Lady Vols vs. Florida Postgame Quotes

Tennessee Head Coach Holly Warlick

Opening Statement:
"(It was) a great win for us tonight. We did some really, really good things. I thought our defense was solid. (In the) second half, we only put them on the free-throw line twice, and for us, that is great. We distributed the basketball and a lot of people scored. I am just really proud of our team. We stuck to the game plan and got us a win."

On if she thought their press impacted Florida:
"I did. I thought our press made them nervous and ran some time off the clock; that is what we wanted. We didn't get burned on it too many times. It kind of set the tone for us to be a little more aggressive on the defensive end, so I thought it was really effective. If we would've closed our traps a little bit more, we might've gotten more turnovers. But we made them play quick, and I thought that was a good thing."

On the difference for Cheridene Green's rebounding during the last couple games:
"Rebounding is effort and heart. Cheridene is committed to that. She gets positioned before the shot goes up. That is her game. When she sticks with that, she does a great job. When she sticks with that, we generally win basketball games."

On the team's ability to defend the perimeter tonight:
"I thought we were really aware of the 3-point shooting. We lost a couple in transition, but our defense was solid. We were talking and moving. Some of those got loose behind us. But we will watch (film) and clean it up. I am just thankful they didn't go off on us on the 3-point line."

On when she decided Meme Jackson was going to play and if she had any restrictions:
"I watched her today in shoot around, and I thought she didn't favor her ankle or foot. I kind of just wanted to see. I wanted to get her back in the game and rhythm. I thought she did a good job. She went in and shot a three and then two quick twos. For sitting out for a while, I thought she did a good job. She got a little tired, but that is expected."

On the 16 turnovers and if Florida was doing something to create them:
"I thought we were trying to make things happen. I will have to go back and watch the tape. I don't know specifically. We have got to clean those up, but I thought Evina Westbrook was finding people and getting easy shots. I love that. We are going to have to clean up our turnovers though, no question."

On Rennia setting goals and if they are helping her game:
"Rennia, in the last probably four practices, has committed to playing hard on everything we do. Today she got up shots for 45 minutes. She gets in the gym, and it has been mental for her, and I think the distraction of not really focusing on her scoring ability and doing other things has really helped her."

On Mimi Collins and what she is contributing:
"I thought Mimi Collins has had two solid practices of playing on the defensive end. She gets the kinds of fouls that are not necessary. I thought she was really solid today. She was great for us. She played within her game, and she fit into the offense really well. We need her to do that. We need her to play. We need her on the court. She has got to play solid on the defensive end, and I thought she was tonight."

On turning the season around:
"We talk about it. Each game is a foundation for us. We cannot do anything about what we did in the past, but we learn from it. We have got to move forward. I think they have. I think they have learned to focus a lot better. I think they are practicing a lot harder. They have really come together on game days and are playing well together. That is what it takes. It is not about one person. It is about this team and this group. When we are solid and together, we are a really good basketball team. I know we are young, and we are going to make mistakes, but as long as we keep grinding and putting practice as a priority, we are going to keep getting better and better. In our last four games, I thought that we made a conscious effort of playing together as a team."

On looking ahead to Vanderbilt:
"Vanderbilt can compete. Whatever their record is, they are going to compete. They are competing right now playing Texas A&M. It is different for our kids going down there and playing. We will go down the night before, and get a lot of time in that gym. You cannot treat Vanderbilt like their record. They play hard. We cannot overlook anybody, and we will not overlook anybody. We do not have that luxury, and we are not going to do that. We are going to treat Vanderbilt like everybody else. We are going to prep for them and put a game plan in and go down there and be solid."

Redshirt-Senior Forward Cheridene Green

On her double-double and what's clicking for the team right now:

"I think we're playing more as a team and just running the game plan, executing, and doing whatever we can."

On her consistency these past couple games, and what's clicked for her:

"I think I've just gotten a lot more confident, and I'm believing in myself, and hearing that my teammates believe in me. They're always in my ear; stuff like that is really good for me. It helps my game."

