Post-Game Quotes: Michigan
2/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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Michigan State Head Coach Suzy Merchant
On how the team played...
I thought we played really well. We came out strong out of the gates. We just have a demeanor about us, you know this was going to go our way, we're going to make sure. I thought we did a good job in transition defense which is a big part of what we had to accomplish. They're a high scoring offensive team, so we had to take that part away. I think overall, you know when they're jumping you like that and trying the one-two, and you're not going to guard Branndais Agee it was nice to see...you know the kid in the past who maybe wouldn't step up, Branndais was phenomenal tonight and set the tone. She started at five seconds into the game with that step in front layup.
On who was the hardest working Spartan on the court...
Oh man that's a tough one, there's a lot of kids. I think Tori (Jankoska) drew the assignment to guard (Katelynn) Flaherty, I think her and Branndais so you have to give them credit. I don't know. Akyah (Taylor) takes charges. It's hard for me to say who out-worked people over who. You know that was something that we talked about, we never want to get out-worked by any of your opponents certainly not your rivals so we wanted loose balls and charges, that kind of thing. Our effort level wouldn't be higher than theirs for sure, and I think we did a good job of that out of the gates at both ends. It's hard for me with specifics. I mean Aerial (Powers) was phenomenal today at both ends of the floor so it's just hard for me to say who was the hardest worker on our team today.
On the team's hot start...
Yeah I mean we really wanted to come out of the gates strong. We knew that they were either going to be in the zone...we thought they were going to zone us for sure. Everyone in particular, you know Maryland and Ohio State, Nebraska, it seems like everybody we play they for a handful of possessions depending on how it goes they stay. They stayed in it a lot longer this game than I thought they would, especially after Branndais started hitting shots I was surprised by that, and Aerial was still getting hers. So for us, it really was more of a focus of let's make sure we're not worried about their end, let's worry about staying in an attack mode regardless of what it was whether they went zone or man. Getting off to a hot start wasn't something we talked about, we just wanted to play with high energy, enthusiasm out of the gates on both ends of the floor.
On tonight's defense and how it changed the tone of the game...
We've been working at it I think, you know, it's sort of the Bill Belichick thing: it always starts with doing your job. You know if you've got the ball, do your job. That's really what we weren't doing a great job of early, and I think the more accountability, and doing your job, guarding the ball, the less rotations, the help, the gap and all that, it allows you to be able to do some things defensively. I think we have had kids step up and give a little more focus on that end. Some of it is the insurgence of playing Akyah more in the starting lineup. I mean, she took four charges I think tonight. She just is the glue that nobody really talks about. It's just refreshing, I feel like, when she's out there she adds a lot to us defensively ad she's our defensive captain. If people aren't doing what they're supposed to do, she's going to tell them. She's sort of inspired everybody. I thought Tori's mindset was great. She really wanted to challenge herself and guard Flaherty and we knew it would be a team effort with Branndais and Morgan (Green) and different people. I was really proud of their attention to detail more that way. They're a high scoring offensive team and just really didn't want to get into that situation. We should never get into that situation if we're doing what we're supposed to defensively.
Michigan Head Coach Kim Barnes Arico
I thought Michigan State was great tonight. They jumped on us early and were able to get our two bigs two fouls really quickly in the game. We were never really able to respond to that. (Aerial) Powers played like the All-American that she is. Their big players and their top players did a tremendous job. I think every time we tried to make a run they made big plays and shot the ball exceptionally well. Every time we tried to make a little bit of a run they put their foot on the gas again and pulled away.
On Michigan State pulling away in the second quarter...
I don't really remember, but what I think was happening is that we were taking some quick shots and had more turnovers, and they got us in transition a bunch. That kind of happened in the third quarter too when we had a bit of a good stretch. We would take a quick shot, there would be a long rebound and they had fast break points. They really killed us, whether it was a layup or a pull up in transition. They scored a lot of big baskets, and I think that Powers made a bunch in that stretch as well. I think they took advantage of our quick misses and our turnovers and that led to transition and easier buckets, uncontested shots, for them.
On Michigan's aggression compared to Michigan State's...
That's something we try to emphasize everyday, but Michigan State is a tough, physical team. Probably one of the toughest and most physical teams we've faced all year. They work hard. They pushed us around. (Jasmine) Hines is really physical; she's physical in the post. Tori (Jankoska) is physical. So that is something that our younger kids really aren't accustomed to and they have to adjust to. I think that their pressure and physicality really affected us tonight as well.
On Aerial Power's ability...
She's pretty good. Powers is one of the best out there. Obviously, I get to see great players all the time, I got to work with USA basketball this summer, and I got to see her a bit at the trials and at camp. She was on a different team, but I got to be around her a bit, the last couple years, not just this past year and summer. The first time I got to see her play I was like, `Golly, this kid is a pro. She's one of the best out there.' And I think the greatest thing is that she's continued to improve her game, she hasn't plateaued. She had a couple go to moves last year, and we had a senior that defended her and I thought she did a really good job at taking those moves away. Well now she's expanded her game and now she has the right-to-left crossover to the pull up, she's added some pieces to her game. So she's a complete player. She could really play any position on the floor. She rebounds the heck out of the ball. She's tough. I can't wait until she graduates. Sorry, I wish her luck, she's terrific, but I can't wait until she graduates.
On what Hallie Thome needs to do to develop her game...
You know, I think a couple of things. Hallie gets called, she gets bumped around all the time and never really goes to the foul line as many times as she gets bumped, but then she gets fouls called against her that are ticky-tack fouls. I think experienced players learn how to use their body and not get fouls called against them. And I think that's really an area where Hallie needs to get better because we need her on the floor to be successful. When she came out of the game early on, that really hurt us. She needs to bend and she needs to learn to use her body more and her lower body needs to get stronger. These are all things we're going to work on in the offseason. But when you're a 6'5" kid playing in high school, you really don't have to bend, and you probably don't have to face many kids like Jasmine Hines. I don't think she faced a young lady like Jasmine Hines her whole entire life. So this year has been an experience for her game in and game out and really a learning for her for what she needs to work on in the offseason to make sure that she's not only one of the best freshmen in the country but one of the best players in the country in years to come.
On Michigan State's defense...
I think our team, because of their pressure and their playing in the passing lanes, is we got tight and just tried to get the ball to Katelynn (Flaherty) instead of getting the ball to multiple people to do different things on our team. Their pressure really got to us and I think that's really one of the best things in their program is their defense. Obviously they have incredible scorers, but I really take that they're a really tough, hard-nosed defensive team and that's something that I respect about them and something that I think will take them far in the tournament this year. Hey, they've got some really good scorers and some things on the offensive end, but they really made things uncomfortable for us tonight.
