WBB Postgame: (Iowa) South Carolina Press Conference 04/07/24
Summary
TLDRIn a post-game press conference, the South Carolina women's basketball team and their coach reflect on their national championship victory, praising each other's efforts and the program's growth. The players discuss their defensive strategies, the importance of teamwork, and the impact of their coach. The coach emphasizes the value of respect, trust, and discipline in building a successful team and expresses gratitude for the support of the players' families.
Takeaways
- 🏆 The team's victory in the national championship game is celebrated, highlighting their strong performance and the return to the top after previous challenges.
- 🤝 Credit is given to Caitlyn for her impact on women's basketball, drawing attention and handling the pressure with class.
- 🥇 The players express gratitude for their coach's guidance, emphasizing the trust, support, and family-like environment she fosters.
- 🌟 The importance of teamwork and individual contributions is underscored, with the entire team playing a role in the championship win.
- 📈 The team's defense, particularly against key players like Caitlyn, is highlighted as a strategic and psychological victory.
- 🏀 The significance of the perfect season and making history is discussed, with the players and coach reflecting on the journey and the collective effort.
- 💪 The resilience and determination of the players are evident, especially in overcoming injuries and challenging moments.
- 🚫 The coach's philosophy on building the program is shared, focusing on doing things the right way and instilling discipline and respect.
- 🌐 The impact of the team's success on the broader growth and visibility of women's basketball is acknowledged.
- 🎓 The coach's approach to player selection emphasizes the importance of a player's relationship with their parents as a reflection of their character.
- 🔥 The team's ability to close out games under pressure is praised, showcasing their toughness and unity.
Q & A
What was the speaker's main message regarding the game against Iowa and Caitlyn?
-The speaker congratulated Iowa and Caitlyn for making it back to the national championship game, acknowledging them as a formidable opponent that required their best effort to beat. They also thanked Caitlyn for her contributions to women's basketball and her ability to handle the pressure with class.
How did the speaker describe the team's journey to becoming champions?
-The speaker emphasized the team's trust in one another, their belief in their abilities, and the way they helped each other learn, grow, and ultimately become champions. They highlighted the team's unity and the role of their coach in guiding and supporting them.
What was Jake's mindset going into the matchup against Caitlyn?
-Jake was ready for the moment and took his defensive role seriously. He studied Caitlyn's moves, felt confident, and was determined not to let the previous year's outcome happen again.
How did Kareem describe the significance of the team's achievement?
-Kareem expressed that it meant a lot to achieve this with the group of girls he played with, considering the hard work they put in during the summer and the challenges they faced. He appreciated the coach's approach in letting them be themselves and credited the younger players for their leadership roles.
What did Camila say about the impact of the team's defense on her own performance?
-Camila felt that the hard work and dedication of the team's defenders motivated her to play harder on defense. She was proud of the team's collective effort and believed that having elite defenders on the team inspired everyone to perform at their best.
What did Raven mean by referring to the team as 'daycare'?
-Raven used the term 'daycare' to highlight the young and playful nature of the team. However, she also emphasized that once they stepped onto the court, they were ready to play with a winning mentality and competitiveness.
How did the speaker describe the role of their coach in their success?
-The speaker described the coach as an inspiration, a mom-like figure, and a significant source of support both on and off the court. They felt that the coach's guidance and impact extended beyond basketball, positively affecting their lives in general.
What was the key factor in the team's ability to dominate inside during the game?
-The team's ability to dominate inside was attributed to their effective ball movement and finding open teammates. Despite not having a great night personally, the speaker emphasized the importance of teamwork and how they were able to capitalize on opportunities when they arose.
How did Camila manage to play well in the championship game despite her recent knee injury?
-Camila received a lot of treatment between the day before and the day of the game. Although the injury was recent, she didn't feel it affected her performance in the game. Her determination to play for her team and coaches drove her to perform well.
What motivated the team to seek revenge against Iowa in the national championship game?
-The motivation to face Iowa in the national championship game stemmed from the previous year's loss, which the team saw as an opportunity for redemption. They viewed it as a 'revenge tour' and were determined to win the championship.
What does the coach value most in a player beyond their basketball skills?
-The coach values the player's relationship with their parents as a key factor in their recruitment process. They believe that if a player respects their parents, they will also respect the coaching staff and be more likely to succeed.
How did the team maintain their composure when Iowa closed the lead to a five-point game?
