Season Preview: HoopsHD interviews Tennessee women’s coach Holly Warlick

Posted on September 10, 2017 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Jon’s interviews, and the rest of our extensive and continuous preseason coverage

Holly Warlick was born to be the coach of the Lady Vols.  Born in Knoxville, she attended Tennessee and was a 3-time All-American PG.  After working a few years elsewhere as an assistant coach, she returned to her hometown in 1985 as an assistant to her former coach Pat Summitt.  She spent more than 25 years in that role (making it to a spectacular 16 Final Fours) before being hired as the team’s new head coach in 2012.  She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001 and has won at least 1 NCAA tourney game during each of her 1st 5 years as head coach.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Warlick about her famous former boss and 1 of the best rivalries in women’s basketball history.  

You were born in Knoxville and originally got a scholarship to Tennessee to run the 400 meters: how did you end up walking onto the basketball team, and how much of an advantage was your speed on the court? Coach Pat Summitt had open tryouts so I just gave it a shot. I went to camp with some of the players who were already on the team so that helped me relax. I played 6-on-6 basketball in high school so playing 5-on-5 in college was new to me. My 2 best attributes were my speed/defense. I missed like 7 layups in my 1st game against Kentucky…but my teammate scored 51 PTS by following up all of my misses! Pat wanted us to run and go so that is what I was taught to do.

You were a 3-time All-American PG: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? You are a reflection of your team. That was huge for me because I loved the game and it was unbelievable to get an award like that. My biggest thing was how the team was doing but I was very appreciative. I learned quite a bit about what it meant to play hard as best you can so I played with a lot of effort/energy.

You set several school records during your career and your 141 STL in 1979 remains #1 in school history: how did you balance your offense with your defense? I was not a go-to offense player so that was not my forte! After my 1st game Pat called me in and said she needed me to be a great leader and an extension of her on the court. I was not a shooter so I understood that real quickly. Defense is just about effort/heart/energy, which is how I played the game my entire life. My dad used to say that if I did not have at least a couple of fouls then I was not being aggressive enough. I loved playing defense and got great results: it came naturally to me.

You were named to the 1980 US Olympic Team: what was your reaction when you learned of the US boycott, and do you think that your team would have won the gold medal? Of course we would have won a gold medal! I was angry/disappointed that politics had to get involved with athletics. I did not agree with it back then and do not know if I agree with it now but I guess things happen for a reason. What was so disheartening is that I had worked so hard for 4 years to get to that point. I had never set a goal of playing international basketball but once you get involved you realize that the Olympics are the highlight. I have a participation medal but it was a major missed opportunity for me. I would love to wear a gold medal like the majority of our other USA Basketball athletes have done.

You played for the Nebraska Wranglers in the Women’s Professional Basketball League and won the title in 1981: what was US women’s pro basketball like back in the day, and what did it mean to you to win a title? That was our goal in the WBL: it was like the WNBA now and there were not many opportunities to go overseas to play pro basketball. I got to do something I loved and got paid to do it so I would have kept doing it until my legs fell off! It was a great experience for me and winning a championship was the icing on the cake. A lot of kids did not get paid when the owners ran out of money so that part was not good, but they still played for the game they loved. The league folded after that and then I needed to go out and get a job.

In 1985 you returned to your alma mater as an assistant to Coach Summitt and in 2012 you took over for her as head coach: what was the biggest difference between playing for Pat vs. working for her, and what is it like to follow a legend? It was challenging to play for her because she pushed you to the limit. She brought the best of out of us: you might not like her at 1st but you would end up loving her. I always thought that she was extremely fair and gave everyone an opportunity to grow. She taught me the parallels of how basketball and life go together. She was very demanding as a coach and as her assistant I got to see how hard she worked and what she put into it, which made me want to work that much harder. 1 thing she did for me was give me a lot of responsibilities to prepare me for what I am doing now, which not a lot of other coaches are willing to do. She was always open to suggestion, which is why I stayed more than 20 years. She gave us so much freedom that we loved working with her. I do not really think about following in her footsteps because I could not see myself in any other place. I just think about continuing to do what Pat taught me, which keeps it in perspective. I stay involved with the kids who chose to come here: sometimes it does not feel like a job so much as an opportunity. At the end of the day we just want to make sure our kids are improving on the court and in the classroom. Winning is fun but I also enjoy the other parts of being a coach too.

In the 1998 NCAA tourney you won your 3rd straight title and finished the season undefeated: do you consider that to be 1 of the best teams in women’s history? I do. We had an unbelievable team so we just sat back and watched because they played the game so well. They were highly intelligent: if we tweaked something they could pick it up right away. They practiced hard and played well together: it is hard to find a team with multiple superstars who do not care about taking all of the credit. It was a fun team to be around.

