Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Women's Basketball: Media Day
10/23/2017 4:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Northwestern women's basketball team held its annual media day on Sunday at the team's open practice at historic Beardsley Gym in Evanston Township High School, where head coach Joe McKeown, senior guard Lydia Rohde, and sophomore forward/center Abi Scheid discussed the upcoming 2017-18 season. Complete quotes follow the short videos below.
Head Coach Joe McKeown
On the team changing from last year:
"It feels very different. We're going into more of a half court power team that can play inside-out. We're going to be young, but it creates a lot of opportunities for our new players. Our new players are talented, so you've got to get them into the fire. It's an interesting transition from watching us fly up and down the courts, shoot threes, really be aggressive defensively, to being a more half-court power basketball team."
On replacing talented seniors:
"You never do. I've had a lot of great players… If you're lucky, you have three or four players in your career as a coach like a Nia Coffey. You're not going to get them every year, especially one that had the whole package like she did, off the court, she graduated early, she was a first round pick… I think it set the bar, too, that Northwestern is a viable place if you're a McDonald's All-American or you could probably throw a dart and say, 'I want to go to this college' and they would offer you a scholarship. She's done great things for us. You don't replace her, you just create some opportunities for younger players… I think that's what's kind of fun about it… But there's days I'm going to miss her, too."
On who will step up:
"You're going to see Lydia Rhode… She's… one of the best student athletes at Northwestern. She's involved in everything, everyone on the team looks up to her, respects her on and off the court. [She's] probably got the best work ethic of anybody that's been in our program in years. She was a walk-on that's now a senior, her story's really compelling. She's earned everything. I think our players see that a lot as a respect thing. There will be other players… I think Amber's in that position because of some of her experience last year, I think you're going to see Jordan Hamilton. Even as a freshman, she has a command, a presence about her on the court that I like. I think Lydia will be the one that everyone turns to. Abi Scheid… probably the most experienced player we've had in big games. So we're going to lean on her in a lot of ways, too."
On the centers, becoming an inside out team:
"[In past years] we asked our post players over the last couple of years… to be really good defensive players, to be physical, and screen for [the other players]. It was pretty simple. And I think now they're going to need to score, and I think they're capable. They're going to get more touches, more opportunities. Their roles are going to change, but it's also exciting for them, too. They have the physical skills to be able to do so, otherwise I wouldn't be putting them in that position. Pallas is playing at a much different level than I've ever seen her. We expect a lot from her, may be the best rebounder in the Big Ten right now."
On other teams with the inside-out approach:
"In our league, everybody has that. That's what makes the league so hard. Everybody you play is going to have 6'4", 6'5". Some of them feature that, some of them use them in different roles. I can't name a team in our league that doesn't have somebody 6'4", 6'5" that they get the ball to, that can guard. It's going to be a challenge… for us to score inside, it's going to be a challenge. I think we have the players to do it. The league is a power league right now. I think we have both. If we can shoot the ball like we have been in practice, I think we can play inside-out. They shoot it pretty well. Scheid is one of the best three-point shooters I think in our league, too."
"I think every coach is a bit of a mad scientist, trying to come up with different lineups and if we play this way… a little outside of the box. At Northwestern, you always have to do that. Changing defenses a lot…."
On the point guard position:
"Ashley Deary was so durable. For as much contact as she was involved in, as many collisions she created or she was part of, she bounced right back up. It was amazing… an incredible career. I think again, you'll see with Byrdy and with Jordan, opportunities. Byrdy being through our system last year, and Jordan coming in as a highly acclaimed point guard, you're going to see a lot from both of them. I think our players trust them, which is really important, even though it's still October."
On incorporating the first years:
"[They're] probably going to be thrown into the fire sometimes. You're going to lean on them, they've got to be like sophomores sometimes, or juniors. All our players got to play a year up this year. I think Jordan and Lindsey Pulliam have been in a lot of big positions in high school, they've played a lot of basketball. They're fearless. I don't think they care that, if they have the ball late in a game and it's a big ten team, to them it might like beating their high school rival, 'just give me the ball.' I hope that's their attitude. They're fearless. That's a lot of fun."
On settling on a starting lineup:
"Changes every week. We're getting closer, we have some scrimmages coming up, we have an exhibition game. That will start separating some people. We're starting to get healthy, we had some people out. We're seeing people at full speed, at what they can do during drills. But sooner than later."