-The team demonstrated resilience and mental toughness by not panicking when the lead dwindled. They relied on their defensive strategies and collective encouragement to keep each other accountable and motivated, ultimately securing the game without allowing any more points from the opposing team.
Outlines
🏆 Post-Game Praise and Reflection
The paragraph begins with an individual expressing congratulations to Iowa and Caitlyn for their performance in the national championship game. The speaker acknowledges the challenge posed by the opposing team and highlights Caitlyn's impact on women's basketball, appreciating her ability to handle pressure with class. The speaker also shares excitement for the victory and praises the team's unity, growth, and resilience. Questions from the press are directed towards the student athletes, focusing on their defensive strategies, personal motivations, and the significance of their achievements.
🌟 Team Dynamics and Coaching Impact
This paragraph delves into the personal experiences and emotions of the team members. The players discuss the importance of their coach, describing her as an inspiration and a motherly figure. They emphasize the familial bonds within the team and the coach's role in creating a supportive environment. The paragraph also touches on the team's competitive edge, their journey through the season, and the collective love and trust among the team members. The coach's influence extends beyond basketball, impacting the players' lives positively.
🏅 Celebrating the Legacy and Coach's Role
The players in this paragraph reflect on the legacy they are creating and the significant role their coach plays in their development. They express deep gratitude for her guidance, both on and off the court, and highlight the comfort and support she provides. The coach's impact is not just felt by the current team but also by those who will join in the future. The paragraph underscores the教练's importance in building a strong, cohesive team with a winning mentality.
🥇 Depth and Teamwork in Championship Victory
This section of the script focuses on the contribution of the entire team, emphasizing the importance of bench players and their impact on the game. The starters acknowledge the sacrifices made by their teammates and the collective effort that led to their victory. The coach discusses the development of trust and communication within the team, and how it has contributed to their success. The conversation also touches on the coach's approach to building the team and the satisfaction derived from winning the championship.
🎉 Emotional Journey to the Championship
The coach shares personal emotions and the journey leading up to the championship win. The paragraph highlights the significance of overcoming past challenges, the weight of expectations, and the collective effort of the entire team and staff. The coach expresses gratitude for the trust built with the players and the parents, and the importance of continued growth and success. The conversation concludes with the coach's emotional response to the victory and the presentation of the trophy.
🌐 Growing the Game and Team Synergy
The conversation in this paragraph revolves around the impact of key players on the growth of women's basketball and the team's role in this expansion. The coach discusses the importance of uplifting various programs and the collective effort to elevate the game. The focus is on the team's contribution to the sport's popularity and the satisfaction derived from being part of this transformation. The paragraph concludes with a discussion on the coach's approach to player selection and the importance of family values in the recruitment process.
🛡️ Lockdown Defense and Team Accountability
This segment of the script emphasizes the team's defensive strategies, particularly against key opponents, and the psychological aspect of the game. The coach and players discuss the importance of maintaining focus and composure under pressure, and the team's collective effort to secure victory. The coach also talks about the satisfaction of closing out a game with strong defense and the team's ability to hold each other accountable. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the team's unity and the supportive environment fostered among the players.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Championship Game
💡Defensive Assignment
💡Leadership
💡Teamwork
💡Perfect Season
💡Competitive Edge
💡Legacy
💡Mentorship
💡Resilience
💡Unselfishness
Highlights
Congratulations to Iowa and Caitlyn for making it back to the national championship game.
Caitlyn's impact on women's basketball and handling the pressure with class.
The team's excitement and unity in sharing the moment of victory.
Jake's mindset going into the matchup against Caitlyn, emphasizing defense and preparation.
Kareem's reflection on the journey and hard work that led to the championship moment.
The importance of having versatile defenders like Cam and Bri on the team.
The significance of a perfect season and making history.
The role of the coach in shaping the team's legacy and providing guidance.
Trey's discussion on dominating inside with points in the paint and rebounds.
Camila's determination to play despite a recent knee injury.
The motivation drawn from the previous year's loss against Iowa.
The impact of the bench players and their contribution to the team's success.
The coach's emotional reflection on the championship and the journey of the season.
The coach's perspective on building the team and the importance of the right approach.
Talia's question about the team's depth and the development of the roster.
The coach's recognition of the team's role in elevating women's basketball.
