Feb. 25, 2007
TENNESSEE vs. VANDERBILT
POST-GAME QUOTES
FEB. 25, 2007
VANDERBILT HEAD COACH Melanie Balcomb:
(opening statement):
Well, it just wasn’t our night tonight. I think our kids played hard, I think we have a very good team, and I can honestly say that this wasn’t our best. We did not bring our best tonight.”
(on poor shooting performance):
“We’ve had some really good shooting days. We’ve been shooting so well, we’ve been breaking shooting records. When we get hot, it becomes contagious. And I think we had some really good looks early. We missed lay-ups, and then that became contagious. And then we got tight on offense, we weren’t relaxed like I’ve seen us in the last seven games. They pressured the ball and took our timing away.”
(on Tennessee’s defense):
“It was the best defensive effort that they’ve had against us. I don’t know if they do this every night, but against us, yes. They pressured the ball far better than they have. They took us out farther and took us out of our timing much better than they have in the past.”
(on early UT fouls in second half):
“Referees are different every night and I don’t understand it, so I don’t try to. We don’t really let it affect us at this point.”
(on difference in this and other UT games):
“Part of it is the tough environment, it’s senior night. We have 3 seniors that want it really bad. Sometimes that’s harder than just going out and playing. In the past, we’ve given (UT) some good games that I didn’t even expect, we just went out and played. It means a lot to my three seniors. Sometimes that is tougher and so mental in a rivalry between two teams that want to beat each other so badly.”
(on mental block against UT):
“They just didn’t do what they do, you’ll have to ask them that. Carla Thomas played really well. Carla does what she does, and that’s what she brought tonight. The rest of our players didn’t bring what they do to the table. I liked Carla’s body language, and I liked (Christina) Wirth’s body language tonight. And she usually even shoots the ball better, but I thought she rebounded well and that she carried herself very well. That’s the tough part. At this point in the season, our body language has been very good. We’ve gained confidence, and I didn’t see that tonight.”
(if there is a rematch with UT):
“Our body language has to change. That’s what we talked about at halftime. We’re prepared, the players feel very prepared. I don’t think there is any question about our players’ effort or their heart. This is one of the best teams I’ve coached since I’ve been at Vanderbilt. We’re very comfortable together as a team and a program and have really, really come together. At this point it’s just disappointing, and we’re looking forward to the SEC Tournament because we want to get this game back. We want to get back after it. We will recover from it. I have so much faith in this team, I can’t tell you.”
(on the SEC Tournament):
“I have a guy on my staff – you know, guys like to do that, they’re full of knowledge from the Internet – and what I do, I tell them not to tell me unless I ask a specific question. So I was trying not to know all along what was going on. I really don’t know anything, actually. I think we secured a fourth, depending on…I was just hoping to get a bye. I like being the underdog. We’re still probably under the radar with Georgia, LSU and Tennessee. So we’re comfortable with it.”
(on Candace Parker getting to the low block):
“We didn’t want to get her on the low block. We wanted to keep her up as high as possible. She’s deadly at the low block. We were going to come double at the low, and try not to double at the mid and the high because she’s such a good passer. She can face it up, and that’s what she does. She throws it over you and she can do that with her jumping and her size. It’s a catch-22, you let her go one on one, or you double her and let her pick you apart. So you want to keep her as high as possible, she got too low on us tonight. I don’t know if Pat motivated her to do that, but it was a good game plan.”
(on Parker’s six blocks):
“I thought that was one other thing, they’ve always pressured the basketball but I thought they rotated over and challenged our shots better than they have in the past. We’ve gotten wide-open layups in the past attacking the basket, and this time there was always somebody coming over – I don’t know if it was Candace every time – but there was this big huge hand coming over every time, and I think that makes you hesitate on their drive. So I thought their rotation and their help was better.”
(On opposing players being intimidated by Parker):
“I don’t think my kids are intimidated, or there’s no sense coming. They’re well aware of what they can do. There’s some other really good players in this conference. We just played LSU, and I think Sylvia Fowles is awesome, too. I think she’s excellent, and we did a good job on her. They’re just different players with different facets. We’re ready to play her, but obviously we didn’t do the job we needed to do (against) her. And I thought she played very well tonight. But I don’t think we’re intimidated whatsoever.”
(On concern about losing momentum):
“This team that I’m coaching right now, they have their crap together. They know that it’s one game and they understand that. They’re very experienced, very mature. They care very much about keeping the season going and having a great finish. That comes from three seniors with a lot of heart and a lot of leadership. So I know where they’re at, they know where they’re at. We know how to move on from it.”
TENNESSEE HEAD COACH PAT SUMMITT:
(opening remarks)
“I thought our defense would be a key, and it was, without a question. We were able to identify and pick up (Dee) Davis early. Their inside game was good. (Carla) Thomas was terrific today. We had a balanced attack and were able to do what we wanted to do. We did a better job today off the bench. Alberta (Auguste) played within herself. Cait (McMahan) did some good things. Our starters did good and got us off right away.”
