Not that the Bruins' senior post is betting against her team, she just says the Pac-10 race is going to be a tough one in the 1999-2000 season.

"Oregon is always a big (contender)," said Martin, a preseason player of the year candidate, in a recent chat on ESPN.com. "Stanford is getting better and better and Arizona always does well against us."

In addition to breaking down the Pac-10, Martin also shares her WNBA aspirations, talks about Tennessee and gives us the skinny on just how good Nicole Kaczmarski, one of the most highly touted freshmen in the country, is going to be this season.

If you missed Martin's Oct. 13 chat, an edited transcript follows.

Rowan: How do you see the Pac-10 shaping up? If the Bruins are the favorite, who's also going to contend for the conference title?

Maylana Martin: Obviously, Oregon is always a big one. Stanford is getting better and better. They were really young last year. Arizona always does well against us. And then it's always a battle against USC with us. And they got some freshmen from L.A. that we were going after, too, so it's always a good game between us.

MARTIN'S FILE

Martin, a 6-foot-3 senior, was voted as the preseason Player of the Year by the Women's Basketball News Service last month, and also ranked second in voting as a preseason Naismith Award candidate. Martin, who was the Pac-10 player of the year as a junior, led the Bruins to the Pac-10 title and an appearance in the Elite Eight during the 1998-99 season. Martin also led the Pac-10 in scoring as a junior, averaging 18.2 points, and ranked second in the conference in rebounding with a 9.4 average in earning Kodak All-American honors. Just the second UCLA player to be named the Pac-10 Player of the Year (following Bruin alumna Natalie Williams), Martin could hold several career records at UCLA by the end of the 2000 season. She currently ranks fourth all-time in scoring (for players who have participated in at least 50 games) with a career average of 18.3 points per game.

Ed: Why did you choose to go to UCLA?

Maylana Martin: Well, I really enjoyed the coaching staff and connected with them really well. I also really enjoyed the team on my recruting trip and UCLA just felt like home. And, I wanted to be a part of something special. I was really torn between Stanford and UCLA. But I knew if I came to UCLA and we won the national title, that the first time winning a national title would feel more special than, say, the fourth or fifth time with Stanford. I also took a trip to Colorado but canceled trips to Georgia and Purdue.

Al: Hey May, hope your back is well this season. You're awesome! For my question, what have you been doing in the offseason to strengthen not only your game, but also your back and how is your back doing anyway? Good luck to you and the Bruins this season!!!!

Maylana Martin: I had back surgery (to repair a herniated disc) at the end of May, so this summer I've been doing spine stabilization exercises, where I strengthen my stomach muscles and back muscles. Toward the end of the summer I was getting back into conditioning with the team, and getting back into shooting and drills with the team. I'm also going through individual work with coach Kathy Olivier. But I have to start slow, so they (the doctors) want me to work in slowly over the weekend as practice gets under way.

Lexus White: What is the outlook for the Bruins defensively? It has been the Bruins' weakness when they get deep into the tourney. Do you expect it to be better?

Maylana Martin: I think that might be a lack of maturity on our part. We kind of have the "you score, we'll score more mentality." But for us to make it to the next level, we have to think in terms of "we score, and we make sure you don't." And with us being seniors, that might be the year we can finally get that through our heads.

Douglas from UT!: Are you ready for the Tennessee Lady Vols? Does that game highlight the Bruin schedule?

Maylana Martin: Definitely. Tennessee is the highlight on our schedule. We played them last year in Knoxville and their fans were awesome. We play a lot of top ten schools, though, and I'm trying not to look that far ahead. They beat us by a lot last year, so we want to redeem ourselves and maybe give them a better game this year (Nov. 28).

Rowan: Duke coach Gail Goestenkors picked UCLA, Georgia, Rutgers, UConn and Tennessee as the preseason top five in a chat in August. Do you agree with her?

Maylana Martin: That sounds like a really good top five. Louisiana Tech has got to be up there, too, and there's a lot of other teams as well.

Molly: What is Erica Gomez's injury going to mean to the Bruins at the beginning of the year ... Especially considering how well Michelle Greco filled in during the tournament last spring?

Maylana Martin: Not to take anything away from Michelle, but I think we'll struggle a little bit early on until Michelle gets used to that role again. She's had the entire summer to not be thinking as a point guard, because we all thought Erica would be playing. But I think she'll get the hang of it, and in the long run, I think it'll make us a better team when Erica does come back. I think once Michelle plays a few games and gets the hang of things again she'll do great.

Chris Willis: What is the strongest part of your game?

Maylana Martin: I think probably the way I run the floor. For being 6 feet 3, I get up and down the floor with the guards, and can get a few easy layups. And maybe rebounding. I take pride in rebounding because it's not one of the most glamorous parts of basketball and it takes a lot of hard work. I'd almost pride myself more in getting 20 rebounds than in getting 20 points.

