Latest / The Central Indiana Sports Report / A Special Fever Report with John & Michelle: Playoff Bound! (Guest: Sam Frick; 2.21.1)

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A Special Fever Report with John & Michelle: Playoff Bound! (Guest: Sam Frick; 2.21.1) · The Central Indiana Sports Report

• 0:04
  [UNKNOWN]: You
• 0:12
  [SPEAKER_04]: Your Indiana fever are playoff-bound, and we will have all of the coverage at the Central Indiana Sports Report.
• 0:20
  [SPEAKER_04]: We will do a fever playoff preview and react to every single game.
• 0:28
  [SPEAKER_04]: Anytime there's news, John, Michelle and I, and sometimes, and guess, we'll be talking about it.
• 0:34
  [SPEAKER_04]: Get your best fever coverage right here at the Central Indiana Sports Report, please
• 1:01
  [SPEAKER_03]: If you're listening to the central Indiana Sports Report, with your host, Greg Midgowns.
• 1:09
  [SPEAKER_04]: Welcome, Fever fans of the Central Indiana Sports Report, and a special fever report, the fever are in the playoffs, and what a season it's been, John.
• 1:20
  [SPEAKER_04]: Not exactly what we expected, but you gotta be so proud of this team.
• 1:25
  [SPEAKER_03]: I agree with 100% of that.
• 1:27
  [SPEAKER_03]: This is not at all the season we expected coming into.
• 1:30
  [SPEAKER_03]: We expected this to be pretty much a cakewalk to a top four.
• 1:34
  [SPEAKER_03]: And now we're just happy that they're they're they're squeaking in the playoffs.
• 1:38
  [SPEAKER_03]: But the fact that they made it in at all, in spite of all of the obstacles they've had to overcome with the multiple multiple injuries and the multiple just never really knowing who's going to be in your lineup, you have to be so proud of every player that consistently
• 1:55
  [SPEAKER_03]: and put effort on the court this year.
• 1:57
  [SPEAKER_03]: So regardless of how happens in the playoffs, I do think they can at least get a round or two, maybe, but you have to love that they made it this far regardless.
• 2:08
  [SPEAKER_03]: And the way they did it, they did it was such pride, but they're so proud of themselves and they should be.
• 2:13
  [SPEAKER_04]: Michelle sometimes just sneaking into the playoffs is not something worthy of celebration, but I'm gonna think for them.
• 2:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't really think they snuck in because they got into day with a convincing thumping.
• 2:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: That was a, they just took it to a worship to mystics team that has not, it has been good at time.
• 2:37
  [SPEAKER_02]: But they're going to be the 18th.
• 2:38
  [SPEAKER_02]: That's always sneaking in.
• 2:39
  [SPEAKER_02]: I think that was 17.
• 2:41
  [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, they're the 70 right there.
• 2:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I could play.
• 2:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: So we tracked my wording.
• 2:49
  [SPEAKER_03]: So I was going to go off a mobile cell set as it was a convincing win over Chicago and a convincing win over Washington I don't know that I would say they snuck in or squeaked in I would say they they
• 2:59
  [SPEAKER_03]: built the early lead, but then held onto it as things started to slow down towards the end of the season.
• 3:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: You want I want to get cut off to the fever.
• 3:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't know if you guys saw on Twitter, but the team and they sent out the congratulations of playoffs.
• 3:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: They had pictures of everyone of the fever players that are pinning you to form and played for them this season, which I thought were not all of them.
• 3:23
  [SPEAKER_03]: They left one off, which was totally fine.
• 3:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, well, he doesn't count.
• 3:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: She quit on the team.
• 3:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: She does not count.
• 3:33
  [SPEAKER_03]: That's what we're talking about.
• 3:34
  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, no.
• 3:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: You'll never be a member of this thing.
• 3:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: I've loved it because it was great, but it lets you know just how I think, how great an accomplishment this is for the fever when you see the number of players knowing that rosters are like 11 player limits.
