Post-Game Quotes: Texas
12/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 5, 2010
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Michigan State Head Coach Suzy Merchant
On Michigan State's guards game plan...
We felt like we could potentially get to their guards on offense just because when you look at the minutes, those kids have played to the fouls that they have. They do a really good job of not fouling but we wanted to force them into tough situations. We have a couple things we can go to that force a dribble drive or force a guard posting up, which is what you saw. At the other end, it was really all about everybody playing one-on-one defense, because they shoot it so quick and so fast. I know you didn't see it tonight, but coming in here I was really concerned about them running right through us, and right on out of here. They can really put the ball up and a lot of their offense is zero passes or one pass,, and its up in a hurry. Our guards really committed to stand out in a stance and try and defend one-on-one.
On the depth of the Texas bench...
There are some key kids that got into foul trouble that hadn't been in foul trouble for them. So when you are talking about getting into their bench, I think their bench is very good. I think they are very talented kids. I felt like some key players couldn't play aggressively for them, so it was less really about getting into their bench and more maybe about kid's mindsets. We made Ashley Gayle look even like a First-Team Kodak All-American by throwing the ball right at her so she could swat it into next week. That is so not what we practiced. We wanted her to get away from the rim and make good decisions there. But then she got into some foul trouble. And their scorer, Chassidy Fussell, got into foul trouble and it changes your mindset a little bit when you get a couple fouls on you, because you can't play aggressively, especially as much as they drive.
On the adjustment with starting Porsche Poole in the second half...
I thought Jasmine Thomas was mentally poor. I just don't think she was tough enough. I think she had a little bit of an edge and an attitude. She was kind of mopey and we need positive energy. That's not going to get you anywhere and she is too talented to do that to herself. It affects our team. I really thought that Porsche has really proven that she belongs out there and she gives great energy. She creates shots for other people, as well as herself. We can move on and she has to kind of join our group. We don't need to join her group, she needs to get moving on ours, and that's just being as honest and real as it is. She's too talented to be a self-implosion kind of a person.
On how pleased she is to finish the weekend off with two wins over ranked opponents...
Certainly excited, there's no question. We played the No. 4 team in the country last year, North Carolina, here in the ACC Challenge this time a year ago, and they barely made the NCAA tournament. Those rankings really don't mean a whole lot. I'm not saying that to be disrespectful to Florida State or Texas, or even Michigan State. I don't even know where we are, I really don't. I think we all just worry about playing good quality basketball, and Texas is a great program that is well coached. We played better both those nights, which is positive. We are not going to worry about where someone is ranked; we are just going to worry about playing Michigan State basketball and getting better every single possession.
Texas Head Coach Gail Goestenkors
Opening statement...
Not the homecoming I was hoping for. I give a lot of credit to Michigan State, every game I've watched them they've improved; the Florida State game in particular was a big step up for them. Suzy does a good job and has a good combination together, their defense sets the tone and they did well in rebounding. We couldn't keep them off the boards. I am disappointed overall with our effort, you can't turn the ball over 27 times and expect to come away with a win. Between our turnovers and the offensive rebounds we allowed, we didn't have a chance.
On the offense being out of sync and having a week off...
It was a bad week of practice for us. All but the last day we had at least two people out of practice. We are taking final exams right now, and I asked the team if this practice was an exam, what would you give yourselves, and the team said a D. This game reflects our practices and if I had to grade us on this game I would give us a D as well. Everyone has to go through finals and deal with it but you have to refocus and play ball.
On Ashley Gayle's foul trouble...
We don't have a lot of depth in the post and we understand that and Gayle needs to stay in the game. Her fouls were a problem and when she picked up her technical she had four fouls. I thought we were making a push at that point and when she picked up the technical, which gave her four, I think it took the wind out of her sails.
