Stanford University's Official Athletic Site - Women's Basketball

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Tara Van Derveer

Brian Bennington (Los Altos, CA)
Do you think there is a possibility Stanford could host the first tworounds of the NCAA tourney? (I'm assuming you are going to make it :-) )

Coach VanDerveer: Yes.

Thomas Higgins (Malibu, CA)
What has been the biggest surprise, or surprises, to you of how this seasonhas unfolded in the Pac-10.

Coach VanDerveer: I think there have been a lot of upsets, which is different in the Pac-10.

Zane Winton (Dallas, TX)
Does the high standard of academics at Stanford affect coaching differentlythan say at a state school? I don't mean to put state schools down, I wentto one myself. But, as far as study load, eligibility - do these presentproblems, or benefits, that maybe coaches at other schools do notencounter? Thanks and Go Card!

Coach VanDerveer: I think it does -- it is different. I think there are advantages and disadvantages at any kind of place. But it is different.

Beth Canzonneri (San Francisco, CA)
If you given the opportunity to select the Pac-10 Player-of-the-Year, whowould you choose?

Coach VanDerveer: I think it's going to go down to the last week, and I think it'll be maybethe person on her team that takes her team to a championship. If it'sOregon, I'd probably go for Shaquala Williams. If it's UCLA, I'd go forMaylana Martin. If it's Arizona, you'd have a lot of choices from Arizona.And if it's Stanford, I'd say it's Milena Flores. I think the ballots arestill out.

Dwight MacDonald (Salem, OR)
Aside from wins and losses, is there another way that you determine whetheror not a season has been a success? Where do you feel the team as a wholehas made the greatest improvement this season?

Coach VanDerveer: I think you try to play to your team's potential. Some teams are moretalented than others; some have more experience. And I think we always lookat how we finish. So those determine our success. I think we've reallyimproved our offensive execution and we've improved our defense. And weneed to really improve our rebounding if we want to go anywhere in theNCAAs.

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