University of Tennessee Athletics
Kellie Harper Media Availability Recap (11/9/21)
November 09, 2021 | Women's Basketball
Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper met with the media in advance of Wednesday's season-opening home game with Southern Illinois. The No. 15/12 Lady Vols and Salukis will meet at 7:02 p.m. ET at Thompson-Boling Arena in a game televised by SEC Network.
UT begins a stretch of three games in six days to open the campaign, following the SIU contest with a trip to UCF (Friday, 6 p.m. ET) and a trip back home to face No. 21/22 USF on The Summitt at 6:30 p.m. ET on Monday.
Opening statement…
"We're excited, we have a very busy week ahead of us for sure. We're just really looking forward to getting going, getting started. Sometimes, you get to the point in practices where the next thing that you can do is play a game, and I think we're to that point. Play a game, really see where we are, and I think we'll come out of this week with a pretty good idea of who our basketball team is."
On improvements after the exhibition…
"We've had some really good practices, and I've been proud of our team for that. I think we've had some growth. If we have a practice where maybe it wasn't as sharp as it needs to be, they know it, they understand it, and the next day it's corrected. They do a really good job of bringing energy to every practice, and when you do that, you are going to find ways to improve and get better. I've been really pleased with that."
On team's eagerness to get on the court…
"We had a closed scrimmage a few weeks ago, and after that closed scrimmage, we came back and improved on some things. After that, it hit them, it hit them pretty quick. I could tell they were ready to play some games. At that point, you've just got to keep motivating, keep finding ways to push them, maybe put in new things. This preseason felt a little bit longer because last year, COVID, it was just different. Our players have been chomping at the bit to get out there with uniforms on."
On Southern Illinois head coach Cindy Stein…
"Very, very, very familiar with Coach Stein and her program. Playing them multiple times for six years, you get to know an opponent really well. They are going to be tough, they are going to be disciplined, they are highly skilled on the offensive end. It's a veteran team, and they are going to come in not afraid. I think those are some of the qualities of her team and things we can expect to see."
On quick turnaround to face UCF…
"UCF, that's going to be a really tough game. First on the road, after a quick turnaround, against one of the top defenses in the country and a very veteran team. That's a huge challenge for us. We want to take things one game at a time, but we've tried to put in some things offensively and defensively that we feel like could help us for that game on Friday, because we're not going to have a lot of time to work on them on Thursday. You have to plan a little bit in advance when you're playing a team like Central Florida."
On goals for Wednesday's game…
"We will have some game goals that we will talk about. Those typically include boards, turnovers, or lack thereof actually, some free-throw shooting percentages, and maybe some deflections as well. Each game is different, but those are some of the stats we will track throughout the game. As we go we might have game goals in the middle of the game. I think we will just see how things are going and try to find ways to challenge our team."
On if free throw shooting is a big issue or a one-game concern…
"We coach as if we think every area is a concern when we don't perform well. I think for us we just made sure that we were a little more intentional in getting those shots up. It's something we'll be tracking. We can shoot free throws; we just have to step out and do it in the game."
On value of getting freshmen minutes in the first game of the season…
"I think early in the season is really good to get your young players, your freshmen, some of your players, even your upperclassmen that maybe are playing different roles. I think it's important to get them minutes in non-conference games. Obviously, for us, it started a little bit with our exhibition game, but a lot this week. They need to help us. They need to be able to come in and play quality minutes in big games, and the only way they're going to be able to do that in February, in March, is if they have the experience in November and December. That's what we definitely hope to get for them in this non-conference schedule."
On how much the freshmen can be evaluated in practice, or if the evaluation needs to come from real game minutes…
"Honestly both. I think we have a pretty good idea of who our freshmen are and what they are going to be able to do. But sometimes when you play in front of the lights, with a uniform on against a different opponent, you see a different side of them. I think both. I think we have a good idea of it now they've got to be able to execute in a game. When every play matters, times 10, they've got to be able to perform. We're excited about that, but they have to get that experience."
On health of team and if everyone will be ready for the first game…
"Yeah, we think so. We have some that are nicks and bruises, nothing major. Emily (Saunders) should be back for the game, and then obviously Marta (Suarez) is not available. We'll help settle for everybody else."
On Rae Burrell's preseason recognition and how far she has come in this program…
"She's worked really hard on her game. She's come out with great attitude. She's handled all of this recognition very well up to this point. I'm proud of her. I think she's well deserving. I think with her athleticism, her size, her skill set and her motor. I think with all of those I think she should be mentioned as one of the best players in the country. I'm glad she's getting that recognition. Obviously, she wants to win. The ultimate goal is for our team to win. It's a nice individual recognition."