On how nice it is to have Meme Jackson back:

"I enjoyed having Meme back. She's got great energy, and she's always in my ear telling me what I need to do and what I shouldn't do, so that's good to know."

Senior Guard/Forward Meme Jackson

On how it felt to get back out there with her teammates and be physical:

"I felt good. I'm just happy to be back out there with my teammates. I was just trying to be patient."

On her recovery and if she had any restrictions:

"No, we were just taking it day by day, and I just felt like I was ready to get back out there today and get adjusted to things. We were just being patient."

Sophomore Guard/Forward Rennia Davis:

On what caused the improvement in her offensive numbers over that last few games:

"I'm just doing whatever my team needs me to do. I think, for the most part, just trying to play a little more free. Before these past two games, I think I was kind of stuck on missed shots, more bad stuff than good stuff. I'm just trying to continue to move forward."

On her rebounding tonight:

"Well, rebounding is always a big thing for me. The scoring is one thing, but I also like to see double figure numbers in that rebounding category in as many games as possible. Tonight, I got most of my rebounds on the defensive end. I think that's a big part of the defensive possession, so I was really trying to focus on that tonight."

On how nice it was to lead for 38 minutes, and how they will keep the momentum going moving forward:

"It means a lot. I always talk about us finishing the full 40 minutes. These past few games, I think we were able to do so, despite a few drops here or there. Basketball is a game of runs, but just being able to finish the games right now is big for us."

Florida Head Coach Cam Newbauer:

Opening statement:
"Out of the gate they did a good job of really jumping on us. They average about three 3-pointers a game, and they hit three within the first five minutes. Once we settled down, I really liked how we competed in that first quarter. They set us back with 18 assists on 26 field goals. I like that we only had eight turnovers; we did a really good job of handling their pressure. I thought we got really good looks tonight, but they just did not go down. I am proud of our overall fight and effort, we just have to get better and that is what we will do."

On Tennessee's recent performances:
"I do not think that people understand that they play in the SEC. They are not playing slouches day in and day out. Everyone wants to be up in arms about them losing some games, but they play in the best conference in the country with the best players and the best coaches in the country. People want to start screaming bloody murder because they lost a couple of games here and there, but it is a part of the game. I cannot speak to what the issues are, I just know that they play in a great conference with great teams. Day in and day out, anyone can win. Tonight, they played very well. The 18 assists on 24 field goals is impressive. Tonight, they shared the ball and got really good shots."

On what he hopes his team will improve on:
"We have a pretty young group outside of Funda (Nakkasoglu) and Delicia (Washington). Some of these kids come in here, and it is there first time at Tennessee, and it was a big deal. They grew up knowing about Tennessee basketball, but they have to learn that they put their pants on the same way we do. You have to come out and give effort and fight immediately. The experience that we are gaining and the growth that we are having every possession, there is a lot in that for us. Our wins are not coming in the win/loss record right now, and that is a big deal. If they stop fighting and competing then we have a problem, but our kids are not doing that. They are trying to keep competing, playing hard and keep getting better."

On Emanuely de Oliveira's performance:
"I think she is getting better. She had a take in the first half where she sliced down the defense. She did a great job getting past the perimeter and finishing. I thought she was competing. She was giving up three, four and five inches to some of those players, but she kept competing and boxing out. She continues to get better for us. She missed a lot of the preseason this year for us and did not practice. It has taken her a little time to understand what we are doing, but the improvement she is showing for a true freshman is really awesome to see.

Florida Redshirt-Senior Guard Funda Nakkasoglu:

On her hot shooting streak:
"I think it is just that some days they go in and some days they do not. At the beginning they were not going in, but I have the confidence in my teammates and coaches to keep me going. I am so grateful for that, because it helps me get out of my own mind and just play my game. So, I think I just look towards them, and they give me what I need. They know that I am going to help the team out the best I can."

On her relationship with Lou Brown:
"I actually grew up playing with her my whole life, so it was great seeing her and catching up with her. I have not seen her in four years now. It was great."