And welcome back to Crimson Cask ale and klaviyo. Here joined by Amanda Foster. We haven't been on together for a little bit, but Amanda happy New Year. How you doing? I'm doing pretty well. Happy New Year, happy holidays. I'm a back in Bloomington now, which is really nice and very happy to be back. So it's thick the Best two days in Bloomington, where nobody else is here at all. I can I can verify that because I was, I went out to watch the IU men's game last night.
And there were not people out by and large, which given the way that game went, maybe they were the Smart Ones, but yeah, probably probably, but no, we're happy to be back here at Crimson cast for the 2023 year. I guess, you know, we got to to Sports Seasons coming up. We got a bunch going on as both.
Men's and women's basketball are hitting the home stretch here as they get into Big Ten play and hopefully NCAA tournament play after that for both squads and we wanted to welcome a special guest on the show as Nicole cardano. Hillary, who many of you know played here at IU and was it was a key part of the most successful IU, Women's teams that we've had joins us live off continent. As she's currently in Spain, Nicole. Well, great to have you on the show.
How are you doing? Thanks, thanks for having me.
I'm doing well. Like you said, I'm I'm over here overseas and really enjoying it. Let's let's just go ahead and dive in and kind of talk about where you're at and what's been the, I guess the sequence of events since you graduated from IU and, you know, now you find yourself playing overseas like what, what does that whole process been like and worked in the order of operations on it. Well I mean honestly the process has been something that I've just kind of had to you know, go
as I mean you know, take as I go because I had a couple friends that went through this whole process and but I guess I just didn't know, you know the actual steps but pretty much I guess.
The first step is I got an agent and and you start to decide with your agent whether or not You know, you want to stay in a certain part of Europe and like, for example, I wanted to say in Spain. So that's something that me and my agent talked about and then you kind of just start getting connected to. Well, they get you connected to different teams and in what I wanted, like I said, Spain and from then on you, you know, obviously every agent, every
situation, every player, and then, of course, every contract is different. And so, They pretty much give you an idea of what your contract would be and then you pick from there. And that's pretty much how I ended up here. So I've looked at the team name and I'm terrified of trying to pronounce.
Okay, don't tell the folks who you're playing for, what the league is and and what's kind of the overall season setup looks like it for that Squad. Yeah, so the name is intimidating, its it was really ivica. And then o Squadron, which is I'm so glad I didn't try that. Yeah, nope. Well, we're up here in The Basque country and so a lot of these names are even, you know, very unfamiliar to me. But but pretty much the season we're in the first League. It's called me kind this, huh?
And pretty much the seasons kind of set up as you would, you know, if I try to compare it to maybe the college season, it would be, we Preseason. And then you start off and you do you certain to conference play which would be here in Spain. And then this year, we were fortunate enough to be in otoko about which is a whole nother division, another League where you play, you know, throughout Europe. And so we got to do that kind of earlier in the season and it was an incredible experience.
We went to quite a few Ooh, different countries that I don't think, you know, I would have ever thought about, you know, going to if it weren't for basketball and, and really cool experiences. And then, so we finished with that portion the eurocup portion of the season, and now we're doing the second round of our conference season. Okay. So you know what's the makeup of
the roster of the team? You know are there is a lot of players primarily from Europe. Are there other other players that have played in the United States? What does that setup look like? Like, well, there's there's different rules on in each league and so you're only allowed to have a certain amount of Americans and things like that so you are definitely going to see more Europeans on the team. But yeah, I mean there is Technically I'm not considered an American.
So right? I would say since I came from playing in America I would say there's two of us and then yeah the wrestlers quite a few Spaniards we have to Africans and Romanians from there's another from Latvia. I mean we're really from all around to be honest. So I'm curious what was the adjustment like for you playing in? College and then obviously going and you have a whole new team in a whole different makeup and what kind of role have you kind of Taken on in that process but
it definitely was a big change. And like you said, I had a lot of adapting to do just and that's going to happen on any team. Whether you go play overseas, or if you just joined a different team. I am extremely lucky, or I have been throughout my whole college. Career. Absolutely love my teammates. And and you know, that's that's a big part of the adjustment process is being able to kind of, you know, fit in and, you know, get to know your
teammates. And so that has been very fairly easy in a sense And then, you know, to just to the style of play that has been probably, you know, the biggest kind of difference that I've noticed because it's also I my style of play is very Americanized because of having played in America for so many years compared to the style here.
