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In Her Words: UNM's Amanda Adamson

By Iliana Limón
Saturday, June 9, 2007

Amanda Adamson

SU Athletic Communicatons

Amanda Adamson

The Trib handed the mike to Amanda Adamson, a junior guard who transferred from Syracuse to join the University of New Mexico women's basketball team. Here's what she had to say:

Overall, I think it was really beneficial for me to sit out last year because I got to work on a lot of individual skills. I did a lot of shooting and worked on every part of the game. It was tough always going to practice but never being able to play in games, but it was stress-free because I didn't have to worry about winning. All I had to worry about was encouraging my teammates.

I felt bad for my teammates last year because they were tired coming off of road trips, and I hadn't been practicing with the team for two or three days. They were so tired, and I was ready to go. They were just like, "Amanda, slow down." That was hard on them, but I really looked forward to practice and tried to have fun.

I feel like I've gotten stronger at just about everything. Coach (Don) Flanagan is big on setting a permanent pivot foot. It's a pivot move that gives you a lot of options, and I've learned how to use that really well now. My shooting has gotten stronger, and so has my ball handling.

It's a little tough to find a lot of positives about last year because I obviously wanted to be playing. I really enjoyed dressing up for the games. It was nice to show a different side of myself. Other than that, the best part about the year I had to sit is that it's over.

The biggest challenge I had to deal with coming here probably was learning how to work with coach Flanagan's structure. It was basketball; it was off the court; it was everything. Everything was very structured, and he was very particular about what he wanted. It wasn't like that at Syracuse, where I played before, so that was definitely a challenge.

In the beginning, I didn't realize how seriously he took those rules and I didn't pay close attention to everything. That's why I had to sit out for a little while, and coach Flanagan definitely got my attention. I made a stupid mistake not following a rule I didn't think was that big a deal, and I had to earn his trust back. I think I've done that and understand how to meet his expectations.

I'll definitely be helping the new freshmen understand what it means to be part of this program. I'll help them understand the rules, especially in the fall, so they can make us a stronger team. I'm older, and I think I should be playing a leadership role. I need to help out the seniors and juniors setting a positive example for younger players.

I came from the Big East and have played against some bigger girls, so I try not to take people out but definitely make a lot more contact.

I think we're going to be a very good team next season. However hard we work determines how good we're going to be, and I know we're working really hard right now. I haven't seen a lot of the freshmen yet, but it seems like we're going to be a good team. We're all really motivated.

It's really nice being much closer to my family in Colorado than I was when I was at Syracuse. It's a good feeling to know that it's only a six-hour drive home, and I can pack up and go any weekend. It's nice that my parents can go to more home games. My whole family is in Colorado and can go to the games we play up there. And I have friends at all the Mountain West schools, so it's going to be a lot of fun for me to play against them.

I started playing basketball when I was 5 years old. I tried all kinds of sports, but I really liked basketball. My dad played basketball at the University of Florida, and he influenced me getting so into the sport.

I think I stayed with basketball because I always had good coaches along the way. They were supportive and that helped make sure I didn't get tired of the game.

I really loved (WNBA player) Ann Strother when I was in high school. We went to the same high school, but she was a little bit older. She was nice and we were really good friends. She's a great person and a great athlete, so I admired her and wanted to be like her.

In my spare time, I usually just relax with friends and go to the mall. We don't do anything really special. I think when we finally get a day, I just want to rest.

I think every basketball player loves "Love and Basketball." I definitely love that movie. I love "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," the "Legally Blonde" movies. I definitely like a lot of girly movies.

I listen to everything, like rap, hip-hop. R&B is probably my favorite, and I like a little bit of country. Coach Flanagan gets mad at me because my ring-back tone is a song by 112, and he keeps telling me, "You need to put some country on there. You're from Colorado." But I tell him I do listen to some country. I don't think anyone else really has the same kind of playlists I do because I like so many different things.