In 2001 you were inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? Personally it is 1 of the best moments of my life and I will always cherish it. I hope that it says I made a difference in the game. I give Pat and the university credit for giving us the exposure and challenging us with a tough schedule: not too many schools put women’s basketball up as 1 of the best sports on campus.

During the height of the UConn-Tennessee rivalry it featured the 2 coaches with the most titles in women’s basketball history, but was discontinued in 2007: how fierce were those battles against Geno Auriemma, and do you think that we will ever see the rivalry renewed in the future? We always had great games against them both at home and on the road. They were 2 coaches who were driven to perfection. Every game was exciting whether it was close or a blow-out. I think we might see them again in the future if we can work out the logistics.

You have been to 3 Final 4s as a player and 16 as an assistant, but lost to Louisville in the 2nd round last March: what does it take for a good team to become a Final 4 team, and how soon will we see you back in the Final 4? You need to have a strong team because the hardest game to win is the Elite 8. We have talent so we just need to keep building our consistency and continue to be dedicated both on and off the court. You also need strong leadership, which we are developing as well.

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Season Preview: HoopsHD interviews Hall of Famer Jasmina Perazic

Posted on September 9, 2017 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Jon’s interviews, and the rest of our extensive and continuous preseason coverage

Some players come from privilege, some come from poverty…and some come from Serbia. Jasmina “Jazz” Perazic moved to America in the late 1970s to attend college at Maryland and proceeded to lead the Terps to 4 straight ACC tourney title games, wining 3 in a row from 1981-1983. She won a bronze medal for Yugoslavia at the 1980 Olympics, was named an ACC Tournament Legend in 2008, and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014. She is currently the head coach at Georgian Court University, where she will try to get the Lions headed in the right direction this season. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Jazz about facing Pat Summitt in the NCAA tourney and making the transition from player to coach.

You were born in Serbia: how did you 1st get into basketball? I am so glad you asked me how I got into basketball because of all the publicity that the US soccer team is getting right now. I always wanted to be a soccer player and played in the streets all day long with the boys: that is what we do in Europe. We usually played street pick-up soccer games and when most of the kids went home at dusk we switched to basketball for a little 3-on-3. I practiced soccer/basketball by myself when the other children had to go home to eat lunch and dinner. 2 highly overrated activities I thought at that time, but of course now lunch and dinner are some of the most fun activities! 1 time I was on the field by myself dribbling the ball from 1 goal to the other, making moves and yelling out the names of the players that created these fancy moves. I was playing the role of at least 5 different players. I was 100% sure that I would play professional soccer and another 100% sure that I would be the best player ever. Some boys were just walking around with nothing better to do than make fun of girls and they yelled out to me, “You know girls do not play soccer!” I was 10 or 11 years old at the time. Perhaps because my dad never told me that I could not do something because I was a girl, it came as quite a shock. I thought about it and decided to make my mom find a place where I could play basketball because I heard that women played basketball on the professional level. My parents knew nothing about sports. I remember dragging my mom around the city of Novi Sad trying to find a place I could join to play basketball. In all honesty nobody was really helpful, but we finally found a place. The name of the club was KK Vojvodina and when my mom asked what she needed to do so I could start playing basketball they told her, “Nothing: just have your daughter come on such and such day and she will be in”, so I got into basketball by default.

You began your college career at Maryland in 1979: what made you choose the Terps, and how did you like playing for Hall of Fame coach Chris Weller? Choosing Maryland was another 1 of my well-thought-out plans. I went to American High School in Frankfurt, Germany where my coach was adamant that I was going to play basketball in college. I had no interest in going to school in America: everything was going perfectly right where I was. The only thing that interested me about America was the opportunity to visit Disneyland/Disney World and check out the White House. My coach sent some of my game footage to UCLA, Maryland, and Hawaii. The reasons were very simple: UCLA and Maryland had played in the championship game the previous season and there was a military connection with the coaches from Hawaii (Frankfurt High was a school for military dependents). The reason I chose Maryland was a genius decision: I did not feel like flying another 6 hours west to Los Angeles! I made my decision without knowledge of anything. I was definitely more clueless than the most clueless person in the universe but I guess I was lucky. I am 100% sure that I made the right decision: I cannot imagine any other situation turning out better. Coach Weller was amazing back then and is still amazing. She was a teacher, a mentor, and later became a great friend. She was 1 of the best teachers of the game ever. She had the ability/knowledge/patience to get more out of us than any other coach could have done: she was a genius when it came to bringing out the best in people. I had the most wonderful experience at Maryland. I can easily say that Coach Weller was greatly responsible for all my success both on and off the court and I will never be able to thank her enough. The closest thing to thanking her for everything that she did for me will probably be through coaching…but only if I coach like she did: with integrity. I must continue to teach and create great experiences for my players, honor the game that she gave so much to, and give my best efforts in further promoting and growing this beautiful game that she knew so well and loved so much. If I can do all that then I think it would make her happy.

