WBB Postgame: (Iowa) South Carolina Press Conference 04/07/24

South Carolina Gamecocks

7 Apr 202430:49

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

00:00

🏆 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.

05:00

🌟 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.

10:01

🏅 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.

15:02

🥇 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.

20:05

🎉 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.

25:05

🌐 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.

30:06

🛡️ 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

The term 'Championship Game' refers to the final and decisive match in a sports tournament, signifying the culmination of a season or competition. In the context of the video, it highlights the importance of the game where the team's hard work and dedication are put to the ultimate test. The script mentions the team's return to the national championship game, emphasizing their status as formidable opponents and setting the stage for a high-stakes, competitive event.

💡Defensive Assignment

A 'defensive assignment' in basketball refers to the specific responsibility of a player to guard an opposing team's player and prevent them from scoring. This concept is crucial in the video as it showcases the strategic planning and individual player's role in the team's overall defensive strategy. The term is used to highlight the importance of defense in basketball and how a player's performance in their defensive assignment can significantly impact the game's outcome.

💡Leadership

Leadership in a sports context refers to the ability of a player or coach to guide, inspire, and motivate their team towards achieving common goals. It involves setting an example, demonstrating resilience, and effectively communicating with team members. In the video, leadership is a recurring theme, with players acknowledging the influence of their coach and teammates in fostering a supportive and high-performing environment. The concept of leadership is integral to the team's success and the players' personal growth.

💡Teamwork

Teamwork is the collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal or objective. In sports, it involves coordination, communication, and mutual trust among team members. The concept is central to the video's narrative, as it underscores the collective effort and unity necessary for success in a championship game. The players' interviews highlight the significance of supporting each other, learning together, and growing as a unit, which ultimately leads to their triumph.

💡Perfect Season

A 'perfect season' in sports refers to a team winning every game they play throughout the season, culminating in a championship victory. This term signifies a high level of skill, consistency, and dominance. In the video, the concept of a perfect season is used to emphasize the historical significance of the team's achievements and the unique place they hold in the sport's history. It reflects the team's exceptional performance and the culmination of their hard work, dedication, and unity.

💡Competitive Edge

The term 'competitive edge' refers to the advantage a team or individual has over their competitors, often due to superior skills, strategies, or mental toughness. In the context of the video, it highlights the team's ability to outperform their opponents consistently and their relentless pursuit of victory. The concept is integral to the team's identity and their success in achieving a perfect season, as it encapsulates their winning mentality and the drive to excel in high-pressure situations.

💡Legacy

Legacy, in the context of sports, refers to the lasting impact or influence that a team, player, or coach has on the sport and future generations. It encompasses the achievements, values, and traditions that are passed down and remembered. In the video, the concept of legacy is significant as it reflects the players' desire to contribute to the team's history and inspire those who will come after them. The players and coach discuss their roles in shaping the program and the importance of upholding its standards of excellence.

💡Mentorship

Mentorship is a relationship in which a more experienced or knowledgeable person guides and supports a less experienced individual, sharing wisdom and advice. In sports, this often involves a coach or senior player helping to develop the skills and character of younger or less experienced athletes. The video emphasizes the importance of mentorship in the team's success, with players acknowledging the significant role their coach plays in their personal and professional development.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties or setbacks and to adapt in the face of adversity. In sports, it refers to a team or individual's capacity to bounce back from losses or challenging situations and maintain a positive outlook and determination to succeed. The video underscores the importance of resilience in the team's journey, as they overcome obstacles and setbacks to achieve their goals.

💡Unselfishness

Unselfishness in a sports context refers to the willingness of players to prioritize the team's success over personal achievements or recognition. It involves selfless play, sharing the ball, and supporting teammates. The video highlights the importance of unselfishness in creating a cohesive and effective team. Players are recognized for their sacrifices and contributions to the team's overall performance, emphasizing the value of putting the team first.

