Lady Tigers Media Training 101

The LSU women’s basketball team participated in a one-hour media training session conducted by Dr. Shirley White of the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes on Tuesday afternoon at the Sue Gunter Basketball Complex.

White discussed the qualities of giving a good interview, eye contact, posture and tone of voice. In addition to her presentation, the Lady Tigers began a series of mock interviews on camera and will continue with another session on Thursday.

Among the popular questions brought up included replacing former All-American Allison Hightower, the difficult non-conference schedule and competing in the Southeastern Conference. Each player was and will be evaluated on their mock interview presentation.

Media training is an imitative under the LSU CHAMPS Life Skills program and the LSU Sports Information office that every athletic team participates in prior to the season. The mock interviews and individual player media training continue during the season.

Watch an exclusive interview with LaSondra Barrett on her thoughts about working with the media.


Posted by Bill Martin  

Travis Mays -- the Lady Tigers' "Shot Doctor"

 

BOB STARKEY: Not everyone knows it but before he joined our women's basketball staff, Travis and I had already went head to head.  I was new on Coach Dale Brown's staff at LSU in 1989 and had the Texas scout for our game with the Longhorns.  It was one of the more memorable games I've been associated with as we were able to win 124-133 -- it was like an NBA game.  Chris Jackson has 51 that afternoon with Shaquille registering a triple-double.  But I knew going in that Texas was an outstanding shooter and he drilled us for 30 points!  After an All-American career at Texas, Travis than enjoyed a great rookie season in the NBA before constantly battling injuries that shorted his pro career.  LSU is the recipient of his bad luck by gaining an outstanding shooting instructor.

TRAVIS MAYS: I’ve been blessed in my lifetime to have been taught the art of shooting by some excellent coaches and I’ve always enjoyed passing down what I’ve learned.  Shooting is a blend of the physical and the mental combined with a special discipline if you want to master it.  Here are the three primary things I work on with the Lady Tigers:

 1.  Mechanics  may be the most important. This consist of many things:  balance, hand to ball positioning, complete extension of the elbow, and follow through.  First you must understand why each of these steps are important to the shot.  I have found that once a player understands the why  and how each mechanic  affects the outcome of the shot, the quicker they buy into the execution of it.  If you are able to achieve this, the player’s shot  improves at this point. 

 2.  Repetition.  There is no substitution for shooting the proper way to create not only muscle, but mental memory.  This is essential for success because this is where confidence is created.  If you shoot  the  basketball  with proper mechanics and confidence you will get the results you are looking for. Which leads me to the final key.  Every great shooter has it. Trust!

 3. Trust it.  Enough said.

DESTINI HUGHES: One thing that Coach Mays has helped me with on my shot is being free and pushing through the ball. Instead of holding the ball right before I shoot, he taught me to make it all one motion and to finish my shot by pushing all the way through the ball. He taught me to push through the floor with equal strength of both legs and to reach not only with my right arm but with my left as well. He said if the ball ever hits the right side of the rim or fall short, then that means I didn't follow all the way through and if it hits the left side of the rim, then that means I didn't reach with my left hand to keep the ball from favoring that side. All my misses should hit the back of the rim, not left or right. He told me to practice the techniques and not worry about if the ball goes in or not because the ball will take care of itself. He said every great shooter don't focus on making the shot, they focus on the techniques which leads to a made shot.

ADRIENNE WEBB: One thing Coach Mays has taught me on how to improve my shot was not just to shoot the shot on my way up and get some air under it but to also shot for the back of the rim. Shooting for the back of the rim gives your teammates a chance to rebound in case you happen to miss the shot.

KATHERINE GRAHAM: Coach Mays has helped tremendously with my shot! He helps you realize that going back to the basics and learning he key components of making your shot more effective seem effortless. One of the things he has helped me with is to get under the ball, which has helped create a better arch on my shot, as well as release the ball freely. I think Coach Mays can hold a clinic on how to shoot a basketball, and give drills on how to improve you shot.