• 3:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: So when you see 15, 17, 18 players on that, you would spin a rough season.
• 4:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: As far as injuries, illness, that type of thing where they've had to bring in multiple extra players.
• 4:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: So what a great accomplishment.
• 4:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: And especially for our two, the three fever vets, Kelsey Mitchell.
• 4:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: Lexie Hall and Aliabossin and I did that in order of the number of seasons they played for the fevers.
• 4:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: And those three have played huge roles in them getting this far.
• 4:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: It tremendous tremendous.
• 4:36
  [SPEAKER_03]: I know that Greg feels like, but if they don't do much in the playoffs, Kelsey Mitchell doesn't really have a shot for a printvp, but I truly believe that no other player has carried their team as much as Kelsey's carried this fever team through adversity this season.
• 4:50
  [SPEAKER_03]: In the grand scheme of things, she probably is at going to be in the conversation, but I think she deserves at least some mention.
• 4:57
  [SPEAKER_03]: He's got the conversation, John.
• 4:59
  [SPEAKER_03]: She's just not going to win it.
• 5:01
  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, she's not going to win it.
• 5:02
  [SPEAKER_03]: They're not going to win it.
• 5:04
  [SPEAKER_04]: Guys, let's bring in Sam Frick of A&EC sports.
• 5:07
  [SPEAKER_04]: I sent out a text saying, who wants to praise the fever for an incredible season that they've had, just ups and downs and so many accomplishments, so much to like, so much battling the rest of the league.
• 5:22
  [SPEAKER_04]: Sam was the first one to say, I want to talk about it, Sam, your thoughts on the fever making the playoffs.
• 5:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: Boy, it's just a reward for all the struggles they went through with injuries.
• 5:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think when you look back at the feet or season, they had their moments where they showed potential, even with all those injuries, even with the various line-up changes.
• 5:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: Obviously, a Boston had a career season of her own Kelsey Mitchell and the best seasons.
• 5:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: maybe and lead history, arguably, and divide from an individual standpoint.
• 5:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: But I think when you look at even when they lost area McDonald's for the season, they had their stretch.
• 5:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: They lost a few deems in a row.
• 5:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: The fever rebounded so well in the month of August.
• 5:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I think the fact that when they be LA after having so many issues with LA in the season, Gina went in LA, I felt like to me that was the first sign to the fever.
• 6:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: We're probably going to get into the playoffs because I felt like to me that was a loss that really
• 6:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: the Los Angeles parts.
• 6:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: I was a kind of a character went for the Indiana fever.
• 6:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: You go back to the games where they were down double-digit, especially the demon Connecticut.
• 6:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: They were down 20 some points in that game in Connecticut.
• 6:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: We could easily lost that game in a blowout, but we found a way to come back when they gave them overtime.
• 6:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I just felt like somehow we were just going to figure out, find a way in the playoffs.
• 6:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: And that's just been the theme of our season.
• 6:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: We have this character, this mental toughness, that no matter what's coming our way, we keep finding ways to win ball games.
• 6:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I think that's
• 6:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: that the fever have built over the course of this season as a whole.
• 6:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I think it's going to be inciting when we get to the playoffs because now there's going to be a no a no pressure situation for the Indiana fever.
• 6:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: They're going to be the underdogs and a lot of times it sports the underdog tends to favor better in a playoffs series as opposed to the teammates.
• 6:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's supposed to be winning that series or the teammates heavily favored.
• 7:03
  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, I think they showed that in the Commissioner Cup Championship game because that was right after we had a couple of major injuries and we'll go and get to the people said there's no way the fever can win that game and they they came in and put it pretty dominating performance in that game can they do it for a series against a team like Minnesota again, they can it'll be tough.
• 7:26
  [SPEAKER_03]: I bet on the fever to win the championship before they made their trades, and I still have them attend to one to win the championship.
