Michigan State 69, Michigan 56
2/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2011
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Michigan State Head Coach Suzy Merchant
On the atmosphere of today's game ...
I think the best way to describe it from the player's perspectives and certainly from mine is that it is overwhelming. To watch the sport evolve from 20 years ago but then to see it evolve here at Michigan State and the commitment that our president makes to it, our athletic director, Shelley Applebaum, my support and direct report, and just all the people that want to see Michigan State Women's Basketball on top. It starts with the leadership of those people making sure that we have opportunities, that we are in the best light. Then just to have Spartan fans that believe in what we are doing. It is overwhelming. It is impressive. I think it makes our staff want to work harder. I think it makes our players want to work harder. It was really inspiring today to walk out there. I am overwhelmed. And I know our girls are too.
On how much Lykendra Johnson has an impact on the court...
She has her niche. She finds her way and she has a niche that this team really needs. She is a very, very good defensive player and she never defers that side of the ball. That is a place she likes to be a lot. And you know she is a great rebounder. I think that maybe an adjust in her position from the off guard to a post position, I was at first a little concerned about it but it has been quite a blessing in disguise. I think you have to give a lot of credit to Lykendra who just embraced that role and decided, I'm going to find a way and I'm going to help this team. I don't think there is anybody on this team, there is a lot of great kids, for Lykendra, it is about the team. She wouldn't take any credit. She's just out there rolling up her sleeves, going to work everyday and that's what she likes to do.
On her team's play with Lykendra Johnson on the bench in foul trouble...
I think Annalise (Pickrel) is really starting to come along. She's starting to give us really good minutes. She's the one that always rebounds. She has the athleticism and the quickness to get up and down the floor. I thought Jasmine Thomas was pretty big for us too today. She's really improved from practice to the last few weeks. I have just seen a difference in her. She has a little more pep in her step, a little more focus and attitude about getting the job done out there especially on the defensive end. I think she just found a way to find Kalisha (Keane) behind her there to head into halftime with that 10 point lead. Those are game changers and momentum changers. Certainly when you are playing your rival. To be honest with you, I don't think we played extremely well today but again, I just to the kids that we are in that February fight and its about finding a way. I thought Jasmine and Annalise and of course I thought Taylor (Alton) was very big for us today as well.
On if getting entry passes into the post is a big focal point of the defense...
We front the post because we don't have the height and the shot blocker there although I think sometimes Lykendra thinks she is a shot blocker, which is sometimes I think she winds up on the bench. We have adjusted our defense in the last few years we have had the luxury of not having to front the post because we had a 6' 9" center and it would be silly to get her to front somebody when she can just stand behind them and block their shot and rebound it. A lot of that credit goes to buying in a little bit defensively to the post game and one of the things we talk about all the time is that it's our quickness and our athleticism against their people's power and strength. We have to use that quickness and that athleticism to our advantage where we might lack the power and the strength. We have to keep our feet moving and never let them seal us and pin us and work really hard to keep that in a position where we aren't getting beat over the top. At the same time that we are not dead behind. I think we keep people guessing with what angle to throw the ball into because of our quickness and our athleticism and we work really hard at that to kind of negate people's power. I thought we did a really good job on that against Rachel Sheffer because she has been playing really well. Michigan has been doing a really great job of setting her on the weak side, reversing it and then she gets in and benches peoples knees into the help position. We had worked pretty hard on making sure we would release and get over the top of that.