TIA EASON: Coach Mays really emphasized holding my follow through when shooting the basketball. He also told me to get a lot of repetition and practice in. He said that the more shots you put up the more confidence I would have in my shot. I have seen a difference in my shooting from using coach Mays shooting points.

Filed under  //  Staff   Team  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Coach Crenshaw serves as judge for Lady Tiger Depot

JONI CRENSHAW: This Saturday was a great day to be a part of the Lady Tiger Basketball program.  I started the morning by going with our team to visit sick children at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital.  It was very refreshing to see what an impact our team had on the patients there.  I also think it made our players realize how blessed they are to be in good health and have a sound mind.  I believe we all walked away from the hospital with a new sense of purpose and gratefulness. 

My next stop was to Lady Tiger Depot to be a judge for Ultimate Fan Day.  Every year they have an Ultimate Fan Contest where Tiger fans come dressed in their Tiger Best to show their school spirit and support for the athletic program.  I had a blast watching these Tiger Fans express their creativity and loyalty to the university.  The contestants made it really hard on the judging panel because each fan showed their spirit in a different way.  In the end Erin Schafer, a 23 year old graduate student at LSU was chosen as the Lady Tiger Depot Ultimate Fan.  She dresses up in a toga uniform for every home football game and in the students section she is known as “The Sparkly Girl”.  So be on the lookout for her at home games this year!!

Filed under  //  Community   Fast Break Club  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Big Syl 1st team All-WNBA

Chicago Sky center Sylvia Fowles was named to the 2010 All-WNBA First Team, the league announced today.

Fowles received 125 points in the voting which was conducted by a panel of national and local sportswriters and broadcasters. Players were selected by position and received five points for each First Team vote. Lauren Jackson, Cappie Pondexter, Tamika Catchings and Diana Taurasi are the other First Team selections.

“I am thankful to have received this recognition,” said Fowles. “It was my goal to stay healthy and have the best season I possibly could and I am happy with my on-court performance in 2010 and hope to continue to improve on my game in the offseason and produce even better results for the Sky in 2011.”

This is the first time Fowles has received this honor. In 2010, she played a career-high 34 games in which she averaged of 17.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 32 minutes per game, all career-highs. She also shot a career-best 76 percent from the free throw line. During the Sky’s 10-game stretch from June 27 through July 24 Fowles recorded nine double-doubles, she finished the season with 15 total. Her 88 total blocked shots in 2010 are a Sky franchise record and the 9th best single-season total in WNBA history.

For the season, Fowles ranked No. 6 in the WNBA in points per game, No. 3 in rebounds per game, No. 1 in blocks per game and No. 3 in field goal percentage. She was also named to the WNBA All-Defensive first team and the MVP at the WNBA vs. USA Basketball: Stars at the Sun showcase game in which she scored 23 points and eight rebounds to lead Team USA.

Big Syl Highlight Video: http://bit.ly/cGUwuY

Read more: http://bit.ly/bbnSSB

Filed under  //  Alumni   Honors   Sylvia Fowles   WNBA  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Lady Tigers visit children at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital

LASONDRA BARRETT: Saturday morning our team took a visit to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital to brighten the day of young children who are ill or hurt.  We saw children from the ages of 5 to 14 and greeted them with our prescence, a Lady Tiger basketball, and a Van Chancellor t-shirt.  It was amazing to see these young children with so much joy and energy, even though they are going through hard times.  Seeing them made me appreciate things such as my health and having the ability to play basketball.  These things can be so minor to people until they are taken away.  Each and everyone of the children at Our Lady of the Lake put a smile on each one of the Lady Tigers faces because they taught us that the small things we complain about aren't nearly as tough as the situation they are in.  I enjoyed the visit to the hospital and I look forward to many more in the future!!”

TAYLOR TURNBOW: "My experience at the hospital was remarkable and heartwarming. It was really inspirational. It made me want to do more with what I have and never forget to be thankful for what I have and where i come from." 

