October 18, 2024 • 29 mins
Serena Sundell sits down with Mark Schindler to break down and discuss her off-season, this past year, her growth as a player, the Wildcats' transfer additions, and much more before dissecting her film and what makes her an exciting WNBA Draft prospect in 2025.
If you'd like to check out the full Film Room episode where Serena and Mark dive into her tape: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSPW9eR1D5GWsshZA2_M0KLWbFI_R21yI&si=qweaNph_YJ9tV8vK
You can listen to the pod on
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theyve-got-now/id1652378572
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eTVgaVudBvS9yox3XbgGX?si=16a02c3ea75942e8
As always, a major thank you to James Edwards III for the intro and outro music! If you have not already, follow Mark on Twitter @MG_Schindler and be sure to rate and review the pod! Send any questions, comments, or feedback Mark's way, and enjoy the show.
If you'd like to check out the full Film Room episode where Serena and Mark dive into her tape: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSPW9eR1D5GWsshZA2_M0KLWbFI_R21yI&si=qweaNph_YJ9tV8vK
You can listen to the pod on
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theyve-got-now/id1652378572
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eTVgaVudBvS9yox3XbgGX?si=16a02c3ea75942e8
As always, a major thank you to James Edwards III for the intro and outro music! If you have not already, follow Mark on Twitter @MG_Schindler and be sure to rate and review the pod! Send any questions, comments, or feedback Mark's way, and enjoy the show.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back for another episode of Film Room. I'm really
excited to be joined today by Kansas State point guard
Serena Sindel. Serena, first and foremost, how are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:08):
I'm good? Yeah, I just finished practice, so feeling pretty good.
How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I can't complain. I have like no idea how we're
this close to the season already. I was like going
through and whenever I'm getting ready for an interview or whatever,
I'm going through as much stuff as I can, right
And I was like reading something that Randy put out
and was like the first exhibition and the only exhibition
you guys have is twenty seven days from now, which
like right, like how are we? So, how are you
(00:34):
kind of feeling with all that? Because I know, like,
you know, senior year coming up. I know you're already
you're working on your masters, you already graduated with your bachelors,
So like, how are you kind of feeling with all that?
It's got to be a little bit wild.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeah, it's crazy. I need time to slow down. It's
gone by so fast. I can't. I hate when October
hits because everyone can say, oh, we played basketball this month,
which is just crazy. We played game at the end
of this month. It's just gone by so fast. I
can't even believe. Or I'm a senior and this is
(01:05):
my last time for everything, and you got to start
thinking about life after college. So yeah, it's a lot,
but I'm just trying to enjoy it and be where
my feet are. So it's a balance.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Yeah, No, absolutely, I can imagine, especially you know, kind
of coming off this last year and you guys put
together one Hall of a season. Obviously a lot of
highs and lows in that, but like you know, when
you reflect back a little bit on what that season was,
how do you kind of how do you kind of
like take it and how do you kind of like
you know, use that to to move forward for what
this next year is going to be.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, last year was a lot of fun. We like
you said, we had a lot of highs, had some lows,
but our group was just a lot of fun to
play with. I think our team we had a lot
of experience last year, even more so this year. I
think our biggest thing we struggled with last year was
just kind of consistency. We kind of just play I
(01:57):
don't know, we didn't we didn't play consistently every night,
and we let opponents kind of dictate how we were
going to play and let pressure teams speed us up.
So I think that's one thing this year that we're
really focused on is just kind of playing our game
and no matter what the defense is doing, Like, we
want to be consistent, we want to get to our spots,
run what we want to run. We want to be
(02:19):
the ones kind of setting the pace of the game
and setting Yeah, I don't know, stay just setting the
pace for the game and dictating how that's going to look.
But yeah, we learned a lot last year, and I
think coming in this year there's just kind of a
no excuses type of thing. We have a lot of
seniors on our team, We have a lot of experience,
(02:41):
I have a lot of experience, So there's just a
lot that we can learn from last year that we
should be able to execute better this year.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Yeah, no, absolutely, I think there's a lot of great
insight in that, especially to like you mentioned, I think
the consistency piece is like so big like part of
it too, Like it's just tough when you have to
deal with injuries during the year, but like I think
the hardest part with watching you guys at times last year,
like you knew, like, Okay, there's this level you can
get to, right, and just finding that again, I think
after everybody was back from injury was really difficult because
(03:14):
correct me if you feel otherwise, But I felt like,
you know, even after Aoka went down with her injury
early on in Big twelve play, I felt like you
guys found like a little bit of a new play style,
like Okay, cool, we're gonna we're gonna play fast, like
you and Eliza have a really great connection, especially in transition.
But then trying to mesh the two styles back together
once Ayoka came back, it felt like that was a
(03:34):
really difficult push poll for you guys, because like, you know,
you can get some really good stuff out of this
and it changes up roles a little bit. But then
obviously Aoka is one of the best, most efficient players
in the country and like, but trying to make that
all work together was it seemed like definitely a bit
of a struggle at the high end last year.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Yeah, it was definitely a challenge. I mean, Ayoka is
a great player and you can just feel her presence
when she's on the court, So playing with her so
much and just knowing like, okay, the defense is gonna
gravitate towards her, so you're gonna have maybe more three
is open. You know, everybody's gonna be giving her a
lot of attention, and we kind of depend on her
(04:13):
to get an easy bucket. So when we lose her
and we have to figure out how to how to
score on our own and then pick up the pace
and now you have more driving lanes, and like you
said that, this style play just changes completely. And we
figured it out for a little second there. We had
a we had a spark of some good runs, some
good games, and we were all jelly and like okay,
(04:35):
and then Yoki comes back and it just changes once
again completely. So it was a struggle. Yeah, there's no
way around that. But that's just kind of just kind
of what it was. And it wasn't It wasn't great,
it wasn't pretty at times. So hopefully, I mean, hopefully
(04:55):
nobody is injured this year, but adversity is gonna strike
no matter what. So hopefully we can just learn from
last year carried over this year.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
No absolutely, I mean, especially looking at you know, going
ahead into looking at this coming year with what you
take away from that too, Like I mean as a
point where I know Jeff asked a lot out of you,
you know, being able to like he wants you to score,
he wants you to defend, he wants you to do
everything and not just do it, but like do it
really well. Right, So, especially like taking on that extra
(05:27):
learning of you know, being in that spot heading into
your fourth year and coming off of that, what's maybe
the biggest thing that you picked up as a playmaker
in kind of trying to handle some of that stuff,
get people in their spots and because in some ways,
like I mean, your role has to be like really
just fluid in a lot of ways with how this
offense plays.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Yeah, definitely, I think. I mean, right now, he's on
me to just make the right play, just make the
right play, make the right read. And it's so much
easier said than done. But yeah, a lot of like
a lot some Moppins play kind of depends a lot
on me and if I can find her when she's
cutting and if I can get her moving or get
(06:07):
the ball to the short corner and let her go
to work. A lot of my teammates depend on me
to help them be great, and I feel that and
I want to help my teammates be as successful as
they can because that's just going to lead to us winning.
