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

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Tara Van Derveer

Steve Mitchell
I recently left the Bay Area & moved to the Columbus, OH area. As aformer Stanford season ticket holder, I now get my women's basketballfix as a Lady Buckeyes season ticket holder. Given your(and AmyTucker's)past association with OSU, AD Andy Geiger and head coach BethBurns, I'd love to see you re-establish those ties and get OSU on theStanford schedule, either home or away. What are the chances?

Tara: We would like to schedule OSU but haven't been able to. We arestill working on it! It would be fun to hear "Hang on Sloppy" from thegreat Buckeye band!

Storm
Why is women's basketball dominated by a small amount of schools?Meaning Tennessee and UConn and maybe add La Tech in there every sooften. I know this year you have ND up there. But, what happened to the powers in the West? It seems likeWest Coast women's basketball is tremendously overshadowed by the EastCoast. This year there isn't even UCSB in the top 25. Only Oregon andArizona near the bottom of the top 25. Sad, I remember when you wouldalways have some Pac-10 team in the top 5 or top 10. Like Stanford orUSC. Even Long Beach from Big West in early 80's. I hope you get backup there soon.

Tara: We have great basketball on the west coast! Most of the media isbased back east and with the time difference many of our scores are notreported in eastern papers. Keep watching for us because we'll be back!

Brittney Hopping
Which ONE or TWO of your players do you feel stand out the most when itcomes to being personable or supporting their teamates and fans. Alsogood luck on your season see you at camp!

Tara: I hope all of our players are personable and support theirteammates and fans. Some players have a more outgoing personality butthey are ALL special!

Daniel Walpen
You are going through a tough season, with the injuries of 2 majorplayers in your rooster. How did this affect your playing style, did youhave to change your whole strategy after Susan King got injured ? I takethe opportunity to thank you for the great clinic i attended last fallwhile i was in Palo Alto, and can assure you that your video tapes aremore than helpful in my teaching here in Swissie land.

Tara: Thanks for your support. Yes it is very tough with the injuries.We have everyone working more on ball handling! In the long runeveryone will be better because of the tough times!

Ali
Do you notice a difference between players who do play AAU basketballand players who don't? Do players that do play AAU ball have more of achance to be recruited by a D-1 school? Thank you for answering myquestion!

Tara: AAU basketball can be a great experience. Most of our team hasplayed AAU ball. I do think it can help as long as it is a positiveenvironment and fun.

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