JEANNE KENNEY: "It was amazing to see how much kids look up to the lady tiger family.  Donovan is 14 yrs old and was speechless when we walked in. The joy that came to his face was the absolute best feeling in the world to me.”

THERESA PLAISANCE:After visiting the children's hospital yesterday I now appreciate even more my health and well being. I sometimes complain about how hard it is to be a student athlete with my hectic schedule and difficult workouts but now I realize how much of a gift it is just to be able to participate in these daily activities. My heart and prayers go out to all these children and their families. And seeing the happiness we brought to these children makes me want to do more to give back to the community.”

SWAYZE BLACK: “On Saturday, September 11 we got the chance to go to Our Lady of the Lakes Hospital to visit with the kids that were there. I really dislike going to hospitals but I can honestly say being able to visit those kids and make them smile at such a tough time was one of the best feelings in the world. I definitely enjoyed being there and I really admire how strong those kids are. It was such a great experience.”

 

ADRIENNE WEBB:Visiting the children in the hospital on Saturday  was a wonderful experience. It made me appreciate all the opportunities I didn't have to miss out on due to any illness or injury that these children are suffering from; and still with those illnesses and injuries these children know how to enjoy the precious life they had. I am greatly appreciative to have the opportunities that I have been presented with and happy that I was able to participate in the hospital visit on Saturday. These experience gave me a new perspective on enjoying the little things that life has to offer you.”

Filed under  //  Community   Team  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Nicci Kelly talks about her road to recovery from her ACL injury

ANDREA KELLY: I knew immediately when I landed on my leg wrong that this was more than just a knee sprain or tweak. The thing that I thought would never happen to me, happened at a time when I was just trying to regain hope into my playing future. I was working out in the spring offseason, just returning from two stress fractures in my feet, when I found out that I tore my ACL in my right knee. You can imagine the thoughts flooding my head at this time. I remember laying out helpless on the floor hearing thoughts in my head like, “that’s it,” “you’re done,” “give it up,” “quit,” or “it’s not worth it.” I experienced injuries in my career before, but now I was at a point where all I had to look was up. So I did what all I knew I could do, trust in God.

           

I tore my ACL on April 6, 2010. I was scheduled for surgery exactly two weeks later for reconstruction and repair. When I first told my coaches and teammates about my injury, I didn’t know what to expect. However, I was reassured when all I received was love, support, encouragement, and strength to help me through this time. I knew then there would be no other place I would rather be than around my Lady Tiger Family. This would be my first time going into surgery and I wasn’t afraid or fearful at all. I was actually excited and anxious to get it over with because the quicker I could have surgery the sooner I could start my recovery and rehab. Not only that, I had my friends and family around me praying for me the whole time. I had surgery on April 20, 2010 and my initial MRI revealed a torn meniscus and ACL. I went into surgery and the doctor found that my meniscus was fine and healed already and said that the ACL repair was a success.

 

I have to take this time to express my gratitude and thankfulness to the greatest trainer in the world, Micki Collins! From the day she found out I tore my ACL to this present day, Micki has been there with me through this whole process and has pushed me and encouraged me to do the best I can and more. It’s not just a job for her. Micki genuinely cares for all the players as people and wants the best for us like any mother would want for her children. Even after five months, I still feel the same care and push from Micki I did when I first tore my ACL, and for that I am thankful.

 

I started rehabbing my knee the day after surgery. I determined in my mind and heart that I would push everyday to get better and be ahead of schedule. The one thing that kept me going was my faith in God. Reading His Word everyday gave me strength when I should have been weak and it continues to give me peace. His Word says in 1 Peter 2:24b that “By his wounds you are healed.” I spoke that to myself everyday, even now. I didn’t want to think at any time that I was injured; instead I just told myself that I’m only getting stronger.