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

00:05

um just really uh want to just say

00:08

congratulations to to Iowa and Caitlyn

00:11

for um making it back to the national

00:14

championship game um obviously they are

00:17

a formidable opponent um that took

00:19

everything that we had to to win the

00:21

basketball game but just don't want to

00:24

um um not utilize this opportunity to

00:28

thank Caitlyn for what she's done for

00:30

women's basketball like her her

00:32

shoulders were heavy and getting a lot

00:35

of eyeballs on our game and sometimes as

00:38

a young person it could beit it could be

00:40

a bit much but I thought she handled it

00:42

with class um and I hope that every step

00:46

of the ladder of success that she goes

00:48

um she's able to elevate whatever room

00:51

she's in but I'm super excited and uh

00:55

super excited to share this moment with

00:56

our team they are incredible um human

01:00

beings and young people who trusted

01:04

believed um figured out a way to help

01:06

each other learn and grow and ultimately

01:11

become

01:11

Champions at this time we'll open up for

01:13

questions from our student athletes

01:15

we're going to start with Jake go to

01:17

Daniel Kareem Cam and then I'll work my

01:19

way

01:21

through so Jake if you could raise your

01:23

hand

01:25

first Jake chter ESPN Raven uh Caitlyn

01:29

had the big start 18 points in the first

01:31

quarter you got that defensive

01:32

assignment primarily after that uh and

01:35

really cooled her off what was your

01:36

mindset going into that matchup um don't

01:40

let it score I mean I was ready I was

01:42

ready for the moment and I take defense

01:45

very hard like I take it to heart and I

01:47

think I studied her moves and I was

01:49

ready I had confidence this year I mean

01:51

I was telling myself last year is not

01:53

going to happen again

01:55

so take our next question Daniel okay

01:59

we'll move move on Kareem if you could

02:00

raise your

02:03

hand hey Kareem cop Washington Post um

02:06

following up on that Raven you know can

02:08

you can you explain what this means to

02:11

you after you know you've talked so much

02:13

about the entire last year um and the

02:16

work that you put in this was where you

02:18

wanted to be and now to be here in this

02:21

moment kind of what does that mean to

02:23

you it means a lot to do it with these

02:25

group of girls I mean if you guys would

02:27

have seen us just the stuff that we went

02:28

through in the summer and the hard work

02:30

we put in I mean we we deserve this

02:32

honestly and just our bun like coach she

02:35

gives us so much leeway she let us be

02:37

loose she just let us be who we are so I

02:39

mean it's just so much stuff that we go

02:41

through and credit to the Freshies I

02:42

gave my uh net to Aaliyah Boston when

02:45

when I was interviewing with her and I

02:47

just feel like she it started with her

02:49

she she gave this like leadership role

02:51

and she instilled this leadership role

02:53

last year and I just I there's no better

02:54

way you can learn from her

02:56

so our next three questions in order are

02:59

going to be cam Alexa Jonathan it's for

03:02

both Camila and tahina um Cameron with

03:04

the athletic I'm I'm curious we talked

03:07

about Ravens defense both her and Bri

03:09

kind of gave different looks at Caitlyn

03:11

all game from you guys perspective how

03:13

much does that help when you are able to

03:15

have two versatile Defenders on her uh

03:18

and I guess yeah how does that help you

03:20

guys as well as a whole

03:24

team I'm sorry I was writing something

03:26

down if we could start with uh well

03:29

start with

03:31

Raven oh the question is for

03:34

me I'm sorry we'll start with

03:37

Camila um I think it's really important

03:41

I feel like they do a great job on

03:43

defense and just by seeing how hard they

03:45

play makes us want to play defense

03:47

harder

03:48

and

03:50

yeah um yeah I thought they had the

03:52

hardest job tonight but it was also team

03:54

defense um it took a lot of effort to

03:56

you know guard Caitlyn and she did her

03:58

her thing and did ours but just to have

04:01

these you know Elite Defenders on our

04:03

team it makes me want to play defense it

04:05

makes me want to play for them um even

04:07

harder and it's just amazing when you

04:09

have you know good Defenders like them

04:11

and it's not only them but it's like the

04:13

whole team so I'm just really proud of

04:15

them for what they did tonight they did

04:16

they did awesome they did a great job

04:18

and

04:19

um

04:21

yeah we can go to our left Alexa Alexa

04:24

Philo ESP pan for tahena and Raven to

04:27

not just win the championship but to be

04:28

able to say you were able to accomplish

04:31

a perfect season what does that

04:33

Perfection going down the history books

04:35

mean to you okay this time we'll start

04:37

with

04:38

Raven um it means a lot to um you know

04:41

make history be one of the teams to make

04:42

history especially with a young group um

04:45

you you guys just don't know like what

04:46

this team go through what this team do I