But yeah, it's a lot of mental things that you
have to think about as a point guard that I
think a lot of people don't realize. So I'm still
(06:30):
learning every day. I feel right now like I'm going
through a little bit of growing pains just with some
new things that we're looking at in the offense. But
it's been a lot of fun to kind of figure
it out and figure it out with this group, just
my reads and what I have available and what I
don't have in my first option second options. But yeah,
(06:51):
it's a lot of responsibility, but it's something now that
I've really enjoyed and I enjoy right now with this
group just because there's so much talent on this team
and the girls. There's just a lot of fun to
work with.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeah. No, absolutely, And we'll talk a lot about play
making reasons when we get into the film. But like
I mean, part of the reason I love watching players,
I feel like you just see the game in a
different level than than other people do at times, Like
you see things quick, you see like I don't know,
I just feel like you always have a different kind
of vision on how things can work, and that's part
of what makes you such an exciting player, like being
able to do all that, and you mentioned like obviously,
(07:25):
you know, working in some new things. Obviously, I mean
there's a lot of transfers throughout the country, but I
think looking at your guys's class, I just as soon
as it happened, I was like, even before you know,
Tomayra got announced, I was like, you know, Kennedy Taylor
Missouri State was like tough this year. I think a
lot of people don't get to watch them, but like everybody,
I feel kind of bad for their program because like
all for their best players are transferred out. But like
(07:47):
Kennedy Taylor is going to be so good for you guys.
Is like just a backup who can rim run, can
protect the block, a little bit good on the glass.
And then I mean you add Tomaira, who is just
like I mean, you can't replace obviously, but I think
just kind of a different mold of a player to
have in the wing somebody. I think it's gonna bring
a little bit of a different edge defensively obviously can
(08:09):
shoot it, but then like her ability to just kind
of create is really special at her size. So like
what is BEng getting to learn those two and and
see what they can do on the court.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Yeah, like you said, Kenny has just been She's a
hard worker and she's just a solid, solid player who
can come in and back up Yoki. And she's so strong,
Like when she sets boss screens and we're defending against her,
like there's just no there's no pushing her, there's no
shoving her. She's gonna get to her spot, She's gonna
hold you, she's gonna seal. That's kind of That's something
(08:41):
we've been working on with her, is just as guards,
like figuring out where she's ceiling, where she wants the
ball and like she's we're just figuring out that timing
and trying to connect there. But she's she just brings
a good attitude to every day. She's a lot of
fun to work with, easy to work with. We have
conversations on side of like hey, like what can I
(09:02):
do to make that pass better? If she's dropping something?
And then I'm seeing like she's just a lot of
fun to communicate with and easy. So she Yeah, I'm
excited to see how she does this year. And then
Tamira has just been a lot, a lot of fun
to play with. She is she's just kind of a
do it all player. She's a true scorer. On defense,
she's so long, her arms are so long, her legs
(09:25):
are long. She's aggressive. It seems like she's always in
the right spot, she's in gap, she's getting steels, deflections,
just doing everything she can defensively, and then she can
also guard a wide range of players. And then offensively,
I'm finding her a lot right now just spotting up
to shoot, so she's a knockdown shooter. And then she
(09:45):
also has the ability to drive to the basket. She
can get there in one drouble just because she can
sprawl out and weave between people, so she can finish
around the rim really well, which is it's hard to
guard when you you are a threat to shoot on
the three point line and drive. So she's been in
a lot of good spots right now and I'm finding
(10:07):
her easily. So she's been She's been a lot of
fun to play with too. I'm really excited for both
of them, and I know that they're gonna come in
and contribute right away.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Yeah, it's kind of fun too, just thinking because I
was looking at the roster gonna it was like, I mean,
you guys were a big team last year, but even now,
like I think there's two players below six feet on
the roster, Like it's a big group. There's a lot
of length. It's a lot to work with. I feel
like the defensive infrastructure you guys built last year is
just kind of gonna keep going this season with what
you can do there.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Yeah, definitely, we are we are very long. I am
a very tall point guard and then all my guards
around me are tall. Yeah, and then our defense last
year was good. Coach Maddie says it was good, but
this year he wants it to be great, and I
think just having that extra length is gonna help us, which.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Absolutely is a is the gap got returning for this season?
He is, Yes, Okay, good to know that was the
most important thing I had circled for today. Yeah, so
that'll be good to hear, because I you know, as
many gaps as possible is the best thing for getting
coach made happy for sure. Transitionally, more to just talking
about you as a player though, I mean, I think
when I think of your game, I think efficient, Like,
(11:21):
I think so much of what you do as efficient.
You're fishing, how you move, fishing, how you score fishing,
how you distribute. So like, for reference, do you know
how well you shot on layups last year? I do, Okay,
So it's you shot so I filtered out. You always
want to filter out like transition, right, because like you're
gonna get easy baskets in transition. You shot sixty percent
(11:43):
at the rim on layups and the half court. It's
really good. So for reference, like that is the same
percentage that Taana Jackson shot on layups in the half court,
So that's pretty good. Like, I think out of nine
hundred players in D one, you were in the top
ten percent last year out of players who took at
least one hundred layups. So it's a lot of numbers,
but I think it's kind of speaking to the importance
(12:04):
with that. Like it's one thing to be a tall
point guard, it's another thing to be able to utilize
it right. And I think especially being able to do
it the way you have kind of scoring from all
years or the court has been really big. So I
wanted to ask off of that, I mean, what has
been maybe your biggest focal point of you know, what
you're trying to what you added to your game this
offseason and headed into this year that you're excited to
(12:27):
kind of keep growing in.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Yeah, I think I finished around the rim, like you said,
well last year, and a lot of it was with
my right hand. So I'm trying to trying to get
the ball over to my left more or at least be
a threat. So because I felt at times last year
people knew that I wanted to just go right. I
could hear it from the benches, from the coaches, like
(12:51):
right hand on the right hand, like all of that.
So just being able to go left and I've been
working on that and just being aware of like not
just power running it down with my right right hand,
right hand, right hand, so we're going on my left.
And I think just being more of a threat to
shoot on the three point line. I shot well last year.