At the 1980 Olympics you played for Yugoslavia: what did it mean to you to beat Hungary and win a bronze medal? It was an amazing feeling to go to the Olympics and win the bronze: it was all like a dream. We had such a great camaraderie on our team and a great relationship with our men’s team (who won a gold medal) that it made the whole experience even more special. On a personal level it was very gratifying to accomplish something as big as winning an Olympic medal after receiving bunch of stupid threats from the Yugoslavian/Serbian Basketball Federation that if I left to play in another country then I would never have a chance to play for our National Team. Giving me that ultimatum was the best thing they ever did for me. After hearing that I could not wait to leave the country and go prove myself elsewhere: that was about 10 months prior to receiving the invitation for the tryout. The best (and somewhat saddest) part of this whole thing is that I received this invitation thanks to another amazing player from Maryland and 1 of the 2 best point guards to ever play the game: Tara Heiss. Tara was the PG for the US team at the qualification tournament in Bulgaria. After her team beat our team she walked over to our coach (Milan Vasojevic) and told him in English (Tara was great but it would just make her too perfect if she learned Serbian!) that his best player was at Maryland. 9 months later I got a phone call and an invitation to try out for the Yugoslavian Olympic Team. How was I ready? I had the best coach who in 1 year turned me from a no-name talent into a player who will be remembered and recognized around the world. Due to President Jimmy Carter’s boycott Tara and the rest of team USA ended up not going to the Olympics: my medal belongs to her as well.

In the 1981 AIAW tourney you scored 14 PTS in a 1-PT win over Kentucky: how were you able to hang on for the win after almost blowing a 10-PT lead in the final 2 minutes? I really do not remember all of that. I am sure that many American players would relive these moments and remember them forever. However, I was still learning so much about the American system and what it means to be in a tournament. There was already talk of the NCAA vs. the AIAW. It was all sort of confusing for me: I only knew that I had a tremendous passion for the game and great love for my teammates. I wanted to help my American teammates achieve something special. I remember us being an amazingly cohesive unit. I remember playing with some amazing players like Debbie Lytle, Marcia Richardson, and Boe Pearman. I also remember doing some really stupid things in quite a few games (including the 1 against Kentucky) so I think the reason we had to hold on to the win was probably because of something interesting I did!

You then lost to Tennessee for the 2nd straight year in the postseason: what was it like to face Coach Pat Summitt in the tourney? Coach Summitt was an amazing coach/person: she is an icon and a legend. What I remember most about Coach Summitt is her fairness, her respect for the game, and her loyalty to her players. I had the privilege of talking with her on many occasions, especially during my travels with my National Team. As a matter of fact, she was coaching the US team during their tour of Yugoslavia and I acted as their little private translator. I would translate, then I would score 30 PTS, then translate, then score another 30 PTS: it was fun! The Tennessee teams were really tough. I remember how neither Tennessee nor Old Dominion were good matchups for us at that time: they just had too much height. We were all kind of guards playing all the positions: even though I was a guard I think I was also the tallest person on our team. It was fun playing against Tennessee: they always played great defense. They were the better team so we never lost the game to them: they won it.

In the 1982 NCAA tourney Lorri Bauman scored a tourney-record 50 PTS (21-35 FG) in a loss by Drake: was it just 1 of those scenarios where ever shot she put up seemed to go in because she was “in the zone”? I knew she had a lot of points but I did not think it was 50. Coach Weller had this theory that teams with 1 player who scored more points than the rest of her teammates could not beat us.  1 player cannot beat an entire team, especially not a cohesive team like we were…but Lorri came kind of close I guess. I knew that we were going to win that game. 1 of our ACC opponents was Clemson who had an amazing scorer named Barbara Kennedy. I believe she scored 40 PTS against us almost every time we played them, but I am pretty sure that Clemson never beat us so this was Coach Weller’s plan. We were to stop a few other players, let Lorri go off, and we would win the game…and that is what happened.

After losing the 1980 ACC tourney title game at College Park, you won 3 straight ACC tourneys on the road from 1981-1983: what is the key to winning games in the postseason? The key is making sure that you are playing your best basketball when it matters the most. Make sure you are in your best shape and that you are playing great team defense…and then hope for no major injuries.

In 1983 you were named All-American: what did it mean to you to win such an outstanding honor? None of the accolades I received during my playing career felt that special. Part of it was because some of the awards happened here in the States and at that time I knew very little about the whole system here. I felt so far away from everything/everybody back home who would even care that I did not really pay attention to it. I think it would be totally different today because the world is such a small place. Video captures everything and it can be seen anywhere in the world immediately. I also never played to win awards: I played for the love of the game and always cared much more about my teammates. Most of the players who achieve high honors could never achieve them without their teammates and I had some really special ones. Being named All-American did feel great though. It was very rewarding to be selected along with players who I knew from international competition. Most of the players named to the All-America team were members of the US National Team: they were all really special and wonderful people.

