University of Connecticut Athletics
Quotebook
3/29/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Notre Dame vs. Uconn
Final Four SemifinalOn Connecticut repeating as national champs.
"Connecticut had the best team in basketball last year and had everybody back. So I think, at the beginning, their chances of winning again were pretty good. I don’t think you can ever anticipate injuries and things that happen during the year that you have absolutely no control over. Certainly that’s had some effect on them. For Connecticut to get back to the Final Four without Svet (Abrosimova) and Shea (Ralph) has been a tremendous accomplishment for them." On growth of the Big East.
"I think since we joined the Big East Conference six years ago, the shift in our program has really taken off nationally. I would say that joining the Big East was the best thing that has ever happened to women’s basketball at Notre Dame. To be in a conference with Connecticut who had just won a national championship and was predicted to win another one, I thought it brought instant credibility to everybody in the conference. This year our conference was outstanding at the top, probably the best league in the country if you consider we have two teams in the Final Four, and we’re the only conference that has two teams in the Final Four. I think the Big East is a great league. We’re probably not top to bottom as strong as some, but at the top we are the very best." On point guard battle.
"The position is definitely important in the game. Sue Bird is a great player, and Niele (Ivey) is a great player. I think they’re both going to have great games." On ticket situation.
"Last year in Philadelphia was the first time I ever saw scalping of tickets as such high prices".I don’t think there are enough tickets for the schools that are in it (allotted 800 tickets per school). We couldn’t come close to filling the demand for tickets, and we didn’t even have a general sale. We could have used probably a couple thousand tickets more than we were allotted. I do think we need to go to bigger arenas. I think our game has finall grown to that point, and it would be great to see everone that wants to come get a ticket." On rivalry with Connecticut.
"This is the first year we’ve actually had a rivalry, because I don’t know that you can have a rivalry until you beat somebody. This year was a tremendous rivalry." On high school girls basketball in Indiana.
"I think it says a lot for the type of players that come out of Indiana if you look at the players on Purdue’s team and our team. There is a lot of tradition that comes out of Indiana, and I think that is represented here." On the rematch with Connecticut.
"I think it’s going to be a good game"It’s exciting for us and we match up well against each other." On Diana Taurasi.
"It shows how far women’s basketball has come for a freshman to come in and step up like that." On her arrival.
"Yesterday when I came in from the airport, my principals from Cor Jesu and a lot of girls from the high school greeted me. They had banners, uniforms and candy and balloons – it was great to see so many people out there supporting me from the moment I walked off the airplane." On the pressures of playing in an NCAA game in her hometown.
"I think I’m going to be more excited than nervous. I’m a little nervous for any game but I’ve been focused the whole year so I’ll be the same way on Friday. There will be more familiar faces in the stand. And that’ll be good for me. And I’ll use that as a positive and not try to try too hard." On playing in St. Louis for Niele.
"It was a goal we kept in our minds for a long time. It was something we wanted to do for her and something she wanted to do. We’re excited that this would be the spot for it." On the magnitude of a rematch.
"It’s definitely the rubber match. We’ve both got a win and obviously it’s hard to go out on that loss on a last second shot. I think this is just going to be an incredible game...We both have something to prove. We know each other well and we’re both prepared for each other’s tendencies." On post play.
"I don’t think post play will determine the game but it will be a huge part. I think rebounding will be a very big key to whoever wins this game. Every ball will be up for grabs, and that is something we’ll be focusing on."
Final Four Semifinal
QUOTEBOOK
What Notre Dame was saying going into their game against Connecticut in the Final Four Semifinal.
NOTRE DAME
Head Coach Muffet McGraw:
"Connecticut had the best team in basketball last year and had everybody back. So I think, at the beginning, their chances of winning again were pretty good. I don’t think you can ever anticipate injuries and things that happen during the year that you have absolutely no control over. Certainly that’s had some effect on them. For Connecticut to get back to the Final Four without Svet (Abrosimova) and Shea (Ralph) has been a tremendous accomplishment for them."
"I think since we joined the Big East Conference six years ago, the shift in our program has really taken off nationally. I would say that joining the Big East was the best thing that has ever happened to women’s basketball at Notre Dame. To be in a conference with Connecticut who had just won a national championship and was predicted to win another one, I thought it brought instant credibility to everybody in the conference. This year our conference was outstanding at the top, probably the best league in the country if you consider we have two teams in the Final Four, and we’re the only conference that has two teams in the Final Four. I think the Big East is a great league. We’re probably not top to bottom as strong as some, but at the top we are the very best."
"The position is definitely important in the game. Sue Bird is a great player, and Niele (Ivey) is a great player. I think they’re both going to have great games."
"Last year in Philadelphia was the first time I ever saw scalping of tickets as such high prices".I don’t think there are enough tickets for the schools that are in it (allotted 800 tickets per school). We couldn’t come close to filling the demand for tickets, and we didn’t even have a general sale. We could have used probably a couple thousand tickets more than we were allotted. I do think we need to go to bigger arenas. I think our game has finall grown to that point, and it would be great to see everone that wants to come get a ticket."
"This is the first year we’ve actually had a rivalry, because I don’t know that you can have a rivalry until you beat somebody. This year was a tremendous rivalry."
Center Ruth Riley:
"I think it says a lot for the type of players that come out of Indiana if you look at the players on Purdue’s team and our team. There is a lot of tradition that comes out of Indiana, and I think that is represented here."
"I think it’s going to be a good game"It’s exciting for us and we match up well against each other."
"It shows how far women’s basketball has come for a freshman to come in and step up like that."
Guard Niele Ivey.
"Yesterday when I came in from the airport, my principals from Cor Jesu and a lot of girls from the high school greeted me. They had banners, uniforms and candy and balloons – it was great to see so many people out there supporting me from the moment I walked off the airplane."
"I think I’m going to be more excited than nervous. I’m a little nervous for any game but I’ve been focused the whole year so I’ll be the same way on Friday. There will be more familiar faces in the stand. And that’ll be good for me. And I’ll use that as a positive and not try to try too hard."
Forward Kelley Siemon.
"It was a goal we kept in our minds for a long time. It was something we wanted to do for her and something she wanted to do. We’re excited that this would be the spot for it."
"It’s definitely the rubber match. We’ve both got a win and obviously it’s hard to go out on that loss on a last second shot. I think this is just going to be an incredible game...We both have something to prove. We know each other well and we’re both prepared for each other’s tendencies."
"I don’t think post play will determine the game but it will be a huge part. I think rebounding will be a very big key to whoever wins this game. Every ball will be up for grabs, and that is something we’ll be focusing on."
Sunday, March 29
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 09
Sunday, March 08
