University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Lady Vols Post-NCAA Selection Show Quotes
March 17, 2008 | Women's Basketball
TENNESSEE HEAD COACH PAT SUMMITT??
On being selected a No. 1 seed in the Oklahoma City Region: ???I am pleased overall. We have to take things one step at a time. I was a bit surprised we were sent to West Lafayette, but I know that the fans there support women???s basketball in great fashion. Hopefully our fans will travel to support us as well. They historically do a great job of that. One good thing having been in the women???s game so long is that we are playing a team we have never faced. With our style of play, that is good for us. I don???t know much about Oral Roberts, so my staff and I will look at film and study them this week.???
Reaction to the four No. 1 seeds:
???I thought that Maryland or Stanford could go either way with the No. 1 seed. I thought maybe Louisiana State would get a one seed and I figured Rutgers would be in our bracket???so it shows how much I know! (ha). Overall I thought the committee worked hard at analyzing the top four teams in all brackets. I imagine there will be even more upsets this post-season than there have been in the past; that seems to happen more and more every year, which I think is good for women???s basketball???I just hope we???re not on the receiving end of one of those upsets.???
On both the Tennessee men and women being highly-ranked seeds:
???It gives our fans a lot to be excited about. I think Bruce Pearl and the Vols deserved a No. 1 seed, but they will go into the tournament knowing they need to take care of business. I know both of the Tennessee teams will represent the university and state in a positive manner. We both have a lot to prove this year. Defense and rebounding are two things that both teams need to focus on, and that will help each be prepared for any team they face.???
On Texas A&M:
???I have been impressed with Texas A&M???s ability to generate points off of defense. We know that we have to take this tournament one game at a time, though, so who knows if we will get to play one another. It is all about surviving and advancing in the post-season.???
On the possibility of playing on two opponents ???home courts??? (Purdue and Oklahoma):
???We???ve been there before, and I will not complain about it, because we???ve been on the receiving end many times. Our fan support and the fan support of Purdue and Oklahoma is incredible. We need that for women???s basketball right now ??? fans in the stands for post season.???
On continuing the momentum from the win over LSU in the SEC Championship:
???That was a feel-good victory for us. The game had a tournament atmosphere ??? not just an SEC Tournament, but an NCAA Tournament feel to it. We felt good coming off that win. We had to work hard and make big plays in that game. We took time off after the SEC Tournament to keep our minds and legs fresh, but I feel good with where this team is right now.???
On a potential Tennessee-Connecticut match-up:
???The Tennessee-Connecticut match-up has gotten a lot of hype, especially since we ended the series this season. My mind is not on anything but getting better this week. We must respect every opponent and play every possession. Our veteran team knows that. Our ultimate goal is to be in Tampa when it is all said and done but we have to get there before we begin thinking about Connecticut.???
TENNESSEE JUNIOR FORWARD CANDACE PARKER??
On being selected a No. 1 seed in the Oklahoma City Region:
???I am excited about being a No. 1 seed. I didn???t know who our two-seed was going to be when they first announced our placement. I think Texas A&M is a great team. We have our work cut out for us, but right now we need to focus on Oral Roberts.???
On the possibility of playing on two opponents??? ???home courts??? (Purdue and Oklahoma):
???Right now we have to take things one game at a time. We are focusing on Oral Roberts and if we get the opportunity to play Purdue, we will cross that bridge when we come to it.???
On the ESPN analysts not picking Tennessee to win the NCAA Title:
???It is motivation for us. I am excited they didn???t pick Tennessee. We still have more respect to earn, and we know that we will go into this tournament taking things one game at a time. It doesn???t matter what the experts or anyone else says, we as a team will be the ones who determine who wins.???
On what this year???s selection show felt like compared to the last two years:
???It doesn???t feel all that different. We are still presented with the same challenges. There are still six games left for whoever becomes NCAA champions. It is the post season and our mentality is survive and advance.???
TENNESSEE SENIOR FORWARD ALEXIS HORNBUCKLE??
On being a senior playing in her last tournament:
???Definitely excited to have a #1 seed, and I???m looking forward to seeing how the tournament is going to play out and to be able to have an opportunity as a senior to play in the NCAA Tournament and to play as a #1 seed.???
On potential match-ups in the Tournament:
???You never really know what is going to happen in the NCAA Tournament. The potential match-ups down the line, whether it is North Carolina in the Final Four or playing Texas A&M, or even Oklahoma or Arizona State, they???re all good teams. You look at this bracket and it???s not an easy walkthrough, no matter which way you look at it. We just have to prepare for potentially six games.???
On the Tennessee schedule and its effect on the team???s preparation for the NCAA Tournament:
???Our schedule always helps prepare us for the postseason. It???s always good to see new teams when you get to the tournament, but I think our schedule kind of ventures out to every style of play. Seeing every different style of play really helps to prepare us for tournament play.???
TENNESSEE SENIOR CENTER NICKY ANOSIKE??