I just I think I had some missed opportunities and
(13:14):
that's going to open up my driving and move to
a second option or plan B whatever. Quicker is something
that I've been working on. And then yeah, just communication
can always get better as a point guard. Just talking
to my teammates and right now I'm just kind of
right now, I think I'm trying to not just learn
(13:38):
the plays and execute the plays, but like play out
of that. We've been struggling with that as a team
is we're learning a lot of new things right now,
and we get still focused on just running the play
that there's some missed opportunities, so just communicating through that
and taking easy baskets when we can get them.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
But yeah, no, absolutely, I think it's kind of interesting
here you talk about that too, because I feel like
it's not so it's a double edged story, right because
it's not like a bad thing to always make the
right play. But I think part of what's interesting with
you is, like I feel like you could do so
much more sometimes in terms of like just making plays.
(14:15):
And it's interesting because I feel like you don't really
seem to think when you're making plays, which is part
of what makes your game break, because like you do
things quickly and you do it without thinking. But then again,
like I think, especially with scoring, like I think there's
a lot more you could do with scoring, Like I
look at somebody who shoots like almost sixty percent from
the floor. I'm like, I want you to take more shots, Like,
I think you're capable of doing that, and I feel like,
(14:37):
you know, Coach Mintie probably feels the same in terms of, like,
you know, get the most out of yourself as a passer,
you got to continue to get better as a score,
which you're already a good score, but I mean, like,
I think there's an even higher level there. So, like
you talked about, especially with shooting, like, how do you
kind of reinforce that in continuing to you know, take
as many shots as you can and not sometimes get
so caught up in like making the perfect and just
(15:00):
doing you know, what's what's best available.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Yeah, uh, I don't know. I think you just gotta that.
You just gotta like, I don't know, you just gotta
feel in the heat of the game kind of what.
And right now it's practice where I'm gonna learn all
of this. But when when do we actually need to
run the play and get Yoki oput it on a
cross screen and get an easy bucket down low or
(15:27):
when can we Okay, yes, we're running the play, but
I'm also wide open right here for this three pointer.
So let's just let it fly. Let's make them respect
that I'm gonna shoot this shot, so then the next
time we come down, I can catch it on the
wing and they're gonna be on me and then I'm
gonna have an easier pass to someone else. So it's
just I don't know, it's a balance, but right now
(15:49):
is a great time to work on all of those things.
And especially we're playing against guys right now, so like
figuring out when I can shoot against the guys and
when I need to drive and when I need to pass,
it's going to be super helpful because they're obviously bigger, faster,
stronger girls. So when we get in the game, everything
is going to slow down a little bit and I'm
(16:10):
gonna have even more so of an opportunity. But right now,
I mean that's the beauty of practice, is that you're
just kind of getting a feel for the game of
what you can and can't do.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Yeah, I think, yeah, I've practiced, like before you even
get into the season. It's always my favorite time. Like
I know, some people absolutely hate it hot take. Yeah,
it is a very hot take. That's why I like
working coaching and stuff. But I don't know, it's just
like there's something good about it because like you can
you can see everybody like, Okay, that's new, Like I see,
like you didn't have this before last year. You're more
(16:41):
clean with this and like I get also wanted to
be in the games, but you know, like those are
the fun part. But like you just see so much
like the growth and developing that aspect, right.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Yeah, that's definitely what we're going through right now. Is
in it right now you see a read and you
make the wrong read, Okay, you turn it over, but
now you know for and it's not not in a
game yet, so there's something a lot of learning going
on right now for everybody.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Yeah, No, definitely a couple more questions before we get
over to to you know, diving into the tape. I
wanted to ask about your free throws from last year,
so some we didn't talk about. I know we didn't
talk about this in season. I mean, you are just
you've been a better free throw shooter than you were
this past year, and it did feel at times like
(17:27):
you were maybe just like kind of frustrated at the line.
So I was wondering what that process has been like
you're kind of working through that and getting back to
where you're you're capable of being as a free throw shooter.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Yeah, I've gotten that question a few times now from
different media people. But honestly, it was just a mental thing.
It was a mental block in my head. It was
a mental person in my head, just making me so
much more nervous, so much more anxious than I needed
to be at the free throw line. I've been a
(17:58):
good free throw shooter my whole career, high school, my
first two years at k State, So I don't know
exactly what it was. Last year. I tried so many
different techniques and strategies to help me think about it,
not think about it, sing a song, pick one spot
on the rim, just shoot the ball, shoot the ball higher.
(18:21):
So I tried, I tried everything, and maybe that was
the problem that I was just so caught up in it.
But I feel confident now that I'm a good free
throw shooter, and that was just a little slump year.
We've been doing kind of pressure shooting during practice that
I've been fine at. But yeah, it was just a
(18:42):
mental block, and I don't think I will struggle with
that again this year.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Yeah. No, I'm sorry to put you on the spot.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
It's just it's a good question because I was very frustrated,
and it felt like it didn't even feel like I
have my own shot when I was at freetha line
at times. Last year i airballed a free throw, which
I've never done before. Said it was just it was
a mess. Yeah, But this year it's just I really
(19:11):
just think it's a mental thing and just having this
year to be a fresh start at the free throw
line will be great.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Yeah. No, I feel that. I think it's so interesting
because so often people think, like, you know, if something happens,
like well, why are you working on this? Why aren't
you doing this? Why are you're doing that? I'm like, dude,
I think at least because I feel similarly like whenever
I struggled with something or even now and stuff outside
of athletics, I'm like, I want to do I will
do something eight thousand different ways to try and fix it.
(19:38):
And like you said, sometimes maybe that's the problem, like
you know, you do too much trying to overcompensate and
figure it out. And I think that's part of what
makes the game great but also kind of awful sometimes
because especially in basketball, when it's so many reps and
like there are so many things that can happen in game, right,
Like it's sometimes you're just like god, damn, like I
(19:58):
don't know, like I'm not thinking, it's just happening and
you don't really know what to do about it. So,
you know, kind of working through those things can be tough,
and it can take it off season sometimes to kind
of get back on top of it.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
Yeah, it can, and it wasn't. I don't haven't been like,
oh my gosh, like last year is so bad. You
have to be better this year because I feel like
that's just not gonna help at all. I'm just kind
of in a place where I'm like, Okay, last year
I was not very good at the free throw line,
but that's last year. I know I'm a good free
throw shooter. Let's just move on and yeah, it'll be fine.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
No, absolutely, well, last question before we get into tape.
