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ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 25, ISSUE 2 81 f Versyp: "Right now I really, really like them. They are very even-keeled and there aren't many highs and lows. We always talk about no drama and stuff like that, but there aren't really any peaks and valleys. Sol- id and consistent." Gold and Black: Do you think that consistency has to do with the personalities of these players? Versyp: "I think so. Their personalities are a big key to that. All of them have been very consistent and all of them have done extra. In years past, we've had a couple do extra. But this year, it is all of them doing that extra work. With this group everyone is doing ex- tra in the gym, extra conditioning, things that (the coaches) know or aware that they are doing. Someone will say that they saw so-and-so in the gym running sprints, like who does that? All 12 of them besides Haley (Bodnar, who is out with injury) right now are doing things above and beyond and doing those extra things. That's why I think we are staying consistent right now." Gold and Black: Why do you think they are do- ing that? Versyp: "I think they are hungry. I think they re- alize the possibilities of this year. The upperclassmen have a vision. I think we have had players that have really tried to step up and it has just rubbed off on everybody else. "Our entire freshman class is in the gym all the time, which most of the time is normal, but when you have the juniors and seniors in there as well, that's usually when it stops. Freshman and sophomore year, you are usually all geared up, but I like the overall mindset and approach to the season." Gold and Black: Do you think some of the up- perclassmen have a chip on their shoulder? Versyp: "I'm hoping. It's interesting because we have a different dynamic and have different personal- ities. I think we are all consistent but when the lights and uniforms go on, Liza (Clemons) and Whitney (Bays) bring the emotion. They bring that emotion and edge, and I think now April (Wilson), with her growth from the last two seasons to now, you have the growth with basketball, but you also have that men- tal growth. I think we have three of our captains that need that." Gold and Black: You have quite the mix of that young and old on this team. How is that working from what you have seen? It seems like it's been going pretty well. Versyp: "We really like it. This freshman class has been really solid, all five of them. Sometimes when you have a freshman class, two of them are doing great on the court and then two of them may be struggling off the court. All of them are doing really well. They are responsible and accountable, and when you have five of them doing that and putting the team first and not thinking about themselves first, (it's good). It's hard when freshmen come in and it's not about you any- more and it's about the team. "They want to do everything possible to help this team, and I think they have done that. They have seven kids that have really done a great job of fitting in and enjoying them and really embracing them. I always think that team chemistry is really important and that is built through the summer and carries through. But there are also kids who are tough on each other, so it's not all nice and I like that." Gold and Black: Do you feel like the team be- ing bigger and more physical this season will help you come tourney time? Versyp: "I hope so. I feel we have depth. We might not have experience, but we do have depth. You always need certain players on the floor to keep confidence up, but I feel with our physicality down low with bring- ing in Bree (Horrocks), with Haley and Erica (Moore), it is definitely not going to hurt us." Gold and Black: Is that something you feel like you have lacked over the past couple of years? Versyp: "Not necessarily. I just think our defense has not been great down low, that's an area we are im- proving, so you may seeing us fronting this year. Obvi- ously we are going to double team if we have Whitney and Liza in. With Bree's size and Haley's size, it is going to cause some problems if people try to shoot over those two. So we are changing some things de- fensively on the inside because we are going to have to make adjustments if we are small. Whitney and Liza and Torrie (Thornton) have all worked on being able to defend outside." Gold and Black: You talk about this team being hungry. Have they learned lessons here, especial- ly those upperclassmen, about what it takes to