Temple Press Conference Quotes

 

Head Coach Dawn Staley

On Nebraska’s strengths and weaknesses:

I think we pretty much covered it. We know what their tendencies are, we know the plays they like to run, and we know whose hands they want the ball in. We’re going to try to do something a little different than we’ve done in the past; we’re going to make somebody else beat us.

 

On Nebraska’s post play:

They do have a lot of post players that they rotate in for a lot of minutes. There is someone that you really have to key on which is (Kelsey) Griffin. At the same time the post players that do come in, they each give them something different. Some of them could put the ball on the floor; some can shoot the three balls with the best people around the country. It’s important for us to know our personnel but also just limit their touches in areas that they’re comfortable and areas where they will be most effective. They probably have an advantage because they have played more minutes than we have coming off the bench. That’s how it’s been all season, the people that have played a lot of minutes will get most of the minutes barring any injuries or foul trouble. That’s the way that we’ll play.

 

On traveling from the Northeast:

We left Philadelphia at about 5 o’clock, and everything went pretty smoothly, we are here.

 

On Nebraska’s Kiera Hardy:

She does have a pretty quick shot. She’ll shoot it whether she’s guarded or open. There’s not a shot that she doesn’t like, which makes her very dangerous. The thing for us is that she can’t shoot it if she doesn’t have the ball. If she’s going to get the ball, she’s going to work. We’re not going to take a possession off of her. I know she’ll be up for the challenge playing in the Big 12 where there are defenses geared towards stopping her and not letting her touch the ball. Whoever plays her only has one job---that’s to force her further out, to not let her touch the ball or just to exert some energy on her.

 

On memories as a player coming to Raleigh:

We played a triple overtime in Reynolds (Coliseum), which we won the game. I fouled out in regulation. It went into triple overtime; it was a hard-fought game with some pretty decent basketball players on the floor with some great coaches who are still coaching in the ACC (Virginia’s Debbie Ryan and N.C.State’s Kay Yow). I’m hoping for some similar success -but maybe not in triple overtime but in regulation!

 

 

On memories of the triple -overtime game:

I became a cheerleader. I led the cheers on the bench after fouling out. We came back somehow, and watching it I think Rhonda Matt hit a three-pointer from the top of the key. There were some strange events. The game just went back and forth. I know we throw it around that anyone could have won that game but anybody really could have won that basketball game. I take my hat off to all the players that played because we certainly left it out there on the court.

 

On her first year as a coach and playing N.C.State:

I remember being up 11 in the second half, I remember that.  Any type of team that we put on the court gives us a chance to win because they play hard and that’s what Temple basketball has been about since we’ve been here. We’re not going to make the best decisions always and we’re not going to make every shot but we’re certainly going to play hard on the defensive end as if it’s our last game. That’s why we sit here today stealing an at-large bid from one of the bigger conferences. That’s the way we play and I’m proud of that. Certainly to get over the hump, we have to play balanced basketball on both sides of the basket. I think this team although inexperienced gives us the best chance coming into the NCAA Tournament to go further. I like the way we play and I like our chances. These young ladies deserve to go further but they control their own destiny.

 

On Nebraska coming in losing five of their last six games:

They are right there in every basketball game. Anytime that you can put two players that are big and can score, they create match-up problems for anybody on the floor. They are going to be in basketball games. We’re just hoping that we’re not looking at them losing four of their last six, us losing our A-10 championship. We’re just looking at every single possession. Nothing else really matters, no wins, no losses. It’s just what we do in this particular basketball game that counts.

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On starting the same lineup each game

Historically, we usually play the same starters. The players have to try their best in the beginning of the season to get into that starting lineup. Our starters play a lot of minutes and this year I don’t think we have another starter. We don’t have a choice this year.

 

On point guards being coaches:

I think it’s a passion that point guards have for the game. I think that we have to be really selfless; we have to know the game on the court and off the court. I think that when you have that responsibility as a point guard you take it to heart; you take it as a stab to your reputation, a stab to the game of basketball, a stab to your passion. We make great coaches because we probably see more of the game than anybody. We want to do all that is necessary to win the basketball game and do whatever it takes to make us look good.  

 

On leading her team considering her credentials:

I think that my credentials speak for themselves. Young people now need tangible things in front of them to tell them why to do things. We have a really good basketball team and to be honest I don’t think many of them would have come to Temple if it hadn’t been for my credentials, but at the same time to coach in a game like this, I feel for them. There really is no pressure on me.

 

Fatima Maddox, Senior / Guard

On how the team has come together/Nebraska’s play:

They are a little bit older than we are; we have lots of young players. As the season has progressed we have won some and lost some together, which has brought us closer together. Our team chemistry has gotten a lot better and I think we have matured a lot as the season has progressed, and we are entering with a lot of confidence.  

 

On how previous seasons’ post-season play affects this year:

Our performance not just last year in the tournament but this year in our conference tournament, we’re just hungry to get back on the court and play to redeem ourselves.

 

On starting the same lineup each game:

I think that anytime you start with the same players you kind of feel each other more on the court and the more you play with each other the more you know each others’ tendencies on the court. In practice we mix it up?we know everybody but as far as the starters, we know each other really well.

 

 

Kamesha Hariston, Senior / Forward

On how the team has come together:

I agree with Fatima. We have come a long way since the beginning and as the season went on we got a lot better and we’ve gelled as a team. We’re coming in and we’re feeling comfortable. 

 

On playing for coach Staley

It gives us a lot of confidence. I think it’s a privilege to play for Coach. Considering her credentials I think we feel confident every time we step on the floor. To have her as a coach and the things that she’s telling me, we figure it’s going to work out.