May 13, 2025 • 8 mins
As part of our #513Day broadcast from the Lindner Center at the University of Cincinnati, we were joined by the Head Coach of the UC Women's Basketball program, Katrina Merriweather.
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Podcasts of The Mo Egger Radio Show are a service of Longnecks Sports Grill.
Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530.
Listen Live: ESPN1530.com/listen
Get more: https://linktr.ee/MoEgger
Follow on X: @MoEgger
Instagram too: @MoEgger
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dorian Window, Orange and Black schedule breakdown show BI That's
Smoke Justice, the Biggest Sports Brains. Breaking down the schedule
tomorrow night, beginning at six on ESPN fifteen thirty, the
official home of the Bengals.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
All right, twelve away from six o'clock. This is ESPN
fifteen thirty on Bulllegger. We are broadcasting, have been broadcasting
all afternoon from the Lindner Center at the University of Cincinnati.
We have had a parade of guests and last but
most definitely not least a friend of the show. Ever
since she took over the women's basketball program at the
University of Cincinnati head coach. You know she's important because
(00:37):
she has two phones with her. Katrina Merriweather is with us.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
How you doing well, Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
You always know you're talking to somebody of stature when
they have two phones.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Oh, I'm telling you, it just means you know, this
is actually a really cool story because Quintin Hillsman, he
was the head coach at Syracuse at the time, and
we were out recruiting and my phone rang back to
back and he said, people have both numbers, and I
said some people do, and he said, you need to
divide that into an energy giver and an energy taker phone.
(01:06):
And so like my friends and family is one phone,
and then everyone affiliated with work is another phone, so
that when you turn one off, you know that you're
taking a break from one of the others.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
You know, we've had you on the show on the phone.
I want to see which phone number we have.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
You have the energy taker phone, but but not but
not that it doesn't give me energy. But it's usually
just people who are like, hey, I need you to
do this, or need you to be here and need
you to go there.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
And sometimes you just want to sit. So that's what
it is. But it's an important phone number. It's the
work phone.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
I get it. Okay, that's fine. As long as we
have one of them, that's what you.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Do, and you can have the other one because I
think it's a give and take all.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Good how'd you turn the page from last season to next?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (01:58):
I think for us it has a lot to do
with being really proud of what we've accomplished in that
space and then starting to look forward to recruiting for
the next year. And when we mean recruit, you no
longer mean high school kids or even portal kids, you
mean your team. I think that that's something that you
(02:21):
do throughout the year, but I think it's a time
for you to reflect and say, the players that are
on the team this current year, are they the ones
that are continuing to buy in and what you.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Want to do and what you want to accomplish.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
And can you be on the same page as you
build a new team, you know, because think about how
scary it is for returners to know that, yes, the
freshmen are coming right which they can pretty much know
that because it happens in November, but that the portal
is open, and there's a chance that you could go
get someone in their position that's older. There's a chance
that you can get someone taller, bigger, stronger, And to me,
(02:55):
that's the biggest thing is making sure you have returners
on your roster that are committed to being Bearcats and
trust you to build the best team that you can
and be ready to compete no matter what happens and
how the team changes.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
There's that, and then there are the players you've brought
in from other programs. And it feels like you guys
have been quite productive.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
That's been really fun.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
One we always want kids to finish where they start,
our kids, their kids. We all know that that's easier academically, right,
especially in women's basketball, where we are putting a huge
emphasis on academics because there's no leaving early to go
to the WNBA, right, and just the financial responsibility at
(03:37):
the end most women are going to at this current moment,
which we all hope it continues to grow, you're going
to make more money in your profession than you are
playing basketball, right, even with name, image and likeness and
all those things. So making sure that they're getting the
degrees and what they want the men is really important
and that's best achieved if you stay where you are. However,
(03:59):
things happen and sometimes you have to move on or
you want to move on. So then that's where we're
gettingto this portal. And Maya Perry, who is an Ohio
native that's coming out of FAU. We're really happy to
have her. She was ring to third in the country
in three point field goal percentage. And anyone who watched
us play very much, may enjoy the rebounding and the
(04:21):
defending and the free throw line attempts, but we left.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Much to be desired at the three point line, so
I was.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Super excited to have her, and then Mary from Oral Roberts.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
We just needed more size.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
You know, we have Destiny who's coming back and we're
really happy to have her, and Delaney who took great
strides between her freshman and sophomore year, and we just
felt like we need some more girth and strength down there,
and Mary provised that. So those are the two that
we got out the portal.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
We're really happy about it.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
I don't think you're allowed to do an interview without
talking about D. But it was neat watching a University
of Cincinnati committed the McDonald's All American Game, and once
I got past that, here's what I liked. She was
I think the leading rebound rebounder for her team. You
talk about like you watch sometimes those games and you wonder, okay,
is it going to be a showcase? Are they actually
(05:12):
gonna play basketball? Are kids going to go get it
off the glass? Are they going to defend? And D
in that game checked every box.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
I call d a fifteen foot killer.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Now you get her that ball and that elbow in
and she can do some really incredible things with the
way that she finishes and just her power exposiveness and strength.