Raul: Does the women's and men's team support each other? Best of luck and Go Bruins.

Maylana Martin: Yeah. We try and go to as many of their games as we can and they come to as many of ours as they can. But it's hard, because our Pac-10 schedules mirror each other, so when we're on the road, they're at home. But we try. I think it helps that we're better than we have been in the past because they pay more attention to us.

Lou: What has been your greatest moment as a Bruin?

Maylana Martin: My greatest basketball moment was winning the gold medal with the junior national team in Brazil right after my freshman year. My best Bruin moment-I've had a lot-was beating Kentucky to get past the Sweet 16 last year, and then beating Colorado State in the next round to go to the Elite Eight.

jovan felder: Who is the tougest opponent that you have to go up against?

Maylana Martin: We have a really tough preseason schedule. We go up against Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, Rutgers, UConn ... we have a lot of good teams. We always have a really good, physical, hard-fought battle with Rutgers, so that will be a really good game to watch. Individually, Tennessee still has the two Meeks and Michelle Snow, and they're always tough because they're so athletic. Oregon has a few big girls that are tough to guard as well.

chris willis: who is your favorite basketball player? who was your role model growing up?

Maylana Martin: My role model growing up was probably my mom. I never really looked up to anybody sportswise, but I loved how my mom dealt with me and my siblings with regard to sports. She never got down on us or bad-mouthed the coach if we didn't play. She always supported us. That's how I want to be when I have kids. I want to be like my mom.

Molly: This isn't meant to be mean because Janae Hubbard is my favorite college player, but can you give us some idea of what it is really like to run into her under the basket?

Maylana Martin: Janae is a really strong girl, and it helps having her on my team. I love having her on my team, and love playing against her and with her every day in practice. Playing against her in practice makes me that much bigger for the stronger and bigger post players I face during the season. Playing with her in games takes a lot of pressure off myself and our other post players because she draws so much attention.

Patrick, former Bruin cheerleader: If you had a choice, which WNBA team would you want to play for and why?

Maylana Martin: I want to go pro but I really don't know who I want to play for. I don't have anything against any team. As much as I wanted to stay home when deciding where to go to college, I maybe want to see something different at the pro level, maybe go somewhere new and try something different. I just hope no matter where I go I help the team and contribute and do whatever they need me to do. Last summer, I loved Game 2 of the WNBA finals. That Weatherspoon shot was so sweet. But I'd play anywhere.

Al: Where is Melanie Pearson and her long bombs this coming season? I did not see her name on the roster and how will her absence affect the team?

Maylana Martin: Mel is Mormon, so she is on her mission in Portugal. She will be there for a year and a half. She will come back in January 2001, and she will redshirt that year and then play her senior year in the 2001-2002 season. She will be a senior when Michelle Greco is a senior. So that's where she is and we're going to miss her-her long bombs, her maturity and just her as a person. I've played with her since ninth grade, so I'm really just going to miss being around her everyday.

UCLAlum98: How do you feel knowing that you are helping to open opportunies for young girls in athletics that you never necessarily had?

Maylana Martin: Well I had opportunities, but everyone always likened them to the guy opportunities, like saying I'd be in the NBA or one of the first women in the NBA. Now, little girls don't have to look up to male sports figures. The can look up to female sports figures and actually see something that they actually have the opportunity to accomplish. It's not just a dream. If they work hard enough, they can actually get there. That's probabably the most rewarding part of it, working with and just talking to little girls about this.

Al: How do you feel going up against Natalie Williams, Lisa Leslie, Yo Griffith, etc. on Nov. 5? Is it intimidating or how do you look at a game like this that a lot of pro scouts will probably be looking at?

Maylana Martin: Well, I've played Natalie before in practice, although it's no where near a game situation. Playing them, however, will only make me better, so I look forward to playing players like that. The minute coach Kathty Olivier told me we were playing them, I was psyched.

Art: Tell me about your new freshman guard, Nicole Kaczmarski. We need her to do well while Erica is hurt. I thought Erica pushes the ball little harder than Michelle and it helped you establishing your position quickly in offsense. Looking forward to see you in Philly!

Maylana Martin: Nicole is different from any guard we've had. She's a true point guard; Michelle is a converted point guard. She will shoot the ball a little bit more than Erica. She's a more of a scorer, but also she is looking more and more for her offensive players. I think that she's going to be a big key for us, but right now, I don't want to put any extra pressure on her. I know she'll do well at UCLA. She just needs to figure out where she fits in.

I'm looking forward to seeing you as well in Philly. Let's hope I'm on the court, not in the crowd watching the game with you.

Thanks everyone for writing in. That's all the time I have for now, but it's been a lot of fun. I hope to see you again, maybe in Philadelphia.