Opening Statement:
Very simply, I think in the first half we were off to a slow start again, dug ourselves a hole. We obviously did get back into the ballgame, and had opportunities to go ahead. We had a lot of chances at go-ahead buckets. We got every shot that we wanted. Our game plan was to get the ball to the high post. We got the ball to where we wanted to it all night long; we just didn’t make shots in the first half. I thought in the second half we got the ball up on the glass, got offensive rebounds, put the ball back on the glass, and the shots just weren’t falling. When you don’t make shots, you’re going to lose basketball games. Down the stretch they got two rebounds, which were two more possessions that they got. When they get extra possessions and you’re not making shots, that’s a tough basketball game to win. I give them a lot of credit; they played hard. I know how hard it is to win on the road in this conference. They came in here and we were undefeated, and they beat us on the road. You have to give them a lot of credit.
On the difference between the second and first halves:
We started doing what was working. Getting the ball to the high post and attacking the rim from the high post. We were trying to get the matchup with Nicole (Michael), Juanita (Ward) or Chandrea (Jones) on their center. We got that matchup all night long. I think it was just a thing where we weren’t making the shots when we got the matchup that we wanted. We really got every matchup that we wanted and every shot that we wanted. If you’re attacking every possession like we were and you’re not making shots, then you have a problem.
On Syracuse’s slow play early in games:
We’ve done everything. We’ve practiced the night before games, we’ve not practiced. We’ve watched film the night before games. We’ve gotten up in the morning for shoot arounds, and then we haven’t. We’ve changed our pregame meal times. We’ve done everything. It is kind of hard to explain why we’ve been getting off to these slow starts. I think that we warm-up well. I know that we are prepared. I know that our kids come out and play with maximum effort every game. It’s not effort, it’s not preparation. It’s hard to explain when you feel like you have everything under control and you just can’t get off to good starts.
On how the team continually responds with second half comebacks, and why the team was unsuccessful against Seton Hall:
We’re definitely in great shape. Ryan (Cabiles) does a good job keeping us in shape throughout the season. It’s just one of those things where our kids don’t give up and they keep fighting. It’s never a thing where they give up. I never think we don’t play hard. I know tonight a lot of it had to do with Seton Hall. They play tough; they shot 60 percent in the first half. They had a kid come off the bench who made some shots who really hadn’t made shots all year long. That was kind of difficult to guard.
On Erica Morrow:
She’s a great player. Whatever decisions she makes on the floor, I support her decisions. I’m going to give her the ball next game, I’m going to give her the ball next week and I’m going to give her the ball next year. We have two more years to see her with that ball in her hands. I have no problem with Erica Morrow.
On the upcoming game against Connecticut:
Saturday is big, regardless of whether it’s Connecticut or anyone else. We have got to get a win. We’re going to go down to UConn, take care of this business and win a basketball game. We’re going to be prepared for UConn and we’re going to be ready to play.
On taking momentum from last year’s game against Connecticut into the weekend:
I don’t think you have to take momentum when you’re a good basketball team. We have a good team and we have good athletes. It’s about talent; it’s not always about momentum. I think at some point talent takes over when momentum starts to slow down. We are talented enough to go win that basketball game, and we’re looking forward to going down there and putting together a game plan to win that game. How many teams in this country have an opportunity to beat number one? We’re looking forward to the opportunity.
