University of Houston Athletics
Bill Walton Chat Wrap
4/5/2002 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
April 11, 2002
Moderator: Good morning everyone,
We are very fortunate today to have volleyball head coach Bill Walton with us today. Coach Walton will be available for about 15 to 20 minutes to answer your questions.
We've already had some fans submit their questions, so we will begin with those. But please feel free to ask questions as we go and we will try to answer them. With that said, let's begin.
George (Houston): Coach Walton --- Moving forward, what will it take to move into College Volleyball's elite.
Thanks
Bill Walton: In 12 of the last 13 years, we have been to the NCAA Tournament. We're eighth in the country in consecutive winning seasons. We have had 20 consecutive winning seasons. There are only nine schools in the NCAA that can say that. There are only 12 schools that can say they went to every NCAA Tournament in the 1990s.
To move into the Final Four, it would take an injury-free season, a group of older players and one or two exceptional athletes that would have the potential of playing on our Olympic team.
Robert (Houston): I have been a U of H volleyball supporter for five years. The last two years have been very dissapointing. I saw your setter go to Jennifer Wittenberg over and over again. The offense was so predictable. The other teams defense picked up on it within a matter of minutes of the first game. There is no way one hitter can can carry a team and shouldn't have to. How frustrating it has been to watch a team self-destruct. Will the U of H volleyball team run a more balanced attack this season?
Bill Walton: I would say that we plan on having a more balanced attack because we lost the No. 2 outside hitter in the nation. Because of rally scoring, you will see more teams not have a balanced attack. To use a basketball analogy, you wouldn't have a 20 percent field goal shooter shooting a game-winning shot. Since every serve is a point, you want to get the ball in the hands of your big players.
It will be more balanced.
Carl (Houston): Hello Coach, A few questions for you. Is C-USA as tough as the old SWC? Are there any plans to make the new Student Rec Center your new home court somewhat like Texas did with Gregory Gym?
Thanks. Keep up the good work.Bill Walton: The old SWC's top teams were a little better than C-USA's top teams. But presently, because of the large number of teams i teh conference, it is much harder to win all of the matches in C-USA than it was in the old SWC.
I have heard no plans about making the Student Rec Center our new home. We would love to have a venue we could call our own that would sell out, but I don't have any knowledge about that. Do you?
maddog(Houston): There is a lot of excitement around UofH these days with our programs on the rise, for instance the men's basketball program produced a winning season and the Lady Coogs basketball making it to the finals of the WNIT, and now our baseball team rated in the Top 10 in the country. Will these success stories have a positive effect on other athletic programs on campus? Your thoughts?
Bill Walton: A number of those programs at different times in my 15 years have had that kind of success in the past. But until the football and men's basketball team achieves the same level of prominence as in the 80s and 90s, the average fan won't know about the other programs. Only the above average fans and enthusiastic booster would know. BOCA RATON: THIS WOULD APPEAR TO BE SOMEWHAT OF A REBUILDING YEAR. WHERE DO YOU THINK THIS TEAM WILL BE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS?
Bill Walton: Our younger players have a large amount of potential. I think that because of the large group of freshman, if they play together for a while, you could see results like DePaul. They didn't have a great year, but they won the conference because they had five seniors playing together for four years. You can't beat good players playing together for several years. Houston: Whitenburg had a fabulous season last year. Does she have any volleyball plans for the future?
Bill Walton: She will play professionally in Europe, US WOmen's Professional Volleyball League or South America. She has a big arm and there are not many women players who hit the ball harder than her. She seems healthier than in the past. She could have a 3 to 10-year professional career and even national team possibilities. Dallas: Was it disappointing not making it to the NCAA tournament last year? What are your chances this year?
Bill Walton: Of course, it was disappointing to not make the NCAA Tournament last year. The chances of making it this year, on paper because of returning starters, it seems we have less of a chance this year than last year. But we are working and training hard and will surprise some people and exceed the expectations of the Conference coaches.
Moderator: Thanks for joining us today and stay in touch on www.uhcougars.com for more on-line chats. We appreciate you joining us today and we appreciate Coach Walton for taking the time to talk with us. Thanks again everyone, and have a great day.
