News Articles – February 13, 2001

ESPN Chat Transcript February 13, 2001

Hi. I’m ready for your questions. Thanks for listening.

gary from [205.242.231.12], at 6:22pm ET when do u think you will break the record? i’ll be in springfield 3-17 3-18 do you have any home games then?

Jackie Stiles at 6:23pm ET Right now, my main focus is just on winning basketball games. In the past, we haven’t met some of our team goals, and right now I’m just focusing on winning championships, beginning with the conference championship. Right now I’m not even concentrating on the record. I’m just trying to block it out. I can only do my best, hopefully help the team win, and as long as we’re winning, I won’t be disappointed.

Brian Grier from [207.150.88.112], at 6:23pm ET How was your experience at the ESPY awards?

Jackie Stiles at 6:25pm ET Unbelievable. I saw a lot of people in the green room. Rulon Gardner … I meant Dick Vitale, all the ESPN staff, like Dan Patrick and Chris Fowler. Dick Vitale knew who I was. I couldn’t believe. He said he’d seen me on TV a couple weeks ago. I was shocked. Words can describe the experience. Being from Claflin, Kansas, this was a great experience, something I’d never seen before.

Irish72 from [38.217.36.7], at 6:25pm ET Congratulations on a stellar career! What are your thoughts on Notre Dame–do they have a legitimate shot at finishing undefeated and/or #1. Thanks and good luck the rest of the year(unless you are playing my Irish!).

Jackie Stiles at 6:26pm ET I have a lot of respect for Notre Dame, a great team. I know some of their players through USA Basketball, so I’m always following how they’re doing. It’s great to see how well they’re doing this year. Ruth Riley was my roommate for the US select team, and it’s great to see her doing so well. I have a lot of respect for her game. I wish them the best except if we’re playing them. I think they have a great chance at remaining undefeated for the rest of the regular season. I saw half of their game vs. UConn, and was impressed by both their inside and outside games. They have the whole package.

Jose from [128.206.182.214], at 6:27pm ET How are you handling all the attention you have been receiving recently? Did you ever imagine you’d be where you are today growing up in Claflin, Kansas?

Jackie Stiles at 6:28pm ET I can’t believe I’m in this position. I’m still shocked. With every autograph I sign or every interview I do, I just wonder sometimes why and how it got to this point. I love the game of basketball and have worked hard at it, and it’s given me so many great opportunities and experiences. And it has been tough lately on time management with the interviews. Plus, I’m taking 18 hours this semester. And, this being my last year, I’m really trying to stay focused. It has been wild, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I love this position.

Brian from [24.4.255.84], at 6:29pm ET Jackie, I’m a fellow SMS senior and just wanted to say what a pleasure it has been to watch you play for the Lady Bears. You’re the best and I hope you and your teamates have a great finish to your career in Springfield. I know how supersticious you are, I was thought maybe you could tell us a little about that.

Jackie Stiles at 6:32pm ET Thanks for your nice comments and all the support. I don’t know if I can go into detail about all my rituals  we’d be here a few hours. But to name a few, I have to chew Big Red gum (which is tough because there’s a new Big Red out there … and it doesn’t last as long as the old one when you’re out there playing basketball … but I can’t find the old stuff anymore), make a 3-pointer every time we head into the lockerroom. I have to wear the same knee pads every game, the same socks. I also have to wear Cynthia Cooper’s Nike shoes, but I just blew out my last pair and we haven’t been able to find anymore because they’re her model from two years ago. But if you find a size 9, send them my way. I’ll pay for them. Also, I have to watch a Larry Bird highlight show before home games, and listen to the same CD (a mix).

MU Fan from [4.4.182.111], at 6:32pm ET Jackie, your coach, Cheryl Burnett played high school basketball in my hometown and I have followed her since she has been at SMS. Could you sum up your experiences with Coach Burnett and the future of the program under her?