• 7:31
  [SPEAKER_03]: I have no hope, but I don't really have much hope for that bet's coming through, but I was still love to see him make a run.
• 7:38
  [SPEAKER_03]: And I think I think they can.
• 7:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: Hey, John, because you were there Friday night, and then I know you watched today, what have you seen this weekend?
• 7:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I, I grain, I know Friday was against the sky and today was against the mystics, but they were big, you, a one convincingly.
• 7:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: So what have you seen that gives you.
• 8:09
  [SPEAKER_03]: There's been so much better passing that has led to easy scores.
• 8:14
  [SPEAKER_03]: Kelsey had a no look past the other night that was just unbelievably good.
• 8:18
  [SPEAKER_03]: Like she was driving, like Kelsey does.
• 8:19
  [SPEAKER_03]: And then she just like, sort of her head to somebody was driving to, you know, and there's multiple easy passes that just made great play.
• 8:26
  [SPEAKER_03]: So that helped the offense.
• 8:28
  [SPEAKER_03]: But on top of that signature-wise, they've really been locking it on defense.
• 8:33
  [SPEAKER_03]: Air, aerial powers.
• 8:36
  [SPEAKER_03]: has been playing great defense.
• 8:37
  [SPEAKER_03]: Lexi is always playing great defense.
• 8:40
  [SPEAKER_03]: Kelsey's defense is picked up from where it was.
• 8:42
  [SPEAKER_03]: I would say those two things combined have made a biggest difference, whether they can hold strong against power teams is up for debate and we'll see that those two things have changed the dynamic of the team.
• 8:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: And how about Rihanna Turner seems to have, she's getting a bigger role here down the stretch.
• 9:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: And she may be having not, I think maybe not have seen a lot of minutes early has helped it give fresh legs for the fever because she's been playing well, I think.
• 9:14
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, she hardly played it all the first half of the season on people were questioning why she's there.
• 9:19
  [SPEAKER_03]: But when you get down to this many people in the roster, you've got everybody's gonna play a big role and it's been great.
• 9:25
  [SPEAKER_03]: I've been really happy to see how everybody's just working together and jelling as best as you can at a short time period.
• 9:31
  [SPEAKER_03]: Like, I really do think the culture of that locker room has to be good despite what like social media and Facebook think, because they support each other hard.
• 9:40
  [SPEAKER_04]: That brings up the topic I was going to bring up next, John, and that is, in a lot of ways it's been a tough season for Stephanie White, but she's done a pretty darn good job.
• 9:51
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I have heard all of the fire Stephanie white stuff and read all of it and I don't understand it at all.
• 9:57
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think she's she's trying to figure out rotations with a consistent roster and we've got to get everybody saying that is a moron John.
• 10:05
  [SPEAKER_03]: No, I agree.
• 10:06
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think pretty much everybody on social media.
• 10:09
  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, I don't want to say that.
• 10:11
  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't, you can't live on social media.
• 10:14
  [SPEAKER_03]: You have to live in reality.
• 10:15
  [SPEAKER_03]: You have to look at what you see with your eyes.
• 10:17
  [SPEAKER_03]: And yes, she's made some coaching decisions that I wouldn't have made in some games.
• 10:21
  [SPEAKER_03]: But she probably has more experience and had a thought process behind it.
• 10:25
  [SPEAKER_03]: And you have to go with the thought process not always the outcome.
• 10:29
  [SPEAKER_03]: If on paper it sounded good and the theory was there, trusted.
• 10:32
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think give her credit.
• 10:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think it goes back to what Stephanie White's careers went through up to this point, what she did at Connecticut.
• 10:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think there was a reason why that Stephanie White would praise one of the best coaches in the WMBA.
• 10:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think people tend to assume she's just going to come in in the end, everything's going to be honky, honky, dorky.
• 10:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, when you go from one team to another franchise, you're trying to build a culture and build an identity within that set team.