What we love the most about her is that she's
going to do whatever it takes for the team to win.
That is one of the most humble basketball players. Humble
and decorated, sure, and know a lot of the time
those two do not go together.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
She's a stat stuffer.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
She got rebound, she got steals, she took two charges.
Abs are type of things that's right. And you know,
the fun part about her is that you say, I
can't do an interview without talking about her. She would
love it if it was the opposite way. You know,
she doesn't need, no want the attention. She wants to
be a part of a team. She wants to have
(06:04):
teammates and be a great teammate. And I think that
her committing to us had so much to do with
where Kalia de.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Vilisi comes into play.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
You know, it's one of the top point guards in
the country and who I refer to as our point
guard of the future. We believe that she can do
some incredible things as a freshman and by the time
she gets out, and I think d committing to us
made it reasonable for Kalia to say, oh, you know,
if the Alexander's going there then let me take a look,
(06:32):
and then for the rest of the freshman class to
fill me in. We have sleepers and enjoy a crawl Ford.
People have no idea how good she is. Callie Beard,
who ended up winning a state championship. I think people
figure that out page witted and also from Tennessee.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
No one has any idea how good she is.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
And then towards the end we pick up Kylie Torrence right,
who had incredible high school stats and honestly was a
third or fourth option in her club team because she
was Kalia's teamate.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
So even people have no idea.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
What her ability is to how you know her sailing
is incredibly high. So yeah, we're just excited about those
eight and think that is going to be a good time.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
I can't wait until we get closer to the season
because you're always kind enough to join me and we'll
have a million things to talk about.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Absolutely all right, good stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
And we'll just tell me which phone we're calling and
when you answer, do you go caretaker or what is
the energy taker?
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Energy energy giver?
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Well, we'll see what's what week get. Thank you very
much for doing this, No, for sure. As always, Katrina Merriweather,
the women's head basketball coach at the University of Cincinnati.
We want to thank the folks that you see for
having us today and the long list of guests we
have had. Everybody has been awesome. Thanks to the folks
at Bearcat Journal for simulcasting with us for a few
(07:52):
minutes as well, and we'll talk to you tomorrow. I
have a great night and enjoyed the rest of your
five to one three day. We've been broadcasting from the
Lender Center at the University of Cincinnati this and thanks
to Terrem Bland for producing as well as wells Mike
Mills on site. Yeomen's work as always. This is ESPN
fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station, United Heartland Insurance and partner
Dorian Window, Orange and Black schedule breakdown show BI That's
Smoke Justice, the Biggest Sports Brains. Breaking down the schedule
tomorrow night, beginning at six on ESPN fifteen thirty, the
official home of the Bengals.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
All right, twelve away from six o'clock. This is ESPN
fifteen thirty on Bulllegger. We are broadcasting, have been broadcasting
all afternoon from the Lindner Center at the University of Cincinnati.
We have had a parade of guests and last but
most definitely not least a friend of the show. Ever
since she took over the women's basketball program at the
University of Cincinnati head coach. You know she's important because
(00:37):
she has two phones with her. Katrina Merriweather is with us.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
How you doing well, Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
You always know you're talking to somebody of stature when
they have two phones.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Oh, I'm telling you, it just means you know, this
is actually a really cool story because Quintin Hillsman, he
was the head coach at Syracuse at the time, and
we were out recruiting and my phone rang back to
back and he said, people have both numbers, and I
said some people do, and he said, you need to
divide that into an energy giver and an energy taker phone.
(01:06):
And so like my friends and family is one phone,
and then everyone affiliated with work is another phone, so
that when you turn one off, you know that you're
taking a break from one of the others.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
You know, we've had you on the show on the phone.
