Call to the Hall: HoopsHD interviews brand-new Hall of Famer Bobby Jones

Posted on April 10, 2019 by Jon Teitel

There is an old adage that “defense wins championships”: Bobby Jones has now proven that defense also wins you membership in the most elite of clubs. Last Saturday he was announced as a member of the Naismith Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019. He has been involved with some of the most notable basketball teams of the past few decades: the 1972 US Olympic team, some great North Carolina squads coached by Dean Smith, and the 1983 NBA champion Philadelphia 76ers. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Bobby about his top-notch defense and well-deserved honor.

At South Mecklenburg High School you won 2 state high jump titles and finished 3rd as a junior year to an athlete at Smith High School named Bob McAdoo (who also beat you in the state basketball playoffs before later becoming your teammate at both UNC/Philly): how good of an athlete was Bob in high school, and how easy was it for you 2 to make the switch from rivals to teammates? It was quite a rivalry! I won as a sophomore but the following year he improved and was able to win the high jump title. His basketball team did beat us in the state semifinals but I still hold it over his head that I outscored him! He is a good guy and was a great teammate in both college and the NBA.

You played 5 minutes for team USA in the 1972 Olympic gold medal game: how did that infamous 51-50 loss to the Soviet Union change your life (if at all)? I do not think that it changed my life but it did make me more aware of the business/politics involved with the Olympics, which was disheartening. I remember having a book about the Olympics while growing up: Al Oerter threw the discus and was my favorite Olympic athlete. I was still in college at the time so by the time I got back to campus and had to catch up on all of my schoolwork I actually had to drop a course so that I could graduate.

You were selected by the Carolina Cougars in the 1973 ABA Special Circumstances Draft but returned to campus to finish your psychology degree and were named an All-American in 1974: how much importance did you place on academics? I cannot say that I was a great student but very few people back then ever left college early: only a few guys like Darryl Dawkins/Moses Malone. I wanted to graduate but was not planning to become a psychology teacher.

In 1975 with Denver you set an ABA record with 60.4 FG% and were named to the ABA All-Rookie Team: what was your secret for being such a great shooter, and how did you make such a smooth transition from college to the pros? It had to do with my training at North Carolina: the coaches taught me how to play defense and turned me into a good athlete. In high school I could dominate due to my size but in college they taught me how to do things like take a charge/overplay your man. My scoring average as a rookie was higher at the time because David Thompson had not arrived in Denver yet.

In the 1976 ABA All-Star Game you had 24 PTS/10 REB in a 6-PT win for Denver over the ABA All-Stars: how on earth did your team score 52 PTS in the 4th quarter to win the game against a team featuring legends like Artis Gilmore/Julius Erving/George Gervin, and what do you remember about the 1st-ever slam dunk contest? That game was 1 of my great highlights although it was a real challenge for us to face the All-Stars. I was invited to participate in the dunk contest but turned it down because I wanted to focus on winning the game. We had some great players in Denver like Thompson/Dan Issel: teams who have played together for a long time can usually beat a group of all-stars who come together for just 1 day.

In the 1980 playoffs as a player for the 76ers, Erving made his famous baseline up-and-under move in Game 4 and Magic Johnson was named MVP after filling in for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Game 6 with 42 PTS/14-14 FT/15 REB/7 AST/3 STL: what do you remember about Dr. J’s amazing play, and how was Magic able to come in as a rookie PG and win the series as a fill-in center? I enjoyed watching Julius as a teammate more than having to guard him as an opponent at the 1976 All-Star Game! Magic was a highly-skilled athlete who had a lot of confidence and a great motivation to win. However, you have to remember that he was not playing with a bunch of stiffs: Jamaal Wilkes scored 37 PTS against us in Game 6.

In Game 7 of the 1981 Eastern Conference Finals you scored 13 PTS off the bench in a 1-PT loss at Boston: where do you think that series (with 5 of the 7 games decided by 1-2 PTS) ranked among the greatest in NBA playoff history? I honestly do not remember that series as much as some of my other ones but it was obviously a very tight series.

