Inside The Hawkeyes
  • last year
Lisa Bluder, Hawkeye players
Transcript
00:00 for us in the final four against bigger, taller players that we really had to have her step
00:05 up and she did.
00:06 So I definitely think she has the head start because of that and I want her certainly to
00:13 have the confidence that she played against the best in the country and she played well.
00:17 Have you seen any changes from these foreign trips?
00:20 Obviously the bonding but then also just getting the game experience.
00:23 You've been on a few.
00:26 You know, again I was saying earlier that to me it's not about the games over there
00:31 because they're so different.
00:32 The international game is so different than our game and you're playing against either
00:36 really good or really bad people and so to me it's not the outcome of the game.
00:40 It's more the ten practices that we get before we leave that are extra and that's where you
00:45 I think really see the biggest benefit.
00:47 To me when you get over there it's bonding, chemistry, making memories, having fun.
00:52 Okka, have you and Kate talked about how you're a big planner for trips like this?
00:57 What's maybe one thing you're most looking forward to that you've planned out for this
01:00 trip?
01:01 I think the most thing I'm looking forward to, two things I'll tell you is one is we're
01:05 having a cooking class in Italy.
01:07 I mean Italian food, right?
01:10 And the second thing is probably zip lining and split.
01:14 That'll be really fun.
01:15 Those are Addy's same.
01:16 Addy's were same, yeah.
01:19 I'm really looking forward to seeing Dubrovnik though.
01:21 I've heard it's the most beautiful place and we're going to go kayaking in Dubrovnik
01:26 and throughout all those little islands.
01:28 It should be really beautiful.
01:29 This is a different team.
01:30 Obviously we have some big goals to fill down the line.
01:31 What have you seen just so far in these ten practices that maybe has you excited to kind
01:32 of put this all together in a game scenario?
01:40 Well I'm excited we have depth at the inside position.
01:43 I don't have anybody right now that I feel like yes she is the one that's going to be
01:46 the five but I feel like by committee right now we have four people that are really competing
01:51 for that position.
01:52 So I think it's the depth of that position but I do think like Taylor's made a big jump.
01:57 I think Sid's made a big jump for us.
01:59 Hannah hit two threes in practice today so we've seen some improvement in areas we needed
02:03 to see it.
02:04 There's so much that's happened between last year and now.
02:05 I know every year you guys would have one or two more vacations but now that you guys
02:06 have gotten that, I'm wondering if you see if you can get there.
02:07 Do you notice any sort of a difference as you guys start practice this summer compared
02:08 to last year, previous years to where you are now?
02:19 I feel like we've come into every year optimistic but I think this year we understand the pressure
02:24 that's going to be on us and the expectations are different which can also bring more pressure
02:30 and also that we're going to have a target on our back that everybody's going to be after
02:33 us.
02:34 So I think this year's job is going to be a little bit harder than it was last year.
02:37 We're getting ready for this upcoming trip.
02:40 We leave next Friday so we're getting ready for that and we're really excited.
02:43 Have you been to Europe before?
02:44 I have.
02:45 Actually this is my second foreign tour I've been on because I'm so dang old.
02:48 I went to Spain with the team four years ago so I'm lucky to have another opportunity to
02:53 go overseas.
02:54 What are some of the things you're looking forward to with this trip?
02:55 What are some of the things you're hoping to learn, gain, grow in as you go over to
02:59 Europe?
03:00 We lost two key pieces to our team last year.
03:02 We graduated Monaco and McKenna are moving on.
03:05 So it's really good for us to get these extra ten practices to get our feet under us, get
03:12 a feel for this new team and then being able to play a couple games over there is awesome
03:16 and then it's super good for team bonding.
03:18 Your phones don't really work over there unless you buy the international pass but I'm not
03:22 going to spend money on that.
03:24 It's just really good bonding time.
03:25 We get to do a lot of fun things over there.
03:28 It's really good team chemistry building time for us over there in Europe.
03:33 Have you explained to everybody what it's like having been on a trip like this before?
03:38 A little bit, yeah.
03:40 I think we went over our itinerary the other week and so everybody's getting a good feel
03:44 for it.
03:45 Everybody's just so excited.
03:46 Our manager is so good at planning these trips.
