Louisville vs. Syracuse
January 23, 2010 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 23, 2010
Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery 
Louisville Head Coach Jeff Walz
(On letting another game slip away) "We had chances. We played hard. Our kids played hard. We only turned the ball over 14 times, which is the best we've done all year. We had some shots that we didn't make. We got intimidated by their size in the post starting off the game. We put in the on-ball screen, attacked it, and then make that pass to the wing. Unfortunately, we were running the short corner and I could never get Becky Burke to throw the ball to the corner, because the short corner was wide open. And when we did throw it there we wouldn't shoot it. We'd actually just try to dribble it and run into somebody and try to shoot. I was telling them you can't just keep trying to draw contact, you've got to shoot the open shot. Is it frustrating? Yes. Do I hate to lose? Yes I sure do. But I look at our team, I look at the players that are playing, and we're getting better. There is no question. Is it turning into wins for us right now? No. But I know each one of our players is getting better and that is exciting to me. Can we win games if Monique Reid goes 2 for 16? No. It was probably the worst game I've seen her play in two years. We can't afford to have Mo do that. Keisha Hines, she played bad in the first half too but at least she got herself together and I thought she played a really good second half for us. I was hoping Monique would come out and compose herself and really play well but it never really happened for us."
(On transition defense) "We did a very bad job of picking up in transition. It is something that we've been stressing and we've been working hard on. But all it takes is to lose focus on one or two possessions and before you know it, they hit two threes. I think the kid hit three straight threes. It went from us being up three to being down six. We were never able to recover from that. Even at the end of the game we did a good job of fouling the right player, and the next thing I know Mo comes down and takes a bad shot. She doesn't need to be shooting a three. She needs to be driving because the last thing they want to do is foul you. Jump stop under control, shoot it, or pass it to somebody. We had that twice. We had a chance to get right back in that thing in the end."
(On defense) "We're defending. We're doing a good job. We're playing hard. We're going to find a win. We're going to get a win and I know we are. We're playing a little short handed out there. It is a part of athletics. We played for the National Championship last year and we were fortunate that Angel McCoughtry, Candyce Bingham, and Des Byrd never got hurt. Becky Burke, Monique Reid some of our best players never got hurt. Now unfortunately for us Des Byrd gets hurt before the season starts, who was without a doubt our best returning player. Then LaToya Johnson has been out since December 5th. We've got Nikki Burton out for three weeks. I'd love to sit down and figure out how many days each kid has missed. But its something you have to live with and you understand it. We've got to find a way to continue to work so we can make the next step and get ourselves a win."
Louisville Guard Becky Burke
(On having a chance to win) "Yes we let it get away. Out of all the conference games we lost, we are only five plays from being a one loss team. One or two plays in each game we lose, it's such a momentum changer. We just have a mental breakdown and we cannot have that late in the game."
(On the momentum changer) "We lost 21 in transition for two consecutive 3-pointers that were very big and we missed a box out at the end."
(On regrouping for the rest of the BIG EAST schedule) "We need to get back in the gym, the seasons not over. Shelby is getting better every game and gaining more confidence. Her confidence is helping us out a lot and LaToya (Johnson) will hopefully be back soon. We are just trying to get healthy and need to get back to the gym."
(On Syracuse's zone) "We knew they would play zone. Coach put in a couple offenses that would help us adapt to the zone. Coach said if we shoot forty threes we only need to make twenty. We didn't make enough outside shots and their adjustment to our play in the second half frustrated us."
(On Syracuse rotating their bench) "It's definitely an advantage. I played forty minutes and Shelby played thirty-nine. No matter what kind of shape you are in, if you play forty minutes compared to twenty, you will have more energy. We are not using that as an excuse, but you will have an advantage with rested players."
(On getting tired those last five minutes) "I feel like we did get tired in the last five minutes, but it's not an excuse for not boxing out."
Louisville Guard Shelby Harper
(On the start of the second half) "We were playing our mad dog press and they were spending time passing. Once they didn't attack, we had to go to man."
(On getting more confidence) "I feel like the team is helping me out a lot to get my confidence. They let me know they believe in me and encourage me to shoot when I'm open."
(On her open looks) "I wasn't surprised. I haven't taken many shots in the last few games and I thought I would have some open shots this game. My job was to shoot more and open the floor for Becky and the other players."