Take me through the magical 1983 playoffs:
You finished the regular season by winning the inaugural NBA 6th Man of the Year Award: what is the biggest difference between being a starter vs. coming off the bench? I thought that it was an advantage for 2 reasons: you could sit there and watch what your opponents were doing (who was hot/which way did they drive/etc.), and I felt that having the energy to finish games was much more important than being out there to start a game. There was 1 year that I was named to an All-Star Game despite not even being a starter on my own team, which showed that I was doing something worthwhile despite coming off the bench. There are not very many people who have done that: perhaps Paul Silas when he played for the Celtics.

In Game 4 of the Finals you had 13 PTS/6-7 FG/4 STL/no turnovers in a 7-PT win over the Lakers to finish off the sweep: what did it mean to you to win a title? It was 1 of the hardest things that I have ever done: I was so exhausted after that series. We were actually trailing at halftime during each of those 4 games so it took a great team effort to win that series. You are competing as a group and trying to help each other, which is what I miss the most about my time in the NBA.

You made 11 straight NBA All-Defensive teams from 1975-1985: what is the key to playing great defense? The 1st key is effort: it might take away from your offensive abilities but great defensive players cannot just rest on offense. I was not a great 1-on-1 player like Julius/Andrew Toney but I was good at making open shots. You have to work at it by reading defenses and take some chances whether it be a STL/BLK. I also thought that deflections were just as important because it disrupted the other team, which is what defense is all about.

You played for several Hall of Fame coaches including Dean Smith/Larry Brown/Billy Cunningham before becoming a coach yourself at Carmel Christian School in Charlotte: what was the most important thing that you learned from any of them, and how do you like being a coach? Before coming to Carmel I spent more than a decade as a coach at Charlotte Christian School, which is where Stephen Curry went to high school. I enjoy working with the kids: they have great energy and listen well, which is the key to success at any level. I always tried to be a “compliant” player and do whatever my coaches told me to do. I remember 1 time with the 76ers where a teammate came up to me after a timeout and told me to pass him the ball because he knew that he could score against the guy who was guarding him: I told him no because I was going to run the play that Billy had called during the timeout.

On Saturday you were named a member of the Naismith Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019: how did you learn about the good news, and where does that rank among the highlights of your career? I was driving in my truck to Charleston to visit my son. I got a call from Hall of Fame president/CEO John Doleva on my cell phone and put it on speaker. My wife was crying in the back seat and my best friend raised his hands in celebration while I just tried to keep my composure. The emotions I had at that moment took me back to everything I did as a player: it flashed by me really fast. It ranks right up there and is only behind winning the title in 1983. I wanted to be part of a championship team so much and the Hall of Fame is more about what I did as an individual.

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The Hoops HD Report: Season Finale!!

Posted on April 9, 2019 by David Griggs

We look back at the Final Four and National Title games and recap what an incredible run for Virginia as they knocked off Auburn in a Final Four thriller and survived against Texas Tech in overtime.  We also look at the NIT, CBI, and CIT finals and look at what it means to some of those programs as they move forward into next year.  There have been several major coaching changes, particularly in the SEC and most recently at UCLA, and we discuss some of those big moves.  And lastly, we look back at some of the memorable moments from this past season in our final thoughts…

 

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

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Call to the Hall: HoopsHD interviews brand-new Hall of Famer Sidney Moncrief

Posted on April 8, 2019 by Jon Teitel

It was a big weekend for Arkansas basketball: on Sunday they hired Eric Musselman to replace Mike Anderson as head coach, and on Saturday former Razorback Sidney Moncrief was announced as a member of the Naismith Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019. As a member of the famed “Triplets” he helped lead his team to the 1978 Final 4 before heading to the NBA as the leading scorer in school history. He made 5 straight All-Star games with Milwaukee from 1982-1986 and was named NBA DPOY in 1983 & 1984. Several years ago HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Sidney about his spectacular career and is proud to present that previously unpublished interview for the very 1st time: congrats!

Along with Marvin Delph/Ron Brewer you formed “The Triplets” under head coach Eddie Sutton/assistant coaches Gene Keady/Pat Foster: could you tell at the time what an amazing coaching staff you had? We knew that they were good coaches because we were well-trained but we only realized how great a staff we had after the fact.