(on Tennessee’s defense)
“Statistically, there have been some areas this year. We haven’t shot as well and haven’t made our free throws. Defense has been a key. When we weren’t scoring, our defense affected other teams well. We were able to get people to turn the ball over. With our defense, we have the ability to create scoring opportunities. That is a key.”
“I would consider this team one of our best defensive teams ever. The ’98 team was the best. They were terrific. This team is getting better. Certain players bring it every night. Candace (Parker) has picked up her defensive play. Shannon (Bobbitt) has learned to play under pressure.”
(on Shannon Bobbitt)
“I was excited for Shannon. Her family–her mother, father, and brothers–were here and for the first time were able to see her play a home game. I didn’t know how she’d respond, if there would be too much pressure for her. Except for one possession when she held the ball too long, she stepped up and played great. I think they’ll be buying tickets for the SEC Tournament.”
(on the fouls affecting the flow of the game)
“We had to pick and choose when we were going to press. The foul situation took us out of the flow of the game. We were somewhat disjointed. We settled down after that.”
“Adversity is a good thing if you can get through it. You have to persevere and don’t let up. It was a physical game. We were frustrated. After the timeout, we were able to concentrate and keep our composure.”
(on Cait McMahan)
“In high school, Cait’s job was to score. Here, her job is to push the offense and look for scoring opportunities. I think she has adjusted. In high school, for every 10 times she went down the floor, she would shoot nine times. Our point guard is to set the offense. She understands that. She creates for herself and she creates for other people. She and Shannon (Bobbitt) are to get open shots for others. Our point guard play is key in that regard.”
(on contending for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament)
“If we don’t get a one seed this year, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I guess (Tennessee Athletic Director) Joan Cronan is going to have to stand up and make noise and (Tennessee) President (John) Petersen and on down the line. Last year we put ourselves in a position (to not get a one seed). We lost two games that were costly.”
(on seniors Dominique Redding, Sidney Spencer, and Elizabeth Curry in their last home game as Lady Vols)
“I thought both seniors did a good job today. They’ve been in this program for four years. Dom showed today that she was ready to step in. I was pleased with her defensive intensity. Sid knocked down some shots. She has been in a little bit of a slump. I want her to shoot every time that she’s open. We were able to get Elizabeth in the game. It was her dream to wear the Lady Vol uniform. We tried to get her an open look, but at least she was able to get a free throw. Her parents were here, and they were excited.”
(on leaving Sidney Spencer in the game despite her being in foul trouble)
“We wanted to leave Sid in. She has struggled with her confidence, and we wanted to let her play. Even if she fouled out, we had another shooter in Dominique (Redding) who could come in to replace her.”
(on Vanderbilt)
“These have been tough, hard-fought games. In these two games this year, our defense has separated us out. We didn’t have that last year. With Shannon (Bobbitt) and Alberta (Auguste) coming in this year and our vets being more mature, last year had a positive effect on our defense this year.”
ALEXIS HORNBUCKLE:
(on not losing on Senior Day this year after losing on Senior Day last year)
“We talked about it. We didn’t want it to be the same. We wanted to have a great game for 40 minutes and not fall short. We wanted it to be special for Sid (Spencer) and Dom (Redding).
(on the difference between this season and last season)
“This season, with the players that we brought to the table, we’ve got a quicker backcourt and our frontcourt is still good. Going against our practice guys, we’ve done better against our practice guys this year.”
(on Tennessee’s seniors)
“Since I have been here, they have been great. Elizabeth (Curry) has been nice and enthusiastic and has worked as hard as anyone else. How would you not want to play with someone like that?”
(on Tennessee-Vanderbilt rivalry)
“It’s always going to be a rivalry. They’re only a two-and-a-half hour drive away. They don’t like us. We respect every opponent, even if it’s been a while since they’ve had a victory.”
(on defense)
“I denied (Caroline) Williams. She scored twice early. I took it personal, being the defensive player that I am. The mindset of this team is one and the same. With this team, no matter what five are on the floor, we’re going to play our scouting report defense.”
CANDACE PARKER:
(on going undefeated in conference play en route to capturing an SEC regular season title)
“That was our goal. We’ve fallen short the last couple of years. We just took one game at a time. We didn’t look ahead. We had a challenging schedule and battled through it.”
“This team battles through adversity. We know that we’ve got each other’s backs. We came in with energy. We hit shots and came back.”
(on Tennessee’s seniors)
“Dom (Redding) and Sid (Spencer) have had four great years, and then this year, we had the addition of Elizabeth (Curry). They’re great people first of all. In college, you have relationships with people, and they’re three great people, both on and off the court.”
(on Tennessee’s fans)
“We got a lift with our fans. They’re the greatest fans in the world. They’re always cheering for you. They are our sixth man.”
SHANNON BOBBITT:
“I was happy. We had more energy. This was the last home game for our seniors. We went undefeated (in SEC play). I had fun.”