The critical role of Raven's defense on Caitlyn and the psychological aspect of the game.
The coach's approach to closing the game with a strong defensive sense.
The coach's emphasis on the importance of players' relationships with their parents.
Transcripts
um just really uh want to just say
congratulations to to Iowa and Caitlyn
for um making it back to the national
championship game um obviously they are
a formidable opponent um that took
everything that we had to to win the
basketball game but just don't want to
um um not utilize this opportunity to
thank Caitlyn for what she's done for
women's basketball like her her
shoulders were heavy and getting a lot
of eyeballs on our game and sometimes as
a young person it could beit it could be
a bit much but I thought she handled it
with class um and I hope that every step
of the ladder of success that she goes
um she's able to elevate whatever room
she's in but I'm super excited and uh
super excited to share this moment with
our team they are incredible um human
beings and young people who trusted
believed um figured out a way to help
each other learn and grow and ultimately
become
Champions at this time we'll open up for
questions from our student athletes
we're going to start with Jake go to
Daniel Kareem Cam and then I'll work my
way
through so Jake if you could raise your
hand
first Jake chter ESPN Raven uh Caitlyn
had the big start 18 points in the first
quarter you got that defensive
assignment primarily after that uh and
really cooled her off what was your
mindset going into that matchup um don't
let it score I mean I was ready I was
ready for the moment and I take defense
very hard like I take it to heart and I
think I studied her moves and I was
ready I had confidence this year I mean
I was telling myself last year is not
going to happen again
so take our next question Daniel okay
we'll move move on Kareem if you could
raise your
hand hey Kareem cop Washington Post um
following up on that Raven you know can
you can you explain what this means to
you after you know you've talked so much
about the entire last year um and the
work that you put in this was where you
wanted to be and now to be here in this
moment kind of what does that mean to
you it means a lot to do it with these
group of girls I mean if you guys would
have seen us just the stuff that we went
through in the summer and the hard work
we put in I mean we we deserve this
honestly and just our bun like coach she
gives us so much leeway she let us be
loose she just let us be who we are so I
mean it's just so much stuff that we go
through and credit to the Freshies I
gave my uh net to Aaliyah Boston when
when I was interviewing with her and I
just feel like she it started with her
she she gave this like leadership role
and she instilled this leadership role
last year and I just I there's no better
way you can learn from her
so our next three questions in order are
going to be cam Alexa Jonathan it's for
both Camila and tahina um Cameron with
the athletic I'm I'm curious we talked
about Ravens defense both her and Bri
kind of gave different looks at Caitlyn
all game from you guys perspective how
much does that help when you are able to
have two versatile Defenders on her uh
and I guess yeah how does that help you
guys as well as a whole
team I'm sorry I was writing something
down if we could start with uh well
start with
Raven oh the question is for
me I'm sorry we'll start with
Camila um I think it's really important
I feel like they do a great job on
defense and just by seeing how hard they
play makes us want to play defense
harder
and
yeah um yeah I thought they had the
hardest job tonight but it was also team
defense um it took a lot of effort to
you know guard Caitlyn and she did her
her thing and did ours but just to have
these you know Elite Defenders on our
team it makes me want to play defense it
makes me want to play for them um even
harder and it's just amazing when you
have you know good Defenders like them
and it's not only them but it's like the
whole team so I'm just really proud of
them for what they did tonight they did
they did awesome they did a great job
and
um
yeah we can go to our left Alexa Alexa
Philo ESP pan for tahena and Raven to
not just win the championship but to be
able to say you were able to accomplish
a perfect season what does that
Perfection going down the history books
mean to you okay this time we'll start
with
Raven um it means a lot to um you know
make history be one of the teams to make
history especially with a young group um
you you guys just don't know like what
this team go through what this team do I
mean we it's daycare yeah it is daycare
but at the same time when we step on the
court we ready to play when when the
ball goes up when when the ball goes up
we ready to play we have a winning
mentality and we so competitive and our
practices are so hard especially against
the highlighters so I mean we just we
just we have a Competitive Edge and we
want to
win yeah it just means so much um we've
come a long way it's been a long journey
we've trusted each other so much over
the season we've have so much confidence
with each other so much love um we're
going to sound like a broken record but
it's love throughout this whole program
throughout this whole team and we just
genuinely love to be with each other we
genely want to see everyone succeed and
it's just been a great journey and to
Capt it off like a perfect season is
just a blessing um and all glory to God