On whether Tennessee has what it takes to win this season:
???We know that there are a lot of people out there that are underestimating us. But the most important people are this team and what we decided to do. We proved last year that we can be on top no matter what anybody says.???
On the potential of playing Purdue in the second round:
???My freshman year we played Purdue on our home court, so it???s pretty fitting that my senior year, we could play Purdue on their home court. We???ll see how that goes, but we will approach every game like it will be our last, because it could be. You either win or you go home, and I don???t think that any of our seniors are ready to do that.
On this being her final NCAA Tournament:
???I was just sitting here reminiscing on my four years here and how I sat in this same chair four years ago and had no real clue as to what this selection show was all about. I thought we were just going to Pat???s house to have dinner. That definitely shows me how far I have come. It???s our last go-around and we have to give every last ounce of energy that we have for Tennessee.???
TENNESSEE SENIOR GUARD SHANNON BOBBITT??
Her thoughts on attempting to repeat as national champions:
???Everyone???s goal in the NCAA Tournament is to win the championship. That???s what all the teams are waiting for, so it???s going to be really exciting.???
On Tennessee???s placement in the bracket:
???We are very happy to get a No. 1 seed and are excited to be in the Oklahoma City Region. We???re just ready for the games to begin.???
TENNESSEE SENIOR GUARD ALBERTA AUGUSTE??
On having tournament experience:
???I???m pretty confident. I think we???re all motivated now, since we saw what (the ESPN analysts) said about us. We???re pretty confident. We???re just ready to go out there and start the tournament and show everybody what we have.???
On Tennessee???s seeding:
???It looks like we have a pretty good seed, but everybody comes in ready to play. This is my last shot to win a national championship, and everybody will be out to get us. We just have to be ready and focused. We can???t take any team lightly.???
TENNESSEE JUNIOR FORWARD ALEX FULLER??
On not being picked to reach the national championship game by ESPN broadcasters Kara Lawson and Stacey Dales:
???It gives us a little motivation because they didn???t pick us, but we can???t pay attention to that. We just have to play our game.???
On this being the final NCAA Tournament for the senior class:
???It???s bittersweet. All six of us are seniors and are kind of the big sisters for the team. I think we could have played after we watched the selection show. We???re ready to start the tournament.???
TENNESSEE Freshman forward Angie Bjorklund??
On Tennessee???s schedule:
???It definitely helps us, playing at places like Duke. We???ve been there, and I think that???s why coach (Summitt) always has the toughest schedule every year to prepare us for those big situations down the line. We???ve been there in big games, and I think that helps us a lot.???
On playing in her first NCAA Tournament:
???This is exciting, do or die, one and done. I???ve never been in a tournament like that and it???s an exciting process.???
???I think this is what we???ve been preparing for all year. When we started SEC play the seniors said ???You???ve got to step it up, you???re not freshmen anymore.??? I think going into the tournament, I???m not a freshman anymore. There???s no adjustment period; it???s do or die, starting now.???
TENNESSEE FRESHMAN FORWARD VICKI BAUGH??
Her feelings going into her first tournament
???I???m nothing but excited. This is where it all matters. It???s a win or go home situation, so we???ve got to just win. I???m looking forward to trying to get a national championship.???
On how they will prepare for the tournament:
???We???re just going to take it a game at a time. We???re not going to look ahead. Everyone comes out to play against Tennessee, so we can???t take anyone lightly.???
On Tennessee???s chances:
???I don???t want to jinx anything, but I think we have the potential. If we come together as a team, we are tough to beat.???
TENNESSEE FRESHMAN GUARD SYDNEY SMALLBONE??
Her feelings going into her first tournament:
???I???m excited that we???re getting a chance to play as a number one seed. Coming to Tennessee, I looked forward to getting a chance to play in the tournament and get a high seed. We???re excited to go to West Lafayette (Ind.). It???s about two and a half hours from my hometown, so I look forward to having my family there and being close to home.???
Her expectations:
???I???m excited. That???s the best way to describe it. We???ve got our work cut out for us, just like any other team. I think practice is going to help a lot with our preparation. It???s going to be a good six games, hopefully, if we can make it all the way. That???s what all of us are trying to do. I think with practice and proper game preparation, I think we can be the No. 1 team at the end.???
TENNESSEE REDSHIRT FRESHMAN CENTER KELLEY CAIN??
Her thoughts on Tennessee???s bracket:
???We are pretty comfortable with our bracket, and I can???t wait to see the outcome. I can tell that our team is really excited about it, and I know that they will be willing to work hard and do whatever it takes to win.???
On not being picked to reach the national championship game by ESPN broadcasters Kara Lawson and Stacey Dales:
???That just gives us even more motivation. Our team loves proving people wrong, so we like it when people pick against us. That just adds even more fuel to our fire.???
TENNESSEE REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE GUARD CAIT McMAHAN??
