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Chat Reel: Kellie Jolly Harper
Former Tennessee guard talks Final Four
Posted: Thursday March 30, 2000 05:00 PM
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Kellie Jolly led the Lady Vols to three consecutive national titles in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Jonathan Daniel/Allsport |
CNNSI Host: Hello and welcome to today's women's Final Four chat with former Tennessee player Kellie Jolly Harper. Hi Kellie. Thanks for joining us.
Kellie Jolly Harper: Thank you for having me!
CNNSI Host: Let's get started with some questions for our users...
From Guest: How do you think Tennessee will handle Rutgers slow-paced style of play? will they try to speed the game up or just try to win at Rutgers' pace?
Kellie Jolly Harper: I think that Tennessee will try to win at their game. Tennessee is going to want to try to control pace and play the type of game that has gotten them to the Final Four.
From Guest: Penn State seems to be on a roll. What do you think of their chances to get past UConn and even win it all?
Kellie Jolly Harper: Penn State is playing their best basketball right now. Earlier in the seaosn Connecticut handles PSU easily. Connecticut has a great team. It should be a closer ball game than it was the first time around.
From Guest: What kind of things do you think Tennessee needs to watch out for in a tough Rutgers team?
Kellie Jolly Harper: I think Tennessee has to control the rebounding aspect and play their style of game.
From Guest: There is nobody less than a two-seed in the Final Four. Is the selection committee just a bunch of geniuses? Or is there just an obvious division in women's hoops? If there is a division, what can be done to even the field?
Kellie Jolly Harper: I think that the women's game is developing more parity. The lower seeds are getting better each year. I think that comes from the development of the sport and the women's game all across the country.
From Guest: What would you say is the key to Summitt's successful program at Tenessee?
Kellie Jolly Harper: Pat has a very distinct philosophy on the game and how she runs her program and she doesn't stray from that. She surrounds herself with the best people she can and she is constantly trying to get better.
From Guest: What was your impression of Summitt the first time you met her?
Kellie Jolly Harper: I thought Pat was very intense and very classy. When she walks in a room, she demands respect.
From Kathy: What was your relationship like with your former coach?
Kellie Jolly Harper: I had a great relationship with Pat. I felt as though I could go to her for any reason, whether it be on or off the court. She is a person that I respect and have a lot of admiration for. I think she felt as though she could trust me, therefore our relationship was very good.
From Guest: I know everyone is asking you about Tennessee, but what do you think about the UConn/Penn State matchup?
Kellie Jolly Harper: I think that because PSU is playing so well that it might be a very good game.
It would be hard to match up with Connecticut, because they have so many scorers. It will be hard to stop them, but Penn State just seems to get it done. We're in March and right now they're playing their best basketball. Penn State feels like this is their chance.
From Guest: Rutgers is a good team, but they don't have any experience in the Final Four. Do you think that could hurt them when they hit all the hype in Philly?
Kellie Jolly Harper: It could hurt some teams. It will depend on how focused Rutgers is. Connecticut and Tennessee have been there and they know what to expect. Rutgers can't settle with just getting to the Final Four, they need to go in with the mentality that there's something else they can do.
From Guest: There has been a lot of attention on point guards this season -- and now Helen Darling and Sue Bird remain in the spotlight. Is there one piece of advice you would give them about leading a team in the Final Four?
Kellie Jolly Harper: You have to keep your team focused on the task at hand. You can't look ahead to the championship game and you can't look behind you and admire what you've already accomplished.
From Guest: What does Pat do differently from other coaches that seems to have Tennessee peaking every year at tournement time?
Kellie Jolly Harper: I don't know. Pat always has a way to get her team playing the best at the end of the season. I think because you're at Tennessee, you expect to get to the Final Four, you expect to win a national championship, and because that's your goal, when you get near that goal your play starts to rise.
From Guest: There has been a lot of talk about moving early round games to neutral sites? What do you think of this? Is it a huge advantage to play on your home floor?
Kellie Jolly Harper: I think it's a big advantage to play in your home floor. As a player, I loved being able to be able to go back and play two more games on my home floor. However, as a fan you have to like the movement towards neutral courts. That means the game is growing and there are more fans across the nation.
From Diana Case: What was it like going back to TBA and being on the opposing bench when Auburn played the Lady Vols? How are things at Auburn? Best wishes!
Kellie Jolly Harper: Thank you. Going back to Tennessee was interesting, to say the least. I was able to talk with many people that were part of my life for four years. The crowd was very warm and receptive and gave me an ovation when they announced my name. It was also a little funny feeling to be pulling against girls you had lived with for 2 or 3 years. I really enjoy Auburn. I like the program, the people and the town. And at least I stayed in the SEC.
From Guest: Do you think the SEC is still the strongest conference in the country? Why do you think SEC schools are able to attract such top coaches and players?
Kellie Jolly Harper: Obviously, I would be partial to the SEC. I still think the SEC is the toughest conference. In the SEC, any one of the teams can beat you on any given night. I think top coaches are attracted to the SEC by its reputation and its tradition.
From Tracey Braden: Did you have a routine that you went through to prepare before a game? Did you prepare differently before the "big" games than usual? i.e. UConn, SEC Conf. Championship, Final Four.
Kellie Jolly Harper: I tried to keep the same routine for every game. I would come into the locker room early and was usually the first one on the court shooting. And then during warmups I just tried to have fun and get loose as so to relax me before the game started.
From Grace Roley: Kellie, when Tennessee clobbered DePaul in Chicago several years ago, you took me around to get signatures on my basketball. You made such a positive impression on me. Thank you. As a junior next year I will be my varsity team's captain. As a leader, what advice would you have for me?
Kellie Jolly Harper: Hello. I was glad to help you out at DePaul. As a leader I think you really have to focus on the team's best interests. A leader can work with each teammate and the coach to make sure everyone is on the same page. A quote I had up in my locker room at Tennessee: A good leader takes a little less of her share of the credit and more of her share of the blame.
From Guest: How's married life treating you?
Kellie Jolly Harper: I am enjoyingh being married. My husband has been very supportive in everything I've done and everything I want to accomplish.
From Steve Taylor: Kellie, I am a big Tennessee fan and really enjoyed watching you play. My question is how do you think this year's Lady Vols team compares to some of the teams that you were on?
Kellie Jolly Harper: Well, being at Auburn I have not seen them as much as most people. But I know that this team is very good. I think Kara Lawson has added a new threat for their personnel. And Michelle Snow has played very well this season. And then obviously you have your great play by Tamika and Semeka. Ace has done a wonderful job in leading and being emotional for the team. It's hard to say how this team would match up with some of the teams I played on. Our 39-0 team was pretty good.
From Derrell Dover: Glad to hear you you are still working with women's basketball. Any possibility you might go pro?
Kellie Jolly Harper: Yes. I am still working out in the hopes of playing in the WNBA this summer.
Hopefully, a team will pick me up as a free agent.
From JC Kellis: I am a 9 year old point guard for my team, the Monroe Magic. What kinds of things should I be working on in the summer? Give me some good drills to work on in the front yard.
Kellie Jolly Harper: The best ball handling drill you can do, in my opinion, is to ball dribbling. This way you can work on your left hand and your right hand at the same time. When you master this, you can move on to dribbling behind your back and between your legs with two balls. You really need to work on basic fundamentals at your age.
CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have for today. Thanks again for joining us Kellie. Enjoy the Final Four! And good luck in your quest for the WNBA.
Kellie Jolly Harper: Thanks. I'm looking forward to this weekend's games.
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