We talked about it a little bit before we get
on here, but I know, just from like your own
personal journey, you were like a case State was one
of your few Power five offers. I know your family
was trying to get you to go be major instead,
and obviously you have really thrived and excel with here
and grown in a ton like you were a late bloomer,
(20:55):
just development wise and getting up to being at that
physicality level. Have you started to think about the potential
of being your pro because I think I watch you
especially last year, Like I mean, having a player who's
six to one that can can see the court the
way you do. To me, that's your Stanosco. Like your
court vision is pretty special at your size, but you
(21:16):
see so many other avenues in which you impact the game,
especially like I mean, your defense got so much better
last year. There's just again, I watch you, and I
think very much like you could have a pretty long
pro career if that's something you really aspire to.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Yeah, I mean I've definitely been thinking about it. You
kind of have to at this point. But yeah, like
you said, I have been a late bloomer, and right
now I feel the strongest that I felt. I feel
the fastest that I felt. Are conditioning this year, are
conditioning in the past have just kicked my butt, Like
after I would just be dead. Like this year, I
(21:49):
was winning spriants, I was winning drills, I was I'm
bench pressing the most I've ever benched propressed. I put
on X amount of pounds and muscle over the summer.
So like my body I feel like is that it's
its peak form that's been yet, and I feel like
I could continue to grow in that area. So I
think playing pro is definitely a real possibility for me,
(22:13):
whether that's WNBA. I mean, obviously it's very hard to
make it in the WNBA, but I'd love to go
that route and see what happens. And then overseas has
been something I've been thinking about too, just for that
experience and to keep playing basketball. So yeah, there's a
lot a lot going on, but I would definitely be
interested in going pro.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Love to hear that. So what are you What's what's
your bench? What do you mention?
Speaker 2 (22:41):
I think, well, the other day I was Don Bell
bench in sixties.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Okay, yes, I know.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
I think my max this year for single beress is
like one fifty five or something. It's not that great,
but for.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Me it was for people who are where you were
one thirty five at six to one coming to k State,
So like being a benching one fifty five now that's
pretty good. We'll take it.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Yeah, And then I think from like obviously after season
your body's kind of depleted, but like April to end
of August, I put on like ten pounds of muscle
or something and like one percent of body fat. We
do these decks of scans where it can tell you
all those little details. So that was something I was
(23:28):
pretty proud of.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
I was like, yeah, well, no, it's awesome to see
like the fruits of your labor come with that, because
I think a lot of people think, like, oh, well,
you know, putting on weight, losing weight it's easy, you know,
especially if you're working even if you're working with a
d one staff from like no, no, especially, like I'd say,
putting on weight is low key harder than losing weight.
Like so I was a boxer before that career ended
(23:51):
and I decided to get into basketball on this side.
But like it's taking off weight was so much easier
for me than putting on weight because like doing that,
like even just like ten pounds of muscle, people don't
understand how much you have to eat to get to
ten pounds of muscle, right, And also you can't just
eat for the sake of eating. You have to do
all this stuff on top of it, Like it's a
(24:11):
lot of work to get to that.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Yeah, it is, And I feel like I wouldn't do
anything like crazy different this year than I have in
the past three years. I think my body is finally
just like okay, going into my woman adult body that
it hasn't been the past. Like my first two years,
I'd get sick all the time, I would struggle with
all that stuff, and now I'm just kind of like, Okay,
(24:35):
I feel good, I feel strong. I feel like I
can fight off illnesses and all that stuff. So no,
you in a good spot.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
That's yeah. The Serena Sendel pitch for GMS in the
w draft can fight off illnesses.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Now I should fight off illnesses easy, incredible.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
Yeah. I mean lastly on that too in terms of
just like feeling where your best at position wise, So
that's something I always go back on forth on, Like
obviously you are a point guard, you have you have
that vision, you can you can handle, what I think,
especially when you look at like next level stuff. I
feel like, especially continue to grow your shot. Like you mentioned,
I feel like you're a player, could really excel in
the wing, and like obviously you do some stuff on
(25:19):
the wing. You're two. It's not like you're just a
point guard. I mean you literally play everything except for
center on this team. It feels like, but where do
you maybe feel like most comfortable at on the floor?
Speaker 2 (25:31):
Yeah, I think Coach Minnie and I have talked about
this a lot, and he sees me being a two
row two maybe three. I'm hoping that tarn Sides will
play a little more this year and I'll get to
be on the floor with her at the same time
and let her run the one and I'll be running
the two, but probably two. And I think having that
(25:53):
background as the point guard and just the understanding of
how everybody needs to work together and those reads will
help me be a better too. I didn't come to
k State thinking I was going to be a point guard,
so I don't think I necessarily have, you know, your
typical point guard build. I don't know. I would be
(26:16):
fine with either.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Yeah. No, it's funny that you say that, because I've
definitely see more as like, I mean, a player can
play like one through three, right, Like I think you
can really do all that, but especially like with where
the game's at and where it's headed, everything being like
pace pace pace, which is so funny because like you
guys don't play at a very fast pace. Which is
like one of the interesting parts because I feel like
(26:37):
so many of your best qualities are like if I
get out and play an early offense, I can do
this and that, and like you add so much value
in that way. And you guys obviously do that a
lot still, but you know, it's a certain to other levels,
you know, when you can compare to the rest of
the Big twelve. It's it's just kind of interesting to
look at it that way. But yeah, I think if
I had to put a position on you right now,
or just put playmaker because it's the easiest way to
(27:00):
put it, because I just don't know sometimes, but in
a good way. Looking ahead to this year, you know,
what are you kind of most excited to put together
as a team and as an individual?
Speaker 2 (27:12):
Yeah, I think we just learned I and myself personally,
I just learned a lot last year and so I'm
just excited to progress this year right now. Like I said,
we're just doing a lot of a lot of new
things that I'm learning a lot learning the reads, a
lot of ball screen stuff. Yeah, I'm just excited for
(27:34):
this group in this this season. We have a lot
of talent on our team. I'm excited for our defense
this year. I think our ability to scramble and help
each other out and take players you normally want to
take but you have to. It's just really good. So
we have a lot of good, good stuff. It's sloppy
(27:54):
right now, but that's the fun part of being in
early October is kind of working through those kinks right now. No.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Absolutely, And you know, I didn't even ask how are
you feeling about the Big twelve? Just kind of being
being the Big Twelve, like it's got to be. I'm
still just not used to Texas and Oklahoma not existing anymore.
Like I was like reading him, like, oh wow, Arizona
State Big twelve team, Like that's I mean, it's definitely
(28:23):
gonna be a little bit of a different, different conference
schedule this year.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Yeah, it is, especially going from like my freshman year
playing every team twice to now we're going to play
three teams twice. That'll be different. But I'm excited. I
think if I could go back, I would come into
the Big Twelve at the same exact time I did
and have new teams almost every single year and get
(28:47):
to go to new places. So definitely, definitely, I don't
know it'll be fun, but it's pretty unheard of.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Yeah, it's wild times in college sports right now. With
so I can't even imagine.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
I think I'm going to look back and be like,
what the heck? My conference was different three out of
the four years that I was in college athletics. That's
not it's not normal. But we'll make the most of it.