03:48 She takes her time.
03:49 She looks at the details.
03:51 She has books in her office about Italy and Croatia.
03:54 So we're super lucky that we have a coach who wants us to experience different cultures
03:58 and experience that with each other too.
04:01 How important are the games?
04:03 We never really know what the competition is like over there but it's super important.
04:09 Three extra games in a season, that can really help you get the jitters out.
04:12 It can really help you get a set and get a feel for what the upcoming season is going
04:17 to be and what we're going to need to work on and what we're doing well at when we're
04:20 over there.
04:21 We're really excited to be able to have three extra games.
04:22 What have you seen from the team?
04:23 You're going to be stepping into a new role, a bigger role.
04:28 I think each one of them brings a little something different that's unique to the team.
04:32 I think they've been playing really well and competing with each other and making each
04:35 other better every day.
04:36 You've got some young guards that you're around a lot, that you're helping mentor.
04:37 What have you seen from them?
04:38 I think just confidence is huge.
04:45 Me and Kaitlin can bring that for them every day and encourage them to believe in themselves.
04:52 They may be playing in a bigger role as well as the post.
04:55 I think just keeping a positive mindset and encouraging them every day to just have confidence
05:00 in what they can bring to the team.
05:02 Just playing their role and buying into their role is the most important thing we can do
05:06 for them.
05:07 What are you looking forward to most about the trip?
05:10 I've never been to Italy or Croatia, so just being there in general is going to be awesome.
05:16 We're doing a lot of fun things.
05:17 Coach Pluter does a great job of planning things for us to do and see.
05:22 I think it will be overall fun.
05:23 We get to play more basketball down there and get more experience with each other actually
05:28 playing in a game, which I think will help us a lot.
05:31 Overall it's just going to be an awesome trip and I'm really excited.
05:33 Is it weird that those games, the three games, you really don't know who you're playing?
05:37 Yeah.
05:38 It's sort of like almost like a pick up in some ways and you've got to react during the
05:41 game.
05:42 Yeah, I've been here so long that this is my second trip.
05:47 You going in there, you're not knowing what to expect really.
05:50 I tell people this all the time.
05:51 My freshman year I remember walking in and I was like a little baby, 18 year old freshman.
05:55 There's big women with kids and I'm like, "What is this?"
05:59 So you walk in there, you don't know what you're going to expect.
06:02 They could be really, really good.
06:03 We could blow them out.
06:04 It could be a good game.
06:05 I don't know.
06:06 I'm just excited to play some games down there.
06:10 When you get over there, are the games kind of secondary?
06:15 Is this trip more about getting good experience or team bonding and traveling and enjoying
06:19 a new culture?
06:20 I would say honestly a little bit of both.
06:22 Obviously when we step between the lines it's all business and we're fully focused on winning
06:26 the game.
06:27 I think also we have three games in 12 days.
06:29 We have to have some fun in there and some team bonding.
06:33 We have new people that are trying to still gel together on the court, but off the court
06:37 is important too.
06:38 I think that team bonding experience will be really good for this team.
06:41 How do you compare where you are right now?
06:43 Even over the last few years you guys have just grown so much.
06:46 Between last year and this year so much has happened, so much has changed just with the
06:51 expectations maybe about Iowa's basketball.
06:53 Do you feel a difference in where you guys are right now compared to where you were a
06:57 year ago?
06:58 I would say no.
06:59 I mean you're still trying to figure out the team every summer.
07:02 It's still so early and I think us being able to go to the national championship game last
07:07 year and have me, Kaitlin, and Kate back, I mean we know what it takes.
07:11 That's going to be our expectation every day whether we get there or not, but that's going
07:15 to be how we play, how we practice.
07:17 That's going to be our mindset every day.
07:18 I think just having that experience there is only going to help this team grow.
07:23 Thanks Gabby.
07:24 Gabby, how important are the, I think you guys get 10 extra practices, three games.
07:29 How important are those?
07:30 I mean this time of year, especially when you're kind of acclimating new players.
07:33 Yeah, I mean obviously we're getting used to losing some pieces from last year and a
07:37 lot of scoring, so I think those 10 extra practices are really, really important for
07:41 us to learn how to gel together, get more experience, and I mean get up and down with
07:46 each other.