You finished the 1977 regular season with a record of 26-1: how did you lose to Wake Forest in the NCAA tourney (Rod Griffin scored 26 PTS/10-17 FG)? We had such a good team but had not been tested. I dislocated my finger in the 1st half and freaked out before the trainer popped it back into place. I fouled out of that game but it set us up for the next year.

Take me through the magical 1978 NCAA tourney:
You had 21 PTS/11 REB in a 4-PT win over #2-ranked UCLA: what did you learn from the 1977 tourney that helped you in 1978? We were just more familiar with the tourney environment and also had the ability to close out a game and not become too relaxed. We should have beaten Wake Forest so we learned to stay focused.

You scored 10 PTS and Brewer made a jumper at the buzzer in a 2-PT win over Notre Dame in the 3rd-place game: did you think that Brewer’s shot was going in, and how was your team able to stay focused for the consolation game? It was tough to lose on a Saturday and then come back on a Monday but it was easy to get up for top-flight competition like Notre Dame. I got off to a slow start but we had a good 2nd half. Ron did what he did so well: make big shots.

You were named All American in 1978 & 1979: what did it mean to you to win such outstanding honors? Back then it was something special to be an All-American because most guys stayed in college for 4 years and you would have to be at the top of your game to be recognized by the media. It also helped put our school on the map as a basketball powerhouse.

In the 1979 NCAA tourney you scored 24 PTS but Bob Heaton’s last-second shot hit both sides of the rim before going in to clinch a 2-PT win by Indiana State: what was it like to face Larry Bird in March (31 PTS/10 REB)? Larry and I had played on the same team in international competition. I had to guard him in the 2nd half. We had a call go against us late and to this day 80% of the people who saw the game would say that Bird was the 1 who made the final shot because he was the best player! Heaton was the most unlikely of heroes.

You remain 1 of the shortest college players to ever have 2000+ PTS/1000+ REB: how on earth were you able to get so many rebounds despite being 6’4”? I was trained from my junior high school days to be an inside player. My teams relied on my rebounding so I developed the skill of having a nose for the basketball.

In the summer of 1979 you were drafted 5th overall by Milwaukee (4 spots behind Magic Johnson): did you see that as a validation of your college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? Neither one. I did not process it the same way: it was just something that was happening in my life. I was pleased but I did not have strong feelings about it with tears of joy or anything.

In Game 7 of the 1980 Western Conference Semifinals you scored 13 PTS in a 4-PT loss to Seattle: why do you refer to that as “the biggest postseason disappointment of your career”? Looking back I felt that of all the teams I played on in Milwaukee that 1 had the best shot talent-wise of making the Finals. We had all that we needed to advance but we played some great competition.

In Game 3 of the 1982 Eastern Conference 1st round you made a running bank shot at the buzzer to beat Philly: where does that rank among the most clutch shots of your career? Very high. I was a huge fan of Dr. J growing up and we had not beaten Philly in my career until that point.

You won the inaugural 2 NBA DPOY awards in 1983 and 1984: what was your secret for being a great defender? Knowing your system and having a great team behind you. The bottom line is that the best 1-on-1 offensive player will embarrass the best defensive guy unless the rest of the team buys into the system. I was shocked to win the award but was also very thankful.

In the 1984 All-Star Game you had 8 PTS/5 STL in a 9-PT OT win over the West: how on earth were you able to beat a team with a Hall of Fame starting 5 of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar/Magic Johnson/George Gervin/Alex English/Adrian Dantley? Isiah Thomas was on the East team: say no more!

In Game 7 of the 1986 Eastern Conference Semifinals you scored 23 PTS and Julius Erving missed a 15-foot jumper with 3 seconds left in a 1-PT win over Philly: everyone knows about the Lakers-Celtics rivalry of the 1980s, but how intense was the Bucks-Sixers rivalry? It was in the 1st tier of rivalries back then. The year that Philly won it all (1983) they had 1 of the best teams in NBA history, both their starters as well as their bench. It always came down to close shots when we faced each other.

Your son Brett played college football at Troy: how proud are you of all that he has accomplished, and does he credit at least some of his success to genetics? I am very proud that he graduated from college. I told hem to pay attention to his coach and be a team player. He did not want to play basketball because he did not want to follow in my footsteps so I told him to play any sport he wanted and just give it his best shot.