So just adjusting to that. And and understanding what they want compared to, you know what, maybe I think in my head I'm used to That's probably been the biggest adjustment know what does that exactly mean, americanize, I gotta take a lot of our listeners to be curious because we see a lot of know, in in both men's and women's basketball will see a lot of players go and play in Europe and it's clearly a different
style of play. But but but for those people who maybe aren't aware of the specifics or details, like what are the primary differences in your eyes.
In my eyes? I would say, first of all, the physicality There is a lot that are, I guess I should say, you can be way more physical here and refs are, you know, going to allow you to to make that contact compared to in the state's, you know, coming from a defensive perspective, which was a big role of mine at IU. That's, I've noticed a big difference of being able to to, you know, be more physical.
But at the same time, understanding that I have to also take the physicality on the other end and so I would say that and also the style of play, I would say that European ball is more awful compared to, you know, one-on-one style play that you see a lot in the states and like one thing that I would say is fouls are used in a way to like stop. APA game. That's very different than what
you would do in the states. Like in the state's sit there and you would, you know, play defense to stop the ball. Can bear to hear sometimes on a fast break, you know, if your team isn't in position, then you take that file and you know, kind of stop the game and then kind of re conjoin or you know whatever you want to call it and get your defense back on track.
I think that's I mean that's a good example of how difference how Those the two styles are so while you're at Indiana, obviously everyone kind of everyone who watched obviously knew how you played in from a very defensive standpoint is that still the role that you have on this new team or is there something else that you're doing? Mainly. Yeah, I would say a big part of my role as defense. And as a point guard it's hard to say that you know, that in itself isn't a role.
And so obviously understanding you know what? My coach wants what? I can take advantage of on the offensive side and how people you know, are going to try to take advantage of my size on the defensive side. That's kind of stayed the same, but it's at the same time, completely different because it's a whole other team. So yes and no. Yeah, answered your question at
all. Yeah. It looks like statistically, I mean, obviously a little bit of a transitional period at the beginning of the season, but you really started to pick up in minutes and any rural statistical contributions. I mean, how how is the process of getting more comfortable with the style of play and your role on the team? Like how is that progressed? And how have you I guess kind of process that transition over into being a professional player?
Well, I mean, like I said on any team you're going to have to It takes time to adjust and understand and and like I said, in the role that I'm in, there's a lot of trust that goes into being able to be on the court and being the one calling plays and looking at the coach and being that, you know, second coaches, they call us. So, I would say just yeah, I mean, little by little, it took time to understand and and kind of get my feet wet in that sense.
And and little by little I think I've Been kind of working my way kind of into to kind of understanding and being more fluid with my teammates and the game and itself. I guess I different kind of question now. Going back. You just mentioned the amount of travel you were able to do what was the Fate, what was your favorite spot that you've been able to play in? If you can find one, gosh, I don't know if I can pick.
I think it's just the fact that I can say that I've been, like, to the Czech Republic in like, places like that. That you're like, wow. Like I mean, we've been to France, which was really cool as well. Yeah, I mean, I don't know if I could say one specific one, but I will say that, it's been really cool to see the differences in the gyms and everything in the different countries which they kind of do all say the same.
But in their own way, when you see like the fans and everything like that, it definitely changes. Let's switch gears a little bit and talk about your time here at IU. So you know, you you came in and it was in the middle essentially of covid. It was a very unusual time to say the least but you ended up being a part of two of the most successful, maybe the most to successful seasons in IU Women's basketball history, as you reflect back on what that experience was like, what's up
with you with it? And you know what things have you were you most the most proud of? But I guess when you walk out of here, I mean like you said those those two years were I mean, it's hard to put into words but they were incredible. I mean, not only coming in in covid and having to deal with, you know, all that yet.