Her thoughts on UT???s draw:
???I???m excited. To me, it really doesn???t matter who we play because I know that my teammates are going to come out and play with passion and fire.???
Her expectations for the Lady Vols:
???I expect nothing less than a national championship, because I know that everyone will give their all, every second of every game.???
TENNESSEE ASSOCIATE HEAD Coach Holly Warlick??
On expectations placed on Tennessee:
???People are concerned with us already being in Tampa, but what has always been a focus for our team in the past is to take things one game at a time. That???s our job (as coaches) to get our kids to think that way, and they have. I don???t think our kids look ahead.???
On Tennessee???s bracket:
???We have the potential for playing Purdue on their home court, and that???s tough. We had to do that last year in Pittsburgh and that was extremely hard, but the year before we went to Old Dominion and Old Dominion happened to lose before we could play them, so we can???t worry about dodging bullets, we just have to play who we play. You get caught up in looking at who is in the bracket. Well we don???t have to play everybody, because somebody is going to get beat.???
On the quality of the tournament:
???When you get to that point (late in the tournament), you have to be at your best. I think teams are getting better. The #1 and #2 seeds are nice, but it all boils down to you???ve got to be ready to play because this tournament is getting better, and that???s a good thing, it really is.???
TENNESSEE ASSISTANT COACH NIKKI CALDWELL??
Her overall impressions of the tournament field:
???You look at the beginning, Connecticut is the No. 1 seed, and rightfully so, and you have us. I think you had some choices after that. I think you easily could have looked at Stanford as a No. 1 seed and possibly LSU. There really several teams that are strong enough to get a No. 1 seed. Typically, that???s not the case. It???s usually kind of clear who the top four teams are. This year, what you have are several teams that could be in the top four and that just shows the parity in the women???s game.
On Tennessee???s seeding and regular season preparation for the tournament:
???I like where we???re at. I like the fact that our schedule has allowed us to play some of the teams that are on our side of the bracket. Whenever we talk to (Coach Summitt) about why we???re playing certain teams, she???ll tell us that it???s preparation for March. You truly understand that once you???re placed in the bracket and see teams that you???ve played in the past.???
On how Tennessee will prepare for the First and Second Rounds:
???Our first step, with Oral Roberts, is to watch some film on them and see what their tendencies are, both offensively and defensively. We???ll get our game plan together. We???re going to need to make sure that everybody is on the same page. We???ll have individual meetings to be sure of that down the road, but first and foremost scouting will come into play. Obviously, we???ll look at the rest of our bracket with Utah and Purdue. We want to make sure that we???re prepared as far in advance as we can be at this stage.???
On potential Second-Round opponent Purdue:
???What you have to realize going into that game is, if Purdue comes out of the first round, we???re playing at West Lafayette. They???re going to have what is basically a home crowd, and they???re going to be hungry just like everybody else.???
On the players??? mentality in March:
???You???re not just going to waltz into a gym and bring your ???C??? game. Everyone on this team has got to bring her ???A??? game and be a cannibal for carrying the weight of what a victory really means when you???re playing in March. Now it???s either survive and advance, or go home. I think they understand that, having the experience that we???ve got coming back. They understand what it takes to win it all, and they understand what it takes to prepare to win it all. That???s going to be key for us as well.???
On the team???s motivation and abilities going into the tournament:
???I think this group is motivated in and of itself. I think we???ve been able to spread our offensive attack. Candace has done a great job establishing that inside attack for us as a go-to player. Bobbitt has done a great job on the perimeter. Hornbuckle and Alberta have gotten into the paint for us, bringing that presence. Nicky has done the same on the boards. Then, you look at our bench play. You???ve got Alex who can extend the defense to the three-point line and bring that fundamental part to our game. And Vicki Baugh is an x-factor waiting to happen. We???ve got a good shot at coming into NCAA play and cutting down the nets in Tampa.???
TENNESSEE Assistant Coach Dean Lockwood??
On the bracket:
???We???re very pleased to be a #1 seed. We feel that we???ve earned that #1 seed, winning the SEC Tournament, and we???re just excited and now our mode quickly changes to our next opponent and potential next opponent. We go from the enjoyment of watching things unfold and watching where the chips may fall to a preparation mode where we have to get ready for Oral Roberts, get ready for the potential Purdue-Utah winner. The wheels are already spinning, and we???ll all be watching film within the hour.???
On Tennessee???s schedule and the potential for facing opponents for the second time:
???Well, obviously, things have changed since when we played those teams. Oklahoma, for example, we played back in November, and things have changed for them just like things have changed for us. November is almost a full season ago, so the improvement and adjustments that each team has made, the personnel stays the same but they???ve changed and we???ve changed and that???s the thing that we have to pay attention to.???
???We can look at tendencies and things that worked and didn???t work, and they can do the same if we eventually do meet up. The point is, we have to look at what are teams doing now and what can we do now to go against that. Ultimately, though, we have to get through to them, and they have to get through to us. There are many fields to plow before then.???