 

The first two weeks were pretty tough. My goal was to just get some rotations on the bike and make it turn on. I practically lived in the training room. After spring semester was over I stayed for intercession, summer, and the second intercession so I could continue to rehab. For the first month I would ride the bike, work on my extension and flexion motion with a variety of exercises and did exercises in the pool. I pictured in my head where I wanted to be by a certain time frame and set out to do it. By the first month I was walking and by the third month I was running and lifting weights with the team.

 

Now, I am about five months post-op and very close to being done with rehab. It’s still a journey but it’s a journey that will be finished. I am excited for where God has brought me from and the many lessons I had to learn about humility and brokenness. I am also thankful for all of my teammates, coaches, trainers, friends, and family who have helped me along the way. I definitely could not have made it without them. I am excited for this upcoming season and look forward to a great Lady Tiger year!

Filed under  //  Team  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Keia Howell making a difference through Basketball Without Borders

I recently returned from my second trip to Africa with the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program!! The program was started nearly a decade ago by Kim Bohuny, VP of International Affairs for the NBA. She and her asst VP, Brooks Meeks, are wonderful people and have become great friends of mine!  They do an outstanding job with the program and continue to make a difference in the lives of many.  The program not only promotes basketball throughout the world, but it also does an extensive amount of charity and humanitarian work as well. 

 

Last year we visited Johannesburg and Uganda in South Africa.  This year we traveled to Cape Verde and Dakar, Senegal, which are both in Western Africa. While there, we put on clinics for both boys and girls. All of the courts are outdoor which makes for very hot days but we had so much fun with the kids!! The biggest challenges with basketball are the facilities and lack of goals and balls. Even though alot of kids play without shoes, they love the game and are very eager to learn!  They are extremely competitive and take the games we play very seriously!!  A simple game of knock-out is serious business!!    

 

We were able to meet the President and other officials of Cape Verde as well as visit the US Embassy. They were very appreciative of the NBA for bringing the program to their island. They realize and recognize the difference that sports can play in childrens' lives as well as the opportunities that it can offer. Most schools don't have any sports programs but they hope that will change in the near future!  Cape Verde is such a beautiful island and I'm so thankful for the experience and for the love that was shown to us by the natives.....

 

From there, we went to Dakar where the first ever BWB camp for girls was held!! The program in Africa has always been for the top boys around the continent. Close to 100 boys are flown in for the camp where they receive coaching and instruction from top NBA players, coaches, scouts, and general managers.  It is an opportunity of a lifetime for these kids! Many of them end up in prep schools and colleges around the US!  So this was a very exciting time for the girls!  

 

40 girls from all around Senegal were able to participate in the 4 day camp. The girls were very excited and eager to learn!  In the gift bags from the league were probably the first pair of real basketball shoes that most of the girls have ever had.  I was highly impressed with the level of skill, fundamentals, and work ethic that these young ladies had. Although women are culturally shy and not very outspoken, they were aggressive on the court!  WNBA legend Tameka Raymond and I worked with the post players, while WNBA All-Star Nykesha Sales worked with the guards. They caught on very quickly to the drills and moves that we taught. It was a bit challenging since we had to use translators, (they speak French) but we managed!  The players and coaches were very appreciative and the girls worked extremely hard. We had so much fun and it an experience I won't ever forget!!!

 

The experience made me realize how blessed and fortunate we are to live in America where there are countless opportunities to achieve whatever dreams we have.  OPPORTUNITY. Something that we take for granted and the main reason everyone around the world wants to come to the US. I thought about what having the opportunity to play college basketball would mean in the lives of these girls. It would mean the chance to get a college education, the chance to have a job making more than cents a day, the opportunity to send money back home and feed an entire village for dollars a day, the opportunity that for most, no one in their family has ever had. The opportunity to inspire and to be a ray of hope for other girls in their country who aspire to do the same. 