Getting to the point that we got two in the tournament and just in the season and all was incredible and then that second year being able to to say that we were still able to make it you know, as far I mean you know close to as far as we did and to say that we weren't just you know, that that One time team that was going to do it and then you know, we'll just die off like the fact that we kept with it and understood what we had to do and you know, worked our way and I think also for me
personally coming from a smaller school and obviously I am small as well. You know, physically, I think, you know, I'm just proudest that that I was able to To have my coaches trust in me and and, you know, make me part of the team. And the way that I was in the role that I played, and yeah, I would say I'm just proud that I was part of that team and being able to say that I was is some incredible feeling.
Culture is a big thing, and everybody kind of talks about the culture of Indiana basketball from your perspective. What did you see? Whether it was from the coaches or your other teammates, are the fans, just how did that kind of play into your game and then the success of the team as a whole that when you were with them? I mean, I think that the culture of I you just without even thinking about it, I mean, Indiana such a basketball
school, you know? And, and understanding not even the pressure, but kind of the, you know, what's behind. The name is all part of the culture and understanding that when you wear Indiana on your chest, you know, there's a lot of people, whether it be the fans, your coaches, you know, your family friends, there they're expecting you and And you know, rightfully so to do your best. And and I think that The coaches, and just the whole
Atmosphere by you. It's just so easy to fall into IU and completely being there, 100% committed. And, and I think that's, that's such a big part of the culture is, is the commitment and the consistency that there is with, like, with the fans. And I think that is something
that's that. We talked about a lot because it's so true or we talked about before, Is that the fans are such a big part of of our energy and and everything that comes with, you know, coming out and being able to play our best is having those fans around its unmatched.
That's awesome. Yeah, the it's been fascinating to watch it. Someone has been at IU for a long time first, as a student, and then and then as a faculty member and then watching, IU Women's Basketball which really struggled to, you know, kind of maintain a foothold with with you know many fans suddenly become this thing where I think Amanda. If I'm right like the game this past weekend they think the attendance was like six or seven
thousand. Yeah that's a huge leap and you know it didn't all Ben while you were there but the fact that, you know, covid kind of ends and then everybody kind of not just the people come back but you had new people coming in consistently. That that's a really fascinating vibe to watch from the outside like how conscious are you as players of that on the team? Like how much, how much do you notice that? And how much does that resonate
with the way that you played? I mean, it's definitely. you know, obviously we play to win and we play, you know, we've practiced long hours and we understand that we're capable, but it also gives you a great feeling to know that, you know, all those people that come, whether it be those that have come for Years or new people, you know, to be able to say like, you know, we're out here playing our hardest and giving it our all and understanding that they're there to cheer us
on whether you know, whether it's cold outside, whether it's hot weather, it's a Friday, what, you know, They're just there to enjoy. And for me, I just love that, you know, we can be that source of entertainment and and, you know, joy for someone. And I think that's that's the biggest part about it and I remember connections, really?
Yeah, the the Princeton game in the tournament last year, I think that was still one of the best environments I've ever been in. Is like this could happen every single game if people really showed up and stayed consistent so absolutely. I agree 100%.
I think that, I mean my family was there and you know, my family doesn't get to be there all the time and even they were saying, I mean, that environment is something that is Unforgettable. I mean I remember especially kind of towards the end of my last season which I knew was coming, you know going out there and it just gives you goosebumps you know hearing you come out of the locker room and you hear those people just cheering you on an do it. It just it still gives me goosebumps.
It feels like college. Women's college basketball is kind of a Changing of the Guard going on a little bit right now. I mean, you know, for the previous 15 years it's a lot of Yukon lot of Notre Dame, a lot of South Carolina, Stanford kind of the the traditional name brands and then then you look at what IU has done the last few years, Ohio State, you know, Maryland some of these other programs.
I mean, how do you view where women's college basketball is at now because it feels like from an outsider's. Spectre beliefs that there are a lot more programs who are capable of getting to a final four, applying at a really high level and the competition level just seems to have exploded. I mean, is, does that seem like it from your perspective? And what do you think the driving force behind that is?
I absolutely agree with that. I think in these past years, we've seen it just in the tournaments who is, who is there? It's not always the same people, like you said, Yukon and Baylor and, and, you know, the main ones. But I think it's I don't know, you know, maybe whatever is in the water they say, I don't know if that's how they say it, but I think it's just programs. Have have put a lot into whether it be recruiting.
