University of Tennessee Athletics
Pittsburgh Press Conference (3/22/15)
March 22, 2015 | Women's Basketball
PITTSBURGH HEAD COACH SUZIE McCONNELL-SERIO
(Opening statement)
"The excitement certainly hasn't worn off from our victory yesterday as we move forward. We are even more excited to be playing in the second round. I don't know if any of us would have envisioned having the opportunity to play Tennessee on their home floor in this second round of the NCAA Tournament. We know that it poses a great challenge, and with that, a great opportunity where our players will continue to prepare just like we have for any opponent all year long. We will play with everything to gain and nothing to lose. We'll still be excited for the opportunity. This will be an incredible environment. I want our players to enjoy this incredible opportunity."
(On Aysia Bugg's performance vs. Chattanooga)
"Aysia played yesterday like how we had seen her play early in the season where she was able to hit those timely jumpers. Aysia was entered three games in [into the starting lineup] and she earned it. The one thing that she brings is she alleviates some of that pressure off Brianna [Kiesel] so having another primary ball handler on the floor. Bri sometimes gets defended 94 feet, and she's defending on four feet so she's extending so much energy and plays close to 40 minutes for us. Aysia alleviates some of that pressure for having to handle the basketball for 40 minutes. It allows us to put her in a situation where we can play the two guard and breaking run sets where she's the one coming off the screens and willing to get her shots rather than always having the pressure. Aysia does the little things."
(On staying competitive on the boards)
"Rebounding is always a huge step for us. We know we're not a very physical team. Sometimes we get taken advantage of on the boards. It's something we've made an emphasis on since day one with rebounding the basketball. Watching Tennessee on film and watching them live yesterday, their post players are so strong and active. Even their guards. They pursue the basketball and give themselves second chances. That's one of the things we said in one of our film sessions. They make their living off the offensive glass. We didn't do a great job of giving them second chances especially late in the game yesterday against Chattanooga. That's something that definitely needs to improve for us to even compete in this game."
(On her preseason goal being the WNIT)
"It was. If you look back, we were coming off a 3-13 conference season and we were 11-20 overall. We had lost a lot, players had moved on, we had Bri [Brianna Kiesel] coming back with the addition of Monica [Wignot], there were really the three seniors we would have, we don't have any junior players, they are both injured, two sophomores and we had three freshmen. When you look at throwing that group together you have no idea how quickly they would gel, the chemistry they would develop and when we started playing games I started thinking, maybe we could make the WNIT because they started to develop chemistry, they started to buy in, the focus for scouting reports. Then we get into conference play and we started competing with Louisville, we had an opportunity to beat at home, we beat North Carolina, we just continued to get better and better as a team so postseason seemed a viable option. Never envisioning that in our second year we would be in the NCAA Tournament and now have the chance to play in the second round."
(On the team's trip to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame)
"It was. It was a great trip. They got to see the history of women's basketball, some familiar faces that are in there. It was very enjoyable. I think they really enjoyed going through there."
(On how the team enjoyed the trip to the WBHOF)
"Yes. It was perfect because they grew up watching these players that are in the Hall of Fame, some of them are coaching but they watch them in the WNBA, we have some players that dream of being in the WNBA and life after college. So it was a great experience for our team."
(On the tradition at Tennessee)
"I am not awestruck as some of the players. I played against Tennessee when I was in college and it was on our home floor. And then I trained here with the Olympic team and I know the history of this program and I know, it is Pat Summitt, it is her court, it is the history of the program. But I have to get Holly Warlick credit. She has done an amazing job taking over this program and putting her handprint on this program and maintaining the success they have had. Which isn't easy. It is not easy to take over for someone like Pat Summitt. I think Holly Warlick has done a tremendous job, I think she is an amazing coach. Her team plays with so much power, so much passion and energy and seeing that up close and personal yesterday, because when you watch a team on film it is so different than seeing them live. I was impressed with what I saw yesterday with her team."
(On the development of freshman Stasha Carey)
"I think with Stasha [Carey] the growth that she has made over this entire year and the confidence level that she is playing with because when you come in as a freshman you never expect to be a go-to player inside. And we have been trying to develop her as a go-to player. When we need a basket, we are looking to go to the rim and so many times it is putting the balls in the hands of Brianna Kiesel and as the season has gone on teams know that. So to be able to have another player that you can depend on and for her to want the ball. She is not someone, when I watch other players post up and they are big and wide and strong and fighting for position, that is not Stasha's game. She is not a physical post player, she prefers to be a face up, she prefers to be on the perimeter but we have asked her to do that and have that versatile to be able to do both and she has responded. I just think she is playing with a lot more confidence this late in the season of wanting the ball inside."
(On Tennessee's defense)
"They are so good defensively, they are aggressive, they are quick, they play great hop defense. For us, you watch us play, you watch us on film, it is not secret we run ball screens for Bri [Brianna Kiesel]. I have seen Tennessee support by their post players, the guards fight over, I have seen them switch, I would guess they would try a number of different things. They could trap her. I am sure they are going to try to take the ball out of her hands. That is when other players need to step up and hit some shots for them to change what they do. I think they are the adjustments that we will need to make as a team and as a staff but if we hit shots I think we will have a chance."
