Marquette University Athletics
Terri Mitchell Answers Your Questions!
10/15/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The following is women's head basketball coach Terri Mitchell's answers to questions submitted by fans through the gomarquette.com website on October 15, 1999 as the Golden Eagles begin preparations for the upcoming season.
Name : Cookie
Question :Hi Terri:
This is not a question but just a good luck statement for the 1999-2000 sason. I can't believe that it will be the last one for Lisa already. It just seems like she started at MU. It has been 3 great seasons and I wish all of you the best of luck this season. As always, I will continue to wear the Dr. Suess hat.
See ya in a few weeks at the first exhibition game.
ANSWER: Thanks for your statement Cookie. It's also hard for me to believe that Lisa is going to be a senior. We're looking forward to fantastic year and we know that Lisa is going to do some great things. For as much as you are looking forward to seeing us, we're looking forward to seeing you in the stands. Keep cheering us on.
Name : Paulette Gilliam C.
Question :Will Heidi Bowman be able to play at all this season? How is she feeling?
ANSWER: Paulette, as far as Heidi is concerned, she will be able to play this season. We're expecting that she will continue to do some fine things on the basketball court. She is feeling better everyday. We've decided to keep her out of all preseason workouts in order for her to get as much rest as possible before practice and the season starts. Heidi is ready to go, but we are going to be a little conservative in our approach because it is such a long season and we want her to have an impact the entire year. We want her to be there down the stretch, especially during conference play and the postseason. For sure, Heidi will be on the court November 19 but we are going to take it easy the next few weeks.
Name : Brian Tetzler
Question : What will Abbie Willenborg and Lisa Oldenburg need to this season to extend the success that they had last year?
ANSWER: As for what Abbie and Lisa will need to do this season to extend their success, they have to keep challenging themselves. We have a practice squad of guys who are really good and challenge those two. For both of them, it's all about heart and desire and I know that they come into practice everyday wanting to get better. Both of them really strive to get better. I got a letter from the WNBA yesterday requesting footage on the two of them. With the two of them knowing that, I'm sure that will add another kick in their step as far as hard they work.
Question: Marquette has drawn attention and is ranked nationally in several presason polls. What does that mean to your program.
ANSWER: I have thought about what these rankings mean. For me, it's great for the ladies for how hard they work, especially for our seniors, Abby, Lisa and Kiesha. It's a recognition of all their efforts the last three years and that we are getting some national respect.
Being ranked doesn't win or lose you any basketball games. What it does is make our players more aware of how people are looking at them across the country. I think that it makes them work that much harder and helps me understand what it takes to get to the next level. Over the last three years now I understand that you need experience and depth in order to climb the national rankings and those are two things that I think we have addressed.