 

I had to ask myself, did I appreciate the opportunity to play at LSU or did I take it for granted??  Sure, I did everything I was supposed to do.  I did well in school and I worked hard in practice.  But was that enough?  For us, if you're a good athlete, make decent grades and do enough to get by, we get a full ride, live in the nicest apartments on campus, travel first class, and have someone to assist us in whatever it is we need. Strength coaches, trainers, tutors, guidance counselors, the list goes on and on. But for those girls, the opportunity to play collegiate basketball are few and far between. Very few of them will ever have the opportunity to leave their native countries and will live in conditions that most of us wouldn't want to spend an hour in....  Trust me, I've seen it with my own eyes.   

 

I hope that by sharing my experiences, someone will be more appreciative of the things we all often take for granted . I'm so grateful for the opportunities I've had with Basketball Without Borders and the chance to travel the world and in some small way, make a difference.  I thank God for the experiences because they have changed my life forever!!!

 

We should all complain less and GIVE MORE.  Our time, talents, resources, and LOVE. It does make a difference!  

 

Keia Howell

Lady Tiger for Life!

Filed under  //  Alumni   Community  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Kisha James takes enthusiastic ways to tailgating

Kisha_james

From: TheTownTalk.com

Tiger Stadium is but a hop, skip and a jump for a group of Cenla residents now living in the state capital.

 It was Pineville native Kisha James who got her group of friends involved with the "Krewe'd Awakening" tailgating club in Baton Rouge.

Readers may be familiar with James, as she was a standout high school athlete who signed on with the Lady Tigers basketball team as a red-shirt freshman. James was grand marshal of the Alexandria Mardi Gras Association parade in 2006. The year before that, her basketball jersey was retired at Pineville High School, prompting the City of Pineville to declare January 28 "Kisha James Day."

James has been a part of Krewe'd Awakening for eight years.

"I just kept the tradition (of tailgating) since I graduated," James said.

James, along with friends Tonya Gilchrist, formerly of Alexandria, and Aimee Welch former (Lady Tiger manager), formerly of Cottonport, are especially good at the partying aspect of tailgating. They admit they aren't big chefs.

Read the entire article: http://bit.ly/aZFBNe

 

Filed under  //  Alumni   Community  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Lady Tigers To Face UMass At Seton Hall Classic, Tourney Schedule Announced

Barrett2web

Another quality opponent awaits the LSU Lady Tiger basketball team as the schedule for the 2010 Seton Hall Classic has been announced. LSU travels to South Orange, N.J., for the tournament held Nov. 19-20 at Walsh Gymnasium.

LSU will play UMass in the second game on Friday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. CT. Morgan State takes on host Seton Hall at 5 p.m. CT. The two winners will meet in the championship game on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. CT. The consolation game tips at noon CT Saturday.

The Lady Tigers have not faced any of the teams in the tournament in their history. However, LSU is very familiar with the Atlantic 10 Conference having knocked off Xavier last season in Cincinnati, a game in which head coach Van Chancellor claimed his 500th career victory.


Connecticut is expected to announce the schedule for the World Vision Classic next week. LSU travels to Storrs and is one of three teams in that tournament during Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 26-28. The Lady Tigers will face UConn but the time and day is still to be determined. Stay tuned to LSUsports.net for a scheduling update on the World Vision Classic.

The Southeastern Conference will announce its television schedule in the coming weeks. Networks included are ESPNU, Fox Sports Net, SEC Network and CSS. Cox Sports Television will then have its choice at games not selected by those networks. Tip times will be finalized once the television schedule is announced.

Posted by Bill Martin  

Lady Tiger staff participates in Shaquille O'Neal Golf Tournament

The LSU Lady Tiger staff including Travis Mays and Angela Jones spent the day at the Shaquille O'Neal Golf Tournament.  The annual event is held to raise money for the Shaquille O'Neal CHAMPS Life Skills Program and is always one of the feature golf events in Louisiana. Shaq was in rare form, no doubt still feeling good after defeating Charles Barkley in Shaq Vs.

Filed under  //  Community   Team  
Posted by Bob Starkey