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News, Notes and Championship Preview – Monday, April 8

Posted on April 8, 2019 by John Stalica

For Jon Teitel’s interview with Hall of Famer Terry Dischinger – CLICK HERE

For Jon Teitel’s interview with Hall of Famer Teresa Weatherspoon – CLICK HERE

Tonight’s NCAA Championship Game features a pair of first-timers for Monday Night – the Virginia Cavaliers pulled off another improbable win out of the blue against Auburn on Saturday night. It initially looked like the Cavs were going to win a relatively painless game after they took a 10-point lead against Auburn with 5 minutes remaining. But Ty Jerome’s fourth foul meant that Auburn had a window to mount a comeback, and they did score 14 unanswered points to take a 4-point lead with under a minute remaining. Virginia finally answered with a three of their own, and Auburn made one of two free throws on the next sequence. What happened next would be the talk of the Final Four weekend – first Auburn committed a foul to slow down Virginia since it was only their fifth foul of the half. Next, Auburn nearly forced a turnover when Virginia appeared to pick up their dribble and then commit a double-dribble that wasn’t called before being fouled for team foul #6. With one more in-bound play, Kyle Guy was fouled with under a second left as he was trying to hit a game-winning 3-point shot. He did hit all three free throws and gave Virginia a 63-62 victory.

In the nightcap, Texas Tech was up by 2 at halftime after surviving a rock fight in the first half against Michigan State. In the 2nd half, they overcame an injury to Tariq Owens and ended the game with a 9-0 run after the Spartans got within a point with 2:55 remaining in the game. Jarrett Culver only had 10 points on the night, but he had 7 of the Red Raiders’ 9 final points, and his 3-point shot with a minute remaining effectively ended the competitive phase of the game.  Matt Mooney led Texas Tech with 22 points.

Elsewhere, there were a couple of coaching vacancies that were filled yesterday. One was Arkansas – after they appeared to initially be spurned by Eric Musselman, they were able to make a successful counter offer and Musselman will be the Razorbacks’ next head coach. Virginia Tech will also hire longtime head coach Mike Young; he had led Wofford to the 2nd round this year that included a win against Seton Hall and a near-miss against Kentucky.

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP

(3) TEXAS TECH VS (1) VIRGINIA (9:20 PM, CBS) – Texas Tech is vying for their first national championship in a major sport since Sheryl Swoopes led Texas Tech to the women’s NCAA basketball title in 1993; she almost singlehandedly led Tech to that title with a 47-point performance against Ohio State. With a pair of defensively oriented teams like Tech and Virginia, it is not inconceivable that one of these teams could WIN the title by scoring only 47 points. Nonetheless, Virginia has to believe they are a team of destiny after overcoming their first-round demons from last year AND pulling off back-to-back comeback wins against Purdue and Auburn.

After tonight, we will have one final Hoops HD Report podcast for the season where we recap the Final Four as well as other postseason action and any other coaching news that may develop.

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Call to the Hall: HoopsHD interviews brand-new National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Famer Terry Dischinger

Posted on April 7, 2019 by Jon Teitel

Carsen Edwards had an NCAA tourney for the ages last month: 26 PTS in Purdue’s win over ODU, 42 PTS against defending champion Villanova, 29 PTS in a 5-PT OT win over Tennessee, and another 42 PTS (including 10 threes) in a 5-PT OT loss to Virginia. Earlier today he announced that he will be leaving school to enter the NBA draft, where he can only hope to follow in the footsteps of fellow Purdue legend Terry Dischinger. Terry was a 3-time All-American at Purdue, 1963 NBA ROY, and a member of 1 of the greatest basketball teams ever: the gold-medal-winning 1960 Olympic team. Last week he was named a member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019. Yesterday HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Terry about his terrific career and we congratulate him on his awesome honor.

You graduated #1 in your class from Garfield High School, majored in chemical engineering at Purdue, and were valedictorian at dental school in Tennessee: how much importance did you place on academics? When I was in the 8th grade my dad was a coach and I played all kinds of sports. During a check-up a doctor found that I had a heart murmur and I was not allowed to play: you can imagine how that affected me. I learned that year that schoolwork comes 1st, which is what my parents had taught me. For that 1 year I was the best band player (trombone) in the school and had great grades!