After graduating you played professionally overseas for several years: what is the biggest difference between college basketball in the US and pro basketball overseas? It is really difficult to compare US and international basketball. I do believe that the main difference between the 2 is the interpretation of what it means to play team basketball. International players/coaches believe that Americans play selfish basketball and a lot of 1-on-1. They think that just because you share the ball on offense you are a “team”. In the US a team atmosphere comes from playing defense. When a player goes 1-on-1 on the offensive end he/she is really creating a 2-on-2 situation because as soon as you attack you will draw the attention of another player that automatically makes it 2-on-2, and then depending on the next action possibly 3-on-3. I always had a great appreciation for the American game: I always felt more at ease and had more fun playing here. I loved playing with and against American players. I enjoyed playing overseas but mostly playing with my National Team because of the level of competition. Most of the basketball on the club level lacks the intensity and excitement of basketball in the US. The closest we get to the real level is in big international tournaments like the Olympics, World Championships, World University Games, Pan American Games, or European Championships. That applies to both the men’s and women’s game.

In 2014 you were inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? Being inducted was definitely a highlight. It was truly an amazing event and it felt great to be remembered/recognized. It feels great to have your name live on forever. It feels wonderful to be rewarded not just for a few great moments but for an entire body of work: my life’s work of basketball. To have my daughter Deanna Gipe present at the ceremony made it over-the-top special.

You currently work as head coach of the women’s team at Georgian Court University: why did you take the job, and what do you hope to do in the future? I will try not to be too sentimental about this or get philosophical (maybe even spiritual) about my decision to take the job and AD Laura Liesman’s decision to offer me the job. All I can tell you is that this is the perfect place for me: I love it here. I love what this school stands for and everything about this school. I was looking for a place where I could do more than just coach basketball and that place found me. This school is special for so many reasons. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy and has been educating young women since 1908. After a long history as a women’s college, Georgian Court University became fully coeducational in 2013. The foundation of Georgian Court was created on 5 beautiful core values of Respect, Integrity, Justice, Compassion, and Service. I could go on and on about our school even though I have only been here a little while. I could already write a novel about this school! I guarantee you that people will hear about Georgian Court University. I will do everything in my power to represent this beautiful place in the best light possible and our players will do the same. As far as basketball is concerned I love the challenge. Greatness is possible everywhere and is only a short while away. Success with integrity is achievable: you will see it at Georgian Court University!

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Season Preview: HoopsHD interviews Creighton assistant coach Steve Merfeld

Posted on September 7, 2017 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Jon’s interviews, and the rest of our extensive and continuous preseason coverage

Most schools are lucky enough to have 1 coach with an NCAA tourney win under his belt, but Creighton has doubled its pleasure with a pair of such coaches.  Head coach Greg McDermott has won a few himself, and his assistant Steve Merfeld has 1 of the most amazing upsets in NCAA tourney history when his #15-seed Hampton Pirates had a 1-PT upset of Iowa State in 2001.  He later became head coach at Evansville and an assistant at Bradley before joining the Bluejays’ staff in 2010.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Merfeld about his most shining of moments, and we wish him an early happy birthday later this month!

From 1986-1996 you were an assistant at Bowling Green for Coach Jim Larranaga: what makes him such a great coach, and what is the most important thing you ever learned from? I learned all of my fundamentals/beliefs about how the game should be played from him. His strengths are his confidence, his ability to adapt to his players, and his fundamental soundness in his approach to his players.

You are a highly-regarded recruiter who helped sign eventual NBA lottery pick Antonio Daniels: what is the secret to being a good recruiter, and could you tell at the time you recruited Daniels that he would turn into a lottery pick? Antonio was a late-developer but he always had great basketball instincts that you just cannot teach. He was a gym rat who had a complete understanding of the game with a great ability to make others better: very similar characteristics to Magic Johnson. The 1 thing I really look for is a kid’s ability to pass the ball, as that usually means they have good vision (which is underrated on the defensive end).

Take me through the 2001 NCAA tourney (the 1st NCAA tourney in Hampton history):
Tarvis Williams had 16 PTS/13 REB in a 1-PT upset of #2-seed Iowa State: how did that game change your life, and do you ever get tired of watching the video of yourself being lifted up in the air during the post-game celebration? Looking back more than a decade later, Tarvis and our other kids just believed that they would win. It did not change my life (as I am an even-keel person) but it was an unbelievable experience that I enjoy reminiscing about.

Williams scored 16 PTS in a loss to Georgetown: where does he rank among the best players you have ever coached, and what was the reaction like when you got back to campus? There was no doubt in our mind that we would win that game as well so we were devastated by the loss. Tarvis was a dominating frontcourt player who is definitely among the top-5 players that I have ever coached. He twice led the nation in BLK: he could bounce and go right back up. The campus atmosphere was great even though many of the students were just satisfied that we got to the tourney. We had a confident/humble group of players who were not arrogant.

