Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Basketball Takes Part In Winter Sports Media Day
November 01, 2006 | Cowgirl Basketball
The Cowgirl basketball team participated in the OSU winter sports media day on Wednesday along with the Cowboy wrestling and men's basketball squads. Following are selected quotes from Cowgirl head coach Kurt Budke.
Head Coach Kurt Budke
On this season
“I do not think there is any coach on this campus who is more excited about this season than me. We struggled last season. When I took the job I knew we were going to struggle. I knew it was going to be a tough year and that we needed to upgrade the talent. I feel like we have done that. I give all the credit to my assistants. When you finish last in the Big 12, not winning a game, then you go out and get the 27th-best recruiting class in America, I think that says a lot about the commitment of the assistant coaches. It has been a lot of fun for us in practice. We have nine new faces out there. It is not a young team, but it is an inexperienced team.”
On turning the program around
“We went out and recruited winners. We went out and got some junior college kids who have won national championships. Our problem is we are in the Big 12 South. I think the Big 12 South is the toughest division of women's basketball in America. I think you are going to have four teams easily be in the top 20. It is not the type of thing where we are going to come in and one year later turn this thing around and win the Big 12. I think we are to the point where anybody who comes into Stillwater will have a tough game on their hands.”
On where the team has upgraded
“Absolutely everything. If you look at the teams in the Big 12 South, we had to increase the athleticism to compete. We have to continue to upgrade. I like our depth and our overall athleticism. It is not a team that I can play exactly how I want to play. We are not going to be able to get it up and down as quick as I would like to. We are a step closer.”
On freshman point guard Andrea Riley
“We are going to hand the keys to a freshman because that is all we have. We have two freshman at the point. It is a little scary. Andrea Riley is going to be something special. Before it is all said and done, I think she will go down as one of the best players in the history of this program. We are going to have some problems with turnovers early. We are going to go a lot faster this year and we are going to have a freshman out there.”
On playing in the Big 12
“That is why I came here. I wanted to compete against the best and I think the Big 12 conference is the best. There might be some leagues that are better at the top, 1-5, but when you talk about 1-12, I do not think there is a better league. Every night you have to be ready to play. I do not think any league can say that.”
Head Coach Kurt Budke
On this season
“I do not think there is any coach on this campus who is more excited about this season than me. We struggled last season. When I took the job I knew we were going to struggle. I knew it was going to be a tough year and that we needed to upgrade the talent. I feel like we have done that. I give all the credit to my assistants. When you finish last in the Big 12, not winning a game, then you go out and get the 27th-best recruiting class in America, I think that says a lot about the commitment of the assistant coaches. It has been a lot of fun for us in practice. We have nine new faces out there. It is not a young team, but it is an inexperienced team.”
On turning the program around
“We went out and recruited winners. We went out and got some junior college kids who have won national championships. Our problem is we are in the Big 12 South. I think the Big 12 South is the toughest division of women's basketball in America. I think you are going to have four teams easily be in the top 20. It is not the type of thing where we are going to come in and one year later turn this thing around and win the Big 12. I think we are to the point where anybody who comes into Stillwater will have a tough game on their hands.”
On where the team has upgraded
“Absolutely everything. If you look at the teams in the Big 12 South, we had to increase the athleticism to compete. We have to continue to upgrade. I like our depth and our overall athleticism. It is not a team that I can play exactly how I want to play. We are not going to be able to get it up and down as quick as I would like to. We are a step closer.”
On freshman point guard Andrea Riley
“We are going to hand the keys to a freshman because that is all we have. We have two freshman at the point. It is a little scary. Andrea Riley is going to be something special. Before it is all said and done, I think she will go down as one of the best players in the history of this program. We are going to have some problems with turnovers early. We are going to go a lot faster this year and we are going to have a freshman out there.”
On playing in the Big 12
“That is why I came here. I wanted to compete against the best and I think the Big 12 conference is the best. There might be some leagues that are better at the top, 1-5, but when you talk about 1-12, I do not think there is a better league. Every night you have to be ready to play. I do not think any league can say that.”
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