04:48

mean we it's daycare yeah it is daycare

04:51

but at the same time when we step on the

04:52

court we ready to play when when the

04:54

ball goes up when when the ball goes up

04:56

we ready to play we have a winning

04:58

mentality and we so competitive and our

05:00

practices are so hard especially against

05:01

the highlighters so I mean we just we

05:03

just we have a Competitive Edge and we

05:05

want to

05:07

win yeah it just means so much um we've

05:10

come a long way it's been a long journey

05:12

we've trusted each other so much over

05:14

the season we've have so much confidence

05:16

with each other so much love um we're

05:19

going to sound like a broken record but

05:20

it's love throughout this whole program

05:22

throughout this whole team and we just

05:24

genuinely love to be with each other we

05:26

genely want to see everyone succeed and

05:29

it's just been a great journey and to

05:30

Capt it off like a perfect season is

05:32

just a blessing um and all glory to God

05:34

for that next order questions will go

05:37

Jonathan Trey Nancy Jonathan Jonathan

05:40

tanamal of the Philadelphia inquire

05:41

Camila what does dawn mean to you what

05:44

she is as a coach in a person and what

05:47

she's been able to do for the program

05:48

and help you with individually thank you

05:51

um she means a lot to me I feel like um

05:54

since the first day I got to South

05:56

Carolina she' been working so hard to

05:58

get me ready and prepare for moments

05:59

like this and I'm just so thankful to

06:01

have her as a coach um she's like an

06:04

inspiration for me and a lot of young

06:06

girls out there and I'm just so thankful

06:08

to have her as a coach she's the best in

06:09

the business you already

06:14

know we'll take our next question Trey

06:16

if you can raise your hand we can get

06:17

the microphone to you on the other

06:19

side Trey modlin wovu 95.9 FM your team

06:24

had 48 points in the paint and 51

06:27

rebounds 18 offensive how are you you

06:29

able to dominate inside so well during

06:31

the

06:33

game um I think just getting trying to

06:37

get the post up to my teammates finding

06:39

me and giving me the ball even though I

06:41

didn't show really good tonight but I

06:43

think just by um we would just move up

06:45

the ball really good and they was able

06:47

to find me while I was open so

06:52

yeah Nancy armmer USA Today sports

06:55

Camila over this other way other way

07:00

um it's been less than 48 hours since

07:04

you injured your knee and I'm just

07:07

wondering how limit how how much

07:11

treatment did you have to get and what

07:13

did you have to do I mean how did it

07:14

affect you at all day sure certainly

07:16

doesn't look like it on the stat sheet

07:18

um I got a lot of treatment between

07:21

yesterday and today but I don't think he

07:23

it really affected me today I was just

07:24

able to go out there and play I wanted

07:25

to play play for this team play for

07:27

coaches and I just want to go out there

07:29

and play yet

07:30

today we'll go to our back row if you

07:32

could raise your hand yep right

07:34

there dear ladies Kenny wrote a whbc

07:37

radio every player every team is

07:40

motivated by something different I'm

07:41

just curious if for all three of you how

07:44

much you were motivated by what happened

07:45

last year against Iowa and did you want

07:48

to see them in the national championship

07:50

game this

07:53

year oh

07:55

okay I did want to see them in the

07:58

national championship this year because

08:00

what happened last year it was apology

08:02

to my teammates my coaches and myself

08:04

and I just feel like like I said Revenge

08:06

it was a revenge tour and it's no better

08:08

way to play them in the championship and

08:09

beat

08:11

them Taha do you have anything to

08:13

add

08:16

Camila no okay next question we'll go to

08:18

Doug Doug if you can raise your hand

08:20

we'll get the microphone to

08:25

you uh Doug fineberg the Associated

08:27

Press Raven and talk a little bit about

08:31

that last four minutes over here on the

08:33

far right I think it was 80 to 75 and

08:36

then you guys didn't let him score the

08:37

rest of the way talk about that defense

08:39

last think 4 12 and also with so many

08:42

people coming back minus Camila how good

08:44

this team could be not only now but for

08:47

the next couple years I mean this team

08:49

is going to we're going to be good I

08:51

mean it coach St I mean we have the best

08:54

coach what in the country in the nation

08:57

in the whole wide world I mean it's it's

08:59

no telling what she's going to add to

09:00

the pieces that's already here so I just

09:02

say be on the

09:05

lookout

09:07

Lindsay we're going to go to our left

09:09

ladies excuse me our

09:11

right uh Lindsay schel USA Today um

09:15

Camila it was just a month ago in the

09:17

SEC Championship game that things got

09:20

ugly and that was just all over the news

09:23

and then you have been dominant uh

09:26

throughout the NCAA tournament and I

09:28

wondered how did you shift your mindset

09:30

if you did and then what was it like to

09:33

