Postgame Quotes vs. Belmont - Dec. 15, 2011
12/15/2011 8:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Postgame Quotes
Belmont at Chattanooga
Chattanooga, Tenn. - McKenzie Arena
Dec. 15, 2011
On working the bench late in the game:
"This was a good team. It seemed like everyone that went did something to contribute. They could feel good about what they are doing out there. The first half offensively was a struggle. We were 4-for-18 from the three-point line. When they are doubling the post and you are not knocking down shots that makes it tough. We are going to have to do a better job than that. I thought the second half, offensively, we really clicked. You can't really say anything bad about the defense when they holding people where they are. I tried to do a little bit of a different thing during the second half. It did not work out so well in the second half defensively. We still have some work to do in things that we can clean up, but overall we had good effort and it was a good win."
On evaluating your team's depth:
"That is an advantage in playing some non-DI's, which we don't have on our schedule. That allows you to get some of these younger players in the game. It has been nice to have a couple of games here against some good Division I competition that we played well enough to get some people into the game and give them some minutes to see what they can do. Ka'Vonne [Towns], we obviously think a lot of her. She is still trying to overcome the ACL injury that she suffered in high school. She is going to help us. At the post, we have so many options. I guess that is a good problem to have. We got to find out who we can count on there as well. This gives a chance to get some people an opportunity with the lights on bright and the fans in the seats."
On the team starting to "get it:"
"We still have some things that we need to clean up. As a coach, you know what they are supposed to be doing. You know what the scouting report is and what you are supposed to take away from the opponent. We are still not hitting that perfectly, so we still have room to improve."
On coaching becoming easier as the team begins to understand:
"Some of the young players that were freshmen a year ago are doing much better. We are not having to coach every single possession and that is nice. It is exciting to see us play well in back-to-back games and win convincingly. We want to keep stacking these efforts together. The next week or so will be a test. We are out of school. A lot of their friends may already be home. The freshmen, especially, are thinking about getting back to their parents, shopping and all of those things. We have to make sure we stay here for one more week and stay focused."
On four-straight games with 46 points or less allowed:
"It is amazing to me. I think the one big thing we are doing is that we are doing a pretty good job of taking away team's first and second options. Ever since the Cincinnati game, really, we have made people, who they do not want shooting it as much. Like they used to tell me in college, there is a reason that you are open, Wes. We are trying to make certain people shoot the ball and our kids are doing a pretty good job in comprehending that and figuring it out."
Junior Forward Whitney Hood
On the turning point in the first half:
"I think that we just kept playing our game. Coach was trying to get us to buy into the defense. He stressed over this past preseason, defensive rebounding, because it wins game. We focused on that the most, then the offense will come."
On the team coming together with having a lot of seasoned players coming off the bench:
"It is nice knowing that everybody has everyone else's back. It is nice to know that if I am in help defense, then someone else is out there denying. They are going to be in the spot where they are supposed to be. It is fun. We have a long season ahead, but right now we are going to enjoy tonight."
Freshman Guard Ka'Vonne Towns
On allowing the bench players to gain experience:
"It is making us feel a lot more comfortable coming off the bench. We are starting to feel comfortable in that role. It is important."
On the skill set you bring:
"I am more of a driver, but if I am open, then I will shoot it."
On getting into a flow:
"It sort of comes naturally now. It takes awhile."