• 10:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: It was hard to do that with the offseason.
• 10:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: all the changes we've had in Indiana and then the injuries.
• 11:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: But I got to give a lot of credit to Stephanie White, Coach Austin Kelly, on the assistant coach he's stabbed, ran on January, that coaching staff did a fantastic job, even when Stephanie White was a way due to personal reasons.
• 11:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think Coach's White and this coach he's stabbed, I thought they handled it very
• 11:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: and a very mature man or so to speak.
• 11:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: So yeah, I totally agree.
• 11:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't understand that the hate towards Stephanie White at all.
• 11:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: And yes, I'm a Purdue fan.
• 11:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: So maybe I'm a little bit more biased in that sorts.
• 11:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: But at the same time, I think Stephanie White is a legitimate head coach as well.
• 11:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: Hey Sam, I'm an IU person, but I have always appreciated Stephanie White, even as a high school player all the way her Purdue days and the NBA and coaching and I think she's done wonderful.
• 11:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't know if you guys saw the on Twitter, I think the fever put out a video in the locker room after today's game and Stephanie White and I think that goes back John and
• 11:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: how connected and what a great culture and that this team supports each other and is more connected and stands up than what a lot of people want to be.
• 12:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, the people that really aren't privy to what goes on behind the scenes and probably a lot of people, I'm gonna say, probably a lot of fans that have never really been.
• 12:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe around that in locker room, such a way, in different things that, but they're just so connecting.
• 12:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I thought that post game, speech and everything today was just really good.
• 12:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I just had to talk to Stephanie White because she just, she never made excuses.
• 12:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: Every injury she never made excuses, never tried to use that as a way for if they had a down performance or something like that.
• 12:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: She might just say, it's tough sometimes to get somebody acclimated real fast, but she never used the bad luck that the fever of had this year as an excuse.
• 13:03
  [SPEAKER_03]: No, and I agree that I think that the team had a good connection already.
• 13:08
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think
• 13:12
  [SPEAKER_03]: connection and K. On the Lexi and had a strong connection, but Stephanie, why be able to keep that going in the face of adversity, reminding everybody stop paying attention to the haters and let's just focus on us.
• 13:22
  [SPEAKER_03]: She did a great job with that, so give her credit.
• 13:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, guys, as we close Sam has a question for John.
• 13:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: We have the last few minutes Minnesota on Tuesday.
• 13:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: This is basically going to be a tune up game for the playoffs.
• 13:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: What are you going to be looking for as we approach the playoffs?
• 13:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: Looking for some last final game of tuneups.
• 13:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: Any right for the playoffs, gain and see what the team could look like as we entered into that the second season, if you would.
• 13:48
  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, first of all, I want to make sure they just play safe and don't get injured.
• 13:52
  [SPEAKER_03]: That's my biggest concern with those last game, right?
• 13:55
  [SPEAKER_03]: We can't afford to lose anybody else.
• 14:00
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I just, I have this fear of Lexi or Oh, I don't say that loud.
• 14:06
  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay.
• 14:06
  [SPEAKER_03]: Maybe I got Pacer PTSD, but we all have it.
• 14:11
  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't want to see that happen, but then I just want to see them work on.
• 14:14
  [SPEAKER_03]: I really just want to see them working on their timing and their passing.
• 14:18
  [SPEAKER_03]: So because honestly, it really did elevate them to see the connection they were making for these easy points.
• 14:24
  [SPEAKER_03]: Because easy baskets are if you can keep getting those, we're going to be fine.
• 14:30
  [SPEAKER_03]: and Kelsey's hidden from outside really well, but I think can get everybody else involved and find ways to just connect with one another, I think that's what I'd like to see in the last two-up game.
• 14:39
  [SPEAKER_03]: I guess you kind of try and feel out Minnesota a little bit too, just to see if you wanna go deep, you're gonna have to face some at some point.