just play so well in the in the two

09:36

biggest games of the season over the

09:38

weekend um it was amazing I feel like I

09:41

just wanted to get out there um in this

09:43

tournament and just play really well for

09:45

my teammates for my coaches and to win

09:47

the championship so I think that's what

09:49

I

09:50

did going to take our next question Dion

09:53

right behind you

09:55

Lauren all right Dion cash Fox Sports

09:59

what does this mean for you ladi's

10:01

Legacy and what is it like playing for

10:03

the goat we will start with Raven the

10:07

goat you mean be done

10:08

stay um it means a lot just to play um

10:12

just to learn from her I mean she's

10:14

she's like a mom I mean I don't know

10:17

like I go to her about everything I mean

10:18

I could I could joke around with her I

10:20

could you know do anything just anything

10:23

she's like a mom like a home away from

10:24

home it's a home away from home feeling

10:26

and there's no better way to have a

10:28

coach like her and be so comfortable

10:29

around her and I just you know I take

10:31

pride into what she do for us on and off

10:33

the court not just with basketball so

10:37

Camila yeah I agree with Ray I feel like

10:39

especially me I'm International so I

10:41

don't have my family here and she's just

10:43

like a family for me a family from my

10:46

home and I'm just so thankful to have

10:48

her as a coach

10:50

a

10:52

tah man um she's so important to have in

10:56

people's lives man she's she's amazing

11:00

um you know God has put her in my life

11:02

and she's impacted it so much not only

11:04

me but my family um she changes lives

11:07

for the better um I wish you guys could

11:09

experience that and just how much she's

11:11

helped me as a player and as a woman and

11:15

she's just amazing man it's a blessing

11:17

and just playing for her it's so much

11:18

fun and people just love playing for her

11:21

and you know people want would run

11:22

through brick walls for her and to to be

11:25

able to have a coach like that it's it's

11:27

unmatched and we're all just really

11:29

blessed to have someone like her in our

11:30

corner and um she just impacted our

11:32

lives for the better we're going to go

11:34

to our left if you could raise your hand

11:36

so the student athletes can

11:38

see Robert fers clan.com um this for

11:42

either of you you know you look at the

11:44

stat sheet there I mean we have three

11:46

starters up on the stage but uh it's a

11:48

37 nothing advantage in bench points in

11:51

national championship game can you just

11:53

kind of break down that kind of impact

11:56

what what your teammates were able to do

11:58

in that uh Department we'll start with

12:00

tahena then we'll go to Raven man

12:03

they're are Difference Maker this whole

12:05

season man we we've depended on them so

12:07

much they are deaf and they done so much

12:09

for this team and a lot of people sleep

12:11

on them but they could start on any team

12:13

in this country but they decided to

12:14

sacrific that and play for this team and

12:16

win a National Championship which we did

12:18

today so big shout out to them they did

12:20

their big thing today on such a big

12:21

stage I'm really proud of them and their

12:23

confidence has grown so so much

12:25

throughout the season and I'm just

12:27

really proud of them for performing how

12:28

they did today and helped us get this du

12:32

yeah going off Whata um said I think I'm

12:35

I'm going give Tessa Johnson her flowers

12:37

I mean I think when you talk about

12:38

freshman I think her name should come up

12:40

it's just the stuff that she does she's

12:41

always she always ready for the moments

12:43

when her numbers call she always ready I

12:44

mean I think every shot she put up it

12:46

goes in I mean just just what Tessa does

12:48

in on the defensive end she take pride

12:50

on defense and if you talk to her she's

12:52

like a sponge like she gets in the gym

12:53

she works on her shot every day and she

12:55

wants to learn and she wants to grow so

12:57

when you talk about freshman Tessa

12:58

Johnson name should definitely be in the

13:01

conversation take our last question from

13:03

the front

13:05

Daniel Dan zesi out kick actually I just

13:08

wanted to follow up on that Tessa

13:10

Johnson scored a career high in the

13:11

national championship game she's a

13:13

freshman I don't know how old she is I

13:14

assume 18 or 19 years old uh Raven you

13:16

just talked about it so tahina camil if

13:17

you could talk about Tessa's performance

13:19

we'll start with tahina man Tessa was

13:22

due for a Breakout game and what to do

13:24

better on the national stage um she's

13:26

trusted her process here she's trusted

13:28

her journey and for her to do that on

13:30

such a big stage I'm so proud of her her

13:32

confidence has grown so much and I'm

13:34

just really excited for her future she's

13:36

going to be a great Gamecock and she's

13:38

she got a bright future ahead of her um

13:40

but she just got to keep trusting

13:42

trusting the process and being who she

13:44

is and she's just an amazing little

13:46

[Laughter]

13:46

[Music]

