Marquette University Athletics
Golden Eagle Q&A With Jocelyn Mellen
9/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Sept. 21, 2009
MILWAUKEE - From two season ending knee injuries to claiming the WNIT championship in 2008, junior Jocelyn Mellen has experienced her share of obstacles and elations during her time as a member of the Marquette women's basketball team. The genial forward sat down with GoMarquette.com to talk about, among other things, her recovery from the injury that kept her off the court for much of last season, taking on a leadership role and finding a balance between basketball and school.
After starting your career at Marquette with a medical redshirt, you quickly became a key reserve during the 2007-2008 season, playing an integral role on the WNIT championship team. What was it like to experience yet another season ending knee injury last season after securing your spot as a starter?
Obviously it was disappointing. There's no sugar coating it, it stunk. I don't know if I should say nice, but it was kind of nice having this kind of injury before because I knew what I would be going through a second time around. I knew what it was going to take rehab-wise and strengthening and lifting-wise to come back full go. It was not the way I planned my season, that is for sure.
After your injury some of the younger players like Jessica Pachko and Georgie Jones, had to really step up and fill in the gap. How were you able to help them prepare for that pressure?
I was like their little cheerleader on the sidelines. They were tossed into a situation where it was either sink or swim and they did extremely well. I just tried to help them out in anyway that I could. I'd give them a little advice here or there, like try this move next time but I didn't try to coach them because we have our position coaches that will coach them. Anything that I could add in to help them, I tried to do.
Now that you are back from your injury, what are you doing to help prepare yourself mentally and physically for the upcoming season?
Physically, I have been cleared to do everything so I've been doing all of the team workouts, lifting and conditioning. I'm still doing some rehab just to make sure that I am confident on my leg, that it is strong enough and that I can push off, and that if I fall down I'll be ok. Mentally, it's scary to step onto the court and think last time I was out there I tore my knee. I think that mentally will be the biggest thing to get over. I don't think it will take me very long though. I think it will just take one huge fall. I will look around and think I'm ok, I will get up and I will be fine.
Has the fear of hurting your knee again held you back in anyway during your workouts?
Not so much, not compared to the other one [knee injury] actually. I kind of just went at it full go. I notice things after I do them, so I will land on my leg and I will think, "Oh, I'm fine!" I'm not tentative at all, it's just like an afterthought, "that was a close call" or something.
Since the squad is, numbers wise, smaller than last year's team, you will probably have to come in a play some good minutes. Are you ready for that challenge?
Our system here is that we like to run the ball, so obviously subs are going to be going in and out of the game. Being in the system for my fourth year, I kind of know what to do so it won't be too hard to come back and be right back where I was at.
The team only has one new newcomer this year. What do you think are the advantages of having a team that has, for the most part, been together for over a year?
Sarina [Simmons], our freshman fits in great. You would never have known that she wasn't with us last year. I think we have the advantage of chemistry. We know what motivates each other, we know how to press each others buttons in order to get them to go the extra mile. Just being around each other, being comfortable with each other and kind of knowing each other's game will help us a lot.
As a team what are you doing to fill in the gap after losing last year's outstanding seniors, Marquette's all-time leading scorer Krystal Ellis, Erin Monfre and Marissa Thrower?
They're big shoes to fill, there's no doubt about that, but teams change every year. We know that we don't necessarily have to fill their spots but we have to make our own spots. We have to make our own way. We have to play our game the best that we can. For me I need to up being a leader and talking on the court. For other people it's conditioning. We just need to up whatever it is that we do best.
Do you see yourself being a leader on the team this year?
I've always kind of thought of myself as a silent leader, I lead by example, but this year and kind of last year I've seen myself become more vocal. I think that just has to do with being in the system, being comfortable, knowing what the coaches expect and knowing our players, my teammates. I'm kind of excited to step up this year and see how it goes.
How, if at all, has the team's mentality changed from last year?
We obviously didn't have the best season last year. Our mentality is that we are just a determined bunch. We just want to get out there and not only prove ourselves, but prove to ourselves that we can compete and just every game go out there and kill it.
You mentioned last year. Because you were injured you spent a lot of time watching the team and I'm sure you kind of became the team's eyes from the off the court. What did you learn from that experience and how do you think that will help the team this year?
I learned a lot from just being on the bench and listening to the coaches, about the x's and o's. I also learned that communication is a huge part of the game and sometimes we lacked that in spots during the game and you could tell when things went downhill. I learned communication and encouragement. I learned that even when we didn't have the best game to be encouraging and just to look forward to the next game.
Your dad actually played basketball collegiately for Drake. What does it mean for you to be able to, in a way, follow in his footsteps?
I'm glad that I can kind of follow in his footsteps because he's always coached me in basketball. He was my coach since I was five. Throughout high school he helped out as well. I'm glad that I can continue with the love of the game that he instilled in me, the passion he feels for the game. I think I see that in myself when I look at him. Just smiling on the court and being happy while playing, I got that from him.
As a speech pathology major you clearly have a very heavy workload. How are you able to find a balance between your schoolwork and basketball?
It's difficult, especially this year because I've started clinicals. It's overwhelming at times but our coaches and our academic staff have really shown us how to manage our time. I owe a lot to Tom Ford and the academic staff because when I was a freshman I had no idea and they taught us study techniques and all that stuff. There is a balance. Sometimes you just can't be in the gym, you need a break from basketball and sometimes you need a break from school. It's a good balance to have. If I'm stressed out with school, I have basketball and if I'm stressed out with basketball, I have school.
You talked earlier about Tom Ford and your coaching staff, what or who do you think has shaped you the most as a person and a player during your time at Marquette?
I owe a lot to a lot of people. I would probably say the people I am around the most, my teammates and my coaches. My coaches, especially, Coach Terri have shaped me a lot. She is all about making us better basketball players, but her overall goal is to make us better people and Tom Ford makes us better students, so we really have the overall package here. My teammates have shaped me a lot as well. I'm around them 24/7. They know me. They know when I'm having a good day or a bad day and they know how to pick me up.
What can Golden Eagle Fans expect from your team this year?
We're obviously determined, so they can expect us to work hard on the court and to see us have some fun. I think that was a part we were missing last year. We were up and down and up and down; nobody really had fun with the game. That's why I play basketball, because it is fun for me. I think the fans are going to be able to see our chemistry on the court and just having fun with each other. I hope they get excited. It should be a fun and exciting year.
In closing, what are you looking forward to most this season?
I'm looking forward to playing. I'm looking forward to seeing how this year goes with the team because this is probably the team I've been the closest with. I feel the most comfortable with them and with the coaches now. I'm looking forward to being able to run out to the huddle and not having to crutch, just the little things that people take for granted. I'm looking forward to warming up, water breaks, anything. I'm just looking forward to it all.