In the opener the following season, Tommy Adams scored 20 PTS in an 8-PT win over UNC in Chapel Hill: how on earth were you able to beat the Tar Heels at their place, and how did it compare to the tourney win? We had lost about 75% of our scoring but still had a number of good players. Much like the year before our players expected to win so there was no big celebration afterward but it set the tone for the rest of the season.

In 2002 you were named MEAC COY: what did it mean to you to win such an outstanding individual honor? There are a lot of people who need to be recognized in helping me along the way. We had good players but something else that is often overlooked is the administration. We had a great AD at Hampton who later became head of the MEAC and he provided us with the resources to be successful.

What are your memories of the 2002 NCAA tourney (Adams scored a tourney-school record 23 PTS in a loss to #2-seed UConn)? It was very similar to the Iowa State game in that we played well after falling behind by double digits. We cut it to 4 PTS with a few minutes left until a foul call went against us. I am very proud of that 2nd group: that may have been even more impressive than the win the previous year.

In 2002 you were hired as head coach at Evansville, where you ended up coaching 2009 1-AAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year Jason Holsinger: why did you take the job at Evansville, and how much importance do you place on academics? The Evansville situation was an opportunity to move into 1 of the best mid-major leagues in the country. I was blessed to coach 2 Academic All-Americans (Clint Cuffle and Jason). My undergraduate degree is in education, which is what college is all about.

In the opening round of the 2007 MVC tourney Matt Webster scored 29 PTS in a 5-PT OT loss to Drake (thanks to the Bulldogs making a tourney-record 15 3-PT shots): was it  just 1 of those games where every shot Drake took went in because they were all “in the zone”? Drake was incredible: banking shots in, having scrubs make threes, etc. Matt missed some FTs at the end of regulation but still had a great game. I am very proud of what we did at Evansville: we improved 100 spots in the RPI in a 5-year period.

In 2010 you were hired as an assistant coach to Greg McDermott at Creighton: how do you like the job so far, and what do you hope to do in the future? This is an awesome place: there are very few mid-major programs that finish in the top-15 in the country in attendance and get to play in a relatively new building that has hosted an NCAA Regional. I enjoy where I am right now and enjoy working for Greg…but I would certainly like to be a head coach again someday if I knew it was a place where I could be successful.

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Season Preview: HoopsHD interviews Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller

Posted on September 3, 2017 by Jon Teitel

There are a lot of great basketball coaches in Los Angeles but there is little doubt that the 1 who was the best player is Cheryl Miller, currently working as the women’s basketball coach at Cal State LA.  We are running out of Hall of Fames into which to induct her: Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995, Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999, and FIBA Hall of Fame in 2010.  The reasons why are pretty obvious: 2-time national high school POY, 3-time national college POY and 2-time NCAA tourney MVP at USC, and 1984 Olympic gold medalist.  She has not been too shabby as a coach either: NCAA tourney appearances during each of her 2 years as coach at her alma mater and a trip to the 1998 WNBA Finals as coach of the Phoenix Mercury.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Miller about her legendary playing career and how she likes being a coach.

As a 6’2” player at Riverside Polytechnic High you won 4 consecutive state titles, scored a state-record 105 PTS in a 1982 win over Norte Vista High School, and made what are believed to be the 1st 2 dunks by a woman in organized competition: how on earth did you score triple digits, and what was the reaction like when you dunked in a game? I had previously scored 60-65 PTS in a game, after which my brother Reggie was joking around and wondering if I could score 100. It was 1 of those special nights when everything went in: the basket looked huge and I had 80 PTS by halftime. I looked at my coach in the locker room and he said, “I think you are going to do this!” The dunk occurred at a home game when I got a breakaway. Dunking was not easy for me because I have small hands. It was not like a Brittany Griner dunk: THAT is a dunk! I remember backpedaling after I dunked and seeing my dad in the crowd: his jaw just dropped. The whole crowd was going crazy as well.

You were the most heavily recruited female athlete of all time with 250+ scholarship offers: what made you choose USC? When I was a high school senior you had to pay your own way to fly to colleges for recruiting visits, so from a financial standpoint we just could not afford to fly all over the country. I am a daddy’s girl and wanted to stay close to home. I remember the McGee twins walking into my living room and sitting down very close to me on the couch while Coach Linda Sharp talked to my dad in the kitchen. Paula leaned toward me and said, “You can play 2 years with us or 2 years against us”, and after that I was sold. It was a no-brainer for me with the prestige/history of the Trojans. She did not get a lot of credit for it but Coach Sharp was a great recruiter. Only 1-2 of her phone calls to me were about basketball: the majority were about other things in my life like academics/prom, which meant the world to me.