I'm not too mad about Texas and Oklahoma being gone. Yeah,
might have a chance to actually play Oklahoma this year and.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Our Yeah, that's right, because yeah, I think if you
guys both win technically, then there's a chance for to
open up.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
Yeah, so that would be fine, but we'll see definitely.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
Well, Serena, thank you so much for doing this. It
was really great getting to kind of pick your brain
a little bit and see how you see things. To
everyone watching, thank you for watching. Of course, people go
subscribe down well if you haven't already, keep up with
all things k State women's basketball, and of course everything
that Serena and her teammates are doing this year and
what should be a really damn good season. Over in Manhattan,
Welcome back for another episode of Film Room. I'm really
excited to be joined today by Kansas State point guard
Serena Sindel. Serena, first and foremost, how are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:08):
I'm good? Yeah, I just finished practice, so feeling pretty good.
How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I can't complain. I have like no idea how we're
this close to the season already. I was like going
through and whenever I'm getting ready for an interview or whatever,
I'm going through as much stuff as I can, right
And I was like reading something that Randy put out
and was like the first exhibition and the only exhibition
you guys have is twenty seven days from now, which
like right, like how are we? So, how are you
(00:34):
kind of feeling with all that? Because I know, like,
you know, senior year coming up. I know you're already
you're working on your masters, you already graduated with your bachelors,
So like, how are you kind of feeling with all that?
It's got to be a little bit wild.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeah, it's crazy. I need time to slow down. It's
gone by so fast. I can't. I hate when October
hits because everyone can say, oh, we played basketball this month,
which is just crazy. We played game at the end
of this month. It's just gone by so fast. I
can't even believe. Or I'm a senior and this is
(01:05):
my last time for everything, and you got to start
thinking about life after college. So yeah, it's a lot,
but I'm just trying to enjoy it and be where
my feet are. So it's a balance.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Yeah, No, absolutely, I can imagine, especially you know, kind
of coming off this last year and you guys put
together one Hall of a season. Obviously a lot of
highs and lows in that, but like you know, when
you reflect back a little bit on what that season was,
how do you kind of how do you kind of
like take it and how do you kind of like
you know, use that to to move forward for what
this next year is going to be.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, last year was a lot of fun. We like
you said, we had a lot of highs, had some lows,
but our group was just a lot of fun to
play with. I think our team we had a lot
of experience last year, even more so this year. I
think our biggest thing we struggled with last year was
just kind of consistency. We kind of just play I
(01:57):
don't know, we didn't we didn't play consistently every night,
and we let opponents kind of dictate how we were
going to play and let pressure teams speed us up.
So I think that's one thing this year that we're
really focused on is just kind of playing our game
and no matter what the defense is doing, Like, we
want to be consistent, we want to get to our spots,
run what we want to run. We want to be
(02:19):
the ones kind of setting the pace of the game
and setting Yeah, I don't know, stay just setting the
pace for the game and dictating how that's going to look.
But yeah, we learned a lot last year, and I
think coming in this year there's just kind of a
no excuses type of thing. We have a lot of
seniors on our team, We have a lot of experience,
(02:41):
I have a lot of experience, So there's just a
lot that we can learn from last year that we
should be able to execute better this year.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Yeah, no, absolutely, I think there's a lot of great
insight in that, especially to like you mentioned, I think
the consistency piece is like so big like part of
it too, Like it's just tough when you have to
deal with injuries during the year, but like I think
the hardest part with watching you guys at times last year,
like you knew, like, Okay, there's this level you can
get to, right, and just finding that again, I think
after everybody was back from injury was really difficult because
(03:14):
correct me if you feel otherwise, But I felt like,
you know, even after Aoka went down with her injury
early on in Big twelve play, I felt like you
guys found like a little bit of a new play style,
like Okay, cool, we're gonna we're gonna play fast, like
you and Eliza have a really great connection, especially in transition.
But then trying to mesh the two styles back together
once Ayoka came back, it felt like that was a
(03:34):
really difficult push poll for you guys, because like, you know,
you can get some really good stuff out of this
and it changes up roles a little bit. But then
obviously Aoka is one of the best, most efficient players
in the country and like, but trying to make that
all work together was it seemed like definitely a bit
of a struggle at the high end last year.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Yeah, it was definitely a challenge. I mean, Ayoka is
a great player and you can just feel her presence
when she's on the court, So playing with her so
much and just knowing like, okay, the defense is gonna
gravitate towards her, so you're gonna have maybe more three
is open. You know, everybody's gonna be giving her a
lot of attention, and we kind of depend on her
(04:13):
to get an easy bucket. So when we lose her
and we have to figure out how to how to
score on our own and then pick up the pace
and now you have more driving lanes, and like you
said that, this style play just changes completely. And we
figured it out for a little second there. We had
a we had a spark of some good runs, some
good games, and we were all jelly and like okay,
(04:35):
and then Yoki comes back and it just changes once
again completely. So it was a struggle. Yeah, there's no
way around that. But that's just kind of just kind
of what it was. And it wasn't It wasn't great,
it wasn't pretty at times. So hopefully, I mean, hopefully
(04:55):
nobody is injured this year, but adversity is gonna strike
no matter what. So hopefully we can just learn from
last year carried over this year.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
No absolutely, I mean, especially looking at you know, going
ahead into looking at this coming year with what you
take away from that too, Like I mean as a
point where I know Jeff asked a lot out of you,
you know, being able to like he wants you to score,
he wants you to defend, he wants you to do
everything and not just do it, but like do it
really well. Right, So, especially like taking on that extra
(05:27):
learning of you know, being in that spot heading into
your fourth year and coming off of that, what's maybe
the biggest thing that you picked up as a playmaker
in kind of trying to handle some of that stuff,
get people in their spots and because in some ways,
like I mean, your role has to be like really
just fluid in a lot of ways with how this
offense plays.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Yeah, definitely, I think. I mean, right now, he's on
me to just make the right play, just make the
right play, make the right read. And it's so much
easier said than done. But yeah, a lot of like
a lot some Moppins play kind of depends a lot
on me and if I can find her when she's
cutting and if I can get her moving or get
(06:07):
the ball to the short corner and let her go
to work. A lot of my teammates depend on me
to help them be great, and I feel that and
I want to help my teammates be as successful as
they can because that's just going to lead to us winning.
