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Chat Reel: Andy Landers

Excited to play UConn early in season

Andy Landers is working on 21 years at the helm of the Lady Bulldogs. Matthew Stockman/Allsport

University of Georgia women's basketball coach Andy Landers chatted with CNNSI.com users on November 9 about his team and the Lady Bulldogs' game against Connecticut on November 12 in the Tip-Off Classic at Hartford.

CNNSI Host: Welcome to our college basketball chat with Georgia coach Andy Landers. Welcome coach!
Andy Landers: Thank you

From Rocky in Atlanta, Ga.: Hi Coach Landers! First, I want to say thanks for all the great years, especially the past three while I was in the pep band. Y'all took us on some great trips, and I've always enjoyed watching your girls play great ball. My question is this: What kind of basketball have the ladies been involved with this summer? I know the Millers played in Europe last summer, Abrosimova played for Russia this summer. Anything like
Andy Landers: Actually no. We had no players playing summer basketball. Most of our players are here in summer school attending classes and working out on their own.

From Shawn Harvey in Atlanta, Ga.: How do you think the loss of Shala Crawford will affect your team?
Andy Landers: I think that it already has I think the loss of Shala Crawford has experienced the depth of our front line and experience line What we are trying to do is bridge that gap by developing some young inexperienced players.

From Cari in Moorpark, Calif.: Hi Coach Landers. My question for you is: Your big contest is coming up on Sunday playing UConn, and how will the backcourt match up against UConn's? Are their any strategies or do you have concerns about your backcourt. Are they ready? But I'm also concerned as you probably are with your frontcourt. Are they ready? You have won two exhibition games outscoring your opponents 197 to 122. You will have the biggest upset this season if you defeat UConn, I will be cheering you all on for a victory. But I know it will be tough. Good luck Coach Landers.
Andy Landers: First of all be sure and cheer real hard because we understand the challenge that goes with playing a team as talented as Uconn. We think there is a possibility that two teams with perhaps the best backcourts in the country will be on the floor. We think the match ups are terrific for both teams. I don't think that UConn has an obvious weakness, particularly in their backcourt, so we will simply try to pressure/contain/and prevent and hopefully we will exercise good judgment when we do any of those three things. The front court on the other hand is different. We think that we can be very solid, eventually, on the front line but UConn has a definite advantage there with the number of experienced players. We'll have to execute very well in order to match their front line productivity.

From Warren in Marietta, Ga.: Do you think it's "easier" (that being a relative term) playing UConn to open the season than at the end, in the NCAA tourney? Do we have any advantages playing one more exhibition game than they will before Sunday? I'm looking forward to watching, and I wish I could make it up there to help cheer the Dogs on!
Andy Landers: I would rather, with this particular team, I would rather play them late because of the additional development that this team requires on the front line, but we're excited about playing them now and anxious about playing them now. I don't think we have any advantages because we are playing on the road and we will lose a day in travel that I would have liked to practice.

From Jim in Duluth, Ga.: Are any of the freshman going to be able to contribute immediately?
Andy Landers: Christi Thomas has the ability to play and make some valuable contributions immediately. But she needs to develop and become consistent and use all her skills and her abilities.

From Donny Henn in Rochester, Minn.: Coach, Were you surprised to learn that Coco Miller received no votes for AP preseason All-American, while Kelly made first-team again? It's not the first time Kelly has been honored or recognized when her sister was not. Do coaches have anything to do with nominating players for these awards? Do you feel that Coco has been overlooked at times, because as you know her stats are very similar to Kelly's. Finally, do you think that Coco gets upset about this? We all know
Andy Landers: I haven't seen the AP team and this is the first I have heard about it The Associated Press does not ask for recommendations nor do schools submit them for their teams That is something that is totally independent of college coaches. Am I surprised? Nothing surprises me when it comes to ranking players. There are a lot of good and a lot of great players that are overlooked from time to time, which is unfortunate. Coco handles these situations very well.

From Dwayne in Columbia: How tough is the SEC going to be this year?
Andy Landers: By season's end the SEC will have 4 teams capable of playing deep into the NCAA conference

From Pat in Atlanta: With the loss of some players this summer, do you feel the team is deep enough?
Andy Landers: I'm confident we have the depth we need in the back court. Presently I am concerned about our experience and depth in the front court... But I'm confident we can develop what we need there as the season goes on

From Jen in Norfolk, Va.: In the past, Georgia and Connecticut have produced fantastic basketball games. Do you enjoy the series? Will it continue?
Andy Landers: I love to play great basketball teams and in big basketball games Playing these kinds of games are exciting for coaches, players, and fans. We hope to continue to be involved in as many of these types of games as we can

From Donny Henn in Rochester, Minn.: With such an experienced team, do you feel that this is Georgia's best chance for a national title? Or does this team lack some things that some of your previous great teams possessed?
Andy Landers: Again, I think on a given night this team could win a national championship Our experience and depth on the front line could factor in to our success on a game by game basis throughout the season.

CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with Georgia coach Andy Landers. Thank you for joining us Coach and good luck this season!
Andy Landers: Thank you and bye bye.

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