E-Bay blog: March 1
Texas senior guard Erneisha Bailey checks in with an installment of her "E-Bay blog." The 5-9 senior guard talks about closing out the regular season and UT Basketball's upcoming Senior Night on March 5. Hey everyone! It's time for me to get back with everyone and catch you up on our basketball team. Since it's all closing out for me, college-wise, I feel a big sense of urgency to help us perform really well down the stretch. Nothing comes easy in the Big 12 Conference, as you know. We certainly have the best league in the country, top to bottom. Speaking from four years of experience in the Big 12, I certainly understand that! We are coming off an important road win Wednesday night at Kansas. It was an important win to get because it was our first road win in a long while and we need these victories to finish strong. We might only have three more opportunities to play to impress the committees who pick the postseason teams. We have two regular season games left -- with Oklahoma tomorrow and then Texas Tech on Wednesday, and one guaranteed game at the Big 12 Championship. We have to make a stand NOW and put the pieces all together to be able to play in the postseason. And that is exactly what Coach G has been talking to us about every day. Against Kansas, we all did our part. Driving, defending and rebounding and making good passes. Coach G got on me good in the second half and told me that as a senior, it was now or never to step up for our team -- or else she wouldn't be playing me. She was so right. I was getting caught up in trying to force my shot instead of relying on my strengths in rebounding and playing tough "D". We've talked a lot about leaving IT ALL on the floor after every practice and every game. You have to put it all on the line in the Big 12. If you leave the floor after a game and you have anything left in your tank, then you didn't do your job out there. I know I was exhausted in a good way after the KU game, and I believe my teammates felt the same way. I was fortunate to play in front of some family and old friends from my days in Kansas City (MISSOURI!!!) at Pembroke Hill. I was happy they made the drive to see us play. I get to play in front of my parents all the time, since they travel to our games, but to be able to play in front of others that I grew up around was really special. I feel the responsibility as the only senior and as the only player on the team to have experienced going to the NCAA Tournament. We went my freshman year and I just remember all the excitement of being in the NCAAs, the first-class treatment you get, with stands full and ESPN in the house and our team highlights running all over TV. To represent your school in the "Big Dance" is what it's all about! I talked to the team about this earlier in the week to tell them how great the experience is. We don't want to miss out on such a great experience. Now we are focusing on Oklahoma who we play Sunday (March 2) in Norman. I know our posts need to have solid games to go up against Courtney and Ashley (Paris) and we need to play tougher "D" than in our first game against OU this year. After that, we have our last regular season game at home Wednesday night against Texas Tech. I really hope to see everyone there, supporting and encouraging us! You fans are so important to everything we do! It's a little surreal thinking that this is my final regular season game at UT. I feel like I just walked out into the Erwin Center for the first time, and now here we are, four years later. I want to say a special "THANK YOU" to our fans. You've seen me grow up. I am not the same player that came into the program. I heard your encouragement and support, and you believed I could do big things here. Thanks for believing in me and in my heart and hustle. You know that I am a Texan at heart, having been born in Temple. Due to my parents' military commitments, I grew up in Kansas City, Mo., but I am a Longhorn through and through! I really really enjoy playing hard and entertaining all the fans. And, don't worry -- I will be flashing you my big trademark smile as a huge "thank you" Wednesday night as I walk out onto the court with my parents on Senior Night. Until then, please watch us Sunday (on FSN TV) or listen to us (on KVET Radio 1300 AM in Central Texas or via the Internet) and cheer us on. We'll see y'all on Wednesday night! Hook 'em,
|
|