In the 1983 NCAA tourney title game you scored 27 PTS but missed the front end of 1-and-1 with 6 seconds left and a 2-PT lead over Louisiana Tech: did you think that Kim Mulkey’s 18-foot jumper at the buzzer was going in, and what did it mean to you to be named tourney MOP as a freshman? After I missed the FT my mind started spinning. Kim just took off in another gear: I was trailing her down the court and when she took the shot I was kicking myself because I thought that I had cost our team the championship. I grabbed the rebound after she missed and just kicked the ball as hard as I could. I could not believe that I was named MOP: my teammates did so much for me so that award could have gone to any of us. It reminded me of all the hard work that I had put in since I was a little girl playing against my brothers.

In the 1984 NCAA tourney title game you scored 16 PTS and were named tourney MOP yet again after an 11-PT win over Tennessee: what was the crowd like at Pauley Pavilion? There are only a couple of Bruins in my life who I adore: my brother Reggie and Ann Meyers Drysdale. I had never had a decent game at Pauley during my 1st 2 years of college so to win a title there and climb up on the rim was a little “extra, extra”. It was also special because we beat 1 of the best coaches ever in Pat Summitt.

A few months later you helped team USA win an Olympic gold medal: what was it like playing for Coach Summitt, and how devastating was it to miss out on the 1988 Olympics due to a right knee injury? I figured that Coach Summitt did not like me after the title game and thought that I was cocky/arrogant. Our Olympic practices were tougher than our games: we learned so much about discipline and directing our emotions in a positive way so that they would not become a distraction. By the time we arrived at the Olympics Coach Summitt and I had reached a meeting of the minds. I got on her bad side after 1 practice where I kicked the ball after getting low-bridged. We were in the locker room at halftime and she was just chewing out every single player but for some reason she skipped over me, which made me feel that there is a God! Then she said, “Oh, I forgot 1 person, how could I forget Cheryl Miller!?”…and she benched me for the entire 2nd half. A day or 2 later she came into my room and asked me how we were going to work this out. I told her that I played to win, just like she did, but that we went about it differently: I was more passionate while she was more controlled. After that it was great. It was a big deal to miss out in 1988. Look at a guy like Derrick Rose: before his injuries he was phenomenal. However, back in the 1980s when I played we did not have the medical technology available for me to come back and be the same player I was before my injury, which was the most devastating thing.

In the 1986 NCAA tourney title game you scored 16 PTS before fouling out in a loss to Texas: where does that undefeated Longhorns team rank among the best that you have ever seen? To this day I have never watched that game and I never will. Clarissa Davis was a great athlete and Jody Conradt was a great coach: they were a phenomenal team who went 12 deep.

You finished your college career as a 4-time All-American/3-time national POY: do you feel like you are the best women’s college basketball player ever? I feel that I am 1 of many. When I look at the great players who came before me like Ann (whom I patterned my game after), Lynette Woodard, Nancy Lieberman, etc., I just tried not to embarrass myself.

After graduating you were offered a job with the Harlem Globetrotters: how close did you come to accepting the offer, and do you ever wonder how good a pro you would have been had you been healthy? My handles were shaky so there was no way that I could have been a Globetrotter, although I had personality in spades. Lynette was the perfect woman for that position at the time. For some reason it was just meant to be: if I had remained healthy and ended up playing pro overseas then a lot of other doors in my life (like broadcasting/coaching) might have closed.

In 1995 you were inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? When I 1st learned that I was a nominee I felt that it would be cool but did not think that I would ever be elected. They said they would give me a final answer in 72 hours…which were the longest 72 hours of my life. When they finally called back 3 days later I remember them saying “Congratulations” but the rest of the conversation was a blur. All I heard was screaming: I was worried that the neighbors were in trouble…and then I realized that it was me who was screaming! It was a thrill for my parents to be a part of that because they had made so many sacrifices for us. You get to select who walks you down the aisle: I wanted Ann but she was already taken so I asked 1 of my other idols (Dr. J), who agreed to do it. As we were walking up to the podium he asked me if I was cold because my knees were shaking and my teeth were chattering so much!

You made the 1998 WNBA Finals as head coach/GM of the Phoenix Mercury: how close did you come to beating a Houston team that went 27-3 during the regular season, and what was it like to face Finals MVP/former college teammate Cynthia Cooper? There are certain games that haunt you and Game 2 of that series is 1 of them. I think we were up by 9-10 PTS with a few minutes to go and I could almost hear the champagne corks popping in the locker room, but then Cynthia/Sheryl Swoopes/Tina Thompson shifted into a whole other realm of greatness. I think that Cynthia is the hardest-working/most-underrated Hall of Famer that I have ever met.

Your brother Darrell played pro baseball, your sister Tammy played college volleyball, and your brother Reggie was a Hall of Fame NBA player: who is the best athlete in the family? There is no question: I am! When you are talking about bragging rights in the Miller family, heck yeah!

