University of Tennessee Athletics
TENNESSEE BASKETBALL VS. CHATTANOOGA - POST GAME QUOTES
November 21, 2005 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2005
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TENNESSEE HEAD COACH Pat Summitt:
"I thought our team did a good job of understanding what they had to do tonight. I thought one player in particular who brought energy tonight was Sybil 'Dosty. She was active and pursued the ball. That was a real plus."
"Tonight's game allowed us to look a lot of different combinations. We can go big. We might not be as mobile (with that lineup), but we got the ball inside. One benefit of our personnel is that we can go big; we can go small; or we can go with a combination. And right now, I think a combination is a good thing. Our bench got a lot of minutes tonight, and they weren't wasted minutes. They tried to be productive. Our post play was a lot better tonight. Nicky (Anosike) came in and played with a lot more composure. Tye (Fluker) played big inside. We know the depth is there. I don't mind rotating two posts at a time."
(on Michigan State) "I haven't seen Michigan State since the spring. I think our staff has sneaked a peek. We're as ready as we can be at this point of the season. It's early, and we're still growing. I'm sure we'll have some growing pains. We understand what we have to do. We've got three games back-to-back-to-back. We have to be focused and play with the intensity that we did tonight."
(on improvement from yesterday's game) "I wasn't excited with yesterday's game. Our defense was better tonight. I didn't like our offense or our bench play yesterday. After watching the tape last night, I was convinced. We had a short team meeting today. Without a walk-through or a practice today, just going with a scouting report, they did comprehend what we wanted to do.
(on the number of three-point attempts) "I'd say we want 18-20 a game. We want to go inside then outside. It's not unrealistic to challenge this team to look for that. We have some players who we give the greenlight."
(on the play of freshman Lindsey Moss) "I'm pleased with Lindsey's progress. She's having to catch up with the pace of the collegiate game. I didn't think she had as much energy yesterday as she showed in high school. In high school, she played some point guard. She has great court vision and sees the floor well. Even at the 2/3 position, she has a point guard mentality. She's going to get better on defense."
(on difference between tonight's game and yesterday's game) "Better shot selection was a key. I thought we played smarter with the ball."
"We were pushing the ball and being unselfish. We were playing more together. It was effective."
(on switching lineups) "We have so many people with different strengths. Any lineup we go with is capable of getting the job done. That will be a real positive for us further down the road as the games start getting tougher."
"Obviously, what Pat thinks is important, but what my teammates think is the most important."
"Yesterday, I didn't come out with a lot of energy. I wanted to prove today that I could keep my energy level up. A focus for our post players is to get the ball out to the guards quick."
"It helps tremendously that both our inside and outside games were going. Our posts established their game, and that helped open things up for our outside game. Coach (Summitt) emphasizes that we go inside first.
(on her own offensive production) "The shots were falling again. We've got great guards who can penetrate and dish out. I just keep trying to get open. It's always a team effort."
"My goal in the offseason was to get in condition so I never stop moving. I've been watching Rip Hamilton with the Pistons a lot. He never stops moving. He never stops coming off screens."
CHATTANOOGA HEAD COACH WES MOORE:
"Anytime you play Tennessee, you know you are going to face a pressure defense and a team that is relentless on the boards. Those were two things we just could not overcome tonight. They scored a lot of points off turnovers and offensive rebounds. That was very disappointing for us."
"I'm proud of our kids' efforts tonight. We knew coming in that we had a mountain to climb. You just take this game for the experience and learn from it."
"Just before we came in here, Pat (Summitt) said she was very impressed with our spacing. She was very complementary of our team. We did rush our shots a bit against the Lady Vols, but you expect that when you see how long and athletic they are. They have kids that can swing in and out on you. It really keeps you on your toes on defense. Their size and athleticism was a problem for us at every position."
(on Tennessee's team): "This is one of Pat's (Summitt) best teams. I mean, they were a Final Four team last year and then you add Candace Parker."
(on Parker): "I knew we had a match-up problem for the last six months. We knew how bad our problem was when all our guards turned white thinking that they would have to guard her. She is a little rusty, and her ballhandling will have to improve to play the three, but I know Pat and her staff will work with her to make her better."
(on Shanna Zolman): "Her shot is so much quicker this season. She is getting her feet set much quicker than she has in the past, and it seems she really worked on her agility this summer. That work really paid off."
(on the rebounding difference): "Sometimes you can get away with jumping at the ball. Tonight to get a rebound, we really had to box out on every possession, and we didn't do a good job of that. That is definitely a concern of ours after tonight."