13:49

girl yeah I agree with po I I'm just so

13:51

proud of Tessa she been working so hard

13:53

since the beginning of this season and

13:55

I'm just so happy for her cuz she went

13:57

out there and she did her big one and I

13:58

know is going to boost her confidence a

14:00

lot and she's just doing a great job and

14:02

she always work really hard for moments

14:04

like this and I'm just so proud of her

14:06

thank you very much ladies we are at

14:08

time again congratulations on tremendous

14:10

season thank you than they will be

14:13

available in the mix

14:16

Zone and now at this time we'll take

14:18

questions from coach we'll start with

14:19

Lindsay Doug then we'll go Talia and

14:21

I'll work my way around the

14:22

room lindsy schel USA Today Don it felt

14:26

like this Championship was more

14:29

emotional for you than the other two um

14:32

early in the game you looked really

14:34

emotional and then at the end you

14:36

obviously broke down when they presented

14:38

you with the trophy was it more

14:40

emotional and if so

14:45

why well it was emotional for me because

14:47

of how it ended last year um and I I

14:52

leave that there um and I and I was

14:57

emotional at the beginning a game

15:00

because I didn't want what happened last

15:02

year to happen this year so I was

15:05

handling things in real time not not

15:09

afterwards and I'm I I'm going to

15:12

move to handling things in real time and

15:17

not having to wait until there's a an an

15:20

ending

15:23

that shouldn't be um so I I was that I

15:28

was like that throughout the entire

15:29

season

15:31

but for for this one I'm I wasn't going

15:34

to allow what I felt happened to us last

15:37

year to to happen this year so I had a

15:39

little bit of um

15:42

PTSD

15:44

and I addressed it in real time and then

15:48

after I mean it's heavy it's heavy it's

15:51

heavy you you carry um the burden of you

15:56

know every single one of your players

15:58

all all the coaches and staff members

16:01

that put so much into our team

16:06

and you know it's heavy load to be

16:08

undefeated to you know finish the job

16:12

and you you get emotional because you

16:15

just want that for them and you're happy

16:18

that you're able to you know cuz cuz

16:21

only one team one only one teams W wins

16:23

a national championship and when you win

16:25

a National

16:27

Championship it's

16:30

it there's more trust that's built that

16:33

you could take into the post into into

16:36

the summer workouts and the postseason

16:38

workouts and the and and the you know in

16:41

the in the fall and then into another

16:43

season um there are so many

16:45

conversations you have with parents um

16:48

with any significant person in our

16:50

players lives that that the rigors of a

16:54

season you you just have to face that

16:57

music with them and and sometimes it's

16:59

good sometimes it's challenging

17:02

sometimes it's just a really hard

17:05

conversation and then once you win you

17:08

know this is the reason why like and it

17:10

builds it builds trust amongst everybody

17:13

that's involved in our and our players

17:16

lives and then I'm just super happy for

17:18

our staff like they work really hard

17:20

they they they they are incredible you

17:24

know basketball like I think they're

17:26

savants I think they are all always

17:29

looking for ways in which um to get our

17:32

players better in a way that they can

17:34

handle it not the way that we see it and

17:36

we cuz the way we see it is probably

17:39

very diff the way we would handle it

17:41

would be difficult for them to actually

17:44

um learn and apply and execute in a in a

17:47

basketball sense so we're able to just

17:49

kind of speak their vernacular and then

17:54

actually deliver so I mean all of that

17:57

makes it emotional for me

17:59

we're going to go to Doug on our our

18:01

left coach hey coach Doug fber the AP

18:04

the trophy is blocking me which is welld

18:06

deserved Trophy up there you said last

18:08

Sunday when we were in Albany you were

18:10

