Jan. 13, 2008
Tennessee Head Coach Pat Summitt
“I thought that we played well in spurts. Early we didn’t get into a good rhythm, and it showed. We did do a good job of shooting the basketball. In the second half we did a much better job of getting our inside game going. Our defensive intensity was good, but our rebounding was sub-par.”
“We wanted to use the press today to help keep our intensity up. We wanted to see if we could turn them over and get some easy shots. I do think it is important to spread them out and keep the intensity up.”
“Typically I am not concerned about our team’s intensity level, and at the beginning of the game we didn’t bring it the same way that we usually do, and that concerned me a little. As coaching staff we feel like our job is to keep them working hard and keep them motivated and together. And for the most part they’ve done that.”
Shannon Bobbitt • Sr. • G
“We know defense is the priority. We just had to show it for 40 minutes, and I think we did a pretty good job of stopping them.”
“I didn’t feel that it was needed for me to shoot, but I took what the defense gave me. I felt that they gave me a great opportunity to shoot the three ball.”
Candice Parker • Jr. • G
“Defensively against Auburn we’ve played some of the best defense for our team all year. In the SEC you have to bring your defense and rebounding on the road. I think we made up for our rebounding with their turnovers.”
South Carolina Head Coach Susan Walvius
“I was really impressed by our team’s rebounding. We did an excellent job today of boxing out. It was something that we have really worked at, and I thought we did a decent job.”
“Transition defense was another thing where I thought we did a decent job. It wasn’t fantastic, but it was decent. Tennessee is a team that wants to play an up-tempo style, and in the first half we wanted to slow the game down and limit their possessions. Again I thought we did a decent job, and I thought that it was effective a little bit. We wanted to hold the ball, and then try to run a set around the 10 second mark.”
“In the second half, we came with a much more aggressive mindset. I was really impressed with the way that our team responded after the first half. I thought that we fought to the very end. There was definitely some good moments in the second half.”
Ilona Burgrova • Sr. • Center
“The game was challenging. I think every player loves to be challenged. I think it gave me the opportunity to play a little better.”
On the team’s mentality through all the injuries
“Coach had to talk to us and encourage us. The younger players are starting to realize that this isn’t the end. We have so many other options that we can do. I think at the time of someone’s injury we may be a little down, but we understand that this isn’t the end.”
On the team’s ability to meet its season objectives
“We can go and get what we want. We just have to work hard and be aware of our strengths and weaknesses. We also need to be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the other teams, but I think we can go far.”
