Oct. 24, 2002
Head women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson sat down Wednesday morning and chatted with fans online. The following is a transcript of the chat session.
For archived transcripts of earlier chats, click here.
Bob (Houston): Please tell us which of this year's newcomers are likely to get a lot of playing time, and talk about their strong and weak points.
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: It's really too early to tell which newcomers will play the most, but I can tell you for sure, newcomers will play. Sophia Young (post) has had probably the best first week of practice of all of the new ones.
Dean (DeSoto): Who do you project to be the top 7 or 8 players this year?
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: Obviously some of the returning players that got the most minutes last year should have an advantage and be in the rotation. However, with only one senior, many newcomers will be in the rotation as well.
Dean (DeSoto): Do you think we can expect to finish in the upper division this year?
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: Our goal every year is to finish in the upper division. It has been since we took over this program. With so much youth, I'm not sure how realistic that is, but it is certainly what we strive for.
Dean (DeSoto): Are there any significant injuries so far that will affect us this year?
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: Actually, we have four kids coming off of major knee surgeries within the last year, and one young lady with major shoulder surgery. All are in practice and doing well, with the exception of Chanelle Fox, who we expect to be back within a couple of weeks.
Houston: What kind of quickness and outside shooting will this years team have?
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: We definitely don't have the quickness we had last year, but I think our perimeter shooting will be better, because Jordan Davis and Stasha Richards are a year older and better.
Dean (DeSoto): Do we have any players other than Stephanie Blackmon who could vie for post season honors this year?
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: It depends on what honors you're referring to. I certainly think a few of our freshmen have the capabilities to compete for freshman of the year, but that depends on playing time and how good a year they have.
Marvin Free (Ft. Atkinson, WI): How many athletes do you expect to sign during the early signing period and how many scholarships do we have to give out for next year? Thanks and best of luck in the 2002-2003 season.
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: I expect to sign 1-2 players; we only have two scholarships.
John Patrick(Dallas): Coach Thanks for your tremendous efforts, and providing Baylor with a world class program. After back to back trips to the NCAA tournament, do you feel the pressure that you have to make the tournament this year or its a disappointment. Also, have you notice any difference in recruiting since the recent success of the program? Is it easier to get girls to come to Baylor now then it was when you arrived? Good luck on your season.
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: Thanks for your comment. I have never felt any pressure, nor has the team, since this staff has been here. What we have done in two years does not make a program. It takes many years to build tradition. When the day comes that we do build that tradition, recruiting will become easier. However, any college coach will tell you recruiting is tough, no matter what success you have. The past two years have opened many doors for us to be able to get in the homes of the better players, but it certainly hasn't closed the deal.
Teague, Texas: I've held season tickets to Lady Bear basketball for the past 5 seasons. I'm disappointed with this year's non-conference schedule as I don't see that it helps to prepare the team for the rigors of Big XII conference play. Can we expect to see the Lady Bear's step up the level of non-conference competition in 2003-04 and beyond?
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: Our non-conference schedule is exactly what it needs to be in order for these young people to grow and become more confident before we start playing the rigorous schedule in the Big 12.
PlanoBear: Hi Coach! With a couple of weeks of practice now behind you, what has been the most pleasant surprise, coming off the summer conditioning and early season practices? Also, how is Chanelle's knee progressing?
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: The most pleasant surprise has been how hungry these young players seem to be. They are eager to get better and continue to help build this program. Chanelle's rehab was set back about two weeks ago when they went in to explore and see if she had a meniscus tear. She did not, which was good news, and we hope to have her back real soon. We really miss her on the defensive end of the floor.
W-Town: Coach, I really admire you for the fantastic job that you've done for our team. I was wondering if you will have any openings for some talented girls to come in next year, maybe even walk-on?
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: We only have two scholarships, as I mentioned earlier. As far as walk-ons are concerned, either our coaches need to see them play, or we need to see film before inviting them to walk on.
Lauren M (Houston): What do you look for in highschool players that you recruit and want for your program?
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: It varies from year to year. Some years, we look for particular positions; some years, we look for particular characteristics (great shooter, etc.). We will always look for the best basketball player, period, regardless of position.
Hoops (Houston): Emily Niemann is the best shooter and forward in the state of Texas, one of the tops in the Nation. Nice catch.
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: It's against NCAA rules to comment on particular recruits until she signs her letter of intent.
Alex Witherow, Waco, Texas: Go bears!
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: Thanks!
Lubbock: We will be excited to watch your team this year. You have brought them far in a short amount of time. How do you bring that out in your players? Tell Brown hello, I am still a fan of hers.
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: Thank you for your comment; we still have a long way to go. I hope that I will always have the ability as a coach to have my team play hard. If kids play hard for you, what more can you ask for? I am sure you're a Texas Tech fan; what a fantastic team you are going to have this year.
Don Haney, Richmond, TX: Coach, we are really proud of the turnaround that you have made at BU. You like the up tempo game. When you first got to Baylor, you said that you did not have enough speed to fully play your style. Last year, you seemed to be able to run the court more. This year, how is the team looking, as far as speed and being able to play your up tempo style? Sic 'em Bears!
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: I don't remember making the comment that we didn't have enough speed to play my style. If I did make that comment, I stand corrected. We had tremendous speed on the perimeter the last two years. Our speed this year is in the paint, with our post players. We will always try to push the ball up the floor, because I think good things happen from foul line to foul line. Just how quickly we will get it up the floor remains to be seen.
Sid Woodruff, Hendersonville, TN: What is the proper procedure for submitting the name of a female high school athlete for consideration as a possible future Baylor Basketball recruit?
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: Send bio information and film to the coaching staff at 150 Bear Run, Waco, TX 76711.
Sana'a, Yemen: Two NCAA appearances over the past two years is impressive. Would love to see the Lady Bears go to the big dance for a third consecutive year. However, how does this year's weak non-conference schedule help to prepare to the team for Big XII action? Wouldn't playing some of the stronger teams in the southwest (Rice, La Tech, LSU, SFA, UofH, Ark, etc.) provide a better test for the team before conference games begin?
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: I've already answered the non-conference schedule. Let me also add that we didn't play any of those teams the last two years, and we made it to the tournament. We are not the team we were last year, and you have to be smart in scheduling what is condusive for this particular team.
TS-Waco: Sheila Lambert was invaluable in many ways. Her team leadership was so important. Have any players stepped up to assume some of that responsibility yet?
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: Leadership is definitely a question mark at this point, because of only having one senior. I hope before we start play that someone will surface.
Mark Dallas: Hi Coach! You're doing great things at Baylor. I'm a Tech fan, but was one of Dionne Brown's biggest fans. Do you see her making an impact this year at BU? Thanks and good luck this season!
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: The word "impact" is not fair to Dionne, or to this program. She is in the same boat as all the other players. She must learn the system, and most importantly, become a better defensive player. I do like her athleticism, and the fact that she has played in the Big 12.
Meg from Lubbock: Hi Coach, I just wanted to congratulate you and your success and always putting good teams on the floor. We miss Dionne and hope she's happy. Is she going to be an impact player this year? Please pass along our positive thoughts to her and hope she has a great year! Good luck to you this year.
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: I just responded to a similar question, and I'll be sure to pass the message on to Dionne.
Kim Mulkey-Robertson: Thanks for your interest in Lady Bear Basketball. Hope to see you out for our first exhibition game Nov. 5!
