Backyard Buckets Basketball

Robyn Brown spent the summer pumping out content for last years WNBA runner up, the  Connecticut Sun. She took on the job of several individuals as COVID restrictions limited the amount of media professionals that were allowed to travel into the "wubble" with the team. We got some good insight on what life was like on the campus of IMG Academy and the massive impact that social media has had on the growth of the WNBA.

Topics Covered 

- Robyn's background and affiliation with Quinnipiac
- Advice for students taking the journalism/social media route
- The importance of social media in growing women's basketball
- Personal branding and showing a player's  life outside of basketball 
- What a typical day in the wubble looked like for Robyn
- Deciding which content to post and when
- Getting to know the players and coaching staff
- Game day preparation and being confident on camera
- WNBA's BLM and social justice movement 

Alana Gilmer started her college career at Virginia Tech playing in the ACC but ended up becoming one of the best to ever play at Marist College. She goes into depth on her decision to commit to VT, why she transferred out and how she adjusted to a new school and a redshirt season. This was a fun conversation to have with a former "rival" and I hope it helps anyone who may be going through a similar situation.

Timestamps

 2:00  - Upbringing, HS, AAU, Getting Recruited, Why Virginia Tech

6:00 - What She Wishes She Would Have Considered Before Committing

8:30 - Her Freshman Year at Virginia Tech

11:40 - Why She Transferred and How She Ended Up at Marist

17:30 - Biggest Differences Between Virginia Tech & Marist

20:30 - Takeaways From Redshirt Year and Having To Sit Out

25:30 - Advice For Someone Who MIGHT Want To Transfer

28:00 - What a Typical Individual Workout Would Look Like

32:20 - Versatility of The Marist Offense

35:15 - Playing To Your Strengths vs Working On Weaknesses

38:00 - Consistency, Coming Back From Bad Games, The Marist Fan Base

41:25 - Favorite MAAC Gym To Play In

44:45 - Favorite Player in The MAAC From 2019 - 2020 Season

47:00 - Playing Overseas & What To Be Aware Of

Sam Guastella is one of the best to ever play at Quinnipiac University. She went on the play professionally overseas and has stayed involved with the game even after her playing career. Sam has explored several different avenues within the game and is now in her 3rd season coaching at the Division 1 collegiate level. 

Time Stamps:
1:15 - Intro - Upbringing, HS & AAU Basketball

5:30 - New Jersey Girls High School Basketball - Earning Minutes in High School

9:00 - Developing Her 3pt Shot & Loving Your Role

12:15 - Playing Time vs Experience - JV or Varsity as a Freshman?

16:10 - How Sam Got Recruited to Quinnipiac, Importance of Taking Visits!

23:15 - Do Your Research on The School!

25:00 - Playing as a College Freshman 

28:30 - Being Prepared For The Weight Room

30:15 - Playing With Teammates Who LOVE Basketball

31:30 - My Experience Playing With Sam

34:00 - Being Competitive and Bringing The Energy

37:00 - Favorite Road Trip or Away Game Throughout Sam's Career

38:45 - What It's Like To Play Professionally Overseas

49:30 - Starting a Coaching Career - Balancing Grad School & Basketball

54:30 - Presenting Her First Scouting Report as a Coach

56:45 - What High School Players Can Expect in a Scouting Report

1:00:00  - Adjusting To Different Styles of Play

1:01:00 - Building Relationships as a New Coach

1:03:50 - Interning With The Philadelphia 76ers

1:09:53 - Life Lessons Outside of Basketball

What's up guys! Quick episode for you guys today on a question I've been getting all summer long. Here is my best advice for anyone who is trying out for a new team this season. Be prepared, know your strengths and push through the struggle! Good luck and I hope you get something from this episode of the Backyard Buckets Podcast

Brianna Butler ranks 12th all time in NCAA history and holds the Syracuse University record in made 3pt field goals. Leading her team to multiple NCAA tournament appearances and a national championship game in 2016 against Uconn, Bri has played against the best of the best and gives her take on college basketball and what it takes to play at the highest level. 