(On Holly Warlick's hand print on the Tennessee program)
(On motivating the team)
"I think as a coach, any coach, your job is to instill confidence into your players and give them the confidence that they can go out and they can compete with anyone that they are playing with. You see upsets happen all the time, I mean, in the mens game, in the women's game. When you toss that ball up anything can happen. Someone could get in foul trouble, an injury could happen, something could happen that changes the entire complexion of the game. If we get off to a good start, that will give our players confidence to compete but we talk about our confidence coming from our preparation that we have gone into each game having. We watch personnel and sets, we did that last night. We watch their defense, we did that this morning. We watch out of bounds plays, we will do that before shoot around tomorrow. We will go through today and practice how we are defending their sets, we will go through reviewing offense and this is what we can look to expect. We know they press, we will have a press breaker, they play matchup zone, it is just how we are looking to attack their different defenses that they will show. It is all the preparation that our players have and the focus that they have going into every game, that they are ready for anything. If a team came out in a box-and-one, if they came out in a triangle-and-two, we have done things that we have seen it and we can prepare for it. It is not always as successful as you would like it to be sometimes but it is just your players having that confidence of being prepared for anything that someone throws at you."
(On the importance of rebounding against Tennessee)
"Rebounding will be huge, defending on ball screens, they motion, they are very good with moving without the basketball, with back doors, their post passing is tremendous. They see the next play and that is the one thing that has stuck in my mind, their players see the next play, it is in their hands and the next pass is being made, it could be a backdoor, it could be a post to post entry. We have to be ready to defend very, very well in their sets, being able to play out of their quick hitters because they are constantly moving without the ball. Rebounding will be huge but I think our struggles throughout the year have always been be able to score the basketball and being able to hit shots and I think that is one of my biggest concerns is being able to score against their defense."
SENIOR GUARD BRIANNA KIESEL
(On state of the program two years ago)
"Two years ago, we were struggling a little bit. I would not have envisioned that we would be in the NCAA Tournament. I'm happy that we are here now."
(On deciding to stay at Pitt after graduating)
"I thought about it. I graduated in three years, so I didn't have to sit out. But luckily for Coach, she talked me out of it. She made me believe in her system, and look at us now. ... She made a promise to me. She said that my senior year was going to be something special. Obviously, I went with her word and that just goes to show that we're in the NCAA Tournament second round. That just goes to show for everyone that's coming in, that you should believe what she says."
(On looking at the bracket when it was released)
"When we first got the bracket, our first opponent was Chattanooga, so that's what we focused on. Tennessee, they're playing on their home court. It's a remarkable facility here, so just having the opportunity to play against one of the top teams in the nation, it's just going to be special for all of us."
(On how she viewed Tennessee growing up)
"I was a fan. For a while, I thought I was going to be as tall as Candace Parker for a second, but something happened. I just stopped growing. We have the same number and everything. She was someone I looked up to. And of course, Coach [Pat] Summitt. Everything she has done here. This is such a historic place to play. To have the opportunity to play here is just like 'Wow.' You're a 10-year-old looking at this phenomenal program and now you're playing on their court. It means a lot to me."
SENIOR GUARD MONICA WIGNOT
(On defending Tennessee)
"Watching film on them, we see that they're very good post players. So defense for us is going to be a huge thing. Playing big in the post and being strong. One of our main goals is going to be boxing out. It's one of our main objectives going into this game."
(On moving from volleyball to basketball)
"Toward the end of volleyball, like you said, I was pretty much done being a college athlete. I just wanted to graduate, get my degree and kind of go into the real world, but when I reached that point, I didn't have a plan. I didn't really know what I was going to do. So when the opportunity came out to play another year of basketball for Coach Serio, I couldn't turn it down. It was a really good opportunity presented. I went with it, and I'm extremely happy that I did it."
(On expectations of herself playing basketball again)
"I set [the expectations] really low for myself. (laughter) I think I honestly hadn't touched a basketball in four years, so I really didn't know why they were asking in the first place. (laughter) I didn't really know what to expect for myself, so I went in and tried not to have any pressure on myself and just have fun. Again, I hadn't played in four years, so I didn't know what I was going to look like. I was just trying to get better each day and not worry if I was doing good or doing bad, just having fun with it. Since I was just only going to be there for one year, I took it with a grain of salt and just do the best I can with what I have."
FRESHMAN FORWARD STASHA CAREY
(On defending Tennessee)
"Rebounding is going to be key to helping our team, getting big in the post and limiting their post players on the rebounds they get."
(On comfort level on the court)
"I've been playing since the beginning of the season, so I'm a lot more comfortable now than I was at the beginning of the season. The way I played yesterday just gives me more confidence knowing the ability that I have to help my team out. The way I play is going to affect the way my team plays."
(On nerves in NCAA environment after first game)
"I think I'll feel less nerves. I was a lot nervous yesterday. ... I'm just going to come out and play with all I have. I have nothing to lose. I know I can depend on my teammates and we're all in it together."
