Dec. 18, 2008

Gostanford.com sat down with sophomore guard Jeanette Pohlen following practice at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C. on the Stanford women's basketball team's current road trip. Halfway through the nine-day trip, we asked Jeanette a little about growing up in Southern California, going to school in Northern California, the definition of "cold" weather, and her thoughts about her first trip to North Carolina earlier this week.

Gostanford.com: Jeanette, you're a Southern California girl, from Brea, so can you describe Southern California a little bit for us?

Jeanette Pohlen: Well...personally I think Southern California is one of the best parts of the country because there are so many things to do there. You can go to the mountains, the beach, the desert, you're within about an hour of everything. Orange County, it is obviously a nice area and Brea is a great community. Growing up in Brea was really nice for me and my family.

You chose to come play basketball at Stanford, in Northern California, so with that in mind, what, to you, are some of the differences between Northern and Southern California?

JP: I think that Northern and Southern California are two totally different areas in comparison to each other. Northern California is a lot more liberal at least compared to Orange County, especially, but coming up to Stanford there was definitely a change as far as the people, the different places around, and the culture of Northern California. I think its really fun in Northern California, it's a good place for me to be and has new experiences for me to enjoy.

Ok, so which one is better, Northern or Southern California?

JP: (laughs) Southern, for sure!

Which region has the better beaches, Northern or Southern?

JP: I'm going to have to go with Huntington, or Newport, or Laguna Beach in Southern California. Laguna Beach is gorgeous. There's a beach called Thousand Steps Beach that I go to a lot with my friends that is amazing.

JP: I don't surf, but I really want to learn!

With the team recently being in Hawai'i [for the Waikiki Beach Marriott Classic]...Waikiki Beach or the Southern California beaches?

JP: Waikiki, for sure. It is gorgeous in Hawai'i. The Pacific Ocean, from Hawai'i to California, I don't know how it got so different, but Hawai'i has nicer beaches.

When you decided to come to Stanford, what really swayed you to leave your hotbed and comfort zone of Southern California?

JP: I definitely wanted a change. I wanted to get out of Brea and experience things and go to one of the greatest universities not just on the West Coast, but in the country. It didn't take much for me to want to go up there and make new friends, meet new people, and have a great experience up north.

One of your friends and a former Brea Olinda High School teammate, Kimee Goeggel, currently plays basketball at Santa Clara and came up here a year before you did. Did she give you a Northern California scouting report before you came up?

JP: (laughs) She definitely said that its different than Brea, since we both grew up there and call it the "Brea Bubble." She said Northern California is different, but in a good way, and that it was good for us.

Since you've been up here in Northern California for the past year and a half, what are some places you like to go check out?

JP: San Francisco is definitely a favorite of mine, I just love the "big city" feel. San Jose is also great, but I definitely like all the shopping and restaurants in San Francisco, that's a big thing for me when I go up there!

Speaking of new regions to experience, you mentioned when we left for this current road trip (Duke, South Carolina, Tennessee) that you'd never been to North Carolina and South Carolina and Tennessee. Through the first few days of this trip, what are your impressions of Durham and Columbia?

JP: In Durham, it was a little creepy seeing all of the deep forest areas surrounding the university. Duke was pretty but the weather is not as warm and comforting as it is in California. Of course I'm biased (laughs), growing up in California, you know, cold to me is around 60 [degrees].

So "cold" to you is anytime you can't wear flip-flops outside?

JP: (laughs) Basically. Anytime I have to put a sweatshirt on!

So where is the coldest place you've ever been?

JP: I've been to Alaska, and that's pretty cold. And we went on a cruise during the summer, which wasn't even close to how cold it really gets there in the winter. It was still really cold, we had to bring our big coats and boots out, you know?

With that in mind, whenever a light rain falls in Southern California or the temperature drops below 60, do you begin to prepare for a weather apocalypse? Like in "Day After Tomorrow?"

JP: No, no!

Is that an overblown myth about Southern California?

JP: Yes, yes, yes.

It's not the leading story on the news?

JP: No! We get some good rain in Southern California sometimes. There have been flood warnings and the like, but for the most part, people don't freak out about rain there.

Ok, back to the current trip, the team just played a game in Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium. What was that like for you to play there, just seeing all of the retired jerseys, the banners, and all of the history in the place?

JP: It was really cool when we first went in there. On TV it looks a lot different, but then you actually get in there and you're just like, "Wow, this is a historical gym, there is so much history in here." It was really cool to take that all in and think about all of the great coaches, players and teams that have played there.

In the rafters, there was a retired number hanging there, number 24, do you know who that player is?

JP: Yep, Johnny Dawkins. We all noticed it, we knew!

Ok, just making sure! Now, the team will end the trip in Tennessee, playing in Thompson-Boling Arena. What are you expecting when you go in there?

JP: I'm definitely expecting a big, crazy crowd. The fans there live and breathe Tennessee basketball. From what I hear, it is a really fun environment to play in, so it is going to be really exciting and loud.

Alright, now let's end this with a couple of Southern California sports questions...first, Dodgers or Angels?

JP: Angels! I live like 15 minutes from Anaheim, and I've actually met Mike Scioscia, so I'm an Angels fan.

Lakers or Clippers?

JP: Lakers.

Does that go without question?

JP: Kind of.

Favorite Laker?

JP: That's a good one, but I'd say Kobe Bryant.