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Last week, South Carolina’s newcomers met with the media for the first time. Get to know Maddy McDaniel, a 5-9 point guard from Upper Marlboro, MD.
Q: How long did it take you before you really found your way around town?
McDaniel: I’m still finding my way around town. You know, Columbia is way different from DC, so this is still a lot to learn. For sure.
Q: In a good or bad way?
McDaniel: It’s good, it’s a good change. You know, it slows me down.
Q: Looking at your position where do you see yourself fitting into this team this year? Can you play a little two guard or are you mostly the point?
McDaniel: I think I’m coming as the one. You know, playing point guard, that’s what I’m more comfortable with, it’s what I’m more used to. Playing behind Raven (Johnson), learning, that’s gonna be good. You know, coming in, pushing it full court, running the team, that’s just what my mind’s on and just doing everything I gotta do to win.
Q: What practice has been like with Raven and MiLaysia Fulwiley and the other guards so far?
McDaniel: It’s been fun. It’s definitely been competitive. You know, it’s good to be challenged because I’m coming from being the best player on my team, so coming here to be challenged and learn more, that’s been really fun.
Q: This team didn’t lose the game last year, national champs. Do you see it as a challenge to fit in?
McDaniel: it hasn’t been a challenge because the team was just so family-oriented. They brought us in with open arms. That was really good. You can’t get too intimidated, you know, looking at them because they didn’t lose any games. You got to put that behind us, even.
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Q: All of you could say you were the best player on your high school team, is it easy to put that aside and say I may have to wait a bit to play?
McDaniel: At first it’s not like the easiest thing, but you know, like you have to think bigger picture. So eventually you have to put that to the back of your head. You’ve got to play as a team and do what you got to do to win. Got to
Q: How are you feeling? I know you were a little banged up there at the end of the season.
McDaniel: I’m feeling good. You know, we got, we’ve got a great team around us, with Molly (Binetti) and Craig (Oates) just making sure we’re always healthy. I’m feeling good. I’m feeling better.
Q: You’re getting your first taste of Molly’s workouts and Final Four Fridays. What have those been like?
McDaniel: It’s different. Different to say the least. You know, of course it’s hard. It’s college, but it’s definitely different. You’re hitting a different muscle in your body you didn’t even know you could.
Q: If you had to describe your game to someone who hadn’t watched you or didn’t know a lot about you, what kind of player would you say you were?
McDaniel: A pass first, a fast-paced point guard. That’s just what I’m what I’m trying to model my game to be, you know, just playing fast-paced and being pass first. Looking up, because I’m playing with a lot of good players so putting them in the right position.
Q: Do you have a point guard you like to watch kind of model yourself after?
McDaniel: Not exactly, but I like to watch a lot of Chelsea Gray, how she gets her team involved. I like that.
Q: What do you like to do when you’re not doing all things basketball?
McDaniel: Sleep. Being in college, you definitely have to catch up sleep. You may have workouts at 6:30 – like one day we had practice at 6:35 pm and then turned around and had practice at seven in the morning the next day. So that was definitely something different.
Q: How’d you get through it, caffeine? You need to hit up MiLaysia for that Red Bull.
McDaniel: (Laughs) I might have to next time.
Q: Who is your roommate?
McDaniel: Maryam (Dauda).
Q: How are you getting along?
McDaniel: We’re getting along really well. That’s my dog. She always makes sure I’m doing the right thing, you know, make sure the house is good and everything. So that’s good.
Q: She’s older than you, but still you’re experiencing this for the first time. What’s that like?
McDaniel: We learn together. We’re taking steps together. Like, our first week, it was a lot of getting to know around campus, getting to know the girls, getting to know the coaches. So we’re just doing that together, and I’m glad I have like somebody else to do it with me.
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Q: When did you know South Carolina was the right place for you?
McDaniel: After my visit.
Q: When was your visit?
McDaniel: It was June of last year. So I came, and the girls were so sweet. Everybody was so sweet, the coaches were so nice. And I just knew this is a place that I knew I needed to be to be my best show.
Q: Have you been to a game at CLA yet?
McDaniel: No – actually I did. I came when they played UNC for the first couple rounds.
Q: What was that experience like?
McDaniel: It was an eye-opening experience because I didn’t know the FAMs are really like that until you see it in person. I even came in there and they were asking to take pictures of me! I didn’t even think they knew who I was.
Q As you approach this upcoming season do you look at it as a learning experience to kind of sit back and learn behind Raven and everybody or do you expect to go out and play right away?
McDaniel: I don’t want to put myself in a box, “I’m going to have to sit back and learn.” But if that’s what I’m going to have to do, then I’m willing to take that. I’m willing to do that.
Q: Obviously, you knew the backcourt was stacked.
McDaniel: Yeah, I came in here already knowing that, so it’s not going to be like I’m blindsided by it. But I’m prepared for whatever.
Q: Have you had a welcome to South Carolina or a welcome to college moment?
McDaniel: Yeah, actually, (laughs) I had a welcome to the SEC moment where Ashlyn, like, I think it was like last week or the other week I was coming down the lane, and I didn’t think she was there, but she was there.
Q: So what happened to the ball?
McDaniel: It was far into the chairs by the door.
The post South Carolina women’s basketball: Getting to know freshman Maddy McDaniel appeared first on On3 .
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