Time Stamps
Intro 1:40 - AAU Philly Belles & Transferring High Schools

6:10 - Why Playing With The Best Competition Is Crucial 

7:00 - Players That Had An Influence on Bri

7:45 - Remembering Coach Apache Paschall 

9:00 - Favorite AAU Tournaments

10:20 - The Growth of Exodus Basketball 

12:35 - McDonalds All American Experience 

17:45 - College Commitment Process, What Players Should Look For In A School

21:15 - Freshman Year

24:00 - Adjusting To The Weight Room

25:50 - Learning Offensive & Defensive Concepts

27:00 -  Transitioning From High School To College, How To Balance It All

28:25 - Differences Between Playing in the Big East vs. ACC

29:40 -  Pressure to Perform as a Freshman 

32:20 - Development From Freshman To Sophomore Year

34:04 - Favorite Schools To Play At

35:30 - Brittney Sykes 

36:40 - Senior Year Doubters - Final Four/Championship

38:25 - Playing & Shooting In The Carrier Dome

41:00 - Path To The National Championship Game 

45:15 - Film & Scout Talk

48:10 - Pre Game Shoot Around 

49:45 - Career Take Aways 

50:50 - Addressing The Transfer Issue

55:30 - Best Game of Your Career

58:10 - How To Get Out of a Shooting Slump

59:40 - The Importance of Being Versatile

1:00:40 - Life After Syracuse - WNBA Draft and Training Camp Experience

1:05:20 - Biggest Difference Between College and WNBA

1:06:30 - Playing Professionally Overseas

1:12:54 - Highlight Tapes 













 

Paula Strautmane graduated from Quinnipiac University in 2019. She is a 3x MAAC champion and was a MAJOR contributor to the success of the program during her time at QU. This conversation taught me a lot about the international basketball scene along with the most important factors to put yourself in a position to be recruited to play college basketball in the United States. 

1:00 Intro (Where she is from, club basketball & more)

2:30 How often do international players go home? 

3:30 Difference between a club team and national team

7:00 National Team Process & Rules

12:30  Paula's Experience Trying Out For World Team 

16:20 How Playing With Older Players Helped Her Game

17:30 The Many Professional Opportunities in Europe

19:00 Advice For Making Your National Team

22:50 How To Get Recruited To The US From Your National Team

25:00 Why You NEED To Play on The National Team

28:20 How Paula Got Recruited To The US

31:30 Factors Paula Considered Before Committing 

35:20 What An Official Visit is Like 

39:50 Making Her Decision and Moving To The US

45:40 Advice For International Players Wanting To Play College Basketball

Feel free to reach out to Paula with any questions. 
Instagram @paulastrautmane

 

Division 1 basketball isn't for everyone and it's important to really think about your priorities in terms of your love for the game and being part of a team. Here's some insight from part 2 of my interview over on the Hoop Laude YouTube channel on what it takes to be successful at the D1 level. 

Quick little chat and rant for you guys on a topic that has been on my mind as we head into the final weeks of summer and life is still....WEIRD! Been a lot of ups and downs these past few months with everything going on but it's so important to be able to look long term and not let the current moment dictate your attitude & actions.

Another former college basketball feature... Brittney Jackson grew up in Brooklyn NY and attended one of the best basketball high schools in the country. She flew under the radar and was a senior with NO offers, but that didn't stop her from putting in extra work every day and staying motivated. She discusses her sudden opportunity to play at the D1 level and how important it was that she stayed READY!

Time Stamps: 

Intro & Britt's Story 1:00 - NYC Kid, Switching AAU Teams & Playing Competitive High School Basketball

- Making Sacrifices To Get To The Next Level -  7:00

- Doing What's Best For You - 9:20

- What Catholic School in NYC Was Like - 11:00

- Feeling Like You Don't Belong (Freshman Struggles) - 12:20

- What She Would Have Done Differently in High School - 16:00

- Britt's Relationship With Coach Ron Kelley/Dwight Shaw (HS & AAU Coach) - 19:10 

- College Letters ARE NOT college offers, Recruiting Process - 21:20

- From Community College to a D1 Offer - 23:20

- Adjusting From High School to College  -  28:15

- Experience in the Weight Room and Being a Smaller Player - 31:15

- Playing Point Guard as a Freshman in College! - 33:20

- Losing Playing Time & Wanting To Transfer - 38:25

- Being Away From Home - 42:05

- Life After Basketball - 44:10 

Follow Britt on Instagram @coachBritt10 

I sat down with Shannon Hovan, high school basketball coach and host of the unTITLED Podcast to discuss the role of women in sports. I discuss my childhood experiences playing baseball and the challenges many girls face when participating in a male dominated sport. We also shift gears and discuss ways to handle conflicts that may arise as you get into more competitive settings, whether with a teammate or yourself. Lastly, I give my opinion on the role of the female athlete both in and out of her respective sport! Hope you enjoy. 

Check Out more of Shannon's Interviews on The unTITLED Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-untitled-podcast/id1519124885