USA National Team Training Camp Underway

April 13, 2010 - Hartford, Conn.

The USA Basketball Women's National Team has been training at the University of Connecticut's Gampel Pavilion since Sunday. With injuries keeping Jayne Appel out of practice and Kara Lawson off the court for two of the first three sessions, and EuroLeague and other commitments keeping some USA National Team members from joining in on the camp, USA Basketball brought a few of the USA Select Team members into camp a little early. Find out what USA head coach Geno Auriemma thinks of the camp so far, what he thinks of Jayne Appel and Diana Taurasi, and how things are going with some of the players. Want a peek inside the camp? Check out the Photo Gallery!

Geno Auriemma, USA and University of Connecticut head coach
On what he's trying to get out of the USA's open scrimmage on Sunday:
We're trying to spend time together and play a little bit, get a feel for each other. Some of these players have been involved with USA Basketball, some have not at this level. It's a good opportunity for us as coaches and USA Basketball to evaluate the older players and incorporate the next generation of players, so to speak. We're trying to cover a lot of bases in a short period of time.

Basically it's like I'm the varsity coach and the younger guys will be like the J.V. team. I'm responsible for both teams. So I'm going to start with the varsity guys, get them organized on the floor, see how we're playing. Then depending on what's going on, I'll just walk down to the other end and get involved in some way.

On what the fans should be able to expect on Sunday:
It's just ironic that it all kind of falls together here in Connecticut. The national championship parade, the USA Basketball training camp, so many of our players are a part of it all, and I'm fortunate to be a part of it. I think our fans are in for a great day if they come to the game and see present and former UConn players, go to the parade and help celebrate the national championship. I can't imagine a better scenario than what's going to play out this weekend.

On Swin Cash returning for a shot at the next Olympics:
Swin's greatest strength, her greatest asset, was her competitiveness. There weren't and will not be anyone that may come through here who is more competitive than Swin. People got to see that early on in her career, both at the Olympics, the two titles that she won in Detroit, and the injuries obviously set her back. For her to come back and still be in the mix, put herself here, says a lot about her tenacity and how much she loves the game. She's a big factor. She's a big part of it. She's got the talent. She's got the experience. The one thing you would say that we don't have right now is experience and she certainly brings a lot of that.

On Swin Cash's experience and leadership:
Right now, because none of them are here it's much more pronounced. If Diana (Taurasi), Sue (Bird), Tamika Catchings and those guys were here, it would take a little bit of some of that responsibility from her. But because they're not here, let's put it this way, Swin (Cash), Kara Lawson and Seimone (Augustus) are the only ones here who have won a gold medal. We've got a pretty good mix and Swin's part of it. She not really the older, she's not really the younger player. She's right there in the mix. And it's a good mix.

On Jayne Appel coming out to practice, even though she's injured, right after losing to UConn in the NCAA title game:
This is not for everybody. You just can't be anybody and say, ‘I'm involved in USA Basketball.' The people who are involved in USA Basketball have a tremendous love for the game and love for the program that USA Basketball runs. Jayne fits that category. She loves to play. She's had great success for USA Basketball. She's done a lot for us. She knows that because of the situation she's in and the position she plays, she's got a real chance to be a factor. I think she wants to be ready. When she's ready to play, she wants to be ready instead of having to jump in and try to catch up. Maybe it'll be sooner rather than later, but I'm looking forward to when that is. Obviously the stuff I like to run and the way I like to play, she fits in perfectly with that.

It's unfortunate because both opportunities we've had to come together, she's been injured. We haven't had the chance to see her on the floor with these other players. Obviously I'm anxious to see it and I know Jayne is anxious to see it. Right now all we can say is that she is part of the program. I know at some point she's going to want to be out there and we're going to want to evaluate her. I know that time is coming, I don't know when.

Is it frustrating to see that level of talent on the sidelines?
You know what's frustrating? Is knowing that that's one of the positions where we really need a little more size, a little more depth. She's very versatile. She may be the pure back to the basket post presence that we have available. Jayne's even bigger than Tina. Tina's the only physical presence we have in camp. It would be great to have someone like Jayne out there with us, and she would fit in great with our offense because she's such a great passer. In time, hopefully before next September, I don't know when that will be, we'll get a chance to get her in here.