Last year you were hired as head coach at Cal State Los Angeles: why did you take the job, and what do you hope to do in the future? I spent a couple of years coaching at Langston University in Oklahoma: I did not realize how difficult it would be but I was glad to have the opportunity. It is nice to come back to LA: we played our summer league Olympic Development games here so it kind of feels like coming full-circle. It is wonderful to sleep in your old bed. You have to set the bar high to develop a culture of accountability/passion/discipline. I try to instill perfection in an imperfect game and develop that mentality in a group of young women: you push and then applaud. I know what worked for me as a player: I did not have a problem with coaches who got in my face but I did not like it when they stayed in my face. You have to tell them how special they are and what they need to do. I hear that there is a different breed of athlete today and I can see some entitlement issues, but they want to win so my job is to show them how to win in the right way.

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Season Preview: HoopsHD interviews Hall of Famer Vicky Bullett

Posted on September 2, 2017 by Jon Teitel

It may seem like the Big East has cornered the market on coaches who were Hall of Fame players (Patrick Ewing/Chris Mullin) but do not sleep on the D-2 Mountain East Conference.  Last year West Virginia Wesleyan hired Vicky Bullett to coach their women’s basketball team and the Lady Bobcats hope to get even better this season.  Coach Bullett’s resume as a player is rather remarkable: 1989 ACC POY at Maryland, 1992 Olympic gold medalist for Team USA, and 1999 WNBA All-Star.  In 2011 she was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and then spent several years as the head coach at Hagerstown Community College before returning to her home state of West Virginia.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Bullett about winning a gold medal and becoming a Hall of Famer.  

1 of your 6 brothers (Don) coached your team at Martinsburg High School and drove you 6 hours round-trip so that you could practice with your AAU team: what was it like to play for your brother, and how much of an impact did he have on your life? It is always hard because any sibling would put more pressure on you than a stranger would. He has always pushed me to work hard on the court and in the classroom and helped prepare me for my freshman year at Maryland.

In the 1988 Olympics you played for team USA: what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? The team was exceptional. Now they select players but back then there were probably 300 women who tried out. I was 1 of the youngest players and I learned a lot.

In 1989 you were named ACC POY/All-American at Maryland: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? They were struggling when I first got there because they had some players who had transferred out. I thought about going to Tennessee but they already had a stacked team. My dad suggested I go to Maryland so I could play right away and it was an honor to receive those awards.

In the 1989 ACC tourney title game you were named tourney MVP after getting 30 PTS/16 REB in a win over NC State: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most? We had a good team but Coach Chris Weller only played about 7 of us, including All-American Deanna Tate. As a senior you want to accomplish a lot and we got pumped up to play against our ACC opponents: we were destined to do well that year.

Take me through the 1989 NCAA tourney:
You scored 28 PTS and your team had a tourney-record 25 STL in a win over Stephen F. Austin: what is the key to playing great defense? My brother told me that I had to play defense if I wanted to make the Olympic team in 1988: it was a tool that he expressed a lot. Most athletes do not like to get scored on and I always wanted to be a complete player. Defense was the key factor in us making it to the Final 4.

In the Final 4 you had 20 PTS/10 REB in a loss to eventual champion Tennessee: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? It was not devastating: the Volunteers had a great team. They called us a Cinderella team due to our small bench. We just ran into a good player like Bridgette Gordon and a great coach like Pat Summitt.

You broke the school’s all-time scoring/rebounding marks as a junior and graduated with 1928 PTS/968 REB: how were you able to balance your scoring with your rebounding? You just have to do both. Our coach did not play around: you either boxed out on rebounds or ran the steps at Cole Field House! I was disciplined enough to just go out there and do my best.

You were a 4-time All-Star in the Italian League: what is the biggest difference between college basketball and pro basketball? College basketball has some gimmick defenses but in the pros it is more 1-on-1. A lot of foreign players are very good on offense so there are less schemes overseas than there are in the US.

On July 3, 2001 you set a WNBA record by playing 55 minutes in Washington’s 4-OT win over Seattle: how exhausted were you by the end of the night? I remember that game very well. It was late in my career and the coach tried to keep me to a certain level of minutes, but we just reached a point where she said she needed me to play. I probably paid for it the next couple of days but at the time I was not that exhausted. I had to guard 6’5″ center Lauren Jackson, which also took a lot out of me.

In 2011 you were inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? It was a great highlight. I escorted my head coach at Maryland to the ceremony the previous year. People told me that Vivian Stringer was looking for me and she said that I was up for it the next year: I thought she might have been offering me a job! It kind of completes the package for all that you have contributed to the sport.

You currently are head coach of the women’s basketball team at West Virginia Wesleyan: how do you like the job? It is going well but I hate recruiting.