for that next order questions will go
Jonathan Trey Nancy Jonathan Jonathan
tanamal of the Philadelphia inquire
Camila what does dawn mean to you what
she is as a coach in a person and what
she's been able to do for the program
and help you with individually thank you
um she means a lot to me I feel like um
since the first day I got to South
Carolina she' been working so hard to
get me ready and prepare for moments
like this and I'm just so thankful to
have her as a coach um she's like an
inspiration for me and a lot of young
girls out there and I'm just so thankful
to have her as a coach she's the best in
the business you already
know we'll take our next question Trey
if you can raise your hand we can get
the microphone to you on the other
side Trey modlin wovu 95.9 FM your team
had 48 points in the paint and 51
rebounds 18 offensive how are you you
able to dominate inside so well during
the
game um I think just getting trying to
get the post up to my teammates finding
me and giving me the ball even though I
didn't show really good tonight but I
think just by um we would just move up
the ball really good and they was able
to find me while I was open so
yeah Nancy armmer USA Today sports
Camila over this other way other way
um it's been less than 48 hours since
you injured your knee and I'm just
wondering how limit how how much
treatment did you have to get and what
did you have to do I mean how did it
affect you at all day sure certainly
doesn't look like it on the stat sheet
um I got a lot of treatment between
yesterday and today but I don't think he
it really affected me today I was just
able to go out there and play I wanted
to play play for this team play for
coaches and I just want to go out there
and play yet
today we'll go to our back row if you
could raise your hand yep right
there dear ladies Kenny wrote a whbc
radio every player every team is
motivated by something different I'm
just curious if for all three of you how
much you were motivated by what happened
last year against Iowa and did you want
to see them in the national championship
game this
year oh
okay I did want to see them in the
national championship this year because
what happened last year it was apology
to my teammates my coaches and myself
and I just feel like like I said Revenge
it was a revenge tour and it's no better
way to play them in the championship and
beat
them Taha do you have anything to
add
Camila no okay next question we'll go to
Doug Doug if you can raise your hand
we'll get the microphone to
you uh Doug fineberg the Associated
Press Raven and talk a little bit about
that last four minutes over here on the
far right I think it was 80 to 75 and
then you guys didn't let him score the
rest of the way talk about that defense
last think 4 12 and also with so many
people coming back minus Camila how good
this team could be not only now but for
the next couple years I mean this team
is going to we're going to be good I
mean it coach St I mean we have the best
coach what in the country in the nation
in the whole wide world I mean it's it's
no telling what she's going to add to
the pieces that's already here so I just
say be on the
lookout
Lindsay we're going to go to our left
ladies excuse me our
right uh Lindsay schel USA Today um
Camila it was just a month ago in the
SEC Championship game that things got
ugly and that was just all over the news
and then you have been dominant uh
throughout the NCAA tournament and I
wondered how did you shift your mindset
if you did and then what was it like to
just play so well in the in the two
biggest games of the season over the
weekend um it was amazing I feel like I
just wanted to get out there um in this
tournament and just play really well for
my teammates for my coaches and to win
the championship so I think that's what
I
did going to take our next question Dion
right behind you
Lauren all right Dion cash Fox Sports
what does this mean for you ladi's
Legacy and what is it like playing for
the goat we will start with Raven the
goat you mean be done
stay um it means a lot just to play um
just to learn from her I mean she's
she's like a mom I mean I don't know
like I go to her about everything I mean
I could I could joke around with her I
could you know do anything just anything
she's like a mom like a home away from
home it's a home away from home feeling
and there's no better way to have a
coach like her and be so comfortable
around her and I just you know I take
pride into what she do for us on and off
the court not just with basketball so
Camila yeah I agree with Ray I feel like
especially me I'm International so I
don't have my family here and she's just
like a family for me a family from my
home and I'm just so thankful to have
her as a coach
a
tah man um she's so important to have in
people's lives man she's she's amazing
um you know God has put her in my life
and she's impacted it so much not only
me but my family um she changes lives
for the better um I wish you guys could
experience that and just how much she's
helped me as a player and as a woman and
she's just amazing man it's a blessing
and just playing for her it's so much
fun and people just love playing for her
and you know people want would run
through brick walls for her and to to be
able to have a coach like that it's it's
unmatched and we're all just really
blessed to have someone like her in our
corner and um she just impacted our
lives for the better we're going to go
to our left if you could raise your hand
so the student athletes can
