Post-Game Quotes: Saginaw Valley State
11/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 4, 2010
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Michigan State head coach Suzy Merchant
On what she saw tonight and how she felt about it...
Well, I think there are some good things to take from it. I think the first half I was a little disappointed with we were getting out hustled a little bit. I didn't know if it was nerves and kind of trying to work things through, but we have to be a little more focused on that. The second half was a much better half. Positive things were I felt we took care of the ball for the most part. Thirteen turnovers for this team is pretty good, we've been concentrating on that. I thought we defended pretty well, had some slip ups, but I thought that the biggest thing was our change from first half to second half. I saw some kids kind of elevate and focus on the things we talked about at half time.
On what she saw with Klarissa Bell and how she was pretty active out there...
She's one that we obviously think the world of, or we wouldn't have recruited her. I think she has the length and quickness. She is a good defensive rebounding guard, which I think we are going to need. She has the ability to score, she can shoot threes, take it off the bounce. She can hit a pull up, get to the rim. She ignites our offense in transition because she runs the wing hard every time. She has the athleticism to pick it up in the backcourt. There are a lot of things that she does that fits our system very well. I thought it was a very good night for her. We took (Courtney) Schiffauer out of there in the second half, and she had done a really good job on the boards and I saw Klarissa come in and elevated her game and made sure she kept that consistency.
On Madison Williams being injured and the make up of the team...
Losing Madi (Madison Williams) certainly was frustrating, and certainly was difficult. But, like I told the captains, "if there is any program in the country that can handle losing key players at key times in the beginning of the season, end of season, this is a team that can do it." We might be harder to guard inside out with Annalise (Pickrel), as she has the ability to shoot three's and handle (the ball) and score a little bit on the block. Our makeup changes a little bit, no question about that, but I think our kids have really responded to that. I think the game has changed to the point where we have played a lot of power basketball the last few years with a two true post-men, with the exception of Kalisha, who can be a face-up forward. I think we have struggled sometimes to defend teams that play four guards, and I think that is the way the game has kind of gone. I feel like we have to figure out what we need to do post-defense wise, but Annalise is one who can certainly help us in there.
On Kalisha's game tonight, and they type of player she expects this season...
I think Kal (Kalisha Keane) is a special player. She is very gifted. She has a very high basketball I.Q., tremendous leader and energy. I think besides the obvious physical aspect, the emotional side for her really uplifts the team. When she is confident and playing hard, you will see this team really do well. I think Kal is one who always puts a lot on herself and wants to improve. I think the place that you will see Kalisha really try to improve on over the year is becoming a better rebounder. She hasn't really had to do that since she has been here for three-straight years with the size that we have had, and some of the post play that we have had. It's something she is going to try and focus on and become better at.
On the transition game and the fast break...
We're trying to push the ball a little bit more, but with the understanding that we want to push it with some assemblance of where we putting the right people in the right position and making good decisions. I think we have kind of changed a few things this year with more of a specific of some people to the right, others to the left. We just adjusted it a little bit so there is no confusion, there's never two people running the same lane. We kind of know that shooters on the left, so that is kind of Courtney Schiffauer's spot. Certainly, that has helped us a little bit pushing tempo.
On Cetera Washington becoming more of an offensive presence...
Cetera is going to ignite us, no matter what. She has always been the gritty heart and soul. She can come out of nowhere, get rebounds, get tips, she comes up with big defensive plays. I think she has worked extremely hard this off-season, and in this preseason, to be more effective off the dribble, off the pull-up jumper and it's good that people are noticing that. That is something that we are going to need her to do, be an offensive threat as well as a defensive catalyst.