On the energy in the locker room compared to last year…
"I'm telling you, the exhibition game felt different. It was so good to have fans and have fans closer to the court. I am so looking forward to that again. The environment here at the University of Tennessee for our games is unlike anywhere else. It's so special. We have so many people here, and they're loud, passionate, they're invested, and we just missed that last year. We had more than most people, but we just didn't get our full capacity. I'm really excited about this upcoming year with fans and when we talked to our team about this season, that is the thing that they continue to reference is fans in the stands and I know that they're looking forward to playing in front of the best in the country."
On Candace Parker being the grand marshal for homecoming...
"It's great that we are recognizing her and that she is able to come back. She has always been so giving and loving of this university. That is something really special. I think it's great how our university and community really embrace Candace and what she did for this program and what she is doing now. We are all so proud of her. Obviously, we wish we could be here Friday, but we will be around and will be able to hang out with her for a little bit on Saturday."
On how many players are able to give consistent minutes going into the season...
"That's a great question that I probably can't answer accurately at this point. Right now, everyone has an opportunity. I want to go deep into the bench, and to do that, we are going to need players to step up and make plays. They are going to have a chance. They will all have their opportunity. That doesn't mean if I put them in that they have to score 20 points. You have to do the little things. I think everybody is starting to understand their role and what they can bring to this team."
On if it's set in that the regular season starts this week...
"Not yet. Obviously, there are a lot of people playing today. Our men are playing today. Other women's basketball teams are playing today. When we start seeing games being played, it will set in a little bit more. Maybe when we have our shootaround tomorrow it will really hit me. I was sitting at my desk planning practice, and I was trying to decide if I have wrapped my head around games starring tomorrow. And it's not just one games; we have three games in six days. If I haven't figured it out by now, I need to by tomorrow."
On if it feels different the day before the first game of the season...
"Honestly, everything feels different for me right now just because we got a regular year under our belt and then had the COVID year. You feel more comfortable with the little things like where you are parking, where you will go and when and what it's going to look like. Who the ushers are. There's just so many little things that there is just a comfort when you've done it. I feel that, and I think our upperclassmen feel that as well. Just knowing their coach and knowing what we are wanting to do. I feel really good, when I know how things are going to go. That is definitely important."
UT begins a stretch of three games in six days to open the campaign, following the SIU contest with a trip to UCF (Friday, 6 p.m. ET) and a trip back home to face No. 21/22 USF on The Summitt at 6:30 p.m. ET on Monday.
Tennessee Head Coach Kellie Harper
Opening statement…
"We're excited, we have a very busy week ahead of us for sure. We're just really looking forward to getting going, getting started. Sometimes, you get to the point in practices where the next thing that you can do is play a game, and I think we're to that point. Play a game, really see where we are, and I think we'll come out of this week with a pretty good idea of who our basketball team is."
On improvements after the exhibition…
"We've had some really good practices, and I've been proud of our team for that. I think we've had some growth. If we have a practice where maybe it wasn't as sharp as it needs to be, they know it, they understand it, and the next day it's corrected. They do a really good job of bringing energy to every practice, and when you do that, you are going to find ways to improve and get better. I've been really pleased with that."
On team's eagerness to get on the court…
"We had a closed scrimmage a few weeks ago, and after that closed scrimmage, we came back and improved on some things. After that, it hit them, it hit them pretty quick. I could tell they were ready to play some games. At that point, you've just got to keep motivating, keep finding ways to push them, maybe put in new things. This preseason felt a little bit longer because last year, COVID, it was just different. Our players have been chomping at the bit to get out there with uniforms on."
On Southern Illinois head coach Cindy Stein…
"Very, very, very familiar with Coach Stein and her program. Playing them multiple times for six years, you get to know an opponent really well. They are going to be tough, they are going to be disciplined, they are highly skilled on the offensive end. It's a veteran team, and they are going to come in not afraid. I think those are some of the qualities of her team and things we can expect to see."
On quick turnaround to face UCF…
"UCF, that's going to be a really tough game. First on the road, after a quick turnaround, against one of the top defenses in the country and a very veteran team. That's a huge challenge for us. We want to take things one game at a time, but we've tried to put in some things offensively and defensively that we feel like could help us for that game on Friday, because we're not going to have a lot of time to work on them on Thursday. You have to plan a little bit in advance when you're playing a team like Central Florida."