But yeah, it's a lot of mental things that you
have to think about as a point guard that I
think a lot of people don't realize. So I'm still
(06:30):
learning every day. I feel right now like I'm going
through a little bit of growing pains just with some
new things that we're looking at in the offense. But
it's been a lot of fun to kind of figure
it out and figure it out with this group, just
my reads and what I have available and what I
don't have in my first option second options. But yeah,
(06:51):
it's a lot of responsibility, but it's something now that
I've really enjoyed and I enjoy right now with this
group just because there's so much talent on this team
and the girls. There's just a lot of fun to
work with.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeah. No, absolutely, And we'll talk a lot about play
making reasons when we get into the film. But like
I mean, part of the reason I love watching players,
I feel like you just see the game in a
different level than than other people do at times, Like
you see things quick, you see like I don't know,
I just feel like you always have a different kind
of vision on how things can work, and that's part
of what makes you such an exciting player, like being
able to do all that, and you mentioned like obviously,
(07:25):
you know, working in some new things. Obviously, I mean
there's a lot of transfers throughout the country, but I
think looking at your guys's class, I just as soon
as it happened, I was like, even before you know,
Tomayra got announced, I was like, you know, Kennedy Taylor
Missouri State was like tough this year. I think a
lot of people don't get to watch them, but like everybody,
I feel kind of bad for their program because like
all for their best players are transferred out. But like
(07:47):
Kennedy Taylor is going to be so good for you guys.
Is like just a backup who can rim run, can
protect the block, a little bit good on the glass.
And then I mean you add Tomaira, who is just
like I mean, you can't replace obviously, but I think
just kind of a different mold of a player to
have in the wing somebody. I think it's gonna bring
a little bit of a different edge defensively obviously can
(08:09):
shoot it, but then like her ability to just kind
of create is really special at her size. So like
what is BEng getting to learn those two and and
see what they can do on the court.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Yeah, like you said, Kenny has just been She's a
hard worker and she's just a solid, solid player who
can come in and back up Yoki. And she's so strong,
Like when she sets boss screens and we're defending against her,
like there's just no there's no pushing her, there's no
shoving her. She's gonna get to her spot, She's gonna
hold you, she's gonna seal. That's kind of That's something
(08:41):
we've been working on with her, is just as guards,
like figuring out where she's ceiling, where she wants the
ball and like she's we're just figuring out that timing
and trying to connect there. But she's she just brings
a good attitude to every day. She's a lot of
fun to work with, easy to work with. We have
conversations on side of like hey, like what can I
(09:02):
do to make that pass better? If she's dropping something?
And then I'm seeing like she's just a lot of
fun to communicate with and easy. So she Yeah, I'm
excited to see how she does this year. And then
Tamira has just been a lot, a lot of fun
to play with. She is she's just kind of a
do it all player. She's a true scorer. On defense,
she's so long, her arms are so long, her legs
(09:25):
are long. She's aggressive. It seems like she's always in
the right spot, she's in gap, she's getting steels, deflections,
just doing everything she can defensively, and then she can
also guard a wide range of players. And then offensively,
I'm finding her a lot right now just spotting up
to shoot, so she's a knockdown shooter. And then she
(09:45):
also has the ability to drive to the basket. She
can get there in one drouble just because she can
sprawl out and weave between people, so she can finish
around the rim really well, which is it's hard to
guard when you you are a threat to shoot on
the three point line and drive. So she's been in
a lot of good spots right now and I'm finding
(10:07):
her easily. So she's been She's been a lot of
fun to play with too. I'm really excited for both
of them, and I know that they're gonna come in
and contribute right away.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Yeah, it's kind of fun too, just thinking because I
was looking at the roster gonna it was like, I mean,
you guys were a big team last year, but even now,
like I think there's two players below six feet on
the roster, Like it's a big group. There's a lot
of length. It's a lot to work with. I feel
like the defensive infrastructure you guys built last year is
just kind of gonna keep going this season with what
you can do there.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Yeah, definitely, we are we are very long. I am
a very tall point guard and then all my guards
around me are tall. Yeah, and then our defense last
year was good. Coach Maddie says it was good, but
this year he wants it to be great, and I
think just having that extra length is gonna help us, which.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Absolutely is a is the gap got returning for this season?
He is, Yes, Okay, good to know that was the
most important thing I had circled for today. Yeah, so
that'll be good to hear, because I you know, as
many gaps as possible is the best thing for getting
coach made happy for sure. Transitionally, more to just talking
about you as a player though, I mean, I think
when I think of your game, I think efficient, Like,
(11:21):
I think so much of what you do as efficient.
You're fishing, how you move, fishing, how you score fishing,
how you distribute. So like, for reference, do you know
how well you shot on layups last year? I do, Okay,
So it's you shot so I filtered out. You always
want to filter out like transition, right, because like you're
gonna get easy baskets in transition. You shot sixty percent
(11:43):
at the rim on layups and the half court. It's
really good. So for reference, like that is the same
percentage that Taana Jackson shot on layups in the half court,
So that's pretty good. Like, I think out of nine
hundred players in D one, you were in the top
ten percent last year out of players who took at
least one hundred layups. So it's a lot of numbers,
but I think it's kind of speaking to the importance
(12:04):
with that. Like it's one thing to be a tall
point guard, it's another thing to be able to utilize
it right. And I think especially being able to do
it the way you have kind of scoring from all
years or the court has been really big. So I
wanted to ask off of that, I mean, what has
been maybe your biggest focal point of you know, what
you're trying to what you added to your game this
offseason and headed into this year that you're excited to
(12:27):
kind of keep growing in.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Yeah, I think I finished around the rim, like you said,
well last year, and a lot of it was with
my right hand. So I'm trying to trying to get
the ball over to my left more or at least be
a threat. So because I felt at times last year
people knew that I wanted to just go right. I
could hear it from the benches, from the coaches, like
(12:51):
right hand on the right hand, like all of that.
So just being able to go left and I've been
working on that and just being aware of like not
just power running it down with my right right hand,
right hand, right hand, so we're going on my left.
And I think just being more of a threat to
shoot on the three point line. I shot well last year.
I just I think I had some missed opportunities and
(13:14):
that's going to open up my driving and move to
a second option or plan B whatever. Quicker is something
that I've been working on. And then yeah, just communication
can always get better as a point guard. Just talking
to my teammates and right now I'm just kind of
right now, I think I'm trying to not just learn
(13:38):
the plays and execute the plays, but like play out
of that. We've been struggling with that as a team
is we're learning a lot of new things right now,
and we get still focused on just running the play
that there's some missed opportunities, so just communicating through that
and taking easy baskets when we can get them.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
But yeah, no, absolutely, I think it's kind of interesting
here you talk about that too, because I feel like
it's not so it's a double edged story, right because
it's not like a bad thing to always make the
right play. But I think part of what's interesting with
you is, like I feel like you could do so
much more sometimes in terms of like just making plays.