And then, you know, once you have the girls, they're creating a culture within a team and in a program and I think it's also a big part is People under, you know, kind of getting into women's basketball and, and like we said, like new fans and things like that. And I think that's a big part of
it too. Is, is, if you if your program like I've said as a player having fans and doing all that, it just helps immensely, you know, whether whether you know, it's physically or mentally, but those are to the same thing at the end of the day. Absolutely. Yeah, what I mean, what's your perspective on this years? Why you team obviously they've that had a lot of really good moments are ready to start the season.
Certainly some unfortunate moments with with Grace going down with the injury and so forth but you know if you got a chance to walk the much or talk with anybody on the team, what's your perspective on them at this point? Well, I unfortunately being here and then the time change and then also the VPN, I've been trying to figure out how to watch the games and it's been super hard.
But I have tried to follow with box scores and obviously like, you know, Twitter and Instagram and all that and they've been doing really well and I love that, you know, because it is quite a different team because, you know, losing the three of us and then also more players and then knew coming in and seeing how they've kind of all been able to come together. And and yeah, I have to Talk to the coaches and my teammates
still. And and I mean, I think that they, you know, like I said that program is such a, such a great program to be a part of and and I think, you know, sky's the limit for them and they've been doing really well. And I mean obviously every once in awhile, you know, you're going to have those types of games that, you know, he wished he could, you know, get back, but you keep going. And this team is in this program. I should say, is one that doesn't give up.
So, go all my faith in them. There's been, I guess especially compared to last year this year, a lot more players coming in off the bench and the lot more contributions in that way. I don't know how much, obviously, if you've been able to keep up with that. But was that kind of a surprise to you based off of the way that the starters played?
So consistently last year? What do you think kind of is going into that those decision-making skills or just the the decision making, um, I mean, like you said, I haven't been able to watch as much but what I would guess.
And, of course, I'm also not a coach, but I could definitely see the fact that it's it is a whole almost new team and then with Grace going down and, you know, being out for for a little bit is that's definitely gonna get a kind of You have to get new players involved, but also I think that the new players have that are part of the team are are very good pieces and being able to use those as much as you possibly can, that's just
another advantage that IU has. Yeah, Matt, hopefully ends up now, you know, get down the road, you get Grace back on the court. Now, you have a much larger tool kit to use. Yeah, yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. That's that's the goal really is to have that That bench that you can rely on? Yeah there it's really fascinating because again it's like roster depth and things of that nature that really it's one thing to have a good set of
starters. It's another to be able to pull other pieces off who can both play large minutes but also play situationally. And you know just feels like given the high level of competition, particularly in the Big Ten at this point with so many good teams, you're just going to have to have that and it's just it's almost a non-negotiable thing, especially if you have Operations to go deep in the NCAA tournament. I was going to say there's also
it's a long season. So yeah, you definitely want to have, you know, as much fresh legs as you possibly can. When the car rotation? What what's coming up for you here in the next couple of months? Obviously, you're still in season. How long does the season go for you? And Jody. Are there any particularly interesting games or trips coming up? That that your, you got your eye on?
Well, like I said, we're in the second round of the conference or the league play and our season, or regular season would end April 15th and then you go into playoffs and the top 8 teams go into playoffs. So hopefully, you know, we can, we can do that. And as for games that I'm excited about, I mean, honestly, all of Them.
Although I will say, we are going to go play Salamanca which is bedroom ideas, how I knew that, which is where Alexa gobei plays and so I'll get to play against her and see her. So I'm very excited about that. Have you two been keeping in touch and kind of are you? But you think you both have your eye on that game? Absolutely, absolutely. Yeah. We talked, we talked quite a bit and you know, definitely stay in touch as well. Awesome. Well, we'll look forward to
continue to watching from afar. It'd be great to get some of the games available here, but we're still in a situation where we don't get all of the global stuff unfortunately and you're obviously in spot with IU Women's Ball, but thanks so much for taking the time to talk with us and best of luck for the rest of this season. And we'll look forward to hopefully having you on again here soon.