University of Minnesota Athletics
Janel McCarville: Making her Mark
12/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Many famous athletes have trademarks, distinguishing marks which make them stand out for more than their athletic prowess. Philadelphia 76er Allen Iverson has his arm sleeve and his tattoos. Olympic runner Florence Griffith Joyner had her extremely long and colorful fingernails. Tennis pros Venus and Serena Williams have their beaded hair. Our own Janel McCarville has her headband, huge shorts and tattoos. Well, that's not all there is to it.
Most opponents facing the University of Minnesota women's basketball team know they are in for a challenge, especially in the post low post. To compete, they have to be strong and quick, and they must study Minnesota's biggest threat- Janel McCarville.
McCarville has opened the eyes of women's basketball fans around the country. Nicknamed "Shaq" since coming to Minnesota, McCarville is a returning Kodak/WBCA All- American who is one of the top candidates of the various national player of the year awards. After setting an NCAA Tournament record for rebounds on the Golden Gophers' march to last year's Final Four, McCarville is working on her goal of making her senior season her best even after missing the season's first two games with a broken hand. McCarville is also on her way to becoming Minnesota's first player in 17 years and fourth player overall to accumulate over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a collegiate career.
McCarville has earned praise from sports reporters all over the country, from her home-state media in Wisconsin to the national media as this morning's USA Today article would attest. Recently, Chris Havel of the Green Bay Press-Gazette had this to say after Minnesota defeated the Phoenix last week; "Janel McCarville is the finest women's college basketball player I have ever seen. The University of Minnesota center is a breathtaking blend of power and quickness. She stands 6-foot-2, weighs enough to be an immovable object and handles the ball like it's a yo-yo."
While she has the capability of grabbing the attention of fans and media alike with her dominance on the basketball court, she also gets people to look twice with her headband, tattoos and carefree personality. "I'm very open and I don't hold back with anything. Life is more fun when you're not always serious," McCarville stated. "I just try to make the best out of every situation."
McCarville does just that. She seems to always have a smile on her face and in crunch times during the game, she has found a balance of calmness and intensity. "I consider myself a very free-spirited person," McCarville said. "I'm not really concerned with what other people think."
Gopher fans were treated to McCarville's first free-spirited act over the holiday break of her freshman year at Minnesota, when she and a friend spontaneously decided to dye her hair. "We didn't know what color we wanted to dye it, so we just picked the most blonde box that we could find," McCarville remembered.
When the Big Ten Conference season began that season, she stepped on the court as a new woman with bleach blonde hair. Since that day, there has been something different with her hair every year, but the physical changes do not stop there. Last year, the headband was added, and over the course of her career, a total of four tattoos, one on each of her left and right forearms, one on her left ankle and one on her right foot have all appeared.
On her right arm is a circle of letters that spell out "strength lies within" with the names of her siblings and parents. The quote and names form a circle that surrounds the letter M for McCarville. On her left arm are her mother Bonnie's initials, B.D.M., written in cursive. On her right foot is a basketball. Lastly, a green four-leaf clover has been tattooed on her left ankle. "The clover on my left ankle is the only one I haven't designed. I got that because I'm Irish," McCarville said.
But what she really considers to be her trademark are her oversized, humungous shorts she sports on the court. She will not wear anything that comes above her knees. "My shorts would be pants on Shoney (Shannon Schonrock)," McCarville said. "I get 2XL tall, so they're huge."
However, it is not all about looks for McCarville. What happens on the court is very important to her and she's willing to do whatever it takes to win. You can see the intensity in her eyes during a game or during practice, trying to focus and clear her mind. Before games she takes some mental preparation time to think about what head coach Pam Borton has talked about, and remains calm and collected.
"Before every game we usually have shoot-around about five and a half hours before game time. After that I eat, take a nap, shower, and get on the floor about 15 minutes before my teammates to shoot around and mentally prepare," McCarville stated. "I also listen to fast music like rap because it gets me pumped for games."
After Minnesota's star had such a stellar performance at the NCAA Tournament last year, expectations have been raised, but that hasn't changed her attitude or goals. "I don't really feel a lot of pressure because I have my teammates to support me," McCarville said. "They contribute just as much as I do and I have all the confidence in the world with them. If I'm making shots from the inside that opens them up, and if they're making shots from the outside that opens the middle up."
This is her last season of competition as a Golden Gopher, but McCarville still has the ultimate goal of winning Big Ten and NCAA titles in her sights. When the time comes to move on to the next level of basketball, she will no doubt carry the same goals, intensity and desires with her to be a champion, not to mention the McCarville trademarks.
