From The Locker Room
1/14/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MICHIGAN STATE vs. ILLINOIS POST GAME QUOTES
Breslin Center
January 14, 2001
Michigan State Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie:
On the game: "I would like to congratulate Illinois on a good game. They are a well-coached team and have a tough zone defense. Illinois gave a great effort today. I thought that we were going to have some runs but they just did not happen."
On our response to Illinois' aggressiveness: "Illinois has a long history of being tough and aggressive and they proved it tonight. Illinois has a lot of experience, and we did not attack like we should have."
On our plays: "We ran the plays for people but then they did not shoot the ball. Our problem from the outside is that we are not consistent. We lost an outside threat in losing freshman guard Candice Jackson (ACL). Maria Recker is a threat and I thought that Christie Pung did a good job of stepping up. We did not run the floor tonight like I thought we should. We need to put more effort into our plays."
On upcoming opponents -- Purdue and Michigan: "We need to work on our team play and pick things up defensively. We need to front the post and not stay behind them like we are. Offensively we need to get aggressive and put more effort into our game. We need to work on dictating the game and running the floor."
Illinois Head Coach Theresa Grentz:
On the Illinois team: "I am very proud of my team. They have been through a tough schedule and some rough times but have come back and earned their success in the Big Ten. The people were being hard on the team but the team still made it through and proved they can do it. My team knows how hard they have to play because they have played the Tennessee's, the Georgia's, and the UConn's. I do not have to tell them about the effort needed to be successful. My players do not watch me during the game and that is a sign of a good team. They are constantly talking on the floor and solving the problems themselves. My job is to prepare them in practice and guide them their job is to get it done in the game."
On Michigan State: "They came out with a zone that we were not expecting but I found the holes and showed my players and they responded accordingly."
Michigan State Player Christie Pung:
On starting the game: "I was obviously excited about starting and I just wanted to do the best that I could. I feel a starter needs to set the tone of the game."
On the crowd: "We definitely have to thank the crowd. There is nothing like hearing the crowd, they are like a sixth man, they help us get pumped up. The Girl Scouts do a great job today cheering and supporting the team."
Michigan State Player Julie Pagel:
On the aggressiveness of the team: "I felt we pushed the momentum more in this game than we have in any other game. We missed our shots and some rebounds and that put us back on our heels more than Illinois. It was like we were shooting ourselves in the foot."
On the crowd: "It is great to have the younger fans because than maybe it will inspire a love for the game when they get older."
On upcoming opponents -- Purdue and Michigan: "Coach told us a word it is SYNERGY it is where we gain energy from everything and everyone and become one. That is what this team needs to do, become one and come out ready to fight."