|
ESPN: SportsNation |
Skylar will be here in a few minutes to chat!
What big east matchup game are you looking forward to the most?
Besides UConn? I think they'll be another exciting game, it always is. Aside from that I'm looking forward to Louisville. With the addition of Monique coming back, I'm excited to play them.
Any ideas for new headbands this year?
Yeah, actually I do have some new ones coming out. Different colors. I have a camo headband for the Carrier Classic. You'll see lime green, pink, navy blue and they'll have the Irish on them.
Who do you want to win in the WNBA Championship the Fever or the Lynx?
Dev Peters, I went to school with her and Candace is a good friend of mine. I really like Tamika. But I'm cheering for Dev and Candace. Indiana would be the second team I cheer for. I'd be happy for either.
You've lost two marvelous teammates in Peters and Novosel, does that require more from your play or will it require more from the other Irish players to partially replace their output, effort, and intensity?
All of the above. I think everybody has to step up and into an expanded role. From my standpoint, it will be a leadership thing. Not too much change. Taylor and Natalie will do a great job stepping in. And we have three good freshmen that will step into the team.
Hey Skylar! My sister and I are big fans. What do you do to stay motivated? Especially in your least motivated times? Any tips?
I'm just competitive. I'm always competitive. I want to be the best and the best player for my teammates. My parents motivate me, my mom in particular, to work hard.
How many hours a day do you practice/workout?
A typical day could be a 2 hour practice and before you could shoot and life on your own, so anywhere between 3-4 hours per day.
Now that Notre Dame is poised to leave the Big East, how do you think that will effect the UConn-ND rivalry that has just begun to heat up? Was the w-bball program upset when they heard of the move?
I think the rivalry has always been there. I think that now that we're moving, we won't play each other four times per year, but I think we could still set something up and meet each other and play.
Skylar; with the ladies team doing so much better than the men's team lately do the ladies rub it into the men at all? :)
No, no, no. You have to help build their confidence. I thought the win over Syracuse was good. They have great freshmen this year. I'm looking for exciting things from them this year.
In what ways have you changed, as a player and as a person, since arriving on campus?
I started as a player, as a two guard, I wasn't a point guard. I changed my position after my freshman year. Having to become more heady, knowing the playbook, the players. A lot of responsibility if I weren't a two guard. Notre Dame has made me the woman that I've become today. The family atmosphere. It's the best decision that I've made.
What will you guys have to do to beat Uconn this year?
They always have a great team every year. We have to execute our gameplan, whatever that is this year. We know they're a great team. I'm excited. It's scouting report oreiented.
Do you think it's an advantage being a left handed player? Growing up did you have coaches make you use your right in practice as the "norm" in like lay up drills?
I think it's different. We use the other side of the court different. It was crazy to me last year that out of the elite eight teams how many guards were left handed. I think we bring something different. I don't know if it's an advantage or not.
Are you excited about ND Football being 6-0?
That's very exciting. The buzz around campus. Going to the games, Notre Dame football games are always exciting. The buzz has been great. These guys work hard. I know a lot of the players. It seems they have a close knit group this year.
If you could play at any school other than ND, where would it be and why?
It came down to Notre Dame and Stanford. I got into Stanford, so that would have been the school I would have gone to.
What's your College Major?
Classes are going well for this semester. I have a heavy load. Next semester, I will only have one or two classes to finish up. I'm Buisiness Management.
What part of your game do you want to elevate to prepare your self for this season and beyond?
I think you can improve upon everything, really. At the next level, they're bigger faster stronger. Just continue to do things that separate myself. I want to play smarter. I know I'm going to work on the physical aspects in the weight room.
It's a more physical game.
How excited are you for this season? What are you guys doing to get prepared for the season?
I'm so excited. It's bittersweet, because it's my senior year. We started practice already. We're two weeks in. It's a matter of getting the plays in. Adapting to the coaches offenses and defenses and the playbook.
You are very emotional in a game, how are you going to control your level of frustration with a young team?
I think there will be adversity all around. You have to deal with each situation. I don't have to change the player I am or anyone else doesn't either. Coach takes care of a lot of that stuff so we don't have to. I have to be a consistent leader for the freshmen, but we havne't had any issues so far.
Go Irish! Come out to a game!