March 17, 2012
MIDDLE TENNESSEE QUOTES
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Head Coach Rick Insell
Opening statement…
“We’re very excited about being here. We probably put in more preparation for this game than any other NCAA games we’ve been in before out of respect for Vanderbilt and out of respect for Melanie [Balcomb]. We’re just not happy about being here playing, we’re happy about being here and getting started and we’re happy about winning.”
On wanting to scheduling Vanderbilt during the regular season…
“Yes, I have. Scheduling is a tough thing wherever you’re at and especially at Middle Tennessee. We want to play some of the best programs in the country and we’ve been able to do that since I’ve been here. We’ve scheduled some very good programs, some nationally ranked programs and, yes, we’ve called Vanderbilt and at times thought we would get something worked out. It’s tough sometimes getting dates. We have dates that are set, we play Kentucky on December 28 and we like that and they like that and we don’t want to move them off and they don’t want to move off. Without conference realigning and changing and with the new 20-game schedule we may have to rearrange some of those people. I think it would be a good game for women’s basketball because we have a good fan base and it’s growing and Vanderbilt has a good fan base and I think they are intelligent just like us and Tennessee. We have three great teams and we’ve been able to schedule Tennessee every year and we would like to play Vanderbilt. It doesn’t take away from the respect for the coaching staff or the program or the University.”
On his relationship with Melanie Balcomb…
“I don’t take her out to dinner but I see her out recruiting and we speak and shake hands and talk and then go our separate ways just like everyone else. We’re all business at Middle Tennessee just like she is probably all business here, so when we’re out we’re not socializing.”
On the fan base…
“It wouldn’t surprise me if we had five thousand people. At home during big games we put 10 or 11 thousand people in the stands. Our average is close to four thousand and they live close so hopefully we can pick up a few more people. Also, Duke’s fans will be wearing blue so we’ll claim them too.”
On Vanderbilt’s strengths…“We’re very well prepared. They have great guard play with [Jasmine] Lister and [Christina] Foggie are two of the best around. Foggie leads the SEC in scoring and Lister is only five-four but she has an engine. [Stephanie] Holzer gets on the boards and gets blocks and is very accurate. [Tiffany] Clarke is just a rebounder and goes and gets it and finishes. They do a lot of things well. Look at the length and size of Tennessee and they just destroyed Tennessee. It was embarrassing. I feel good about our team and where we are at right now. We knock down shots and take care of the basketball.”
On the importance of the game…
“I think the next two or three games could be some of the biggest games in Middle Tennessee State history. That’s how I’m thinking.”
Middle Tennessee State Student Athletes
Ebony Rowe
On last year’s post season play…
“Not as an excuse, we had some difficult circumstances last year but we ended the year not where we wanted to be but we the good things was we have almost all of our players returning so this year we feel that we have a lot more experience. We have some postseason experience so everyone knows what it’s going to feel like, the atmosphere. So we feel a lot more prepared this year.”
On shift in mentality…
I think it was a shift from sure excitement when we saw our name pop up there. We knew were actually going to get to play. Now that we are here, it is more focused and I think everyone is really focused and ready to play. We need to take care of business.”
Kortni Jones
On being having a layoff…
“I think it was about the right amount of time. I was good to have that break for spring break just to get us rested. We have had a week and a half of practice now. We are glad to get back in the flow of things and get prepared physically for what type of game we are about to enter into. Vanderbilt is a pretty good team and us being in shape and comfortable with as much playing as we will be doing, we probably has just enough.”
On playing in Nashville being a motivation…
“We are really excited that a lot of our fans will be able to come. It will kind of make us feel like we are at home. All it takes is a few fans but knowing that we will have a lot is really going to help. We are actually thankful that are able to stay close because that fan base always helps us.”
On the Vanderbilt player’s accusation of MTSU “ducking” them…
“No truth. I haven’t seen a Vanderbilt player or heard ….I don’t even know any of the Vanderbilt players. I haven’t heard but if it’s true there’s not really much I can say about that. I guess we will see tomorrow.”
On their familiarity of Vanderbilt’s team…
“Not really. I’ve actually watched them play on tv. I saw them and maybe Tennessee. I’ve seen a few of their games. I am actually familiar with (Christina) Foggie and (Elan) Brown and (Kady) Schrann, their guards. Them not being familiar with us, like I said, I guess they will get familiar tomorrow. That’s the only option.”
On the feeling of being in the NCAA tournament…
“For me it does. I’m glad we’re getting the chance to step on the floor before game time tomorrow. We are starting to get that flow of we are really here.”