okay with no one really talking about

18:11

you guys and Other Stories you'd wait

18:13

till this Sunday to talk about it

18:15

hopefully with the championship you got

18:17

the 10th undefeated team in the history

18:18

of the game you're the fifth coach to

18:20

win three titles or more you've won two

18:22

out of last three what does it mean for

18:24

this program for you to have done all

18:26

you guys have accomplished this year

18:27

with a perfect team in the last couple

18:29

years with the dynasty you've built in

18:31

South

18:32

Carolina well it it means that we have

18:36

quietly have done things in my opinion

18:40

the right way you know we find the right

18:43

pieces to help us we we we really do

18:46

things the right way we're very

18:48

disciplined in how we approach

18:49

basketball I am one

18:52

that I'm forever indebted to basketball

18:54

so I'm I'm always going to take care of

18:56

it I'm always going to make sure that

18:59

our players are respectful um always

19:02

going to make sure that um they know the

19:04

history of our game um I want to make

19:07

sure they are always respectful to our

19:09

opponents and when you do it that way um

19:13

in return you have success you have

19:16

success in the wins column and very

19:19

little you know disappointment in in the

19:21

loss column um

19:24

and I don't I I don't think that's

19:27

talked about enough what we've been able

19:29

to do and I don't know why and I really

19:31

don't care why we're going to keep doing

19:34

what we're doing the right way you know

19:37

whether we are the

19:40

uh popular or

19:42

unpopular um successful programs in the

19:46

country so we're going to keep doing

19:47

that that way coach we're going to go to

19:50

our our right second row Talia hey coach

19:52

Talia Goodman with the next someone

19:54

mentioned earlier the depth of 37 to

19:56

nothing bench points obviously hope at

19:59

the beginning of the season but what's

20:00

it like seeing you know the way you

20:02

built this team this roster panning out

20:04

in the way that you hoped and having the

20:06

success in that way I mean it's you know

20:09

to have a you know

20:11

have a roster that goes 9 10 Deep um is

20:16

it's a it's a it's a privilege it really

20:20

is um but it has to be developed slowly

20:25

and the right way like there's a lot of

20:28

trust that has to be built because

20:31

there's some there's some games that um

20:34

some of them won't play a whole lot

20:35

especially people that come that's

20:37

coming off the bench you know I mean

20:38

Khloe kits went up and down and you know

20:41

all around um and then finally she

20:43

settled in today to have a really good

20:46

game but she had to come off the bench

20:48

at times um because of not what she you

20:52

know not what she wasn't doing but was

20:54

more about what somebody was doing and

20:57

doing well um and that could shake your

21:00

confidence but at the same time you have

21:02

to let her know the way you build trust

21:06

in or coaching staff it's the same way

21:09

your you know your your competitors

21:11

building trust um I think Malaysia Fu Al

21:16

has been very patient with us to to be

21:19

able to have a you know household name

21:23

um coming off the bench playing maybe

21:25

you know probably less than 20 minutes a

21:27

game

21:29

where she could have gone anywhere else

21:30

in the country and they've given her the

21:32

ball time and time again but winning the

21:35

national championship will allow us and

21:37

that relationship to continue to grow um

21:40

cuz I know she she really wanted this

21:43

and I would imagine that come as early

21:46

as next year she's going to want to be a

21:48

starter she's going to want to be U play

21:51

more minutes she's going to want a lot

21:52

of different things because she got the

21:54

big one um so now she'll maybe want to

21:57

concentrate on some individual Awards

21:59

and I appreciate her sacrifice so it's

22:02

everybody it's siia Fagan

22:05

who I mean she's a

22:08

junior and she's probably started less

22:11