I want to see which phone number we have.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
You have the energy taker phone, but but not but
not that it doesn't give me energy. But it's usually
just people who are like, hey, I need you to
do this, or need you to be here and need
you to go there.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
And sometimes you just want to sit. So that's what
it is. But it's an important phone number. It's the
work phone.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
I get it. Okay, that's fine. As long as we
have one of them, that's what you.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Do, and you can have the other one because I
think it's a give and take all.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Good how'd you turn the page from last season to next?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (01:58):
I think for us it has a lot to do
with being really proud of what we've accomplished in that
space and then starting to look forward to recruiting for
the next year. And when we mean recruit, you no
longer mean high school kids or even portal kids, you
mean your team. I think that that's something that you
(02:21):
do throughout the year, but I think it's a time
for you to reflect and say, the players that are
on the team this current year, are they the ones
that are continuing to buy in and what you.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Want to do and what you want to accomplish.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
And can you be on the same page as you
build a new team, you know, because think about how
scary it is for returners to know that, yes, the
freshmen are coming right which they can pretty much know
that because it happens in November, but that the portal
is open, and there's a chance that you could go
get someone in their position that's older. There's a chance
that you can get someone taller, bigger, stronger, And to me,
(02:55):
that's the biggest thing is making sure you have returners
on your roster that are committed to being Bearcats and
trust you to build the best team that you can
and be ready to compete no matter what happens and
how the team changes.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
There's that, and then there are the players you've brought
in from other programs. And it feels like you guys
have been quite productive.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
That's been really fun.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
One we always want kids to finish where they start,
our kids, their kids. We all know that that's easier academically, right,
especially in women's basketball, where we are putting a huge
emphasis on academics because there's no leaving early to go
to the WNBA, right, and just the financial responsibility at
(03:37):
the end most women are going to at this current moment,
which we all hope it continues to grow, you're going
to make more money in your profession than you are
playing basketball, right, even with name, image and likeness and
all those things. So making sure that they're getting the
degrees and what they want the men is really important
and that's best achieved if you stay where you are. However,
(03:59):
things happen and sometimes you have to move on or
you want to move on. So then that's where we're
gettingto this portal. And Maya Perry, who is an Ohio
native that's coming out of FAU. We're really happy to
have her. She was ring to third in the country
in three point field goal percentage. And anyone who watched
us play very much, may enjoy the rebounding and the
(04:21):
defending and the free throw line attempts, but we left.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Much to be desired at the three point line, so
I was.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Super excited to have her, and then Mary from Oral Roberts.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
We just needed more size.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
You know, we have Destiny who's coming back and we're
really happy to have her, and Delaney who took great
strides between her freshman and sophomore year, and we just
felt like we need some more girth and strength down there,
and Mary provised that. So those are the two that
we got out the portal.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
We're really happy about it.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
I don't think you're allowed to do an interview without
talking about D. But it was neat watching a University
of Cincinnati committed the McDonald's All American Game, and once
I got past that, here's what I liked. She was
I think the leading rebound rebounder for her team. You
talk about like you watch sometimes those games and you wonder, okay,
is it going to be a showcase? Are they actually
(05:12):
gonna play basketball? Are kids going to go get it
off the glass? Are they going to defend? And D
in that game checked every box.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
I call d a fifteen foot killer.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Now you get her that ball and that elbow in
and she can do some really incredible things with the
way that she finishes and just her power exposiveness and strength.
What we love the most about her is that she's
going to do whatever it takes for the team to win.
That is one of the most humble basketball players. Humble
and decorated, sure, and know a lot of the time
those two do not go together.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
She's a stat stuffer.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
She got rebound, she got steals, she took two charges.
Abs are type of things that's right. And you know,
the fun part about her is that you say, I
can't do an interview without talking about her. She would
love it if it was the opposite way. You know,
she doesn't need, no want the attention. She wants to
be a part of a team. She wants to have
(06:04):
teammates and be a great teammate. And I think that
her committing to us had so much to do with
where Kalia de.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Vilisi comes into play.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
You know, it's one of the top point guards in
the country and who I refer to as our point
guard of the future. We believe that she can do
some incredible things as a freshman and by the time
she gets out, and I think d committing to us
made it reasonable for Kalia to say, oh, you know,
if the Alexander's going there then let me take a look,
(06:32):
and then for the rest of the freshman class to
fill me in. We have sleepers and enjoy a crawl Ford.
People have no idea how good she is. Callie Beard,
who ended up winning a state championship. I think people
figure that out page witted and also from Tennessee.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
No one has any idea how good she is.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
And then towards the end we pick up Kylie Torrence right,
who had incredible high school stats and honestly was a
third or fourth option in her club team because she
was Kalia's teamate.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
So even people have no idea.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
What her ability is to how you know her sailing
is incredibly high. So yeah, we're just excited about those
eight and think that is going to be a good time.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
I can't wait until we get closer to the season
because you're always kind enough to join me and we'll
have a million things to talk about.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Absolutely all right, good stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
And we'll just tell me which phone we're calling and
when you answer, do you go caretaker or what is
the energy taker?
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Energy energy giver?
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Well, we'll see what's what week get. Thank you very
much for doing this, No, for sure. As always, Katrina Merriweather,
the women's head basketball coach at the University of Cincinnati.
We want to thank the folks that you see for
having us today and the long list of guests we
have had. Everybody has been awesome. Thanks to the folks
at Bearcat Journal for simulcasting with us for a few
(07:52):
minutes as well, and we'll talk to you tomorrow. I
have a great night and enjoyed the rest of your
five to one three day. We've been broadcasting from the
Lender Center at the University of Cincinnati this and thanks
to Terrem Bland for producing as well as wells Mike
Mills on site. Yeomen's work as always. This is ESPN
fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station, United Heartland Insurance and partner
Mo Egger News
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