Tchangoue, Petersen Represent Deacons at ACC Media Day
10/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 22, 2008
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Wake Forest women's basketball head coach Mike Petersen and senior guard Alex Tchangoue represented the Demon Deacons at the 2008-09 ACC Women's Basketball Media Day in Greensboro, N.C. The day included interviews with several TV networks, radio stations and a large press conference with print journalists.
The Finish Bracelet
The first stop was with Heather Catlin of FSN and ACC All-Access. It was Tchangoue and Petersen's first opportunity to explain the significance of this year's team bracelets.
 Mike Petersen  | |
"It says `finish,'" Tchangoue explained as she held up her wrist. "Coach Pete came up with the idea, it's our motto for this year. It's really about picking up where we left off last season, when we started 10-2, before we had injuries. But it also reminds us of things off the court, like making sure we get things done in the classroom."
"I think it's a unifying factor," Petersen said. "A year ago we started off so well. We were ranked 28th in the AP poll, we beat a top-ten team. We had the best start since 1987. Then we had some injuries and had some issues and we didn't finish the way we wanted too."
Petersen said several times throughout the day's interviews that he was going to be relying heavily on the team veterans, like Tchangoue and Wake's other senior, Corinne Groves, to help the team stay motivated and keep the "finish" motto in mind.
"Alex has really taken our two freshmen under her wing, it's a really positive thing. I need her, as well as the other older players on the team, to help coach. When she tells a younger player to do something it means a heck of a lot more coming from her than from me, it's just human nature," Petersen said.
The Coaches Poll
It wasn't long before Catlin asked the question that Tchangoue and Petersen would hear several times throughout the day. The ACC preseason poll was released at 10 a.m. that morning and the Demon Deacons were picked last. Was this motivation for Petersen's squad?
"It doesn't motivate me one way or another," Petersen said. "I've been coaching a long time. I've been picked first and I've been picked last. I'm not going to go on some crusade saying `they're all wrong' or `it's us against the world.' No, let's just go and practice and get it done. There's a cute phrase in our society, `perception is reality.' Well no, reality is reality. Ultimately, this team will decide where we finish."
Tchangoue, a team captain, explained her feelings on the poll.
"I guess it should bother me but it really doesn't," Tchangoue said. "I just trust my team. People think what they want to think. But I know my team and I know we can get it done."
2007-08 vs. 2008-09
Throughout the ACC there were some big roster shakeups for this season, including the graduation of some athletes that had been making headlines since their freshmen seasons, like UNC's Erlana Larkins and Maryland's Crystal Langhorne. On the other side of that scenario are the Demon Deacons, who for the first time in several seasons will actually be able start two seniors and at least two juniors.
"This is the first time since I've been at Wake Forest that this year's preseason All-ACC selections are different from last year's postseason All-ACC selections. There's a little bit of a changing of the guard. There's an opportunity there and now the question is who is going to step up and take that opportunity," Petersen said.
While several coaches and players had to talk at length about the task of replacing big names, Petersen and Tchangoue had an opportunity to discuss the depth of the Demon Deacon bench in for the 08-09 season.
 Alex Tchangoue poses with one of the props on site | |
And speaking of versatility, Tchangoue got to speak a little about finishing last season as team's point guard when the Deacons had a bizarre streak of injuries at the point.
"It put me out of my comfort zone for sure," Tchangoue said. "But it helped my communication with the team, especially being a vocal leader. It also forced me to analyze the game on a different level, you know you see the shot clock and you have to decide at that moment what the team should do. Hopefully I can carry the things I learned over into this year."
The Deacons now have just under two weeks before their first exhibition contest vs. Lenoir-Rhyne on Nov. 3.