On Amber Jamison, Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah:
"She's shooting the ball really consistent[ly] right now, she's so strong, physical, that I think her game has improved. When she came in as a freshman, she could really rebound a basketball. We're starting to see that more. We can play her as a big guard, play her as a three-player. From a lineup standpoint, she'll help us a lot. She's scoring, which I need her to do. I need her to get fouled, hit threes, put it on the floor, get out and transition and finish. I think she's stepping up. I can see the confidence coming up. "
"The other one too is Pallas. Like I told our fans today, she's going to break one of these rims at Evanston High School. I don't know if it will be on a dunk, or a goal tending call, or something, but she's playing at the rim right now. I'm excited for her. She's worked really hard… She knows our system, she's worked hard on her game, her footwork is better, her post-game is better. One thing I love about Pallas, which hasn't changed, is that she literally tries to get every single rebound. And I don't care if it's a layup line in warm ups, or a drill, or a game. She just has that mentality, and very few players have that. Pallas tries to get every rebound. Hopefully she won't have to get her own misses… she's gotten better."
Senior Guard Lydia Rohde
On where confidence is coming from:
"Preparation, practice, being confident in ourselves, and building each other up."
On contributing to the team:
"Being ready to shoot all the time… Making good passes… it's been really good in practice, so I think it's going to translate into the games."
On Coach's encouragement to take chances:
"He's definitely being very open about 'drive and kick,' baseline, drifting down, and obviously looking in the posts a lot too."
On this year's offense:
"I think it's going to be very fast paced. A lot of movement, a lot of in and out with the posts."
In comparison to other Big Ten teams:
"I think it will be similar. It's usually always pretty quick playing against other teams in the Big Ten. Everyone's fast, obviously, at this level."
On this year's first years:
"I think Jordan, playing point guard a lot, pushing the ball, because she's very quick. Lindsey, in transition as well. She's really good off the dribble. Brooke's obviously a really good shooter. I think they all can contribute."
On the post players:
"They've been working really hard in the off-season, a lot with Coach Sides, on getting position. They're all very strong, as well, so I think that will help establishing the position and then us looking for them in the post."
On season goals:
"Making it to the NCAA tournament. Winning the Big Ten Championship. I think winning big games early, we have a pretty good preseason schedule, and obviously the Big Ten will prepare us really well for that."
On defensive style:
"Working hard, communicating really well. That goes for me and the whole team. Obviously boxing on rebounding."
On the ETHS atmosphere:
"It's pretty cool, being our first day here. I think it will be good for the fans, I think it's a good way to get people out here."
On leadership style:
"Leading by example is very important. As the past couple of months have gone on, I've become more vocal, and I think that it's a combination of those two things. That's kind of the type of leader that I am."
On playing inside-out:
"I think we're still going to push the ball a lot, and our posts have been working really hard, establishing a position in the posts especially in transitions and running transitions, so I think we can continue to do that."
Sophomore forward/center Abi Scheid
On team expectations:
"Obviously we had five seniors graduate, five starters. So we're all a lot younger. We work really well together, and we know each other's game, and we're still learning. We're all really competitive, and hungry, and we're ready to show people what we can do."
In comparison to last year:
"I would just say it's different. Nia's different from how I play, Ashley's different from how Byrdy plays. It's just new."
On the new offense:
"I think it's good, because I like running sets rather than just running up and down… Moving the ball around, and being able to get the great shot, rather than just a quick shot."
On her shooting and being a leader:
"I think just talking, getting everyone in on the offense and moving the ball around. They'll drive and kick to me… I have the easy job. I just have to shoot. We all work really well together, and I think that's going to really benefit us in the Big Ten."
On her consistency:
"Last year as a freshman, I was a little more timid, and now I have a lot more confidence. I'm really excited."
On the first years:
"It's good! It's a lot of fun, they definitely bring a lot of energy to our team. It's just like, helping them out, showing them the ropes, what to do and what not to do. It's a lot of fun."