see Robert fers clan.com um this for
either of you you know you look at the
stat sheet there I mean we have three
starters up on the stage but uh it's a
37 nothing advantage in bench points in
national championship game can you just
kind of break down that kind of impact
what what your teammates were able to do
in that uh Department we'll start with
tahena then we'll go to Raven man
they're are Difference Maker this whole
season man we we've depended on them so
much they are deaf and they done so much
for this team and a lot of people sleep
on them but they could start on any team
in this country but they decided to
sacrific that and play for this team and
win a National Championship which we did
today so big shout out to them they did
their big thing today on such a big
stage I'm really proud of them and their
confidence has grown so so much
throughout the season and I'm just
really proud of them for performing how
they did today and helped us get this du
yeah going off Whata um said I think I'm
I'm going give Tessa Johnson her flowers
I mean I think when you talk about
freshman I think her name should come up
it's just the stuff that she does she's
always she always ready for the moments
when her numbers call she always ready I
mean I think every shot she put up it
goes in I mean just just what Tessa does
in on the defensive end she take pride
on defense and if you talk to her she's
like a sponge like she gets in the gym
she works on her shot every day and she
wants to learn and she wants to grow so
when you talk about freshman Tessa
Johnson name should definitely be in the
conversation take our last question from
the front
Daniel Dan zesi out kick actually I just
wanted to follow up on that Tessa
Johnson scored a career high in the
national championship game she's a
freshman I don't know how old she is I
assume 18 or 19 years old uh Raven you
just talked about it so tahina camil if
you could talk about Tessa's performance
we'll start with tahina man Tessa was
due for a Breakout game and what to do
better on the national stage um she's
trusted her process here she's trusted
her journey and for her to do that on
such a big stage I'm so proud of her her
confidence has grown so much and I'm
just really excited for her future she's
going to be a great Gamecock and she's
she got a bright future ahead of her um
but she just got to keep trusting
trusting the process and being who she
is and she's just an amazing little
[Laughter]
[Music]
girl yeah I agree with po I I'm just so
proud of Tessa she been working so hard
since the beginning of this season and
I'm just so happy for her cuz she went
out there and she did her big one and I
know is going to boost her confidence a
lot and she's just doing a great job and
she always work really hard for moments
like this and I'm just so proud of her
thank you very much ladies we are at
time again congratulations on tremendous
season thank you than they will be
available in the mix
Zone and now at this time we'll take
questions from coach we'll start with
Lindsay Doug then we'll go Talia and
I'll work my way around the
room lindsy schel USA Today Don it felt
like this Championship was more
emotional for you than the other two um
early in the game you looked really
emotional and then at the end you
obviously broke down when they presented
you with the trophy was it more
emotional and if so
why well it was emotional for me because
of how it ended last year um and I I
leave that there um and I and I was
emotional at the beginning a game
because I didn't want what happened last
year to happen this year so I was
handling things in real time not not
afterwards and I'm I I'm going to
move to handling things in real time and
not having to wait until there's a an an
ending
that shouldn't be um so I I was that I
was like that throughout the entire
season
but for for this one I'm I wasn't going
to allow what I felt happened to us last
year to to happen this year so I had a
little bit of um
PTSD
and I addressed it in real time and then
after I mean it's heavy it's heavy it's
heavy you you carry um the burden of you
know every single one of your players
all all the coaches and staff members
that put so much into our team
and you know it's heavy load to be
undefeated to you know finish the job
and you you get emotional because you
just want that for them and you're happy
that you're able to you know cuz cuz
only one team one only one teams W wins
a national championship and when you win
a National
Championship it's
it there's more trust that's built that
you could take into the post into into
the summer workouts and the postseason
workouts and the and and the you know in
the in the fall and then into another
season um there are so many
conversations you have with parents um
with any significant person in our
players lives that that the rigors of a
season you you just have to face that
music with them and and sometimes it's
good sometimes it's challenging
sometimes it's just a really hard
conversation and then once you win you
know this is the reason why like and it
builds it builds trust amongst everybody
that's involved in our and our players
lives and then I'm just super happy for
our staff like they work really hard
they they they they are incredible you
know basketball like I think they're
savants I think they are all always
looking for ways in which um to get our
players better in a way that they can
handle it not the way that we see it and
we cuz the way we see it is probably
