Q&A with Tennessee's Catchings, Randall


ESPN.com sat down with Tennessee juniors Tamika Catchings and Semeka Randall on Thursday as they continued to prepare for the Final Four. See how the Kodak All-Americans answered our questions:

Semeka Randall
Semeka Randall, left, and Tamika Catchings were named to the Kodak All-America team.

ESPN.com: You've been to the Final Four before, but how does this year differ from your Final Four experience in 1998?

Tamika Catchings: This is a different team with different expectations. There was much more pressure on us when we went to the Final Four my freshman year. We were 37-0 coming into the Final Four, unbeaten with a lot of expectations for Tennessee to be the top dog. This year, we haven't had nearly the pressure we had that first year.

Semeka Randall: As freshman, we didn't have a lot to do with winning the national championship. It was more the Chamique Holdsclaw and Kellie Jolly show. But this year, it's our year, time for this junior class to really step it up and show people what Tennessee basketball is all about.

ESPN.com: Do you and your teammates feel any added pressure to uphold that Tennessee standard of basketball in your first season without Chamique Holdsclaw?

Tamika Catchings: I think so. Obviously Chamique brought a lot to the team, and was the leading rebounder and scorer. Now we've had to pull together and win games by committee. People have just had to step up and do fulfill their roles.

ESPN.com: How has coach Pat Summitt changed in the three years you've been at Tennessee?

Tamika Catchings: She's more loose, definitely more laid-back. From past years, way back when she started coaching, people talk about how strict she was and how she made everybody run. But we have a lot of fun. That's what it's all about right now.

ESPN.com: If you were to win the NCAA title this season, would it be any more special than winning it in 1998?

Semeka Randall: Anytime you win a championship -- whether at the high-school level or the collegiate level -- it's always special. This could be another special memory that I will ever forget.

ESPN.com: You've won so many different awards and been named to several All-American teams. Does any one award or honor mean more than another?

Tamika Catchings: Not really. At this point, you have to look at it as a team. My main focus right now is obviously on winning a national championship. I would trade all these awards to win a national championship.

Semeka Randall: Not really. It's a blessing to be one of the elite basketball players in the country. But it's just something I accept and am thankful for.

ESPN.com: Tamika, It's widely known that you and your sister, Illinois senior Tauja Catchings, are very close. Is it tough being away from each other during the school year?

Tamika Catchings: We talk on the phone just about everyday. The phone bills aren't as bad as people would think. But she's here (in Philadelphia), too, and hopefully I'll get to see her play in the WBCA All-Star game. In all, I've got 11 family members here.

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