Louisville vs. Middle Tennessee State
December 30, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 30, 2007
Louisville Head Coach Jeff Walz
"We knew coming into the game, you go back and look at Middle and the caliber of teams they've played, we knew it was going to be a ballgame. I was really excited that we had 5,000 people here today, but I feel like if we'd gotten 10,000, they would come back. You won't see two better players for two different teams play. Amber Holt is an unbelievable player. She played hard for forty minutes. If you watched the way Angel McCoughtry played Friday night - and then she comes out today and played the way she did - it's a tribute to her because she doesn't really care about individual stats. All she cares about is winning the game. Hopefully we can get 10-12 thousand to show up and see our style of play and see how hard our kids play and they'll keep coming out."
(On Holt's abilities after watching the LSU game)
"We never saw the (Middle Tennessee/LSU) game on Friday night. It was too late, we'd seen enough of their games, there was no surprise at the type of player she is. In the first half, I thought we did a great job guarding her. She made some incredible shots. With the shot clock running down and being double teamed, she throws up a bank shot and it goes in. There's not much you can do about that. She's just a great basketball player."
(On the team being where he wants it to be at this point in the season)
"I'd say we are. On Friday, I didn't think we played with a lot of energy and excitement. Today I was very, very pleased with the way we played -that goes for everybody who played. If we can continue to do that, there's no guarantee we'll win every game, but we will be competitive. I thought everybody that stepped on the floor was prepared to play and played hard. Our motto is that if after the game, if we can look at each other and believe we've played hard, the score will take care of itself."
"We did a really good job of attacking their press. We press a lot and we've practiced against it. Our goal was to attack the press and to get layups. Patrika Barlow and Candyce Bingham did a great job of getting into the middle of the press and attack up the side. In the first half, Chauntise has 10 and she's 4 of 4 from the field and 2 of 2 from the free throw line. If we get that kind of production out of our post in the first half, it's going to open things up for everyone else."
Middle Tennessee State Head Coach Rick Insell
(On how Louisville was effective today)
"They were switching defenses constantly and taking time off the clock with their contained press. They do some of the same stuff we do. They did not let us get into an offense. McCoughtry's a great player, like I've got a great player. We came back two or three times and got some momentum, but McCoughtry came down and hit a big three - which is what she's supposed to do. What can you say, they've got a good team, I wish them all the luck in the world."
(On Middle Tennessee's three-point shooting)
"We usually knock those things down. We didn't knock them down today. I believe we were 8 of 31 today - which really is not good. We also had some threes that I felt we passed up and I thought we should have taken. We had Amber going into the heart of the defense and making the inside out. We just didn't take some threes that were there. We usually knock down those threes better than that, but you just have to give them credit. They were running at us and since they are very athletic, they were getting a hand on the ball. That's what you're supposed to do."
(On lingering effects from the LSU game)
"I don't think anything carried over. We hadn't even talked about it. When we got off the bus here in Louisville, LSU was never brought up again. We knew Louisville had a great team, we knew we were playing on their home court. They are well-coached, we knew it was going to be a tough game. It was a great crowd, great atmosphere this afternoon. We've just got to take this experience and learn from it."
(On Louisville)
"They are a good team. Chauntise Wright is hard to handle. She's strong. Then you have McCoughtry, who is like our Holt, she's an All-American. You've got to put two people on her and know where she is at all times. They have good guard play and good role players and kids that can go in and get on the boards."