very diff the way we would handle it
would be difficult for them to actually
um learn and apply and execute in a in a
basketball sense so we're able to just
kind of speak their vernacular and then
actually deliver so I mean all of that
makes it emotional for me
we're going to go to Doug on our our
left coach hey coach Doug fber the AP
the trophy is blocking me which is welld
deserved Trophy up there you said last
Sunday when we were in Albany you were
okay with no one really talking about
you guys and Other Stories you'd wait
till this Sunday to talk about it
hopefully with the championship you got
the 10th undefeated team in the history
of the game you're the fifth coach to
win three titles or more you've won two
out of last three what does it mean for
this program for you to have done all
you guys have accomplished this year
with a perfect team in the last couple
years with the dynasty you've built in
South
Carolina well it it means that we have
quietly have done things in my opinion
the right way you know we find the right
pieces to help us we we we really do
things the right way we're very
disciplined in how we approach
basketball I am one
that I'm forever indebted to basketball
so I'm I'm always going to take care of
it I'm always going to make sure that
our players are respectful um always
going to make sure that um they know the
history of our game um I want to make
sure they are always respectful to our
opponents and when you do it that way um
in return you have success you have
success in the wins column and very
little you know disappointment in in the
loss column um
and I don't I I don't think that's
talked about enough what we've been able
to do and I don't know why and I really
don't care why we're going to keep doing
what we're doing the right way you know
whether we are the
uh popular or
unpopular um successful programs in the
country so we're going to keep doing
that that way coach we're going to go to
our our right second row Talia hey coach
Talia Goodman with the next someone
mentioned earlier the depth of 37 to
nothing bench points obviously hope at
the beginning of the season but what's
it like seeing you know the way you
built this team this roster panning out
in the way that you hoped and having the
success in that way I mean it's you know
to have a you know
have a roster that goes 9 10 Deep um is
it's a it's a it's a privilege it really
is um but it has to be developed slowly
and the right way like there's a lot of
trust that has to be built because
there's some there's some games that um
some of them won't play a whole lot
especially people that come that's
coming off the bench you know I mean
Khloe kits went up and down and you know
all around um and then finally she
settled in today to have a really good
game but she had to come off the bench
at times um because of not what she you
know not what she wasn't doing but was
more about what somebody was doing and
doing well um and that could shake your
confidence but at the same time you have
to let her know the way you build trust
in or coaching staff it's the same way
your you know your your competitors
building trust um I think Malaysia Fu Al
has been very patient with us to to be
able to have a you know household name
um coming off the bench playing maybe
you know probably less than 20 minutes a
game
where she could have gone anywhere else
in the country and they've given her the
ball time and time again but winning the
national championship will allow us and
that relationship to continue to grow um
cuz I know she she really wanted this
and I would imagine that come as early
as next year she's going to want to be a
starter she's going to want to be U play
more minutes she's going to want a lot
of different things because she got the
big one um so now she'll maybe want to
concentrate on some individual Awards
and I appreciate her sacrifice so it's
everybody it's siia Fagan
who I mean she's a
junior and she's probably started less
than 10 times um but she came up crucial
this game like really and I I know she's
probably wanted to play a lot more
throughout the season
um but I hold her to her standard I hold
her to her her personal individual
standard to sometimes
that that equates to 6 minutes or 5
minutes or less and it doesn't feel good
but in order for us to do what we do
today means she's got to meet her
standard and and and we
don't and and we don't sacrifice that so
it's built through trusting the process
is built through like really high level
communication something that they may
not like all the time but it's it's
truth but we also want we want them to
talk to us about what they're feeling
and seeing um so we can so we can
understand them and how they how they
operate in that space and we don't want
to miss anything we don't want to mess
anything up but we also want to give
them an opportunity to tell us what
they're thinking and how they're
processing information or if we're
giving them the right information so
it's a long-winded answer sorry we'll go
with Jim hey coach uh Jim Trotter from
the athletic first off
congratulations you made a point after
the game of recognizing Caitlyn Clark
for helping to elevate the game South
Carolina was also a part of that too as
well as other clubs and I wonder if not
in this moment later if you will look
back and take particular pride in saying
that you all were part of this
transformation that we all are talking
about today
well I I know we do our part I know we
do our part I know we do our part in
