Part 1 with Matthew Mitchell

Question: Do you see more confidence this year after a season like last year?Mitchell: I don’t have a good answer to that. I won’t know until we get maybe a month into it. That’s just a hard question to answer. But no, I have not noticed anything. The thing we’re trying to make sure of is it’s not like we’ve done this 10 years in a row. I’ve been more guarded than looking for people that have built on the success. I’m trying to stay humble and stay hungry. We’ve had some challenges as we’re growing into this. It’s all uncharted territory for us, so I’m just trying to figure it all out.

Question: How do you keep them humble and hungry?Mitchell: Just talk to them about it. Make sure that as a coach, what I’m in charge of is creating an environment for them where they can learn. I’m the teacher, so I think that if you’re challenged daily and you’re shown daily that’s there still more to do, that there’s more work to do, there’s still something new to learn, I think that keeps you humble in everyday life. As we get older, you get a little more perspective, you get a little more wisdom. I think that’s one of my big jobs is to make sure that the environment is such that humility is valued in our program, that our three buzz words – humility, hard work and discipline – are valued. When a kid comes here and she’s conscientious about doing the little things and how she treats people and her teammates, those things are rewarded in the program. I think it’s the job of coach to create an environment where humility and selflessness and sacrifice and all those things are valued. When you’re rewarded for a certain action, you’ll want to do it more. So I think that’s my job.

Question: Who keeps you humble?Mitchell: Jenna is the No. 1 person. If I ever get any notion of not being humble. I’ve had great training. I’ve had great people, mentors around me, that taught the value of that. My parents taught me the value of that and just some people in my life that I respect for that have accomplished so much more than I have in this point in time, so it’s not hard. It’s not hard at all.

Question: Where do you want to see Victoria Dunlap improve leadership wise?Mitchell: I want her to continue to try to push out of comfort zones. I don’t want her to totally depart from her personality.  She doesn’t need to walk around and jump down people’s throats because that’s not genuine, that’s not her. I do want her to, when she sees things not going well, it’s much more powerful for Victoria to recognize that and say something than it is for me. I want her to stay who she is but maybe push out of some of her comfort zones she can get in and lead by example. I just want her to be more vocal. She’s always a very hard worker in practice, but sometimes things need to be said. Amber (Smith) does a good job with that, but Vic struggles with that a little. So that’s an area that Victoria and A’dia (Mathies), for instance, would be more comfortable leading by example. There are just some times when they just need to say things. I’ve been real proud of A’dia. (She) has tried to be vocal and Victoria has tried to be vocal, and that’s probably the area where were still pushing those players from a leadership perspective.

Question: How do you replace the vocal leadership of Amber Smith?Mitchell: The physical part is not going to be easy to replace, but as far as the mindset, I’m pretty clear how we’re going to do that until she gets back, and that’s Crystal Riley and that’s Jennifer O’Neill. (They’re) going to have the opportunity to be our two point guards. I think they are both built to be point guards and so those are positions that they will be comfortable in. We have a real luxury with A’dia Mathies that if either one of those players wasn’t particularly comfortable with the ball in crunch time – I think they will be, but let’s just say they weren’t — A’dia Mathies backed up Amber in the NCAA Tournament at a very high level. We have other guards on the team that are dynamic and can handle the ball. I don’t think we’ll have trouble physically getting the kids on the court and filling the minutes. The bigger challenge is the experience and the leadership. Crystal is further along from that standpoint clearly as a junior, but Jen is extremely mature for a freshman (and) has probably the same kind of passion for the game than Amber has, maybe more, I don’t know. She loves basketball, she’s a gym rat, she’s in here all the time (and) it seems like her hobby. Another thing Jen has working for her is she’s extremely talented, so that helps you fit into that role. Players respect kids with talent. I’m very concerned with how we will miss Amber while she’s gone, and I’ve challenged Amber.  Amber cannot run and hide now. She cannot go in the training room and isolate herself. Amber has to be out on the court. Amber wants to coach in college and I’ve told her this is great on-the-job training, because as soon as she’s able I’m going to have her on the court by me as much as possible at practice and be in the point guards’ ears. She has to stay engaged because she’s so important to this team.

Question: Describe Jennifer O’Neil’s game. …Mitchell: She’s extremely explosive, fast, has all the dribble moves, has all the ball-handling skills, can get by people, can make all the open-court plays. (She’s a) surprisingly good 3-point shooter; just makes a ton of 3s, or has up to this point. I hope I’m not jinxing her, but she is a very good shooter, good scorer, still working on her defense. She will be as dynamic as anybody we’ve signed here at that position. Amber makes some plays that will make your jaw drops sometimes, makes some finds that only she can see. Jen is in that mold. Jen is just a great passer, someone who will be able to keep the pressure on. From an offensive standpoint, she’ll be able to push the ball with anybody.