Badgering: Diamond Bragg
November 14, 2018 | Women's Basketball, Varsity Magazine
Freshman guard shares how she’s adjusting to college life and favorite part of Madison so far
MADISON, Wis. — What has been the biggest difference for you between high school and college in basketball?
"The biggest difference is the level of intensity. In high school, there was intensity, but at college it is a whole new level. Another difference is the level of coaching, my coach in high school was intense, but Coach Tsipis is way more intense. I love being coached hard because at the end of the day, I know my coaches want to bring the best out of me. I know they would never tell me to do anything wrong and I know they are not yelling for the fun of it, they just want what will be best for me and my teammates. Also, the level of play in college is way different from high school. I am playing with girls and against girls that are on the same path as me. In high school, you did not get to always play against major high-level talent."
2-0‼️Oh, what a feeling!
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerWBB) November 13, 2018
How has your adjustment been academically?
"The adjustment academically has not been too hard. My parents always taught me at a young age to stay on top of my grades and to stay focused in school. Without good grades, there will be no basketball, so I continue to strive to do well in the classroom. The Fetzer academic staff has been a great help, as college is way different from high school. The Fetzer staff has made my transition much easier by helping me to become more organized and prepared and manage my time better."
How helpful has it been to you to have such a big freshman class on your team?
"It has been a great help having other freshmen to go through the same experiences as me. It helps me to know that I am not alone. We pretty much struggle with the same things, so it is nice having more freshman around me because they teach me different ways to cope. It also creates a great bond as we get through everything together and help each other out every step of the way."
What has been your favorite thing about Madison so far?
"My favorite thing is being able to walk around and enjoy different types of scenery. Most importantly, my favorite thing is being able to play in the Kohl Center and able to play with my teammates so we can have a successful season."
What was your first game in the Kohl Center like?
"The experience was amazing. It was my first time playing in an arena like that and it helped me to gain an idea about how my first official college game will be. It was a great experience knowing that I don't just have to watch college basketball on TV anymore. I am actually on the floor having people watching me on TV. That's exciting."
What made you decide to create "More than a Game" to raise money for Camp Curtin?
"I decided to create "More than a Game" because of my platform as a student-athlete within my community. As a student-athlete, I am able to play the game I love while going to college for free, which is the best of both worlds. With this being said, I wanted to translate my vision to the less-fortunate youth within my community. The goal of the "More than a Game" All-Star Game was to raise enough money to initiate a program that can help and inform student-athletes on how to get to the next level. My mission is to educate, inspire, and impower the youth in my community, and this is just one way of doing so."