than 10 times um but she came up crucial

22:15

this game like really and I I know she's

22:18

probably wanted to play a lot more

22:20

throughout the season

22:22

um but I hold her to her standard I hold

22:25

her to her her personal individual

22:29

standard to sometimes

22:33

that that equates to 6 minutes or 5

22:36

minutes or less and it doesn't feel good

22:39

but in order for us to do what we do

22:42

today means she's got to meet her

22:46

standard and and and we

22:50

don't and and we don't sacrifice that so

22:54

it's built through trusting the process

22:56

is built through like really high level

22:59

communication something that they may

23:02

not like all the time but it's it's

23:05

truth but we also want we want them to

23:08

talk to us about what they're feeling

23:10

and seeing um so we can so we can

23:13

understand them and how they how they

23:15

operate in that space and we don't want

23:17

to miss anything we don't want to mess

23:18

anything up but we also want to give

23:20

them an opportunity to tell us what

23:23

they're thinking and how they're

23:25

processing information or if we're

23:27

giving them the right information so

23:28

it's a long-winded answer sorry we'll go

23:31

with Jim hey coach uh Jim Trotter from

23:34

the athletic first off

23:36

congratulations you made a point after

23:38

the game of recognizing Caitlyn Clark

23:40

for helping to elevate the game South

23:43

Carolina was also a part of that too as

23:45

well as other clubs and I wonder if not

23:47

in this moment later if you will look

23:50

back and take particular pride in saying

23:53

that you all were part of this

23:55

transformation that we all are talking

23:57

about today

23:59

well I I know we do our part I know we

24:02

do our part I know we do our part in

24:05

making sure we try to we try to as as

24:08

much as possible um shout it to the top

24:12

of our lungs what our game is all about

24:15

and all the story lines and all the

24:18

talent and all the coaches and you know

24:22

all the the talent that's that's

24:25

actually um telling the story

24:28

you know I I I I have to continue to

24:31

shout out um El Duncan and Drea Carter

24:35

and chenet and now Aaliyah and Carolyn

24:39

pet like they have done a tremendous job

24:42

like we have to find a way for them to

24:45

tell our stories during the off seon

24:48

because you have to build you got to

24:50

continue to build on what we you know

24:53

what we've captured um do I think South

24:56

Carolina is a part of that yeah we're

24:58

we're part of

24:59

it I don't know what part but you can

25:02

see the numbers that that when Caitlyn

25:05

plays in a game you see the numbers

25:07

they're real numbers and a lot of people

25:10

like to deal in those real numbers and I

25:12

you know I I I hope we were able

25:15

to attract some more people by the

25:18

amount of eyeballs that probably watched

25:20

our game just because Caitlyn was

25:23

appearing in it what does it mean to you

25:26

what does it mean to me

25:29

I I just want our game to

25:31

grow just I don't care if it's us I

25:34

don't care if it's Caitlyn I don't care

25:36

if is you know ju guu or Hannah I just

25:40

want our game to grow no matter who it

25:43

is because there you know there's a lot

25:46

of people that are out there growing our

25:48

game a lot of programs out there that

25:50

are growing our game we need to continue

25:53

to uplift them as well as we as we take

25:56

our game to that to that next level

25:59

going to go to our left Jake Don Jake

26:02

troter from ESPN how critical was Ravens

26:04

defense on Caitlyn especially the way K

26:07

Caitlyn came out shooting the ball um I

26:09

mean I mean Raven I mean for Raven I

26:12

think it was psychologically helpful uh

26:16

to be able to to play Iowa and Caitlyn

26:19

to

26:21

to just release you know you as a player

26:25

you you want to release certain things

26:27

that have held you captive and I do

26:30

think the waving off in the final four

26:32

last year held her captive to where um

26:35

