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Chat Reel: Bill Fennelly

Iowa State ready to compete in a tough Big 12 conference

Bill Fennelly got a commitment from Illinois prep standout MeganMcCracken for his 2002 recruiting class. Iowa State Sports Info.

CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's women's hoops chat with Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly. Welcome coach and thanks for joining us.
Bill Fennelly: Thank you -- it's a pleasure to be here.

From Susan in Baltimore: How does Iowa State match up against the other conference powerhouses this year? Colorado, for instance, looks like a very deep and physical team. Will the Cyclones be primarily a finesse team?
Bill Fennelly: Must know our team a little bit. We are a bit of a finesse team. Our league is very, very strong but we utilize ball-handling, perimeter shooting and hopefully try and get the ball to Angie Welle, our All-American center.

From Keri in New York: Hi coach, I was wondering how the loss of Erica Junod would effect your team and how Lindsey Wilson's shoulder is? Good luck to your team.
Bill Fennelly: Erica's injury was the lowest point in my seven years at Iowa State. It really impacted our team in a very strong way. Erica is a great, great kid who has worked hard to be a starter, so now the only thing we can do is find people to fill her minutes and still manage to have the team we want to be. Lindey's shoulder is fine. We rested her for a couple of days and she's ready to go now.

From Jasonclassof99: Coach F, with Angie Welle and Tracy Gahan in their final season, the last players from the Elite 8 run are on their way out. You seem to continue to do well in recruiting, is this the key to getting back to that level?
Bill Fennelly: There's no question that to be an Elite 8-caliber team you have to recruit well. You need quality players who have a similar work ethic. We've been fortunate to have those players in our program and hopefully we can continue to bring in the players that can keep us at a high level.

From Ron Logston in Ames, Iowa: Assuming that you believe the Big 12 is the top conference in the country, do you think anyone in the conference can be the national champ this year?
Bill Fennelly: Yes, I do. I really believe that Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Colorado have the ingredients it takes to be a national champion. They have experience, depth, star-quality players and coaching. And we all need a little luck and to stay healthy. I believe in the NCAA tournament who you're matched up against is also a critical part of how deep you can go into the tournament.

From Susan in Baltimore: Coach, what can you tell us about the progress of your three freshmen guards? And what position will Holly Bordewyk most likely play this year?
Bill Fennelly: All of our freshman guards, Mary Fox, Ada Anderson and Tracy Paustian are all doing very well. All of them will play this year, how much remains to be seen. Holly is improving and as a junior we need her to step up, especially with Erica's injury.

From Pam in Ames, Iowa : I noticed in the first two exhibition games that Kelly Cizek played very little. She seemed to be doing so well last season, and this being her senior year, I expected her to be off the bench quicker. Is there is a reason that she isn't?
Bill Fennelly: Kelly has worked very hard, but at this time Melanie Bremer and Lisa Kriner, who are new to the program, are a little more advanced and give us a little more of what we need at this time.

From Barry in Phoenix: After being out-matched in last year's game against Chantelle Anderson and Vanderbilt, what has Angie Welle worked on over the summer?
Bill Fennelly: I really don't believe Angie was out-matched. The way we play, we don't rely on one person to guard another individual. Anderson obviously had a great game and is a great player, but I think Angie is also a great player. Angie is now a senior, has worked very hard to get a little stronger and have the kind of year she wants to have. And we need her to have.

From Dean Zaleski in Neillsville, Wis.: What type of relationship do you have with men's coach, Larry Eustachy?
Bill Fennelly: Dr. Doom himself. Larry is a great guy. He has treated us so well in the time he has been here, and I have great respect for his coaching ability. And he is a good friend of mine. He has really helped us in many ways, both on and off the court, and I really believe he's one of the top college coaches in the country.

JasonClassof99 from Norcross, Ga.: Have you been keeping tabs on Stacey Frese, Desiree Francis, and other players that have gone to the next level?
Bill Fennelly: We keep very close tabs on all of our former players. Stacy just got married and now coaches at the University of Evansville and Des is playing professional basketball in France.

From Susan in Baltimore: I read that two of your former ISU players Erica Haugen and Stacy Frese are now working as coaches at the college level. What does it take to move from being a good player to becoming an effective coach?
Bill Fennelly: I think I need to hire Susan! Moving from being a player to a coach is much more difficult than people can imagine. You're now on the other side of how the game is played and the preparation. The thing that players have to have is a love for the game and obviously want to stay a part of it. Stacy and Erica will make very good college coaches. I don't want to coach against them.

CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with coach Fennelly. Coach, thanks for joining us and good luck this season.
Bill Fennelly: Thank you very much!

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