University of Tennessee Athletics
TENNESSEE VS. KENTUCKY - POST GAME QUOTES
January 29, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 29, 2004
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Tennessee Head Coach Pat Summitt
On Mickie DeMoss and the Kentucky team ...
"I think she's done a great job here. Watching film on this team now and a year ago is like watching two different teams play, but it is basically the same team without their top scorer from a year ago. The thing that is apparent right off is that they play with great intensity on the defensive end. I shouldn't be surprised - and I'm not. We didn't want (Sara) Potts to go off on us at any point, but she opened up and had the first seven points. They got her the ball and she worked for it."
"They play very well together and it seems that they understand their roles. They did a lot of isolation plays, which they were very effective in doing so. They just decided who they wanted to pick on defensively and (Sidney) Spencer was at the top of their list. That's the mark of a coach that is utilizing her personnel to allow them to be successful."
On facing her former assistant coach ...
"I really tried to erase that from my mind. We didn't talk about Mickie this or Mickie that or Mickie's team. We just talked about seeing this Kentucky team this year on tape and it was quite different. I tried not to even think about that in preparing for this game. Mickie is one of my dearest friends and it was Kentucky and Tennessee. We just wanted to figure out a way for Tennessee to execute and be better and be the team that came out on top. I managed to do that pretty well because I'm that type of competitor and I'm sure Mickie felt the same way."
"All she has to do now is keep this thing in perspective. She will get it done. I'm proud of her."
42 Shyra Ely, Forward
On the magnitude of this game...
"This was a big game for us. We played in a great atmosphere tonight. I think we always have a lot of support from fans when we play Kentucky. It was a good road win for us."
On Tennessee's play...
"Coach (Summitt) just told us to get inside and then work outside. That's what we were going for. I'm willing to step up and be the go-to player if I need to be, and I think everyone is willing to step into that role. When someone is hot, you just have to continue giving them the ball."
5 Shanna Zolman, Guard
On playing against Coach DeMoss...
"We were excited for this game, and we knew what to expect. Coach DeMoss knew our tendencies, personnel and our weaknesses. It was just different because we knew that she knew a lot of things about us. It was a lot of fun playing in this atmosphere tonight."
On her 3-pointer with less than a minute left...
"In the second half, they (Kentucky) had a different look to their defense and we had to deal with that. Our zone defenses are similar, so we tried to decide where to shoot the ball from. I asked Coach (Summitt) if I could run the baseline and shoot the three. Luckily I had a moment to knock it down and thankfully I did."
Kentucky Head Coach Mickie DeMoss
On her overall view of the game...
"It was a really hard-fought game tonight. I'm really proud of the way my team played. I thought we played with a lot of heart. We didn't get down and discouraged when Tennessee got a lead. They are a very good team and we made some good defensive stops. We didn't do a very good job of guarding Shyra Ely tonight and they made some big plays. I'm really proud of the way we played and our effort tonight. I'm disappointed we couldn't get over the hump."
On what coach Pat Summitt said to her after the game...
"She said nice job and was very complementary of the Kentucky team."
On how Kentucky got going after falling behind to start the second half...
"Sara Potts hit some threes and then Shambrica Jones hit some big shots and got us back in the game."
On the atmosphere in the Coliseum...
"It was very special. What an atmosphere. I just appreciate the crowd support - it's unbelievable - and I think they saw some good basketball tonight. They made a huge difference. I think they inspired us at times, even when we were down, and they wouldn't let us give up. Not many women's basketball players can ever play in that type of atmosphere. I imagined (the crowd support would develop), but I never imagined it would happen this soon, but I'm glad it did."
On the possibility of playing in that type of atmosphere at Rupp Arena down the road...
"That would really be awesome. I think Rupp Arena is just a fabulous basketball facility. Memorial Coliseum is a great facility, and if we can keep packing it, it can really give us a home court advantage."
On Sara Potts' performance...
"Sara Potts has been playing extremely well the last few games. She's playing with a lot of confidence on both ends of the floor. She's had to work really hard this year on the defensive end because she is usually guarding the best perimeter player on the other team. She's had a lot of responsibility this year and she's been playing at a different level. It didn't surprise me, and I was very happy for her."
On the confidence her team can take away from this game...
"We did some good things tonight, so it just proves that we can do it. When we're focused and determined and have high standards set (we can accomplish a lot). We were really outsized tonight and we were still able to compete with them on the boards, so it proves to me that we can play with anyone in the country."
24 Angela Phillips, Guard
On whether Tennessee was surprised by UK's intensity...
"I'm sure they've been in this position before. They know every team is out to beat them, so I don't think they were really surprised."
3 Sara Potts, Guard
On her role in the game...
"I just knew I had to step up for my team."
On if this is a sign of positive things to come...
"Yes, definitely, we competed with this team for forty minutes and I think if we can keep it up we'll do well."