making sure we try to we try to as as
much as possible um shout it to the top
of our lungs what our game is all about
and all the story lines and all the
talent and all the coaches and you know
all the the talent that's that's
actually um telling the story
you know I I I I have to continue to
shout out um El Duncan and Drea Carter
and chenet and now Aaliyah and Carolyn
pet like they have done a tremendous job
like we have to find a way for them to
tell our stories during the off seon
because you have to build you got to
continue to build on what we you know
what we've captured um do I think South
Carolina is a part of that yeah we're
we're part of
it I don't know what part but you can
see the numbers that that when Caitlyn
plays in a game you see the numbers
they're real numbers and a lot of people
like to deal in those real numbers and I
you know I I I hope we were able
to attract some more people by the
amount of eyeballs that probably watched
our game just because Caitlyn was
appearing in it what does it mean to you
what does it mean to me
I I just want our game to
grow just I don't care if it's us I
don't care if it's Caitlyn I don't care
if is you know ju guu or Hannah I just
want our game to grow no matter who it
is because there you know there's a lot
of people that are out there growing our
game a lot of programs out there that
are growing our game we need to continue
to uplift them as well as we as we take
our game to that to that next level
going to go to our left Jake Don Jake
troter from ESPN how critical was Ravens
defense on Caitlyn especially the way K
Caitlyn came out shooting the ball um I
mean I mean Raven I mean for Raven I
think it was psychologically helpful uh
to be able to to play Iowa and Caitlyn
to
to just release you know you as a player
you you want to release certain things
that have held you captive and I do
think the waving off in the final four
last year held her captive to where um
usually you just quietly do things and
go about your
business Raven's got the bullhorn saying
this is revenge tour this is this this
is that and then for her to actually
lock in and and and and play Caitlyn the
way we needed we needed her to to play
her um we knew she was going to get her
points we wanted her to to get her
points in a in an inefficient way like I
I look at the stat sheets beautiful like
if she scores I mean if she's shooting
50% we lose the basketball game so I
think it's pretty cool that she was able
to just kind of check off a goal and and
move forward and hopefully there'll be
another test to challenge her in a way
that will continue to elevate
her gonna go to our right with Chris Don
Chris e Sterling AC Bean Journal as
you've been building this program this
this
dynasty what have you looked for in a
player Beyond just obviously the
basketball skools has there been a
singular maybe trait that you look for
in a player that says that's what I want
as an in the South Carolina play well I
mean aside from their talent uh a a
prerequisite of us recruiting and
actually getting a commitment from a
young a young lady is their relationship
with their parents because if they
respect their parents they're going to
respect us if they don't respect their
parents we don't have a shot um so
that's that's what we look at um a lot
and we have fortunately we have some
really great parents who are you know
they're in their their their daughter's
lives every single day so they're in our
lives every day and we don't mind
because all of us want the same thing we
want them to be um
like incredibly successful um so I mean
I'm I'm fortunate as a coach to have
that relationship with our with our
parents take our last question from Bill
Bill if you could raise your
hand uh coach Don Bill Bender Sporting
News um last four minutes 13 seconds of
the game they cut it to five and they
don't score again I mean for a coach who
preaches toughness and those kind of
things how satisfying is it to close a
game with that def sense um I mean it's
incredibly satisfying that I mean you
have a a team full of players who
probably
felt the the lead dwindle to a point
where someone like Caitlyn like a
five-point lead versus Iowa is nothing
like they don't Flinch when it comes to
you know getting you know to lead the
lead into a you know a a you know
uh come on y'all writers help me
out that's dwindled to the point of it's
a one or two possession game um when
there was a timeout called um you could
hear all of the players all of them just
talk about how we needed to have stops
and it wasn't just the players that were
in the game it was the it was the
players that were sitting on the bench
hey we can't give up a three hey you got
to show you you know great job I heard
Ashley Watkins tell um Khloe
kits way to stunt like way to stunt
Chloe and Ashton could have been really
upset because she didn't get the minutes
that she usually gets um because of foul
trouble but they're they're that locked
in and when you when you have your you
know your your peers are saying things
to you that that want you to be great
I mean it's it's half the battle for us
like we don't have to say those things
although we reiterate what they're
saying it's pretty cool when they can
hold each other accountable and they can
also um bless each other with
encouragement thank you very much for
your time tonight coach and best of luck
well you're already best of luck
congratulations
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)
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