C. Vivian Stringer is one of the game's most respected coaches.

Even though more than a week has passed since the then-No. 18 ranked Wolf Pack beat the then-No. 3 Scarlet Knights, Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer says it's going to take a long time to get past that one.

"I'm still breathing fire from that game," Stringer said during a chat with ESPN.com on Tuesday. "It'll take the whole year for me to get this out of my throat. I really regret the way we represented ourselves."

Rutgers returns to the court this weekend in the Rutgers Coca-Cola Classic. In the meantime, if you missed Stringer's chat, which also featured junior point guard Tasha Pointer, check out the edited transcript below.

Ru_phan: Tasha ... how is the wrist? Will you be 100 percent for the Coca-Cola Classic?

Tasha Pointer: My wrist is just fine. I actually just sprained it, and I've been practicing every day. I will be playing in the upcoming games. It's nothing that has slowed me down. It's in a soft cast during the day so that I can stay away from using it. In practice, I just tape it up and I'm good to go.

We definitely are excited to play again. When you lose, the loss just dwells on your mind forever, but to have the opportunity to put on a uniform again is something I am looking forward to. Putting on your game uniform in front of Rutgers' audiences means everything in the world because the fans have accepted me, my teammates and coach Stringer. As much as possible, we like to give back to the community.

Diana D: Hi, Tasha! Rutgers has already established itself as one of the best teams in the country, but I know that you have unfinished business from last year. What have you done during the offseason to help prepare yourself and your team for a run at the Final Four? Good luck this year!

Tasha Pointer: Actually, we went over to Europe as a team, and played a lot of pickup ball together on the same team instead of against each other. And we definitely learned to accept each other's roles. We're all just together on the same page trying to accomplish the same goal, and that's to represent Rutgers University and the Big East in the Final Four.

Amy: Hey Tasha, first of all good luck with your season. What happened in your first game? And what do you and your team have to do to win games and hopefully make it to Philly? Continued success, Tasha P.

Tasha Pointer: The loss actually put things in perspective. It's not just about wearing a Rutgers uniform or playing for coach Stringer that will assure a Rutgers victory. We lacked intensity and defensive effort, and that really showed up against NC State. I'm not taking anything away from them because they're a good team, but we didn't do the little things that make us successful. It's hard to say the loss was good for us, but it made us realize that on any night we can be beat. We have to maximize our effort.

rowan: tasha -- tell me who you think are the top five point guards in the country?

Tasha Pointer: I would have to definitely go with myself. Karlita Washington, who is on our team as well. I'm not sure about La. Tech, Tamicha Jackson. She shoots the ball like a two-guard. She is definitely lightning quick and keeps the defense on their heels. Karlita has an all-around game, definitely capable of running Rutgers or any other team. There are so many good ones that it's hard to come up with a list.

sam: tasha -- who is your basketball idol?

Tasha Pointer: I have several. I just can't say I've tried to polish my game behind one in particular. Isiah Thomas. Michael Jordan, which is probably everybody's because of his competitive attitude, work ethic and love and desire. Also Dawn Staley, and Teresa Weatherspoon, who brings intensity. You can actually feel her presence on the court. Magic Johnson, because he had unbelievable court vision but was also a championship player.

Susan: Tasha -- what WNBA team would you like to play for, when that time comes? Would you like to play with Dominique again?

Tasha Pointer: Actually, I would love to go and play professionally, but if that doesn't happen, I'm definitely going to get a real job. I'd like to be a news anchorwoman. But I would love to play with her again. I would just be happy to be selected as a draft pick. Playing in the WNBA is my dream.

Amy: Tasha -- Are you free to call your own plays on court -- and how does it feel?

Tasha Pointer: Yes. But I must call plays that will help the team prosper. I have to call plays that's going to the person with the hot hand. And if I'm not doing that, coach Stringer takes over the signals. It really does show a sign of maturity. I feel that a couple of years ago, I wasn't capable of calling them myself. But now that I understand the game a little bit more, I think coach Stringer trusts me to call the plays.

WestCoastHusky: TASHA: Which coaches, besides coach Stringer, do you consider to be the best in the women's college basketball world right now?

Tasha Pointer: I guess I would have to say Leon Barmore, because he has tradition at La. Tech. It's not like his program just snuck up on anybody. He built that tradition. Pat Summitt as well, who has laid the tradition and won championships as well to back up that claim. And Geno Auriemma as well. He's been around the game for awhile, won a championship and brought in some great recruits.

I also think my coach is just phenomenal. Young ladies who played for coach Stringer 20 years ago still come back to see her, to talk to her present players and just be the voice to let us know that things are OK when they seem too tough and stressful to handle. That means that coach Stringer is doing something right. We're all family here.

WY98: Hey Tasha, What is one thing that you've learned from Coach Stringer not having to do with basketball? Do you still keep in touch with former teammates from Whitney Young? Good luck with your season.

Tasha Pointer: I think she's taught me how to be a young lady, how to carry myself when the camera's on me and when it's not. And also how to be disciplined, even if no one is watching you. And to always represent Rutgers and our parents. And more how to be family-oriented and to push for family goals and aspirations.

And more importantly, she's teaching us how to be young ladies to survive in a world that recognizes hard work and determined people, not just athletes.