usually you just quietly do things and

26:38

go about your

26:39

business Raven's got the bullhorn saying

26:42

this is revenge tour this is this this

26:44

is that and then for her to actually

26:47

lock in and and and and play Caitlyn the

26:51

way we needed we needed her to to play

26:54

her um we knew she was going to get her

26:56

points we wanted her to to get her

26:58

points in a in an inefficient way like I

27:02

I look at the stat sheets beautiful like

27:04

if she scores I mean if she's shooting

27:07

50% we lose the basketball game so I

27:10

think it's pretty cool that she was able

27:12

to just kind of check off a goal and and

27:16

move forward and hopefully there'll be

27:18

another test to challenge her in a way

27:20

that will continue to elevate

27:23

her gonna go to our right with Chris Don

27:26

Chris e Sterling AC Bean Journal as

27:28

you've been building this program this

27:31

this

27:31

dynasty what have you looked for in a

27:34

player Beyond just obviously the

27:35

basketball skools has there been a

27:37

singular maybe trait that you look for

27:40

in a player that says that's what I want

27:42

as an in the South Carolina play well I

27:45

mean aside from their talent uh a a

27:49

prerequisite of us recruiting and

27:53

actually getting a commitment from a

27:54

young a young lady is their relationship

27:57

with their parents because if they

28:00

respect their parents they're going to

28:01

respect us if they don't respect their

28:03

parents we don't have a shot um so

28:07

that's that's what we look at um a lot

28:11

and we have fortunately we have some

28:14

really great parents who are you know

28:17

they're in their their their daughter's

28:19

lives every single day so they're in our

28:21

lives every day and we don't mind

28:24

because all of us want the same thing we

28:26

want them to be um

28:28

like incredibly successful um so I mean

28:33

I'm I'm fortunate as a coach to have

28:35

that relationship with our with our

28:38

parents take our last question from Bill

28:40

Bill if you could raise your

28:43

hand uh coach Don Bill Bender Sporting

28:45

News um last four minutes 13 seconds of

28:48

the game they cut it to five and they

28:50

don't score again I mean for a coach who

28:53

preaches toughness and those kind of

28:54

things how satisfying is it to close a

28:56

game with that def sense um I mean it's

29:00

incredibly satisfying that I mean you

29:03

have a a team full of players who

29:07

probably

29:09

felt the the lead dwindle to a point

29:12

where someone like Caitlyn like a

29:14

five-point lead versus Iowa is nothing

29:18

like they don't Flinch when it comes to

29:21

you know getting you know to lead the

29:24

lead into a you know a a you know

29:31

uh come on y'all writers help me

29:37

out that's dwindled to the point of it's

29:40

a one or two possession game um when

29:44

there was a timeout called um you could

29:47

hear all of the players all of them just

29:50

talk about how we needed to have stops

29:53

and it wasn't just the players that were

29:55

in the game it was the it was the

29:57

players that were sitting on the bench

29:58

hey we can't give up a three hey you got

30:00

to show you you know great job I heard

30:02

Ashley Watkins tell um Khloe

30:06

kits way to stunt like way to stunt

30:09

Chloe and Ashton could have been really

30:12

upset because she didn't get the minutes

30:14

that she usually gets um because of foul

30:16

trouble but they're they're that locked

30:18

in and when you when you have your you

30:21

know your your peers are saying things

30:23

to you that that want you to be great

30:28

I mean it's it's half the battle for us

30:31

like we don't have to say those things

30:33

although we reiterate what they're

30:34

saying it's pretty cool when they can

30:37

hold each other accountable and they can

30:39

also um bless each other with

30:43

encouragement thank you very much for

30:45

your time tonight coach and best of luck

30:47

well you're already best of luck

30:48

congratulations

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