Q&A with Lyndra Littles
Story Links
Lyndra Littles, a senior on the Virginia women’s basketball, recently checked in with VirginiaSports.com on the way to the 2009 ACC Tournament. The Cavaliers face in-state rival Virginia Tech at 8 p.m. on Thursday night at the Greensboro Coliseum. The game will be streamed live over the Internet, free of charge, by ACC Select.
Question: How is the team feeling heading into the ACC Tournament as the No. 6 seed?
Littles: I think that we’re feeling pretty confident as well as optimistic. Being a No. 6 seed puts us in a good position to really make a run.
Question: Talk about the match-up with your in-state and conference rival, Virginia Tech.
Littles: I feel like how I would feel against any other ACC team. You have to prepare for them and every team in the ACC is a good team and we have to prepare and have a good game.
Question: If you advance, you have No. 3 seed Duke waiting for you. How do you feel you match up against them?
Littles: Again, a tough game. A mental and physical game. Both teams want to advance and we gave them a good game in Charlottesville and we’ll give them another good game in Greensboro.
Question: How did you feel being named to the All-ACC first team earlier this week?
Littles: Well first of all, my teammate Monica Wright was also named to the first team and there was no doubt in my mind that she was going to be on there and that she deserved to be on there. Also, Aisha Mohammed was named honorable mention. I was honored to share that with them.
Question: As a senior, do you feel motivated to get the title since it is your last ACC Tournament?
Littles: Our whole season is predicated on how far we can go in the ACC Tournament. Since we haven’t done it in my four years, I think that the four seniors really want it and the rest of the team understands how significant this is and everyone believes we can go as far as we want to go as long as we don’t get in our own way. It’s a challenge but everyone’s up for it.
Question: Is there a player on your team that is flying under the radar right now but will make an impact in the ACC Tournament?
Littles: Kristen London. Kristen’s minutes have increased and she’s doing well with her minutes. She brings us a spark and a lot of energy and intensity, great defense and we need that. She’s a big contribution to us going far in the tournament.
Question: Head coach Debbie Ryan could get her 700th win at the tournament if you win three games. How special would that be?
Littles: She’s been here for 32 years. I think Coach Ryan deserves to have 700 wins and if I can be a part of that group then that is a privilege.
Question: How will the team bounce back from a regular-season finale loss at Georgia Tech?
Littles: We were not the same Virginia team. We did not do the things that has us ranked, or that got us where we are now. We were not the same team that beat Florida State on Tuesday. With that being said, I think we have done our best to try to correct those mistakes and we’re back on track.
Question: Have you thought about the NCAA Tournament and where you might be seeded?
Littles: That doesn’t enter my mind this weekend. If I focus on that then I’m taking focus from where it needs to be which is at the ACC Tournament.
Question: What will you tell the freshmen players to expect at their first ACC Tournament?
Littles: We’ve talked about how it’s a short period from one game to the next so you have to get the right amount of sleep and focus on the scouting report. Every game is vital because it makes every 40 minutes very valuable too. You have to play every game like it’s your last because it could be.