of the other coaches) makes sure that we receive the best care: we are very appreciative of what they all do for us.

Last December you scored 38 of your team’s 72 PTS in a 3-PT OT win over St. Francis, which is tied for the 6th-best performance in school history: was it just 1 of those situations where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Every game is different. The defense that opponent had prepared for us allowed me to consistently go 1-on-1 down on the block, which is where I am more comfortable. However, I was also “in the zone” as you call it: when you see your first five shots going in then your confidence will naturally go up.

Last March you scored 9 PTS in a 7-PT loss to Fordham in the 2020 A-10 tourney and were hoping to get an at-large bid to the WNIT before learning that the rest of the postseason was canceled due to the coronavirus: what was your reaction when you 1st heard the news, and do you think that it was the right decision? I understand that some things are bigger than basketball. If they decided that cancelling the NCAA Tournament was the best decision then there probably was a good reason to believe it was not safe for student-athletes and all of the people working around them. However, it was devastating to hear the news since March is always the best time of year in college basketball.

A few days later you decided to fly home to Spain, where you had your virtual graduation last May and are now working on your MBA: how is Spain dealing with the coronavirus, and what will you do with your MBA? I think that Spain, along with every other country, is doing the best it can to stop the spread. It was rough having my graduation online but you just have to make the most of it. With my MBA I want to focus on business operations or business management strategy.

You are 1 of 4 graduate students on the current roster (along with Halle Bovell/Anie-Pier Samson/Kiersten Elliott): how crucial will all of that experience be to your team’s success this year? Having experienced players in a team is always crucial. Halle/AP/Kiersten have been at Duquesne for almost 5 years now, and it shows. They understand the culture in the organization and they are great leaders. This is my 4th year here so I think that I can benefit from my experience with the team as well as helping my younger teammates.

What are your goals for this season, and what are your expectations for this season? My goal is always the same: win the Atlantic-10 Championship. I expect to compete at a high level with my teammates while having fun!

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The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 2-time Canadian Olympic basketball player Bev Smith

Posted on September 25, 2020 by Jon Teitel

The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We conclude our coverage (for now) by chatting with Bev Smith about being a 2-time Olympian with team Canada and becoming a Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer.

(photo credit: olympic.ca)

At Salmon Arm Secondary School in Canada you helped your team win 89 straight games: did it reach a point where people just expected you to win every time that you stepped onto the court? That was a long time ago! My older sister had played there and they had a tradition of winning. I do not think that people expected us to win: we never talked about winning titles but rather excellence/class/character. The titles just took care of themselves.

In the 1981 AIAW tourney as a player at Oregon you had a 3-PT loss to USC: how much of an advantage did the Trojans have while playing in LA? I still remember that game: I got a couple of quick fouls and ended up fouling out so I was very upset. It might have been a different story if we played somewhere else because we had a talented team.

You were a 2-time All-American: why did you choose the Ducks, and what did it mean to you to win such outstanding honors? I was playing on the Canadian national team and figured that I could sharpen my pencil a bit more against the competition down in the US. The other reason was that my sister was here and I wanted the opportunity to be her teammate. It was certainly a great honor to be named an All-American but it is a team award as much as an individual award. We played hard and played together: there was not a lot of glamour around women’s college basketball but it was still a special time. It was a combination of teammates/coaches who helped our cause.

You were also a 2-time Academic All-American: how were you able to balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? It took a lot of my time/energy because I was still playing with the national team. I would go to writing class at 7:30AM and not come home from a science lab until 9PM: I was just exhausted. My education really changed my life: my professors were brilliant and had a good sense of humor.

You graduated as the school leader in career PTS (2063), REB (1362), AST (443), and STL (349): how were you able to dominate all these different aspects of the game? I loved playing the game. Growing up I wanted to be a hockey player but there was no organized women’s hockey back then so I turned to basketball. I was blessed with great genetics: my dad was a pro hockey player and my mom was a diver/swimmer. I played against the boys and just wanted to be as good as I could be, which drove me. I was 6’1” and a decent athlete: I did not have a lot of hops but had a good understanding of angles/positioning and where the ball would come off the backboard due to my anticipatory skills. My high school coach kept us very fit so I would take advantage when my opponents were grabbing their knees.

You played for team Canada at the Olympics in 1984 and 1996: how close did you come to winning a medal, and how difficult was it to make the team with a 12-year gap in between? In 1984 we played China for the bronze medal. We split with them previously and ended up winning the “lead” medal, which was a little disappointing. We did not qualify for Seoul and then I took a 4-year hiatus to play in Europe. It was tough to come back after 4 years off because the international game had changed a lot. I remember scrimmaging the Australians in 1994 and being amazed by how much they had improved. We did as well as we could in 1996 but I was a little beyond my time at age 36.

You played pro basketball in Italy for 12 years: what is the biggest difference between college basketball and pro basketball? College is more scholastic in nature and college coaches want to have a bit more control and institute structure. In the pros when you are the only foreigner on the team they expect you to be great. If your team wins then the team is great…and if your team loses then it is the Canadian’s fault! I had a great time in Italy and really enjoyed the passion of my teammates. I also learned a lot about fashion/food/wine, which I did not really expect to happen.

In the 2002 Women’s NIT title game as head coach at your alma mater you had a 2-PT win over Houston to clinch the title in your very 1st season: what did it mean to you to win a title? That was pretty special. We got to know our players pretty quickly. They had made several straight NCAA tourneys so it was a little disappointing to not make it back there in 2002, but the next best thing is winning the tourney that you do get invited to.

In 2004 you were inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? That was also very special. My mom did not get to see me play a lot in the US or Italy but it was nice to bring her to Knoxville for that event. It ranks high to be acknowledged for your career. I am now on the board and go back when I can: Pat Summitt was so welcoming to everyone. When you get to meet the women who made the sport happen and the journalists who were writing about us before it became popular it is nice.

You currently work as the Executive Director of KIDSPORTS, a non-profit organization in Oregon that provides youth sports programs for kids and teaches the values of physical fitness and teamwork: how do you like the job, and what have you been able to accomplish so far? I am blessed and honored to work here. Eugene is a special place and we serve more than 13,000 registrants each year. When I go into a meeting and see 200 coaches preparing to teach kids and have compassion it gives me goosebumps. We have worked hard to make our coaches be the best they can be for the children: we provide them with information and education about helping their kids develop both their athletic and human potential. It is very emotional for us and we keep it all about the kids. It is okay to try to win but not if you compromise all the valuable life lessons. We are in the process of getting a building because so many schools are getting closed.

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