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Season Preview: HoopsHD interviews Walt Williams about new Coppin State head coach Juan Dixon

Posted on September 1, 2017 by Jon Teitel

HoopsHD begins its annual season preview series by focusing on new Coppin State head coach Juan Dixon.  This year marks the 15th anniversary of 1 of the highlights of Coach Dixon’s career: winning the 2002 NCAA title as a member of the Maryland Terrapins and the MOP award as the best player in the tourney.  After graduating with the most 3PM in school history, he was drafted in the 1st round of the 2002 NBA draft by the Wizards and spent a decade in the NBA/overseas.  The Eagles are hoping he can bring some of his March Magic back to his hometown of Baltimore, where his aunt Sheila served as the city’s 1st female mayor.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Walt Williams about his fellow Maryland All-American and what made him such a great player.

Maryland coach Gary Williams 1st noticed Juan at an AAU tourney in Georgia when he dove for a ball while his team was down by 20 PTS with 2 minutes to go: what made Williams such a great coach? Hustle was a huge part of Juan’s makeup: he would not have been half the player he was if he did not play so hard. His toughness helped him get to the next level but he also had quickness and fantastic skills. Gary grabbed that intensity out of all of his players so we always played hard. He emphasized our effort level but would not get on our case if we missed a shot.

Take me through the 2001 NCAA tourney:
Juan scored 13 PTS in a 10-PT win over Georgetown: what did it mean to you to see your alma mater beat a team that used to be 1 of your main archrivals until the schools discontinued the annual series in 1980? We are the top 2 teams in the area so we always hoped for the opportunity to get bragging rights in the DMV. 1 of my biggest regrets is that I did not get to play against them more.

Maryland was up by 22 PTS in the 1st half of the Final 4 before eventual champion Duke came all the way back to win by double-digits: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of his career? We were controlling the game until Duke became more aggressive and the referees allowed them to be a lot more hands-y.

In 2002 he was named ACC Athlete of the Year/1st-team All-American: what did it mean to him to win such outstanding honors? I think it meant a great deal to him after he overcame some personal battles and had the confidence in himself and a coach who believed in him. He was not a top player coming into college but the coaching staff taught him how to play and it resulted in him becoming a great player.

In the 2002 NCAA tourney title game he scored 18 PTS to beat Indiana en route to being named tourney MOP: what did it mean to him to win the title, and how did being named MOP change his life? That is something that you will have the rest of your life. It was a veteran-laden team in an era of 1-and-done players who were heavily recruited. Gary chose to recruit guys who would stay in the program for 4 years and he helped them grow so that they would be great as seniors who played together as a team. They had players at every position across the board and they bought into what Gary was saying. Juan rose to the occasion and made big shots down the stretch.

He remains the all-time leading scorer in school history: did he realize at the time how prolific a player he was, and do you think that anyone will ever break his record? The best players do not usually stick around anymore…but if someone comes in and has a good freshman year and remains consistent for all 4 years then I think it could be done. You also need to stay healthy and be valuable to the team.

His 333 career STL remains in the top-20 all-time in D-1 history: what was his secret to being a great defender? He was a scrappy player: if he was just a scorer then he would not have made it to the NBA because he was just not big enough to be a SG. 1 thing he did as he got older was to understand what would occur before it happened due to his great anticipation. Coach Williams always had an aggressive mentality so the 2 of them were a perfect match.

In the summer of 2002 he was drafted 17th overall by Washington (6 spots ahead of Tayshaun Prince): did he see that as a validation of his college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? It was a dream come true for me when I was a 1st round pick a decade before that so I assume it was the same for him. It is great to reach the pinnacle but it is short-lived because you have to put in a lot of work to survive when facing the best players in the world. You have to do a lot of work on your own to last as long as he did. 1 of the biggest reasons I went to Maryland was the chance to play in front of my family/friends.

In Game 4 of the 2005 Eastern Conference quarterfinals he scored a career-high 35 PTS (in 31 minutes off the bench) in a 7-PT win over Chicago: was it just 1 of those situations where every shot he put up seemed to go in because he was “in the zone”? He was definitely in the zone but he was able to get into the flow longer because he kept making important shots. Everything worked out for him on that particular night and the coach had a comfort level that allowed him to stay out there.

After leaving the NBA he played in Greece/Spain/Turkey: how does pro basketball overseas compare to college basketball? The foreign game is more team-oriented. In college you have to rely on your coaches a lot but in the NBA it is a bunch of superstars who want to prove that they are the best, so there is more of an isolation game then there is ball movement until you find the open guy (like they do so well in San Antonio).

His older brother Phil was a D-3 basketball All-American, his half-brother Jermaine played at Pitt, and his 2nd cousin Brandon Driver played football at San Jose State: who is the best athlete in the family, and do you credit at least some of his success to genetics? Phil was a good player but Juan was more athletic. Juan did not have the best vertical leap but could move quickly and change directions, which allowed him to get into passing lanes.

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