On goals for Wednesday's game…
"We will have some game goals that we will talk about. Those typically include boards, turnovers, or lack thereof actually, some free-throw shooting percentages, and maybe some deflections as well. Each game is different, but those are some of the stats we will track throughout the game. As we go we might have game goals in the middle of the game. I think we will just see how things are going and try to find ways to challenge our team."
On if free throw shooting is a big issue or a one-game concern…
"We coach as if we think every area is a concern when we don't perform well. I think for us we just made sure that we were a little more intentional in getting those shots up. It's something we'll be tracking. We can shoot free throws; we just have to step out and do it in the game."
On value of getting freshmen minutes in the first game of the season…
"I think early in the season is really good to get your young players, your freshmen, some of your players, even your upperclassmen that maybe are playing different roles. I think it's important to get them minutes in non-conference games. Obviously, for us, it started a little bit with our exhibition game, but a lot this week. They need to help us. They need to be able to come in and play quality minutes in big games, and the only way they're going to be able to do that in February, in March, is if they have the experience in November and December. That's what we definitely hope to get for them in this non-conference schedule."
On how much the freshmen can be evaluated in practice, or if the evaluation needs to come from real game minutes…
"Honestly both. I think we have a pretty good idea of who our freshmen are and what they are going to be able to do. But sometimes when you play in front of the lights, with a uniform on against a different opponent, you see a different side of them. I think both. I think we have a good idea of it now they've got to be able to execute in a game. When every play matters, times 10, they've got to be able to perform. We're excited about that, but they have to get that experience."
On health of team and if everyone will be ready for the first game…
"Yeah, we think so. We have some that are nicks and bruises, nothing major. Emily (Saunders) should be back for the game, and then obviously Marta (Suarez) is not available. We'll help settle for everybody else."
On Rae Burrell's preseason recognition and how far she has come in this program…
"She's worked really hard on her game. She's come out with great attitude. She's handled all of this recognition very well up to this point. I'm proud of her. I think she's well deserving. I think with her athleticism, her size, her skill set and her motor. I think with all of those I think she should be mentioned as one of the best players in the country. I'm glad she's getting that recognition. Obviously, she wants to win. The ultimate goal is for our team to win. It's a nice individual recognition."
On the energy in the locker room compared to last year…
"I'm telling you, the exhibition game felt different. It was so good to have fans and have fans closer to the court. I am so looking forward to that again. The environment here at the University of Tennessee for our games is unlike anywhere else. It's so special. We have so many people here, and they're loud, passionate, they're invested, and we just missed that last year. We had more than most people, but we just didn't get our full capacity. I'm really excited about this upcoming year with fans and when we talked to our team about this season, that is the thing that they continue to reference is fans in the stands and I know that they're looking forward to playing in front of the best in the country."
On Candace Parker being the grand marshal for homecoming...
"It's great that we are recognizing her and that she is able to come back. She has always been so giving and loving of this university. That is something really special. I think it's great how our university and community really embrace Candace and what she did for this program and what she is doing now. We are all so proud of her. Obviously, we wish we could be here Friday, but we will be around and will be able to hang out with her for a little bit on Saturday."
On how many players are able to give consistent minutes going into the season...
"That's a great question that I probably can't answer accurately at this point. Right now, everyone has an opportunity. I want to go deep into the bench, and to do that, we are going to need players to step up and make plays. They are going to have a chance. They will all have their opportunity. That doesn't mean if I put them in that they have to score 20 points. You have to do the little things. I think everybody is starting to understand their role and what they can bring to this team."
On if it's set in that the regular season starts this week...
"Not yet. Obviously, there are a lot of people playing today. Our men are playing today. Other women's basketball teams are playing today. When we start seeing games being played, it will set in a little bit more. Maybe when we have our shootaround tomorrow it will really hit me. I was sitting at my desk planning practice, and I was trying to decide if I have wrapped my head around games starring tomorrow. And it's not just one games; we have three games in six days. If I haven't figured it out by now, I need to by tomorrow."
On if it feels different the day before the first game of the season...
"Honestly, everything feels different for me right now just because we got a regular year under our belt and then had the COVID year. You feel more comfortable with the little things like where you are parking, where you will go and when and what it's going to look like. Who the ushers are. There's just so many little things that there is just a comfort when you've done it. I feel that, and I think our upperclassmen feel that as well. Just knowing their coach and knowing what we are wanting to do. I feel really good, when I know how things are going to go. That is definitely important."
Players Mentioned
G/F
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