You started for team USA at the 1960 Olympics: what did it mean to you to win a gold medal, and where does that team (inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010) rank among the greatest that you have ever seen? I could not play at Purdue as a freshman so 1960 was my 1st year on the varsity. It was the 1st time that a college team had ever won the Olympic gold medal. We went to Denver for tryouts and I felt like I was on vacation. Oscar Robertson was my hero…and he ended up being my roommate! I think that I was the youngest person to ever play for team USA: I could not believe that I was in it. We were the greatest team up to that time: we played some exhibition games and actually lost our 1st game. My dad told me that after that game Oscar and Jerry West went to Coach Pete Newell and said that they would go home if he did not put me and Jerry Lucas in the starting lineup! When we got inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010 in Springfield we were all up on the stage. Oscar and Jerry West, our captains, spoke on the stage and were the first off the stage. Oscar’s seat was in the 1st row right on the aisle, and when I passed by him he hugged me and said he loved me. Every time I think about that I tear up a little bit: it was an amazing experience for me in so many ways. Not many people get to honor their country by winning a medal. You are not playing for yourself or your college: you are playing for your country.

On Christmas Day 1961 you broke your Olympic teammate Jerry Lucas’ Big 10 record by scoring 52 PTS in a game against Michigan State: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? I scored 18 PTS in the end of the 2nd half and the rest of the team only had 2 PTS. Whatever I did that night felt like I was doing it before I did it. 52 is amazing: I was not 1 who looked at statistics but later on I reviewed some of the stuff that I did and wondered how I was able to do it. Ironically, that was the only home game that my parents did not see me play in college (due to a snowstorm), but my grandparents were able to make it there from Indianapolis.

You were a 3-time All-American with the Boilermakers and finished your career with 28.3 PPG/13.7 RPG: what was your secret for being a great scorer, and how did you balance your scoring with your rebounding? I could get to the boards fast and get up fast: I had a good 2nd jump as well. I tried to go to the opposite side of where the shot came from because that is usually where missed shots went. That is the only Purdue record I still hold: most REB in a single season in school history. I was so quick for my size and could shoot with either hand: we did not have a 3-PT line back then but I could step out and score or beat people to the basket. I also used to practice shooting on a rim that was smaller than a normal rim, which helped me make sure to put a lot of arc on my shot and not have it come up short. I also had the student manager try to block my shots with a broom and I jumped a lot of rope. It was not work for me: it was fun even through my pro career. I played 4 different sports in high school: track/baseball/football/basketball. Coach Bob “Slick” Leonard came from my hometown of Terre Haute and was my head coach during my 1 year in Baltimore in 1964. We had lunch 1 day with our wives and he asked me how many Indiana high school athletes were all-state in 4 different sports. He said the answer was 2 (me and Joe Sexton)! Bob was a great player at Indiana (1953 NCAA champ) and 1 of the best coaches ever (3 ABA titles with the Pacers from 1970-1973).

Your 713 career FTM remains top-20 in NCAA history: what is the key to getting to the line/making FTs? In high school I shot them underhanded like Rick Barry, but when I got to Purdue the coach said I had to stop that. You need great shooting fundamentals: it is getting better now with college kids but I worked really hard at it.

In the spring of 1962 you were drafted 8th overall (1 spot behind John Havlicek and 4 spots ahead of Chet Walker): did you see that as a validation of your college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? I was a chemical engineer at Purdue but had not yet received my diploma by the time of the draft. I went to school to get my diploma. I was planning to be an employee/player at Phillips 66 but I really wanted to play in the NBA against the best. They put a provision in my contract that I only had to play on holidays/weekends so that I could go to class during the week.  In January I started playing full-time.

In 1963 you scored 25.5 PPG and were named NBA ROY: how were you able to make such a smooth transition from college to the pros? That was 1 of the greatest things that ever happened to me because I was voted on by the players. I do not think I knew better: it did not feel real to me. It was always fun for me so I never got tired of it. Back then they did not have quick forwards like me, which helped me beat a lot of guys off the dribble or beat them down the court. I could shoot with both hands around the basket.

