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Chat Reel: C. Vivian Stringer

Stringer hopes to return to Final Four

Rutgers head coach C. Vivian Stringer feels her Scarlet Knights are among many teams who could challenge Connecticut. Andy Lyons/Allsport

CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's chat with Rutgers women's basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer. Welcome coach Stringer and thanks for joining us.
C. Vivian Stringer: Thank you.

From Michelle Jinks in Charlotte, N.C.: Coach Stringer, good luck to you and the Scarlet Knights in the upcoming season. With the loss of Shawnetta and Usha, who do you see from your group that will take up the scoring slack? Also, which of your newcomers do you expect to get immediate playing time?
C. Vivian Stringer: Well, actually I don't expect that any one person will take up our slack. I think that the loss of Shawnetta and Usha will be tremendous losses. But we as a team will all chip in and do our part. We subscribe to a theory that says together the ants ate the elephant, and we'll all chip in and do our parts and each of us will do more. And we will be the "ants" that ate the elephant.

From Hilde Rottiers in Rumst, Belgium: Hi coach Stringer, what can we expect this season from your Belgian player Dana Boonen?
C. Vivian Stringer: Well, she should know that 'Big Belgian' as we call her is in great form. And has promised that she will be playing a great deal, and will contribute to our success this year. She is in great shape, and is playing the best basketball of her career here at Rutgers.

From Guest in Stamford, Conn.: Do you think anyone can beat Connecticut this year? And how will you approach those games?
C. Vivian Stringer: Well, first, Connecticut has to be the team that everyone would like to beat. Why? Because they are so great, and they are the national champions. Do we think we can beat Connecticut? Of course we do, and we're gonna try. We are looking to be the best team that we can be. How we do it? I don't know. I haven't figured it out yet. But I am sure Connecticut will have a lot to say about that.

From Judy Zarenko in Pittsburgh: Do you feel your team will make it to the Final Four this year? And if they do, can we get some tickets from our old Slippery Rock University teammate? Best wishes for a fantastic Final Four year.
C. Vivian Stringer: Yes, "Z" what we used to call her can count on the Final Four tickets for St Louis. And we will be working very hard to be on the floor playing. And I would be proud to have my Slippery Rock in St Louis!

From Gloucester: Do you think women will leave college early or skip college to join the WNBA such as the men do?
C. Vivian Stringer: Well, I think that there obviously will be people that challenge the rule -- the silent rule. But I think the chances of a player going directly into the league are very slim. It isn't likely that will happen. But there are some that will challenge that because legally you can't keep someone from making a living. But I sure hope that the female athlete does not do that because we don't have enough named woman athletes now to keep the level of interest around the country at what it needs to be for the pro leagues to flourish.

From Alec: : Will Tasha Pointer and Linda Miles get more scoring opportunities this year?
C. Vivian Stringer: I think they will get plenty of scoring opportunities, and take advantage of these opportunities when they occur. People sometimes think that I really don't want to have a high scoring game, and that is the furthest thing from the truth. But game in and game out we can and will play great defense, but we haven't been as good offensively. What I will try my best to do is focus on scoring opportunities while still emphasizing the importance of defense.

From George Shaw in Dahlonega, Ga.: Which of your newcomers are you most excited about and why?
C. Vivian Stringer: Well, Nikki Jet is a very impressive point guard. She's fundamentally sound and understands her role. And it is not often that I see freshmen point guards that are as mature and knowledgeable about the position as she is. Mandakova Clark shows improvement each day, and the same could be said of Dawn McCollough. And now they are beginning to talk more about defense and offense, and they are smiling because they know what they are doing, and where they are going. But in the meantime, the player who is probably showing the most maturity is Fatime Ndiaye. I am impressed, she is very smart and plays extremely well. And she is showing the most consistency of any newcomers.

From Ayan Bose in New Brunswick, N.J.: Hey coach Stringer, What do you think of the long-term prospects for the Rutgers' program? Do you foresee a rise to the level of a Connecticut or Tennessee?
C. Vivian Stringer: Well, the short term prospects of Rutgers has been nothing short of phenomenal. Tennessee and Connecticut are great all by themselves. But you have to realize that we only came in here five years ago. And the coach at Tennessee has had some 20 plus years, and their tradition is rich. Coach Geno Auriemma has been at his school for 15 years. What Rutgers has had is nothing short of phenomenal. And we are not waiting to see if we can hold on for 12 years, but continue to reach for the top. And what you reach for is this level of Connecticut and Tennessee. I've been at Rutgers for five years, and let's not forget where we came from, and lets go forward from there.

CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with coach Stringer. Coach thanks for joining us.
C. Vivian Stringer: Thank you very much! Hello fans and keep your fingers crossed, and lets see if we can get to that special place.

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