Robert Morris Press Conference Quotes

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Head Coach Sal Buscaglia

Opening Statement

“It’s a pleasure to be here, and we are very excited about our participation in the NCAA tournament.  It’s the first time in school history that the school has participated in the tournament, and we are so excited.  The entire Robert Morris community is so happy to be here.”

 

On the excitement of being in the tournament and facing <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>N.C.State:

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be on the same floor as Coach Yow.  My son Charlie mentioned to me that he had lunch with her a couple summers ago during a recruiting trip, and he just confirmed what everyone said about her, that she is an outstanding coach and an outstanding person. I’ve been doing this for thirty years, and I have met some outstanding people, but I am extremely excited to meet her. I want to thank her for being so hospitable. She is a legend in college basketball, and I wish her and her family the very best. This goes beyond just competition.”

 

On the challenge of guarding Gillian Goring:

“She is certainly an outstanding player. She is strong, and she has great hands and is so solid around the basket.  N.C.State’s early season games are a lot different than their later season games. They play with so much emotion. They are a lot better than a #4 seed. We’re going against a team that beat Duke and North Carolina. Therefore, I think we’re playing maybe a #2 seed.

For us to be a #13 seed shows a lot of respect, but at the same time we are playing against a team that is better than a #4 seed, and on their home court. We have a big challenge, and I know these young ladies will give everything they have. Hopefully we can win the hustle battle.”

 

On facing N.C.State:

“We are a very athletic team, and a lot of the teams we play are very athletic. N.C.State is also very athletic, and I think we emulate each other. They have more depth, but we both play the same style of game.”

 

On the foundation of the team:

“When Sugeiry Monsac decided to come here, she really laid the foundation for reversing those 14 straight losing seasons. Once she decided to come here, everything fell into place. She had two ACL injuries and went through rehab twice in a short period of time. The same thing with Pysche Butler, she hurt her wrist and had to practice wearing a sling. Chinata Nesbit has been banged up as well. This team has been so resilient and we know the challenge here is going to be tremendous, but we are going to give everything we have. I guarantee one thing, that their heart will be in the game for forty minutes.”

 

Chinata Nesbit, Junior / Forward

On the emotion of being in the tournament for the first time:

“We are really excited. We feel like we are coming in as the underdog, and we want to prove to everyone that we belong here, and we just want to get everything done.”

 

 

Psyche Butler, Junior / Forward

On the senior leadership on the team:

“We are sort of a young team, but we have a lot of veterans and lot of people from junior college, so it’s going to carry over and be good for the few young players we do have on our team. We are going to keep our composure and not get riled up. We are going to have to show maturity and stay level-headed. I think the captains and the seniors are going to be real big for us tomorrow.”

 

On advice from friends who have played in the tournament:

“I’ve talked to Adrianne Ross from TCU and LaToya Wyatt from Baylor, and they have been in these situations before and advanced. They told me just to relax and go out and play my game and just take it as another game and don’t be nervous.”

 

Sugeiry Monsac, Senior / Forward, Center

On the team’s emotion after qualifying:

“We are really excited, we have accomplished a dream. But now we have another dream, to get to the second round. We have to be focused and play well mentally and physically.”