After making 3 straight All-Star games from 1963-1965 you spent 2 years in Hawaii serving in the Army: how did that decision change your life, and do you have any regrets? I took ROTC in college because it was during the Vietnam era. After graduation I had to go to the service at some point but they let me play for 3 years before doing so. I arrived in Hawaii and a colonel asked me why I thought I was there: he said that he was losing recruits because he did not have a good basketball team. I also had a teaching thing where I trained people to put their gas masks on correctly! 1 of my basketball teammates was a dentist around my age and we both had kids the same age so we became close friends: he asked me if I ever thought about going into dentistry. He told me I could go to dental school in Tennessee while continuing to play in the pros so I did that. I was not as good a player after I returned to the NBA but I could still play well.

You later became an orthodontist in Oregon: how did you like the dental business, and what have you been up to since retiring? I loved my dental job as much as my basketball job. The ability to give people beautiful smiles helped change their lives. I am trying to get a handicap on the golf course: I used to be a 1. When we moved to Portland I was able to join the local country club. I was playing 1 day and saw a sign that there was a house for sale on the course. I dropped by his house after the round and we moved in 3 months later. I won a club championship once and was also named the best golfer over age 50. It is tough as I get older because it is not so easy but it was a wonderful thing. My son took over my orthodontic practice and is also a great golfer himself. I have had a wonderful life and a wonderful wife and 3 great kids and 9 great grandkids.

Last week you were named a member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019: how did you learn about the great news, and where does it rank among the highlights of your career? I got a call about it and had a very nice talk with the people from the Hall. I am 78 and did not think I would be getting any more awards but as you get older they mean even more to you. I will be there in Kansas City this fall for the ceremony and it is really a joy to make it. I was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame with the Olympic team, which was also great. I really improved a lot during my freshman year when we were not allowed to play: I got stronger/faster so I liked the idea of freshman not being eligible.  I could maintain my studies and could get ready to play in my freshman year with no pressure. We scrimmaged most nights against the varsity and it worked well for me, but I fully understand one and done.

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Call to the Hall: HoopsHD interviews brand-new Hall of Famer Teresa Weatherspoon

Posted on April 6, 2019 by Jon Teitel

This year marks the 20th anniversary of 1 of the most incredible shots in women’s basketball history. Game 2 of the 1999 WNBA Finals was tied at 65 when Houston’s Tina Thompson made a jump shot with 2.4 seconds left to give her team a 2-PT lead over New York. The Liberty were out of timeouts so Kym Hampton inbounded the ball to Teresa Weatherspoon, who took a couple of dribbles and hoisted up a 50-footer at the buzzer. It hit the backboard, dropped through the basket, and the team mobbed Teresa to celebrate her game-winning miracle. Earlier today she was named a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2019. Teresa first made a name for herself during an incredible stretch in the spring/summer of 1988: she won an NCAA title as a player at Louisiana Tech, won the Wade Trophy as the national POY, and finished the summer by winning an Olympic gold medal. She made 4 straight WNBA All-Star teams with New York from 1999-2002 and in 2011 was named 1 of the 15 best players in WNBA history. Back in 2015 HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Teresa about her spectacular career and is proud to present that previously unpublished interview for the very 1st time: congrats!

In the 1986 Goodwill Games in Moscow you beat the Soviet Union 83–60 in the title game: how on earth were you able to defeat a Soviet team that was 152–2 in major international competitions over the prior 3 decades? That was a really tough place to go into and try to perform because they were so dominant but we had assembled a good team and were up for the challenge. We were very good defensively and moved the ball well. Cheryl Miller was great and we all played with a tremendous amount of confidence. It was like us playing against the rest of the world. I had a chance to go back there after the 1992 Olympics to play on that same floor, which was amazing. 7’2″ Soviet center Juliana Semenova was just so tall that we were in awe of her.