Get ready for the new-look #B1GCats. pic.twitter.com/NGSjPzZr8X
— NU Women's Hoops (@nuwbball) October 23, 2017
No doubt in @JoeMckeown650's mind that @jrhamilton14 and @linzp99 are ready for #B1GWBBall. #B1GCats pic.twitter.com/hP9XM2eVlA
— NU Women's Hoops (@nuwbball) October 23, 2017
Head Coach Joe McKeown
On the team changing from last year:
"It feels very different. We're going into more of a half court power team that can play inside-out. We're going to be young, but it creates a lot of opportunities for our new players. Our new players are talented, so you've got to get them into the fire. It's an interesting transition from watching us fly up and down the courts, shoot threes, really be aggressive defensively, to being a more half-court power basketball team."
On replacing talented seniors:
"You never do. I've had a lot of great players… If you're lucky, you have three or four players in your career as a coach like a Nia Coffey. You're not going to get them every year, especially one that had the whole package like she did, off the court, she graduated early, she was a first round pick… I think it set the bar, too, that Northwestern is a viable place if you're a McDonald's All-American or you could probably throw a dart and say, 'I want to go to this college' and they would offer you a scholarship. She's done great things for us. You don't replace her, you just create some opportunities for younger players… I think that's what's kind of fun about it… But there's days I'm going to miss her, too."
On who will step up:
"You're going to see Lydia Rhode… She's… one of the best student athletes at Northwestern. She's involved in everything, everyone on the team looks up to her, respects her on and off the court. [She's] probably got the best work ethic of anybody that's been in our program in years. She was a walk-on that's now a senior, her story's really compelling. She's earned everything. I think our players see that a lot as a respect thing. There will be other players… I think Amber's in that position because of some of her experience last year, I think you're going to see Jordan Hamilton. Even as a freshman, she has a command, a presence about her on the court that I like. I think Lydia will be the one that everyone turns to. Abi Scheid… probably the most experienced player we've had in big games. So we're going to lean on her in a lot of ways, too."
On the centers, becoming an inside out team:
"[In past years] we asked our post players over the last couple of years… to be really good defensive players, to be physical, and screen for [the other players]. It was pretty simple. And I think now they're going to need to score, and I think they're capable. They're going to get more touches, more opportunities. Their roles are going to change, but it's also exciting for them, too. They have the physical skills to be able to do so, otherwise I wouldn't be putting them in that position. Pallas is playing at a much different level than I've ever seen her. We expect a lot from her, may be the best rebounder in the Big Ten right now."
On other teams with the inside-out approach:
"In our league, everybody has that. That's what makes the league so hard. Everybody you play is going to have 6'4", 6'5". Some of them feature that, some of them use them in different roles. I can't name a team in our league that doesn't have somebody 6'4", 6'5" that they get the ball to, that can guard. It's going to be a challenge… for us to score inside, it's going to be a challenge. I think we have the players to do it. The league is a power league right now. I think we have both. If we can shoot the ball like we have been in practice, I think we can play inside-out. They shoot it pretty well. Scheid is one of the best three-point shooters I think in our league, too."
"I think every coach is a bit of a mad scientist, trying to come up with different lineups and if we play this way… a little outside of the box. At Northwestern, you always have to do that. Changing defenses a lot…."
On the point guard position:
"Ashley Deary was so durable. For as much contact as she was involved in, as many collisions she created or she was part of, she bounced right back up. It was amazing… an incredible career. I think again, you'll see with Byrdy and with Jordan, opportunities. Byrdy being through our system last year, and Jordan coming in as a highly acclaimed point guard, you're going to see a lot from both of them. I think our players trust them, which is really important, even though it's still October."
On incorporating the first years:
"[They're] probably going to be thrown into the fire sometimes. You're going to lean on them, they've got to be like sophomores sometimes, or juniors. All our players got to play a year up this year. I think Jordan and Lindsey Pulliam have been in a lot of big positions in high school, they've played a lot of basketball. They're fearless. I don't think they care that, if they have the ball late in a game and it's a big ten team, to them it might like beating their high school rival, 'just give me the ball.' I hope that's their attitude. They're fearless. That's a lot of fun."
On settling on a starting lineup:
"Changes every week. We're getting closer, we have some scrimmages coming up, we have an exhibition game. That will start separating some people. We're starting to get healthy, we had some people out. We're seeing people at full speed, at what they can do during drills. But sooner than later."
