Oct. 28, 2008
Senior guard/forward Marissa Coleman
On how fast her Maryland career has progressed and where the time goes:
"I actually ask myself that every day. I was doing an interview the other day, and they had me state my class and I said, `junior'. I forgot I was a senior. It went by too fast."
On rekindling the magic from her freshman season in 2006:
"I think the main thing we've all talked about is not putting too much pressure on ourselves. That year we had no pressure. We were just going out and having fun and playing our game. I think that's what we're going to try to bring to the table this season."
On her role for the 2008-09 season:
"I think my role is just being a leader and bringing that leadership every game and every practice. We have so many young players, so I need to guide them in the right direction."
On if she feels a sense of urgency heading into her final season at Maryland:
"Definitely. It's my last year. It's my last chance to get some more banners in Comcast (Center). Kristi (Toliver) and I have an opportunity to do something that none of the seniors before us have done, and that's win the ACC Championship and a national championship. None of the seniors have been able to win those their senior year. If we can do that, I think we'd have a pretty good legacy as we leave here."
Senior guard Kristi Toliver
On entering her senior year:
"It's bittersweet. I am excited about the year being with Marissa and having it be our senior year but at the same time I don't want it to end so we are just trying to prepare as hard as we can."
On being a leader this season:
"Coach is a great leader and she has passed that on to Marissa and me. We know how to be great leaders and the freshman don't' know what to expect right now but we are just trying to prepare them every day in practice and they're eager and ready to go and anxious to get the season started."
On how she wants the season to end:
"Your senior year you always want to end up on top. My freshman year, Marissa and I had that story book ending and we would love nothing more to have that same ending this season."
On the type of leaders the senior class will be this season:
"Marissa and I are kind of the ying and the yang I think. I am a lot more laid back and she's a lot more fired up and we compliment each other very well. We have had great leaders in the past so we are going to take their example and run with it."
Senior guard Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood
On what the team needs to do to be successful:
"On this team we need every player this year. We have a lot of freshmen and players who are young, so we have a young team in a way. Our backcourt will be fine. We're going to have to build up our rebounding because our players are not as tall as last year."
On the differences in head coach Brenda Frese following the birth of her twins:
"She's the same Brenda - just a mother. Her being here more this year is going to definitely help us. Her presence and being around helps us a lot."
On other team's perceptions of Maryland entering the season:
"We're probably more of an underdog this time. I think a lot of teams are not going to be out to beat us this time. The players we have coming in this year - a lot of people don't know about them. We're excited about that. We definitely like being underdogs."
Freshman guard Anjalé Barrett
On her recovery from injury:
"I'm just about there. I'm still working towards being able to do everything I need to do and being healthy again."
On having teammate Kristi Toliver as a mentor:
"I'm just trying to take everything I can from her to learn how to be a successful point guard in the ACC. She's a very good point, and coming up behind her has been really good for me."
On if Kristi Toliver is a good teacher:
"She's a great teacher actually. When I make mistakes, she's right there to help me out any way she can."
Freshman center Lynetta Kizer
On putting in extra effort to prepare for the college game:
"I think playing with USA basketball helped me with the transition from high school to college basketball. Just pushing myself and realizing we have big shoes to fill and coming in here everyday willing to work and being able to play."
On how seniors Marissa Coleman and Kristi Toliver have helped the freshman class:
"Being able to compete in the ACC ...they don't less us slack off. There is a standard here at Maryland basketball and if we want to play and we want to contribute we need to do it. That's what they are pushing us towards. It is just a real positive energy."
Sophomore guard Marah Strickland
On how being a consistent starter last season will help in 2008-09:
"I feel like it's going to give me a little head start and I know what the coach is going to expect from me this year so I'm excited to show the same intensity and some more this year."
On being a youth-laden team:
"I think it's very exciting for us. It is exciting that we have so much potential and so much growth that can occur."
On the intensity level:
"We go out every game whether we are playing pick-up in the gym or going out to win a championship and work hard."
Sophomore forward Drey Mingo
On expectations heading into the season:
"We definitely worked hard coming into the season over the summer. Everyone is really focused. We knew that we had a lot of new people coming in here but we still want to do great things. We want to win the ACC and win a national championship and work hard and show people what Maryland basketball is all about."
On Coleman and Toliver:
"Marissa is a vocal leader and Kristi really leads by example. She can get vocal at times but Marissa I think really owns the vocal part. They are seniors and they want to go out with a bang."
On what she worked on over the off-season:
"I spent my time in the weight room getting stronger because I think that is really what I needed to work on....getting stronger to be the best post player that I can be."
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