Louisville Women's Basketball Postgame Quotes
December 16, 2016 | Women's Basketball
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Louisville Head Coach Jeff Walz
(On the defensive effort of the team)
"I thought we did a really nice job the first 24 minutes. I was really proud of the effort. I thought we followed the game plan, gave up a basket here or there, but I wasn't really concerned about it because it was within our defense trying to create some turnovers. The first half, we did have three break downs that led to three 3s and that's the one thing we're going to talk to them about tomorrow. We talked to them about it at halftime that when you have a breakdown and you're giving people wide open shots, they're going to make them. Now, there were a few times we scrambled out of it and we're flying by shooters and they missed it, well you're contesting it, they're a lot harder to make."
(On Bionca Dunham's game)
"I thought she played hard at times, but that's one thing I really have to challenge her about; there were a few possessions. We get too emotional when we miss shots. It's like you're not going to make every shot, but the problem is we miss a shot, then we don't sprint back on defense, then we hang our head, we don't talk at the defensive end of the floor, and that's one thing with that group that's out there toward the end that we really have to get better at. It's OK to miss a shot, let's figure out a way to now, either get it back on an offensive board, or figure out a way to get a stop on the defensive end."
(On if being able to play his second-string creates a teaching opportunity for the starters)
"Oh yeah. It's always a teaching opportunity. I take pride in what we do here as a coaching staff and I didn't see a bunch of playing time in my days at Northern Kentucky, but instead of sitting on the bench and complaining, I actually watched the game. I tried to learn just in case I did get the opportunity to play, I wanted to be ahead of things. Well, I didn't get them. I wasn't very good, but I think it helped me become a good coach. And that's what I try to tell our players. Instead of sitting on the bench and being like, 'Man, I wish I was out there. I wish I got a chance,' pay attention, focus. You can learn a ton from sitting there. Then when you do get that chance, you're going to be that much further ahead, instead of the, 'Oh, he's putting me in the game,' and then you're trying to really figure it out real quick and it's panic. It's an opportunity for all of them, no matter if you're the starters or coming off the bench. Just try to take the game in and learn from it."
(On Darien Huff's play and Charleston)
“I thought she shot the ball well. She took advantage of some opportunities. We had our hands down a few times on her, and she shot over us. They ran a few nice, little plays, drive baseline, come behind off the screen, she knocked down a couple. I was impressed, and I always have been. They play hard. They play hard. I thought [Brianna] Boyd came off the bench and really battled in the post to get 14 [points] and 10 [rebounds]. They're going to win some basketball games as they go forward. Right now, we were just bigger in position starting off the game, and we were smart enough to take advantage of that. I think that's why we were able to jump out on the lead like we did.”
(On the bench scoring more over the past two games and how that helps them going into conference play)
“No, it's big. We're going to need our bench. The one thing that I'm trying to get them to understand is everybody's not going to be able to play the minutes they're playing now, but now as we continue to move forward, it's going to come to a point of 'OK who's able to go out there and perform?' You might not get six minutes to start to get your motor going. I thought Jaz [Jazmine Jones] the other night, as soon as I inserted her in the lineup, gave us a boost. I didn't necessarily feel that tonight from our bench. It wasn't the same energy they had on Wednesday night, and that's what I'm challenging them with. They have to have that consistency too, and if they do that, then we have a chance to be really special.”
(Is it a concern then that it's not always the same person?)
“Yeah, it's a concern that we're not consistent. I'm not expecting you to go 5 for 5 from the field, like Jaz shot the ball really well, but her energy level was higher. That's what I want. I need that consistent energy.”
(On assistant coach Sam Purcell's attire for ugly sweater night)
“I think that was the suit he wore in his wedding. Yeah, I think he just got it out of the closet. I don't think that's anything he went and picked up.”
(On his opinion of Purcell's attire)
“I thought he looked really good. That's one thing I'll say for Sam, when Sam does something he's all out.”
Myisha Hines-Allen and Asia Durr
(On playing just 15 minutes despite getting a double-double)
MHA- “Of course. It's not all about you. I play a team sport, so it is not all about me. I like to see my other teammates get out there and get a chance to play too.”
(On Bionca Dunham's performance)
MHA- “She is really athletic, so I know she is going to get on the boards. That is just what she does. She tries to go after all rebounds, and she showed it today with her put-backs too.”
(On Asia Durr's thoughts on the victory)
AD- “I think we played great in a way. In the fourth, we did not play too well, but we started off strong, and I was really proud of the team. My teammates found me on the court as well. I am glad we got the win.”
(On the team's defensive effort for the second-consecutive game)
MHA- “We know defense is how we are going to win. We can score as many points as we want, but once we start getting into ACC play, and further into NCAA Tournament play, defense is going to start to win us games. If we start now and focus on possibly holding teams to 10 points, and under 10 points each quarter starting now, it is going to help us in the long run.”
(On playing four games in eight days)
AD- “We came here to play. We like to play, and this is our job and we have fun playing as well. I don't care how many games we have, I just want to play. I'm tired of practicing.”
MHA- “Yes. Games are more fun than practice.”
(On takeaways from the victory)
MHA- “Playing hard for 40 minutes. We just have to all play better for the whole 40 minutes. We call them The Breakfast Club. So The Breakfast Club has to come with a lot more intensity, as well as we do too, but to be a great team, that is what we are striving for, so all of us need to come with our A-game. It doesn't matter who we play.”
(On who she is referring to as The Breakfast Club)
MHA- “They practice at 10:30, they practice in the morning, and then we come in and practice too, but they have the first practice. It's getting us better.”
(On how much the defensive effort help in getting the big lead)
MHA- “That's what's most important. If we get stops on defense, our offense will come. So that's what we're all focused on mainly. It's not about the points, it's not about how many points we score each quarter, it's about how many points is the other team scoring. Let's hold them to under 10 points each quarter, so that's what we're most focused on is holding another team to a certain amount of points.”