On Amber Jamison, Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah:
"She's shooting the ball really consistent[ly] right now, she's so strong, physical, that I think her game has improved. When she came in as a freshman, she could really rebound a basketball. We're starting to see that more. We can play her as a big guard, play her as a three-player. From a lineup standpoint, she'll help us a lot. She's scoring, which I need her to do. I need her to get fouled, hit threes, put it on the floor, get out and transition and finish. I think she's stepping up. I can see the confidence coming up. "
"The other one too is Pallas. Like I told our fans today, she's going to break one of these rims at Evanston High School. I don't know if it will be on a dunk, or a goal tending call, or something, but she's playing at the rim right now. I'm excited for her. She's worked really hard… She knows our system, she's worked hard on her game, her footwork is better, her post-game is better. One thing I love about Pallas, which hasn't changed, is that she literally tries to get every single rebound. And I don't care if it's a layup line in warm ups, or a drill, or a game. She just has that mentality, and very few players have that. Pallas tries to get every rebound. Hopefully she won't have to get her own misses… she's gotten better."
Senior Guard Lydia Rohde
On where confidence is coming from:
"Preparation, practice, being confident in ourselves, and building each other up."
On contributing to the team:
"Being ready to shoot all the time… Making good passes… it's been really good in practice, so I think it's going to translate into the games."
On Coach's encouragement to take chances:
"He's definitely being very open about 'drive and kick,' baseline, drifting down, and obviously looking in the posts a lot too."
On this year's offense:
"I think it's going to be very fast paced. A lot of movement, a lot of in and out with the posts."
In comparison to other Big Ten teams:
"I think it will be similar. It's usually always pretty quick playing against other teams in the Big Ten. Everyone's fast, obviously, at this level."
On this year's first years:
"I think Jordan, playing point guard a lot, pushing the ball, because she's very quick. Lindsey, in transition as well. She's really good off the dribble. Brooke's obviously a really good shooter. I think they all can contribute."
On the post players:
"They've been working really hard in the off-season, a lot with Coach Sides, on getting position. They're all very strong, as well, so I think that will help establishing the position and then us looking for them in the post."
On season goals:
"Making it to the NCAA tournament. Winning the Big Ten Championship. I think winning big games early, we have a pretty good preseason schedule, and obviously the Big Ten will prepare us really well for that."
On defensive style:
"Working hard, communicating really well. That goes for me and the whole team. Obviously boxing on rebounding."
On the ETHS atmosphere:
"It's pretty cool, being our first day here. I think it will be good for the fans, I think it's a good way to get people out here."
On leadership style:
"Leading by example is very important. As the past couple of months have gone on, I've become more vocal, and I think that it's a combination of those two things. That's kind of the type of leader that I am."
On playing inside-out:
"I think we're still going to push the ball a lot, and our posts have been working really hard, establishing a position in the posts especially in transitions and running transitions, so I think we can continue to do that."
Sophomore forward/center Abi Scheid
On team expectations:
"Obviously we had five seniors graduate, five starters. So we're all a lot younger. We work really well together, and we know each other's game, and we're still learning. We're all really competitive, and hungry, and we're ready to show people what we can do."
In comparison to last year:
"I would just say it's different. Nia's different from how I play, Ashley's different from how Byrdy plays. It's just new."
On the new offense:
"I think it's good, because I like running sets rather than just running up and down… Moving the ball around, and being able to get the great shot, rather than just a quick shot."
On her shooting and being a leader:
"I think just talking, getting everyone in on the offense and moving the ball around. They'll drive and kick to me… I have the easy job. I just have to shoot. We all work really well together, and I think that's going to really benefit us in the Big Ten."
On her consistency:
"Last year as a freshman, I was a little more timid, and now I have a lot more confidence. I'm really excited."
On the first years:
"It's good! It's a lot of fun, they definitely bring a lot of energy to our team. It's just like, helping them out, showing them the ropes, what to do and what not to do. It's a lot of fun."
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F/C
/ Women's BasketballWomen's Basketball - Loyola Chicago Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, December 18
Women's Basketball - Ohio State Postgame Press Conference (12/7/2025)
Sunday, December 07
Women's Basketball - Kansas Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 04
Women's Basketball - ’Cats Battle Back To Win Fifth Straight Over Cleveland State, 75-68 (11/21/25)
Saturday, November 22
