I came to Rutgers to try to build Rutgers to become the jewel of the East. I really think a lot of people got bent out of shape thinking that we claimed to be the jewel of the East. I don't know where you're going to get 'jewel' when you are undiscovered and unpolished. What we hoped to do was become the jewel of the East. I think anybody who loves competition has to appreciate someone who is going to push the envelope a little bit in terms of competing.

Essence takes great pleasure in creating zeros on anybody that she plays.

Anybody can distribute the ball, but what she wants to do is know how to break zones and how you can handle things. I think she wants to go to the next step, understanding that you can't play the same way. I think her improvement is simply a result of a year of reflection.

A lot of people got bent out of shape thinking that we claimed to be the jewel of the east. What we hoped to do was become the jewel of the east. I think anybody who loves competition has to appreciate someone who is going to push the envelope a little bit in terms of competing.