• 14:46
  [SPEAKER_03]: But again, we don't know who Cheryl Reeves gonna put on the court, so.
• 14:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: I can't want to see the same things you do, John.
• 14:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: I also want to see the fever continue to really work cardinal on the boards because rebounding can be such a huge difference maker and taking care of the ball.
• 15:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think took care of the ball today.
• 15:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think rebounding and taking care of the ball will be huge for them if they want to make a serious playoff run.
• 15:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I just wanted to want to like to see them continue that kind of toughness and focus.
• 15:17
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, that's something I forgot to mention
• 15:19
  [SPEAKER_03]: The turnover advantage today for the fever was huge.
• 15:22
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think it was like plus 13 or 14 turnover as I forget exactly the number.
• 15:25
  [SPEAKER_03]: But it was a mythical.
• 15:27
  [SPEAKER_04]: You know what else you all forgot to mention?
• 15:31
  [SPEAKER_02]: We want to win.
• 15:33
  [SPEAKER_02]: We do want to win.
• 15:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think that's just it.
• 15:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's just it.
• 15:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's just it.
• 15:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to win.
• 15:40
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, but it is.
• 15:42
  [SPEAKER_02]: But I know not.
• 15:43
  [SPEAKER_03]: But I'm honestly not that concerned about the game on Tuesday.
• 15:46
  [SPEAKER_03]: Whatever happens on Tuesday,
• 15:49
  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't really care about the y'all.
• 15:50
  [SPEAKER_04]: I don't want to win y'all into the playoff.
• 15:52
  [SPEAKER_03]: I would like a win against the Link's going into the playoff, so I think it'd be great momentum, but at the same time, I'd rather than just kind of use it.
• 16:00
  [SPEAKER_02]: They held me as the most important thing.
• 16:02
  [SPEAKER_02]: Stay here.
• 16:03
  [SPEAKER_02]: That hell is, you know what I'm saying?
• 16:04
  [SPEAKER_04]: One thing that's that, no doubt about it.
• 16:07
  [SPEAKER_04]: That is the most important thing.
• 16:09
  [SPEAKER_02]: What's the, what's the pool on how long until let's see holes like ours?
• 16:13
  [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, I feel.
• 16:14
  [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, okay.
• 16:15
  [SPEAKER_04]: I thought you were gonna say it again.
• 16:17
  [SPEAKER_02]: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
• 16:46
  [SPEAKER_02]: Okay, well, we'll work on it.
• 16:49
  [SPEAKER_03]: Guys, I really am excited to help you out.
• 16:50
  [SPEAKER_03]: I hope the rest of the state is excited.
• 16:52
  [SPEAKER_03]: We got a big cold swim and I hope they don't forget about the fever because it's really impressive what they've done since last week.
• 16:58
  [SPEAKER_04]: And we will not forget about the fever here, guys.
• 17:01
  [SPEAKER_04]: We will be talking about it all.
• 17:02
  [SPEAKER_04]: We will do a playoff preview.
• 17:05
  [SPEAKER_04]: We will talk about the playoffs every single game, right guys?
• 17:09
  [SPEAKER_04]: Well, unless they're on the west coast, it might be the next day, but right after the game most nice.
• 17:18
  [SPEAKER_04]: Thank you so much to John and Michelle and especially the Sam Frick for being our guest tonight.
• 17:25
  [SPEAKER_04]: And thank you for listening.
• 17:26
  [SPEAKER_04]: Please do as a huge favor and help spread the word about the Central Indiana Sports Report.
• 17:32
  [SPEAKER_04]: That we're here talking about Central Indiana Sports every day.
• 17:35
  [SPEAKER_04]: By sharing this podcast with a fever fan or two in your life.
• 17:40
  [SPEAKER_04]: Appreciate it.
• 17:53
  [SPEAKER_04]: This central Indian Esports report is a product of ITG media, and I love Susie.