(14:15):
And it's interesting because I feel like you don't really
seem to think when you're making plays, which is part
of what makes your game break, because like you do
things quickly and you do it without thinking. But then again,
like I think, especially with scoring, like I think there's
a lot more you could do with scoring, Like I
look at somebody who shoots like almost sixty percent from
the floor. I'm like, I want you to take more shots, Like,
I think you're capable of doing that, and I feel like,
(14:37):
you know, Coach Mintie probably feels the same in terms of, like,
you know, get the most out of yourself as a passer,
you got to continue to get better as a score,
which you're already a good score, but I mean, like,
I think there's an even higher level there. So, like
you talked about, especially with shooting, like, how do you
kind of reinforce that in continuing to you know, take
as many shots as you can and not sometimes get
so caught up in like making the perfect and just
(15:00):
doing you know, what's what's best available.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Yeah, uh, I don't know. I think you just gotta that.
You just gotta like, I don't know, you just gotta
feel in the heat of the game kind of what.
And right now it's practice where I'm gonna learn all
of this. But when when do we actually need to
run the play and get Yoki oput it on a
cross screen and get an easy bucket down low or
(15:27):
when can we Okay, yes, we're running the play, but
I'm also wide open right here for this three pointer.
So let's just let it fly. Let's make them respect
that I'm gonna shoot this shot, so then the next
time we come down, I can catch it on the
wing and they're gonna be on me and then I'm
gonna have an easier pass to someone else. So it's
just I don't know, it's a balance, but right now
(15:49):
is a great time to work on all of those things.
And especially we're playing against guys right now, so like
figuring out when I can shoot against the guys and
when I need to drive and when I need to pass,
it's going to be super helpful because they're obviously bigger, faster,
stronger girls. So when we get in the game, everything
is going to slow down a little bit and I'm
(16:10):
gonna have even more so of an opportunity. But right now,
I mean that's the beauty of practice, is that you're
just kind of getting a feel for the game of
what you can and can't do.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Yeah, I think, yeah, I've practiced, like before you even
get into the season. It's always my favorite time. Like
I know, some people absolutely hate it hot take. Yeah,
it is a very hot take. That's why I like
working coaching and stuff. But I don't know, it's just
like there's something good about it because like you can
you can see everybody like, Okay, that's new, Like I see,
like you didn't have this before last year. You're more
(16:41):
clean with this and like I get also wanted to
be in the games, but you know, like those are
the fun part. But like you just see so much
like the growth and developing that aspect, right.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Yeah, that's definitely what we're going through right now. Is
in it right now you see a read and you
make the wrong read, Okay, you turn it over, but
now you know for and it's not not in a
game yet, so there's something a lot of learning going
on right now for everybody.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Yeah, No, definitely a couple more questions before we get
over to to you know, diving into the tape. I
wanted to ask about your free throws from last year,
so some we didn't talk about. I know we didn't
talk about this in season. I mean, you are just
you've been a better free throw shooter than you were
this past year, and it did feel at times like
(17:27):
you were maybe just like kind of frustrated at the line.
So I was wondering what that process has been like
you're kind of working through that and getting back to
where you're you're capable of being as a free throw shooter.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Yeah, I've gotten that question a few times now from
different media people. But honestly, it was just a mental thing.
It was a mental block in my head. It was
a mental person in my head, just making me so
much more nervous, so much more anxious than I needed
to be at the free throw line. I've been a
(17:58):
good free throw shooter my whole career, high school, my
first two years at k State, So I don't know
exactly what it was. Last year. I tried so many
different techniques and strategies to help me think about it,
not think about it, sing a song, pick one spot
on the rim, just shoot the ball, shoot the ball higher.
(18:21):
So I tried, I tried everything, and maybe that was
the problem that I was just so caught up in it.
But I feel confident now that I'm a good free
throw shooter, and that was just a little slump year.
We've been doing kind of pressure shooting during practice that
I've been fine at. But yeah, it was just a
(18:42):
mental block, and I don't think I will struggle with
that again this year.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Yeah. No, I'm sorry to put you on the spot.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
It's just it's a good question because I was very frustrated,
and it felt like it didn't even feel like I
have my own shot when I was at freetha line
at times. Last year i airballed a free throw, which
I've never done before. Said it was just it was
a mess. Yeah, But this year it's just I really
(19:11):
just think it's a mental thing and just having this
year to be a fresh start at the free throw
line will be great.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Yeah. No, I feel that. I think it's so interesting
because so often people think, like, you know, if something happens,
like well, why are you working on this? Why aren't
you doing this? Why are you're doing that? I'm like, dude,
I think at least because I feel similarly like whenever
I struggled with something or even now and stuff outside
of athletics, I'm like, I want to do I will
do something eight thousand different ways to try and fix it.
(19:38):
And like you said, sometimes maybe that's the problem, like
you know, you do too much trying to overcompensate and
figure it out. And I think that's part of what
makes the game great but also kind of awful sometimes
because especially in basketball, when it's so many reps and
like there are so many things that can happen in game, right,
Like it's sometimes you're just like god, damn, like I
(19:58):
don't know, like I'm not thinking, it's just happening and
you don't really know what to do about it. So,
you know, kind of working through those things can be tough,
and it can take it off season sometimes to kind
of get back on top of it.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
Yeah, it can, and it wasn't. I don't haven't been like,
oh my gosh, like last year is so bad. You
have to be better this year because I feel like
that's just not gonna help at all. I'm just kind
of in a place where I'm like, Okay, last year
I was not very good at the free throw line,
but that's last year. I know I'm a good free
throw shooter. Let's just move on and yeah, it'll be fine.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
No, absolutely, well, last question before we get into tape.
We talked about it a little bit before we get
on here, but I know, just from like your own
personal journey, you were like a case State was one
of your few Power five offers. I know your family
was trying to get you to go be major instead,
and obviously you have really thrived and excel with here
and grown in a ton like you were a late bloomer,
(20:55):
just development wise and getting up to being at that
physicality level. Have you started to think about the potential
of being your pro because I think I watch you
especially last year, Like I mean, having a player who's
six to one that can can see the court the
way you do. To me, that's your Stanosco. Like your
court vision is pretty special at your size, but you
(21:16):
see so many other avenues in which you impact the game,
especially like I mean, your defense got so much better
last year. There's just again, I watch you, and I
think very much like you could have a pretty long
pro career if that's something you really aspire to.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Yeah, I mean I've definitely been thinking about it. You
kind of have to at this point. But yeah, like
you said, I have been a late bloomer, and right
now I feel the strongest that I felt. I feel
the fastest that I felt. Are conditioning this year, are
conditioning in the past have just kicked my butt, Like
after I would just be dead. Like this year, I
(21:49):
was winning spriants, I was winning drills, I was I'm
bench pressing the most I've ever benched propressed. I put
on X amount of pounds and muscle over the summer.
