SENIOR FEATURE: Mizzou Women's Basketball Seniors Reflect on Upcoming Senior Day
2/23/2020 1:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Mizzou will honor Jordan Chavis, Jordan Roundtree, Hannah Schuchts and Amber Smith at 4:40 pm Sunday at Mizzou Arena
Mizzou Women's Basketball's seniors will soon take the court for the very last time at Mizzou Arena. They all originally came here for different reasons, with different goals in mind. When recruits choose to come to Mizzou, it isn't just about basketball. For senior guard Amber Smith (Shreveport, La.), Mizzou had diversity and a compassionate coaching staff.
For senior guard Jordan Chavis, the choice was obvious.
"I knew from the first time I got here, the spark and the energy I felt – I just loved it. Lots of people say it, but it's true, it is a family atmosphere," Chavis said.
Senior guard Jordan Roundtree's (St. Louis, Mo.) family ties made her feel like she had always been a Mizzou Tiger her whole life. Redshirt senior forward Hannah Schuchts (Tallahassee, Fla.) feels like she's been here forever, and yet it still feels like just yesterday that they all came in as recruits. With four seasons of ups and downs almost completely behind them, Chavis, Roundtree, Schuchts and Smith are grateful for all the places basketball has taken them.
"All of this just for a game. It's just a game. It's an orange ball, but it has been my whole life," Roundtree said.
As these seniors have given so much of themselves to this game, basketball has given a lot back to them as well. Basketball has taken them across the country, introduced them to new people and experiences, and helped them to grow as people since they first arrived on campus.
"I've become a better person and a leader. I've learned a lot of life lessons not just on the court, but outside of it too," Smith said.
Between their first game at Mizzou Arena and now, heading into Senior day on Sunday, a lot of things have shaped these Tigers into the people and the players they are today. They have made bonds with teammates that will last far beyond their time on the court.
"When the ball stops bouncing one day they are still only a phone call away," Smith said.
These seniors have been part of extremely successful Mizzou teams. They focus on staying in the moment and working hard to get better every day. They have achieved a lot in their time at Mizzou, but all of their accomplishments have only taught them to be stronger in adversity.
"We've had some really high highs and some really low lows. It is important to have perspective and remember what you're doing and what you're doing it for," Schuchts said.
They are leaders on the team and keep pushing when things get hard. They are relentless players who stay persistent and resilient to the end of every game. When their final game is played, this graduating class will be remembered as fighters.
"A lot of teams, if they were in this position, they might give up. That's not what we are doing" Chavis said.
This group never gives up. They take pride in their teammates, the program and representing Mizzou. Every time they take the court is an opportunity to showcase how hard they worked to get there.
"When you really take pride in being able to wear that jersey it's amazing. I don't think there are words to describe that feeling of coming out of the tunnel," Schuchts said.
After all games played in the Mizzou Uniform, the seniors are thankful for their coaching staff and support staff for pushing them and for the loyal Mizzou fan base who sticks with them game after game and makes an effort to really get to know them as more than just a player.
"The things that I was able to go through and overcome having these people with me has been amazing. I thank all of Mizzou nation from the bottom of my heart," Roundtree said.