Susan: Tasha, How has your game changed since being coached by Coach Stringer? Would you want to coach after your playing days are over? Good luck!!

Tasha Pointer: My game has changed to the point of getting everybody else involved, knowing that at point guard, it's not about me scoring points but about leadership. My game is about leadership, about mental toughness, breaking the game down in my head strategically and my enthusiasm about the game, not just about offense, but defense, too.

As for coaching, I think I do want to, just to give it a shot, to see the other side. I'd like to coach because I'm a competitor.

WDEBFM: HEY TP, IT'S DEB WALKER. JUST WANNA SAY GOOD LUCK FOR THE YEAR. THE WAY TO PHILLY IS "HEART" AS WELL AS HARD WORK. KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE. SEE YOU SOON.

Tasha Pointer: Thanks for the support. Looking forward to seeing you this season as well as the rest of the former C. Vivian Stringer players, and I definitely understand what you're saying about "heart."

Thanks everybody for your support, and thanks for tuning in. I'm handing it over to coach Stringer.

Joseph S.: Hello Coach Stringer and Tasha. Coach Stringer, you are such an inspiration to me and I am a true and blue UNC fan. Who are the other coaches in the Women's you really respect and admire? Tasha, which women's point guards did you admire? My all-time favorite, Kim Mulkey!!!

C. Vivian Stringer: Well, I have a great deal of respect for Pat Summitt, and that's because I don't think many people can appreciate, no matter how much talent you have, her ability to get her players to play to their potential year in and year out. And she has them play to a level of excellence. They are a precision team and she has done an excellent job in getting them to embrace what she coaches. Year in and year out they're at the highest level.

And Geno Auriemma as well. Anytime you have a team that continues to do well, you have to admire the coach. No matter how much talent a coach has, it takes a special talent to be able to get each of those players to play at that level of potential and attain the national power they have.

I also respect Leon Barmore. Love him and respect him so much. In the first NCAA Tournament in '82, we were both there. He somehow has still been able to sustain that level of excellence, and that's because he is so brilliant. He has been very consistent, and I respect that consistency.

When you talk about the champions of the game, you also have Tara VanDerveer. She did a great job with the Olympic team and continues to do so at Stanford. She'll be at the top as she has always been.

And you have to mention Sue Gunter at LSU as well and Andy Landers at Georgia.

And Marian Washington at Kansas as well. I respect and admire her.

bristol girl: coach stringer ... who is the best player in women's college basketball right now?

C. Vivian Stringer: I think it's very difficult, very difficult for me to answer. What can you say? I look at UConn's Svetlana Abrosimova, who deserves a great deal of respect. And then there's Maylana Martin at UCLA. It's very difficult to find the "great" player. Some are great shooters. Then, of course, you have Tamika Catchings at Tennessee, who can do it all. And Tamicha Jackson, who can catch her? But is she a true guard? A lot of these players have great qualities, so I have a hard time picking one. One more thing: there's no way I can mention those other names without mentioning Lynn Pride of Kansas.

Kristin: I am Rutgers season ticket holder and love the intensity of the Rutgers team. I thought that intensity was missing during the N.C. State game. What did you think was lacking and how do you plan to rebound from that loss? Good luck the rest of the way. I am looking forward to an exciting season.

C. Vivian Stringer: You got the same thing I got. I'm still breathing fire from that game, and have done so every day. What you should know is that one of the characteristics that has become a trademark for us is a high level of intensity on the defensive side, and it was like we were sleep walking in that game. I don't know why, but if we come out that way again, it's because we put it out in practice.

I resented every second that I've looked at that tape. It'll take the whole year for me to get this out of my throat. I really regret the way we represented ourselves. Anybody who is going to watch us play this weekend will know what I'm talking about.

Amy: Coach Stringer, you didn't use either of the two freshman in the NC State game. Are they injured??

C. Vivian Stringer: The truth is that neither one of those players was ready. They didn't know the offense well enough or their defensive assignments well enough to play in a game of that magnitude. They are beginning to feel more comfortable, and as they do, they will be able to play with the level of intensity I feel they must have to step on the floor. In order for us to be successful, the freshman must contribute significant minutes. In order for us to win, we need that and we're looking forward to that. It's not something that I wanted to do, but they weren't ready. But now we can begin to ease them into the games. They're picking up a lot of the things they were missing. In January, they'll begin to come into their own.

Luke: Do you think women's basketball is growing in popularity over the USA?

C. Vivian Stringer: There's no question that women's basketball is growing in popularity all over the country. One of the reasons is the level of play has improved tremendously. Players are bigger, quicker, stronger and demonstrate more skill. Truth is, people want to come out and see a product that's worthy of their time.

I think that the WNBA is helping to whet everyone's appetite. The Final Four and the TV coverage that is becoming more and more evident, is also giving us an opportunity to expose the sport.

I think we're going to have a lot more support this year ourselves. As more young girls see their favorite WNBA players, and parents see the kind of popularity, I think they'll support their daughters and their opportunities.

That's all the time we have for now, but I'd like to tell our fans to come on out and keep supporting Rutgers.

And believe this: No matter what happens over the course of the year, I promise myself, because as coaches we have to hold ourselves accountable, we will reach our potential.

We're not there yet, not even scratching the surface. But I will find out why and how and get us there.

To our true fans ... keep the faith.