So like my body I feel like is that it's
its peak form that's been yet, and I feel like
I could continue to grow in that area. So I
think playing pro is definitely a real possibility for me,
(22:13):
whether that's WNBA. I mean, obviously it's very hard to
make it in the WNBA, but I'd love to go
that route and see what happens. And then overseas has
been something I've been thinking about too, just for that
experience and to keep playing basketball. So yeah, there's a
lot a lot going on, but I would definitely be
interested in going pro.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Love to hear that. So what are you What's what's
your bench? What do you mention?
Speaker 2 (22:41):
I think, well, the other day I was Don Bell
bench in sixties.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Okay, yes, I know.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
I think my max this year for single beress is
like one fifty five or something. It's not that great,
but for.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Me it was for people who are where you were
one thirty five at six to one coming to k State,
So like being a benching one fifty five now that's
pretty good. We'll take it.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Yeah, And then I think from like obviously after season
your body's kind of depleted, but like April to end
of August, I put on like ten pounds of muscle
or something and like one percent of body fat. We
do these decks of scans where it can tell you
all those little details. So that was something I was
(23:28):
pretty proud of.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
I was like, yeah, well, no, it's awesome to see
like the fruits of your labor come with that, because
I think a lot of people think, like, oh, well,
you know, putting on weight, losing weight it's easy, you know,
especially if you're working even if you're working with a
d one staff from like no, no, especially, like I'd say,
putting on weight is low key harder than losing weight.
Like so I was a boxer before that career ended
(23:51):
and I decided to get into basketball on this side.
But like it's taking off weight was so much easier
for me than putting on weight because like doing that,
like even just like ten pounds of muscle, people don't
understand how much you have to eat to get to
ten pounds of muscle, right, And also you can't just
eat for the sake of eating. You have to do
all this stuff on top of it, Like it's a
(24:11):
lot of work to get to that.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Yeah, it is, And I feel like I wouldn't do
anything like crazy different this year than I have in
the past three years. I think my body is finally
just like okay, going into my woman adult body that
it hasn't been the past. Like my first two years,
I'd get sick all the time, I would struggle with
all that stuff, and now I'm just kind of like, Okay,
(24:35):
I feel good, I feel strong. I feel like I
can fight off illnesses and all that stuff. So no,
you in a good spot.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
That's yeah. The Serena Sendel pitch for GMS in the
w draft can fight off illnesses.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Now I should fight off illnesses easy, incredible.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
Yeah. I mean lastly on that too in terms of
just like feeling where your best at position wise, So
that's something I always go back on forth on, Like
obviously you are a point guard, you have you have
that vision, you can you can handle, what I think,
especially when you look at like next level stuff. I
feel like, especially continue to grow your shot. Like you mentioned,
I feel like you're a player, could really excel in
the wing, and like obviously you do some stuff on
(25:19):
the wing. You're two. It's not like you're just a
point guard. I mean you literally play everything except for
center on this team. It feels like, but where do
you maybe feel like most comfortable at on the floor?
Speaker 2 (25:31):
Yeah, I think Coach Minnie and I have talked about
this a lot, and he sees me being a two
row two maybe three. I'm hoping that tarn Sides will
play a little more this year and I'll get to
be on the floor with her at the same time
and let her run the one and I'll be running
the two, but probably two. And I think having that
(25:53):
background as the point guard and just the understanding of
how everybody needs to work together and those reads will
help me be a better too. I didn't come to
k State thinking I was going to be a point guard,
so I don't think I necessarily have, you know, your
typical point guard build. I don't know. I would be
(26:16):
fine with either.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Yeah. No, it's funny that you say that, because I've
definitely see more as like, I mean, a player can
play like one through three, right, Like I think you
can really do all that, but especially like with where
the game's at and where it's headed, everything being like
pace pace pace, which is so funny because like you
guys don't play at a very fast pace. Which is
like one of the interesting parts because I feel like
(26:37):
so many of your best qualities are like if I
get out and play an early offense, I can do
this and that, and like you add so much value
in that way. And you guys obviously do that a
lot still, but you know, it's a certain to other levels,
you know, when you can compare to the rest of
the Big twelve. It's it's just kind of interesting to
look at it that way. But yeah, I think if
I had to put a position on you right now,
or just put playmaker because it's the easiest way to
(27:00):
put it, because I just don't know sometimes, but in
a good way. Looking ahead to this year, you know,
what are you kind of most excited to put together
as a team and as an individual?
Speaker 2 (27:12):
Yeah, I think we just learned I and myself personally,
I just learned a lot last year and so I'm
just excited to progress this year right now. Like I said,
we're just doing a lot of a lot of new
things that I'm learning a lot learning the reads, a
lot of ball screen stuff. Yeah, I'm just excited for
(27:34):
this group in this this season. We have a lot
of talent on our team. I'm excited for our defense
this year. I think our ability to scramble and help
each other out and take players you normally want to
take but you have to. It's just really good. So
we have a lot of good, good stuff. It's sloppy
(27:54):
right now, but that's the fun part of being in
early October is kind of working through those kinks right now. No.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Absolutely, And you know, I didn't even ask how are
you feeling about the Big twelve? Just kind of being
being the Big Twelve, like it's got to be. I'm
still just not used to Texas and Oklahoma not existing anymore.
Like I was like reading him, like, oh wow, Arizona
State Big twelve team, Like that's I mean, it's definitely
(28:23):
gonna be a little bit of a different, different conference
schedule this year.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Yeah, it is, especially going from like my freshman year
playing every team twice to now we're going to play
three teams twice. That'll be different. But I'm excited. I
think if I could go back, I would come into
the Big Twelve at the same exact time I did
and have new teams almost every single year and get
(28:47):
to go to new places. So definitely, definitely, I don't
know it'll be fun, but it's pretty unheard of.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Yeah, it's wild times in college sports right now. With
so I can't even imagine.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
I think I'm going to look back and be like,
what the heck? My conference was different three out of
the four years that I was in college athletics. That's
not it's not normal. But we'll make the most of it.
I'm not too mad about Texas and Oklahoma being gone. Yeah,
might have a chance to actually play Oklahoma this year and.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Our Yeah, that's right, because yeah, I think if you
guys both win technically, then there's a chance for to
open up.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
Yeah, so that would be fine, but we'll see definitely.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
Well, Serena, thank you so much for doing this. It
was really great getting to kind of pick your brain
a little bit and see how you see things. To
everyone watching, thank you for watching. Of course, people go
subscribe down well if you haven't already, keep up with
all things k State women's basketball, and of course everything
that Serena and her teammates are doing this year and
what should be a really damn good season. Over in Manhattan,
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