Colorado University Athletics

Colorado Press Conference Quotes

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March 28, 2003

Head Coach Ceal Barry
Opening remarks:

"We are excited to be here. We are happy to be here. I have been here a lot in Knoxville having graduated from Kentucky. We are looking forward to our game against Villanova tomorrow. We are well aware of their discipline and execution that their team shows when they are on the floor."

On Villanova offense
"The have been starting [Jana] Rediger. They can go with a four-guard lineup with Nicole [Druckenmiller] as their post. They can go smaller. But I would imagine that they would go with Rediger inside. We are prepared if they go small on the perimeter and spread out the floor."

On playing Villanova earlier in the season:
"I am always impressed with how mentally tough they are. It's a test of wills when you play them. It is not a test of athleticism and that is not to question either team's athleticism. Villanova isn't going to overpower you, they are just darn good basketball players. They are not going to beat themselves."

On differences since playing Villanova earlier in the season:
"We have a different point guard right now. Our point guard is [Maria] Billingsley. The first time we played them, our point guards were limited. That really changes how we have played in the last 10 games. We are more of a transition team now. Tera Bjorklund has also emerged since we played Villanova the first time. She is a lot more confident player at this point in the season."

On Colorado playing its best basketball of the season:
"It is hard to measure. I think we are playing our best ball of the season. I feel like we had good game plans against BYU and North Carolina and things went well for us. It 's hard to say. You like to tell your team that they are playing their best right now so they are thinking that way. I think anyone that has survived this long is playing their best basketball."

On Trish Juhline:
"First of all, she is really well-conditioned. She never stops moving on the floor. There are not very many players that can run at the pace she runs and move off the ball and still be fresh with six minutes left in the game. That is what makes her so difficult to guard. She is a mentally disciplined athlete and has a quick release. She is also a senior who has a sense of urgency at this time in the year. Those things combined make her one of the most dangerous scorers, compared to Southwest Missouri State's Jackie Stiles, at this stage of the year."

On Villanova's game pace:
"I think what makes them so effective is that they can run if they like or milk the clock to 28 seconds and then shoot. It is misleading to say that every possession is a 30 second possession. It is determined by their coach if they are going to run that possession or not. It is tough to be prepared for either as a defense. They can take the quick outside shot and they are just as adept at going 28 seconds and using the whole possession. The pace is determined by the score of the game and the time on the clock."

Assistant Coach Tanya Haave
On being back in Knoxville:
"It's great to be back. I have to admit it, it is strange though being here with a different team, a team from my home state. It brings back a lot of good memories. It's been eight or nine years since I've been here."

On playing in the first NCAA Mideast Regional in 1982:
"I remember us playing Southern California and the game going into overtime. Sheila Collins came up with some big steals and we went to the very first NCAA Final Four. Stokely [Athletics Center] went nuts. I just remember it being an overtime game and getting to the Final Four. It was special because it was the first NCAA Tournament. I remember even back then, all the fan support. Tennessee has always had great fan support."

On Colorado players' reaction to being here in Tennessee:
"They've been teasing me about seeing my picture with the short shorts and high socks. I've talked to them about the atmosphere and what it's like playing here. Of course, I played at Stokely. Thompson-Boling wasn't even here then, but I know it has a great atmosphere.

On playing Villanova for a second time:
"It will help that we already played them one time. They make very good reads, particularly on quick hitter sets. They read defenses well. They are very unorthodox. I think two things, one that we've played them before and two that we've had a little bit more time to look at what they do. They read the defenses so well and make good decisions."

On what Tennessee fans can expect from Colorado:
"We have to try and play the way that we played our last two games in Boulder. We had good defense and pressure. We have to play Colorado basketball. We need to keep the turnovers down. Villanova does that. Rebounding will be a big key."

On North Carolina game:
"[Sylvia Hatchell] had watched a lot of tape of us but didn't know what to expect. It reminds me a lot of back when I was here that we would go through slumps."

Tera Bjorklund
On playing Villanova for a second time:
"There will be a lot of differences and a lot of similarities. We are a lot different team since we played them last. From watching them on film, they have a lot of shooters. We will have to have the same mentality from the last game. Offensively, we are a much different team right now. It is running really smoothly right now."

On facing a double team from Villanova:
"Last time we played them, they really focused on their post player. I am guessing that is how they will still play me. I am ready for double teams or whatever."

On Villanova defeating Connecticut:
"They did really well and focused on their game plan. It worked for them."

On Villanova's pace of game:
"Mentally going in, we have to understand that they are going to take 30 seconds off the shot clock everytime. That is going to be different from what we are used to. North Carolina liked getting up and down. We have to be mentally ready for that. We have to take care of possessions and use them wisely"

Kate Fagan
On playing Villanova for a second time:
"I think that Villanova doesn't change its game plan much. They have their system and they play that way."

On Colorado's offensive maturation this season:
"We use the triangle in our offense and it is pretty intricate to get to know. The freshman and younger players take a lot longer to learn our system, but they have learned since the beginning of the season."

On Villanova defeating Connecticut:
"We didn't get together and see it as a team. It was a part of our scouting report. We saw some of the game on film."

On Trish Juhline:
"She is a great player and led the BIG EAST in scoring. She is a triple threat with a quick release. We are going to have to guard her and make it a team effort."

Linda Lappe
On playing Villanova for a second time:
"It's a totally different game. The stakes are a lot higher. We have changed quite a bit and I am sure they have too. Playing someone in November versus March is a lot different. I think it will be somewhat similar, but a lot of different as well."

On playing in Knoxville:
"We had home court last weekend, so we can't say too much about that. We are happy to be here. The best team will win at this point in the year."

On Villanova's pace of game:
"Sine we played them before, we are more prepared for what they do."