University of Tennessee Athletics
BRITTANY JACKSON SITS FOR A Q&A
March 24, 2005 | Women's Basketball
March 24, 2005
Q. How has the influx of the six new members affected the team's chemistry from the beginning of the season to now?
Jackson: "People were questioning how we were going to fit six new people into our program. But I have been really impressed with this freshman class. They came in ready to learn and help us. We knew we were going to have to have them to be successful. We have just grown closer and closer with each game. The chemistry is really good, and probably the best since I have been here. Everyone is close because we know we don't have that one big star to lead you, so we need everybody. I think they have done a great job."
Q. How has that helped that this team does not have that one big star?
Jackson: "It has been fun. I know my freshman year we had Kara (Lawson) and Gwen (Jackson), and we knew we could count on them. We knew they would step up and carry the team when someone else went down. But now, every night, it is someone different. A person might score five points one night and 25 the next. It is always someone different, and I think that makes it fun."
Q. Does it bother you that one night you might get 10 to 15 shots, and then the next game you might get just one or two?
Jackson: "No, it really doesn't bother me at all. I have had people ask me why did I just take one shot, and I wasn't even thinking about that. I think when we play as a team then your shots will come to you. It has just been fun playing with this team, and probably the most fun team I have played with."
Q. Is there any one person on this team that you would say "we can't do without?"
Jackson: "I think everybody. Our freshmen have come in and helped. They knew from the beginning that we needed them. It has been a team effort. I think we play well together, and that is when we win."
Q. From your freshman year to now, how has the game changed and progressed for you?
Jackson: "Since my freshman year, my role has definitely changed. When I came in, as a freshman, there was only three or four of us. I knew I could help the team, but you really don't know the role you will play. Being a senior, I have had to step up my role because I have never been the type to get up in somebody's face and yell and stuff like that. It has been a challenge for the three seniors to change our role, especially me, but it is fun. For me personally, I have been working not just on my shooting, but, in handling the basketball and my leadership role. That has been the biggest difference from this year to my past three."
Q. What has changed the most in your game from your freshman year to this season?
Jackson: "I have really had to focus on my defense. In high school, I played no defense. Everyone knows I can shoot, but I have tried to do other things to make my teammates better, whether it is passing, taking my opponent off the dribble, to playing defense."
Q. How have the coaching changes affected you?
Jackson: "We have had one every year since I have been here. It has been fine though. You hate to see people go. I hated to see Coach (Al) Brown, Greg (Brown) and Micki (DeMoss) leave because you get close to them. But they had better opportunities. And the new people that have come in, like Dean (Lockwood) is great. You learn to adjust, and it has been great. I have had great coaches every year I have been here."
Q. When you leave the University of Tennessee, what are some of the memories that you will take with you?
Jackson: "My teammates. The time you spend with your teammates because they go through the tough times with you. You hate those times, but when you look back you got better. Loree (Moore) and Shyra (Ely) and I were just talking about how we came in as freshman and how we were dying during conditioning drills. It seems like it was just yesterday. But the time you spend with your teammates is most special."
Q. How important is it that this squad supports the men's basketball program?
Jackson: "It is huge. Right now, they are struggling, as we have at times. But we support them, and they support us, as do Pat and Buzz. It is huge just to let them know that we are there supporting them, and that they support us is a big deal."
Q. How have you grown as a person?
Jackson: "I think I have gotten mentally tougher. I think Pat (Summitt) makes you tougher. If you can do some of the things that we do here, then you can face anything, and that is on and off the court. It is the discipline that she teaches you on and off the court."
Q. Is the team becoming more focused as we approach tournament time?
Jackson: "Definitely. After the LSU loss, we learned a lot. We have to keep going and keep our heads up. I think we have done a great job of pulling together, and that is going to help us."
Q. Is there another sport that you like to watch besides basketball?
Jackson: I like to watch volleyball as well as football.