07:47 I mean we get to put in more things that we usually do in the summer with these 10 extra
07:52 practices and put in some plays, and so I think it will really be to our advantage to
07:56 have that time as a team to get more experience.
07:59 Awesome.
08:00 Gabby, what do you think of the gap?
08:01 Well, I think Eddie's a little bit taller than Juan.
08:02 I don't know.
08:03 We haven't really been in action yet, so it'll be different to see once we get over there.
08:04 What are some differences you can notice in yourself back from a year ago to where you
08:05 are now?
08:06 Do you feel like you've grown a lot?
08:07 Do you maybe see more of your more come flying on the floor between last year and now?
08:08 I think absolutely.
08:09 On the court, in front of the cameras.
08:10 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:11 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:12 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:13 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:14 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:15 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:16 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:17 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:40 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:41 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:42 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:43 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:44 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:45 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:46 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:47 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:48 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:49 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:50 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:51 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:52 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:53 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:54 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:55 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:56 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:57 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:58 I think it's a lot of fun.
08:59 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:01 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:02 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:03 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:04 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:05 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:06 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:07 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:08 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:09 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:10 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:11 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:12 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:13 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:14 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:15 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:16 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:17 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:18 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:19 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:20 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:21 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:22 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:23 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:24 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:25 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:26 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:27 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:28 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:29 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:30 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:31 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:32 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:33 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:34 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:35 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:36 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:37 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:38 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:39 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:40 I think it's a lot of fun.
09:41 I kind of hope not because I might just whiff it, but my parents will be there and I think
09:46 it will be a lot of fun.
09:49 What are some of those things that you learned from her over your two years behind her?
09:51 I'd say just like the amount of work she does even when she doesn't have the ball before
09:56 she gets the ball.
09:59 Even like in high school you would just host up when you knew you were going to get the
10:03 ball, but Monica is always working, always being a threat, even if the ball is on the
10:07 other side of the court.
10:08 I've seen that she's been hanging around a little bit this summer.
10:10 Have you talked to her a little bit about getting to be a starter?
10:14 Any advice she had for you on that new role?
10:17 She kind of just said I'm not her, she's not me.
10:21 I don't have to take over exactly what she is and what she does.
10:25 Obviously I'm going to take a lot of what she's taught me, but we are two different
10:29 players and I don't have to live up to her in any way that I can be my own player.
10:34 You get a chance to go to Europe and play a couple of games over there.
10:37 How big do you feel that is for you to get out there as a starter probably and get those
10:41 extra minutes and just have some chances to be on the court?
10:44 I think it's really important.
10:45 Honestly, it couldn't have come at a better time.
10:48 I get a little bit of a taste and practice of playing with the other starters who have
10:53 been here for a while.
10:55 Just to build the team chemistry this early is really good.
10:58 Alright, thank you.
10:59 I've got a couple of questions for you.
11:00 Just talk about how important is team bonding wise?
11:02 I know your phones don't work and you guys have to spend a lot of time together whether
11:05 you like it or not.
11:06 Just how important is that for team bonding going forward?
11:09 It's super important and honestly there's no better place we could do it at.
11:14 I'm super excited.
11:15 On the court we get a lot of bonding too, which is really important.
11:19 This season too, losing Monica and McKenna, being able to play with each other this early
11:24 in the season is really good.
11:27 Obviously off the court we have about two weeks to spend with each other and really
11:30 get to know each other even better.
11:32 It's really good because we still have only one new player who's going on the trip so
11:38 we'll just get to know each other on a different level really.
11:41 You guys get ten practices in three games I think.
11:43 How important are those extra practices, extra games?
11:46 For you specifically as someone who's looking for a bigger role.
11:49 I think it's really good that I get more time to really get to play basketball really.
11:55 Normally we get two practices a week and getting to practice every single day and get to build
11:59 that connection with Kaitlin and every other girl on the team is really important.
12:04 What are you most looking forward to in Italy and Croatia?
12:06 Have you looked over the itinerary?
12:07 Yes I have.
12:08 Probably when we're going zip lining in Croatia or our cooking lesson right when we get there
12:16 in Italy.
12:17 It'll be so fun.