Bowling Green State University Athletics
Ali Mann Shines in the Spotlight
March 20, 2007 | Women's Basketball
March 15, 2007
By Anthony Lawrence Caruso, Fullcourtpress.com - Like most high school kids, Ali Mann didn't know where she was going to college. She had two choices: Bowling Green or Dartmouth.
As it turned out, the Falcons' gain was Dartmouth's loss - not to mention all those other schools that didn't recruit her -- as the Michigan native has turned out to be one of the greatest women's basketball players in Bowling Green's history. She is fourth in scoring, with more than 1,550 career points, and seventh in rebounding, with close to 800 rebounds. It would be a shock if she were not all-conference in the MAC for the fourth straight season.
Full Court Press: Bowling Green is having a wonderful season and is nationally ranked. Is it gratifying to be at a mid-major school and still get all this attention?
Ali Mann: It's unbelievable. When I first came here with this group of seniors, this program wasn't exactly in the top programs in the nation, let alone at the top in the MAC. We've made a big turnaround and this is the ride of a lifetime. I'm not ready for it to end yet.
FCP: You have five players averaging more than 9.6 ppg, something you don't see a lot at any level in basketball. What makes it possible for this team to have such balanced scoring?
Ali Mann: We're full of great players and great shooters. There's no ego on this team -- everyone is really unselfish. We always look to make the extra pass. At any given night, any player can step up and have a monster game. It's a tribute to this team. We all play for each other as a team.
FCP: Even though everyone contributes, as a senior and leading scorer, do you feel like you want to take the last shot in a close game?
Ali Mann: We really didn't have many close games this year, but coach does a good job of putting the ball in the hands of the player who is hot. If I'm hot one game, hopefully I'll get the last shot. If some one else on my team is hot, like Car (Carin Horne) or Liz (Liz Honegger), then they'll be taking the last shot -- and I have complete faith in anyone who is put in that position.
FCP: You had an outstanding high school career. Did you play in the summer as well?
Ali Mann: I played AAU ball, including a lot of summer travel. I went to a lot of different places. I even played in national summer tournaments.
FCP: How important was summer basketball to your development as a player?
Ali Mann: Basketball is a great sport because you can play it at any time of the year. If you take a season off, then you are going to be behind others. Playing in the summer, winter, spring, and fall -- you want to play as much as you can to be the best you can be. I was lucky enough to be on good teams throughout my high school and AAU careers.
FCP: Did it help you to get noticed by more colleges?
Ali Mann: High school basketball really didn't get me any recognition. So I played in all the summer and exposure camps to get recognized by college coaches.
FCP: Did any Big 12 or Big 10 schools recruit you?
Ali Mann: The only school that I was heavily recruited by, and sought after, was Bowling Green. They sent me millions of things. They were the only school that showed a really true interest in me.
FCP: Did you want to go to a school in a BCS conference?
Ali Mann: You always dream about going to the ACC or any of the big schools. For me, personally, I was going to go anywhere that I could play and where I could get a scholarship. I lucked out and came in with a great senior class and we turned this program around.
FCP: What made you decide on Bowling Green?
Ali Mann: It was kind of a last resort. I had no other options really. It came down to Bowling Green and Dartmouth. I went to visit Dartmouth and found out it wasn't for me. The coaching staff, the vision, making the players believe that they were all a family -- those were the reasons why I chose Bowling Green. They also sold me on their vision.
FCP: It seems a lot of young players focus on going to a Big 10, Big 12, or ACC school, and so on. What are the advantages and disadvantages in going to a mid-major school?
Ali Mann: One disadvantage is that you don't get the national exposure. You really don't get much recognition and you are not really in the spotlight very often. But at the same time, when you get a chance to play the big-name schools, you are always the underdog. And it's a fun role to play because no one expects anything from you because they all expect you to lose. You can go into the big game and play loose and have fun and enjoy your time in the national spotlight. Big-name schools always have pressure on them.
FCP: Last year, Western Kentucky had a great record but lost in the conference tournament and didn't get invited to the NCAA tournament. Do you think that could have happened to Bowling Green this year?
Ali Mann: I really don't know what might have happened. This team didn't want to take any chance of not being invited. It was our dream to go there again this year. We took care of business because being from a mid-major school, you really don't know what can happen.
FCP: Do you think the NCAA selection committee favors schools from the bigger schools?
Ali Mann: Yes. I know they take in account a lot of things, like the RPI, strength of schedule, and all that stuff, so the bigger schools have the advantage in that area because they play in a better conference and they play great teams almost every night in their conference, which boosts their RPI and strength of schedule. The little schools don't get that chance. Us winning against schools in our conference almost hurts us in the computer rankings as opposed to a school in a bigger conference, which loses to Tennessee. Duke, or (teams) of that nature. It helps them more than us winning against a school in our league. They get to play bigger schools and that's why get more recognition.
FCP: Did the fate of Western Kentucky last year put more pressure on your team in the conference tournament?
Ali Mann: If we lost the conference tournament, we didn't expect to go to the NCAA tournament. That's the mindset that we've had since we've gotten here. The pressure is always the same year-in and year- out for us.
FCP: Have you thought about playing overseas or in the WNBA?
Ali Mann: I really don't want this dream to end. I am hoping I can make it professionally, hopefully, overseas. I really don't know how realistic the WNBA is for me.
FCP: Have you had a chance to play against any WNBA players in pick-up games over the years?
Ali Mann: No, not in pick-up games. We've played against Kansas State in the NCAA tournament. In the NCAA tournament is where I played against some of the players in the WNBA. I played against Kendra Wecker, Kansas State, and this year, we played Duke -- and some of those girls are going on to the WNBA. When we had a tough schedule, that's the only time I've played against them.
FCP: George Mason went to the Final Four on the men's side last year. Is that an inspiration to your team?
Ali Mann: We're trying to get as much inspiration as we can get. It's every mid-major's dream to be the Cinderella story, to make big upsets.
FCP: What has been the most satisfying thing about your experience at Bowling Green?
Ali Mann: I would say winning. I love to win. Having the opportunity to go to two NCAA tournaments; the opportunity to be there on the big stage was amazing too. There are a lot of people who will never get that opportunity. I'm grateful to be a part of a close-knit family with this team and to have so much success on the court.