Jackie Stiles at 6:34pm ET Coach Burnett is in my opinion, one of the best coaches in the country. I can’t thank her enough for what she had done for my game. I woudn’t be doing this chat or be up for an ESPY if it wasn’t for her. She has forced me to be a complete offensive player. When I first got here, all I did was dribble, either create more shot or give it to someone else. I didn’t know how to set screens, read screens or work away from the ball very well. I also wasn’t very good at shooting off the pass. But she set rules, forcing me to shoot off the pass, instead of the dribble. Also, defensively, she has forced me to play better, as well, even though I have a long way to go.

John Liehr from [146.7.15.41], at 6:34pm ET Jackie, where do you think SMS fits in the national picture? What makes the team go other than your scoring? And what do you envision as the result to this year?

Jackie Stiles at 6:36pm ET We have big goals for ourselves. One of them is to be in the top 16, so maybe we’ll be fortunate enough, if we keep winning, to host the first and second round at the Hammons Center. We believe it’s the best place to play. Our fans are just great. And this year we’ve had a lot of opportunities to play a lot of highly rated teams, and won one against OU, won one vs. LSU, lost by four to Texas Tech. We’ve hung in there, but still have to get better to compete with the top teams.

Jackie Stiles at 6:37pm ET I’d also like to say my teammates have been great. Whenever a team has tried to play a box-and-one, double-team me or take me away, they’ve made my job easy. I just have to give the ball up, and they make defenses pay by scoring.

Amy from [63.83.151.81], at 6:37pm ET Jackie, I am a HUGE fan of the Lady Bears. I know that you’re focused on winning right now, but when you think about the future, what do you think it holds for you? Have you started thinking about what you’re going to say on Senior Day or have you thought that far ahead? I have enjoyed watching you and everyone else on the team like Carly and Melody play and I can’t wait to see you when you return and I will also be rooting for you in Witchita.

Jackie Stiles at 6:38pm ET It’s hard right now. I’ve loved my experience so much here. It’s been an incredible 3 1/2 years. People are talking about the “end,” and I don’t want to think about it yet. But as far as the future, after SMS, one of my biggest goals is to play in the WNBA. I don’t know what my options will be, but we’ll look at that. I’d also like to play overseas. But my ultimate goal is to be an Olympian. That’s what I’ve been working for as far as a long-range goal.

Robert G from [146.7.93.41], at 6:39pm ET Congratulations on all your accomplishments. I just noticed you are a finalist for the Naismith Award. Of all the awards you might receive is there any one that would be most special for you?

Jackie Stiles at 6:40pm ET They all are very special. I don’t look at them as my awards. I look at them as my team’s also, and the community and coaching staff, who have all helped me get where I am today. Individual success is great, but my main goal, honestly, is team success. Inidivual success doesn’t drive me. Team success does, getting farther into the NCAA Tournament. Last season, we got beat by Auburn in the first round, by four points. Our dreams are Final Four and St. Louis. What better way … it’s three hours away from Springfield, and we know our tremendous crowd support would follow us.

zach from [198.106.243.115], at 6:41pm ET Hi. Who’s game do you admire … both past and present?

Jackie Stiles at 6:43pm ET I’m a HUGE Michael Jordan fan. He just completely amazes me and I still watch his videos all the time. I also grew up idolizing Melody Howard. She was a great influence on my game. Also, in the WNBA, I love to watch Cynthia Cooper play. I couldn’t believe she was coaching … I just found that out a couple days ago. But I’ll miss watching her. Melody continues to be a big part of my life. She comes to all our games when she’s in town, and I go to her for advice a lot of times. Just a week ago I called her on the phone. I was starting to feel overwhelmed, with everybody talking about the end. I asked her how she stayed focused and what she did her senior year. She has meant to much to my game and has been a great role model. She told me not to let it get to me and to stay focused on the game.

Jackie Stiles at 6:45pm ET That’s all the time we have for now. I just want to thank everybody or all their support. Without all of you I wouldn’t be where I am today. I really appreciate it. And thanks again.