Summit League Basketball Media Teleconference | Oct. 25, 2012

Austin Parkinson Opening Statement -

“Well we are obviously excited as the season’s getting underway here. It’s been a good group so far and we’re really trying to build upon the improvements we made last year as a team. We have quite a bit of our basketball team back from last year led by Kerah Nelson, who was a preseason first-team all-league selection and has had quite a career at IUPUI, and we feel like we’ve added some depth.  For the first time since I’ve been the coach here, I feel we have depth at the perimeter and we should be able to play at the speed I’ve always wanted to play at.”

On the upperclassmen leading the team – specifically all-league selections Kerah Nelson and Katie Comello -

“Kerah’s been with me for three years now and so has Katie so it’s nice to have an inside-out combination that can put the ball in the basket. Obviously, Nevena Markovic is coming back and she has put on some strength in the weight room this summer so she doesn’t get shoved around as much on the block. We feel like we have a good core and fortunately we had a kid sitting out last year in DeAirra Goss that can really play. She gives us a different element and the question will be our point guard play. If our point guards play well and run the team effectively, we could have a pretty good season.”

On the progress the team has made over the last three years and where the team stands today -

“I think the kids got a taste of what it felt like to play in the Summit League semifinals last year in front of that crowd in South Dakota. That taste that they got to experience has pushed them forward and kind of changed their goals and I think they have the idea that now we want to compete for a championship. We’re excited about this year and having players in our system for two or three years now - that are familiar with me and I’m familiar with them - gives us a lot more comfort heading into the season.”