Is it weird that last week Jayne Appel was the enemy?
Yeah (laughs). Everything has to change. Your mindset changes. What you should be doing at this time of the year changes. All of a sudden somebody that was trying to figure out how to beat you, you're trying to beat them, now she's asking me questions about how this works. You're explaining to her about how this comes about. It's a real big change and you have to be able to change gears quickly.

On the amount of Connecticut players at this week's camp:
That's one of the reasons we can do a lot of drills in a short period of time. I don't have to explain them, they can see. So those guys jump in, we do something and then everybody just gets it done. A lot of these guys were here in October. I'm in familiar surroundings here. We've got a lot of our players, managers, practice players, so for me it's like being back in the season. The talent level is a little higher than even what we're use to. That's what I think makes it so relaxing. There's no pressure to get ready for a game. It's just: let's work on our skills. Let's work on our skills. Let's get a little bit better. Let's get comfortable with what we're doing. There's no stress on anybody.

On Diana Taurasi, who just won her fourth EuroLeague title, second consecutive EuroLeague Final Four MVP and the 2009-10 EuroLeague scoring title:
I don't think there's ever been anyone that I've been around that's been a winner like Diana is. She's someone who knows how to win and can get people to believe in winning. The fact that this is her fourth title is not surprising. The fact that she led the league in scoring is not surprising. These are the kinds of things that Diana has always been capable of doing, has always done. It does not surprise me a bit. She was the best player in high school. She was the best player in college. She's the best player in the WNBA. She's the best player in Europe. If there was another league that was playing basketball somewhere, she'd be the best player in that league, too. I'm just proud to have been around her for the four years that I was around her.

Candice Dupree, Phoenix Mercury
What's it been like being back with the USA National Team?
I like it, it's a lot of fun. I haven't actually played since February when I finished up overseas. I've just been working out, trying to get ready for this. I definitely looked forward to it. It's not every day that you get to play with such great players and for such a great coach.

Kara Lawson, Connecticut Sun
Can you tell that Angel McCoughtry and Candice Dupree have been playing this year in Europe together?
After watching them in the fall, I think they're both a little more comfortable coming through the second time around. I didn't see them in Russia, but I think that everybody who got to play in the fall got a little more settled and know what to expect. They knew his style, too.

On Diana Taurasi, who just won her fourth EuroLeague title, second consecutive EuroLeague Final Four MVP and the 2009-10 EuroLeague scoring title:
I think you have to say right now that she's the best player in the world. The standard that she set. Everything she's played in over the last year, coming off winning the WNBA championship, now winning the EuroLeague championship, and in the fashion that she's doing it, leading her team. I feel like, for our group, she's someone that everyone respects, especially the way she plays. I think that this time around she'll be in more of a leadership role, instead of being one of the younger players. I think we'll definitely look for her to do that. Not just playing, but in practice. Of course, knowing coach and knowing his system, she's someone who is familiar with what we're going to be doing. She's one of those players that everyone, especially the younger players, will look to. When she comes back I'm sure she'll be in a leadership role will be someone we'll lean on a lot.

Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta Dream
What's it been like for you being back here with the USA National Team and playing for Geno Auriemma again?
I'm just glad he's not rooting against me now (like he did when she played for Louisville). He's a great coach and I'm here to learn. I'm glad that I can come here, he can critique my game and help me learn to be the best that I can be. I'm grateful for that.

Did playing in the EuroLeague help you improve your game?
In different aspects. The game there is different than here. I feel that I've learned different aspects of the game from all over the world. Here it's more physical. There it's a little more finesse. So I think it's a little bit easier there. There are different rules, I've learned a lot of different things.

Maya Moore, University of Connecticut
What has the week been like for you with the USA National Team?
It's been great. I feel so blessed right now to be in such a comfortable environment. I couldn't have written it up any better. Not a whole lot for me is different. I'm just playing with the best players in the world, that's the only change. That's a great change. We're doing the same drills, we have the same coach, a lot of my teammates are around, it's real comfortable. It's kind of given me a little jump start playing with these women. It's been fun.

Your UConn teammate Kalana Green and 2009 USA World University Games teammate Danielle Robinson came in early and practiced with the USA National Team. How was that for you?
It's always fun playing with great players. Kalana keeps getting better every day, even now. I'm so proud of her. I get to play with her a little bit longer than I thought. Danielle comes in, brings her quickness, her great vision. She's someone who I think is committed to USA Basketball, so I'm glad she was able to come out here.