Colorado University Athletics
Colorado, Yale Quotes
January 04, 2010 | Women's Basketball
Colorado Head Coach Kathy McConnell-Miller
General
"We talked a lot about, over the last 24 hours, what type of team we are, and what type of team we want to be, and how we want to respond. We are very happy with this win. We think that Yale is a very good team. They are a team that knows exactly how to run their stuff, how to execute, to use their counters when you take something away. We give them a lot of credit for in here and playing the way they did. However, I thought, particularly, in the first half; we didn't rebound the ball extremely well. We were fatigued, and we didn't get off to the start that we normally get off to. Is that a concern? Yes, that is a concern. Is the rebound a concern? Absolutely. However, some very good things happened tonight. The two young freshmen that have been consistently playing for us struggled against Virginia. They responded tonight. There were some really good things happening, and it's a great overall effort tonight. It is an opportunity for us to get better and to see what type of team we are. It definitely answered some questions. It posed other questions, but we walk away from non-conference play with a record of 10-3. I am very proud of them, I am proud of the commitment, what they have done over the summer, the addition of young players and what they bring to the program, and the progress that we continue to make."
On Rebounding from a Loss Against Virginia
"It's a tough time to have this game. It's no question. There was a lot of momentum going into the Virginia game, and everyone keeps talking about the conference. And the fact that it's getting started. Here we are with one game left, and there is a game to be played. We need to be prepared. We need to be focused, because this is a quality team. For us, the first half was not what we wanted. It wasn't what we expected. It was a concern coming in, how we would respond. Fortunately the game was 40 minutes, and not 20."
On What to Take from Non-conference Play
"Decision making in transition offense; how we get scores, when we get stops through our defense, and we have numbers, how good are we at finishing and making decisions in the transition. We started off non-conference really getting beat in transition defense. We changed the philosophy, and those areas have been the focus; transition offense and transition defense. When we are playing half court, in man-to-man defense, how focused are we, how good are we with ball pressure. In our post defense we have improved considerably over the last four or five games. The fact that we settle as opposed to getting drives and getting to the free throw line, are things we need to improve on. They are getting better and becoming smarter basketball players. They are starting to come together. We can talk basketball now. We can think about it and watch it on film. They are getting better at watching themselves on film and not taking things personally. There is so much good that has happened and there are areas that we have identified as major areas that need improvement; rebounding being one that we feel like has been consistent until tonight."
Yale Head Coach Chris Gobrecht
On Rebounding
"We are a good rebounding team because we work. We play a style that moves you around the floor and moves you out of position. We are a good rebounding team. It doesn't surprise me."
On the Second Half
"The only thing that changed is that we had the one dead spot. We didn't do a good job. We put four freshmen in, and I like to do that because that is what I want from them, but there were some key stretches there we lost their shooters. That was the difference."
On Defense
"We are a good defensive team. You don't score on us unless you lose us. They, unfortunately, lost us off the boards in the second half. They got some kick outs and we lost track of their shooters a couple of times, and we paid for it every time we did. We are a pretty good defensive team, even though we gave up 78 points."
On Colorado's Outside Shooting
"We are a tough match-up for them because we have really mobile post kids. We can go out and chase you around the floor. They do that big spread thing and a lot of teams can't chase them around the floor but our post kids are really mobile."
On Playing on the Road
"It's been a great experience. It's tough to play on the road. One thing about Ivy League kids is that sports are not in the same frame of mind for our kids. We are not allowed to be off campus when school is in session. We have to travel when school is out and we often play six, seven, eight games in a row on the road."
Colorado Players
Meagan Malcolm-Peck, Fr., G/F
On Performance After Going Scoreless Against Virginia- "To tell you the truth, I didn't really think about it. In the game I wasn't thinking, 'Oh I got to score' or anything like that. I definitely just have to focus on finishing around the basket and knocking down shots and, tonight, my rebounding. Going scoreless is always an extra push just to finish your shots. "
On Team's Second Half Effort- "My teammates are just amazing. Chucky had some great passes and Spears and everybody are just looking for each other. I think it is good to know that we can come off of a half like that and pull together and make some shots and step up."
Brittany Spears, Jr., F
On Biggest Surprise Of The Season To This Point- "Our chemistry and our ability to play together with five new freshmen. I thought it was going to be kind of hard, but it is actually kind of easy."
On Being Prepared For Conference Play- "We have more confidence than we did last season. Our record is better. We just have a better overall team."
Chucky Jeffery, Fr., G
On Getting Ready For Conference Play- "I'm ready, I'm ready. We got a day off and then we got three practices. I'm ready; it's exciting. We'll be ready. We got it together that second half. We came together and we are just going to move forward from here."