Take me through the 1987 NCAA tourney as a player at Louisiana Tech:
In the Final 4 against defending national champ/#1-ranked Texas you had a 4-PT win thanks to your team shooting 73.9 FG% in the 2nd half as well as your own scoring (19 PTS)/passing (you set a Final 4 record with 11 AST): how were you able to neutralize the home court advantage they had while playing in Austin in front of 15,000 people (which at the time was the largest crowd in the history of the sport)? If you know about playing in Longhorn Land, it was tough. They were a great team who pushed the ball and wanted to tire you out because they had a strong bench. We were not the most talented squad but worked very hard and played together. We focused on being dang-near flawless because they would quickly capitalize on any mistake we made: they had so many weapons.

In the title game you faced a Tennessee team who you had beaten in 11 of your previous 12 meetings: how were they able to flip the script and win by 23 PTS to clinch their 1st national title? We used up so much energy against Texas that when we had to face a well-coached team that just pounded the ball in the paint and did so many physical things it just wore us out.

In the 1988 NCAA tourney title game Ruthie Bolton scored 16 PTS in the 1st half for Auburn, but you held her scoreless in the 2nd half en route to a 2-PT win: what did it mean to you to win a title? That was really big because we wanted Coach Leon Barmore to become the 1st male coach to win a women’s title. Auburn just did everything correct during the 1st half and were getting each other open so they had us in scramble mode. Ruthie was my check and she had a big 1st half so Coach Barmore was all over me during halftime to play better defense, which I took pride in. I was getting killed but I accepted the challenge and promised my teammates that Ruthie would not get another bucket. There is no need to hold anything back in the title game so we just gave it everything we had.

In 1988 you won both the Honda Sports Award/Wade Trophy as national POY: what did it mean to you to win such outstanding honors? I did not realize all of my individual accomplishments until our athletic banquet at the end of the season. The only thing left after that was a gold medal: 1988 was an amazing year for me!

Your 858 career AST remains in the top-20 all-time in NCAA history and you are also #3 in career AST in WNBA history: what is the key to being a great PG? It is a total commitment of putting everyone else in a position to be successful. Assists are exciting to me: the beautiful thing is that you are giving and someone else is receiving. Leaders must take others to places they could never go by themselves: I enjoyed passing the ball.

You played for team USA at the 1988 Olympics: what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? I came from a small town in Texas and was once told that I would not be a great player but I worked my tail off to become 1 of 12 players who formed the best team in the world. No matter where you come from if you believe in yourself then great things will happen.

After joining the New York Liberty in 1997 you became the 1st-ever WNBA DPOY and then won the award again in 1998: what is your secret for being a great defender? I always believed in defensive stops and offensive runs: I always wanted to defend the best player on the other team because that allowed me to get more playing time. I liked the control factor of being able to dictate what an offensive player did. It meant a lot to be named DPOY: it is about shutting people down and being smart enough to control or stop someone. You have to be great off the ball as well so that you can help your teammates.

In Game 2 of the 1999 WNBA Finals after Tina Thompson made a jumper to give Houston a 2-PT lead with 2.4 seconds left, you took an inbounds pass from Kym Hampton and made a 50-foot shoot off the backboard to win the game: did you think that the shot was going in, and where does that rank among the highlights of your career? I begged Kym to throw it to me because nobody was around me and I knew that the shot was going in. Tina was near me but not close enough to prevent me from shooting it. It looked on line from the moment it left my hand and felt good. The best part was to hear that gym go from a noisy arena to a silent library, plus it kept us alive for another game. It was an awesome experience but I never watch the play now even though I know it is going in. When everyone jumped on top of me I could not breathe but I enjoyed the suffocation!

In 2009 you were named head coach of the Lady Techsters: how did you like the job, and what do you hope to do in the future? I enjoy being influential to young people and having a positive impact on their lives. It is so different to go from the player’s side to the coach’s side: you have to make sure that everyone is prepared/ready to go. I learn something new every day on my own and I enjoy every minute of it. I studied with a lot of great coaches and have built a lot of different philosophies.

Your father Charles holds the record for the most grand slams in a minor league baseball game with 3, and your 2nd cousin Sean Weatherspoon was an NFL linebacker: who is the best athlete in the family, and do you credit at least some of your success to genetics? I am a pretty good damn athlete! I played a bunch of different sports growing up because I was hyped every day to play sports. However, my father is the best without a doubt.

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