Story by Cathy Behr, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant
Many famous athletes have trademarks, distinguishing marks which make them stand out for more than their athletic prowess. Philadelphia 76er Allen Iverson has his arm sleeve and his tattoos. Olympic runner Florence Griffith Joyner had her extremely long and colorful fingernails. Tennis pros Venus and Serena Williams have their beaded hair. Our own Janel McCarville has her headband, huge shorts and tattoos. Well, that's not all there is to it.
Most opponents facing the University of Minnesota women's basketball team know they are in for a challenge, especially in the post low post. To compete, they have to be strong and quick, and they must study Minnesota's biggest threat- Janel McCarville.
McCarville has opened the eyes of women's basketball fans around the country. Nicknamed "Shaq" since coming to Minnesota, McCarville is a returning Kodak/WBCA All- American who is one of the top candidates of the various national player of the year awards. After setting an NCAA Tournament record for rebounds on the Golden Gophers' march to last year's Final Four, McCarville is working on her goal of making her senior season her best even after missing the season's first two games with a broken hand. McCarville is also on her way to becoming Minnesota's first player in 17 years and fourth player overall to accumulate over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a collegiate career.
McCarville has earned praise from sports reporters all over the country, from her home-state media in Wisconsin to the national media as this morning's USA Today article would attest. Recently, Chris Havel of the Green Bay Press-Gazette had this to say after Minnesota defeated the Phoenix last week; "Janel McCarville is the finest women's college basketball player I have ever seen. The University of Minnesota center is a breathtaking blend of power and quickness. She stands 6-foot-2, weighs enough to be an immovable object and handles the ball like it's a yo-yo."
While she has the capability of grabbing the attention of fans and media alike with her dominance on the basketball court, she also gets people to look twice with her headband, tattoos and carefree personality. "I'm very open and I don't hold back with anything. Life is more fun when you're not always serious," McCarville stated. "I just try to make the best out of every situation."
McCarville does just that. She seems to always have a smile on her face and in crunch times during the game, she has found a balance of calmness and intensity. "I consider myself a very free-spirited person," McCarville said. "I'm not really concerned with what other people think."
Gopher fans were treated to McCarville's first free-spirited act over the holiday break of her freshman year at Minnesota, when she and a friend spontaneously decided to dye her hair. "We didn't know what color we wanted to dye it, so we just picked the most blonde box that we could find," McCarville remembered.
When the Big Ten Conference season began that season, she stepped on the court as a new woman with bleach blonde hair. Since that day, there has been something different with her hair every year, but the physical changes do not stop there. Last year, the headband was added, and over the course of her career, a total of four tattoos, one on each of her left and right forearms, one on her left ankle and one on her right foot have all appeared.
On her right arm is a circle of letters that spell out "strength lies within" with the names of her siblings and parents. The quote and names form a circle that surrounds the letter M for McCarville. On her left arm are her mother Bonnie's initials, B.D.M., written in cursive. On her right foot is a basketball. Lastly, a green four-leaf clover has been tattooed on her left ankle. "The clover on my left ankle is the only one I haven't designed. I got that because I'm Irish," McCarville said.
But what she really considers to be her trademark are her oversized, humungous shorts she sports on the court. She will not wear anything that comes above her knees. "My shorts would be pants on Shoney (Shannon Schonrock)," McCarville said. "I get 2XL tall, so they're huge."
However, it is not all about looks for McCarville. What happens on the court is very important to her and she's willing to do whatever it takes to win. You can see the intensity in her eyes during a game or during practice, trying to focus and clear her mind. Before games she takes some mental preparation time to think about what head coach Pam Borton has talked about, and remains calm and collected.
"Before every game we usually have shoot-around about five and a half hours before game time. After that I eat, take a nap, shower, and get on the floor about 15 minutes before my teammates to shoot around and mentally prepare," McCarville stated. "I also listen to fast music like rap because it gets me pumped for games."
After Minnesota's star had such a stellar performance at the NCAA Tournament last year, expectations have been raised, but that hasn't changed her attitude or goals. "I don't really feel a lot of pressure because I have my teammates to support me," McCarville said. "They contribute just as much as I do and I have all the confidence in the world with them. If I'm making shots from the inside that opens them up, and if they're making shots from the outside that opens the middle up."
This is her last season of competition as a Golden Gopher, but McCarville still has the ultimate goal of winning Big Ten and NCAA titles in her sights. When the time comes to move on to the next level of basketball, she will no doubt carry the same goals, intensity and desires with her to be a champion, not to mention the McCarville trademarks.
Story by Cathy Behr, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant
