University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn vs. Cincinnati Postgame Quotes
1/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2010
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Head Coach Geno Auriemma
Did Cincinnati's play annoy you a little bit tonight?
I told Jamelle Elliott that they are better than some of the teams we have played already. They stay with some of their stuff, they run their offense through, they stay patient and I thought they played really well for the most part. It was one of those games where you're waiting to go and then you go and that probably had something to do with them being patient with the basketball. They didn't come down the court and make two passes and shoot a crazy shoot so that we could come up and down the court. They made us work a little bit and I am not surprised. That's why I think they are better than some of the other teams we have played.
How does coaching against Jamelle Elliottin this game compare to coaching against former players?
Not that much different. The only opportunity I have had to do that is against Jen Rizzotti and Jamelle Elliott. It's difficult because you know you have the upper hand sort of speak and there is not much they can do so you're not going in there expecting that the game is going to go down to the wire and its going to be a heartbreaker. I think she came in understanding that a miracle was going to need to happen and we are going in understanding that we are a much better team with much better players. My emotions were more with the hope that her players play really well and I said that before the game started. I said to Chris Dailey that I hope they play really well because I think she would be really proud of them if they come into this building and play really well. So I was happy for her.
Senior Center Tina Charles
How did it feel playing against Jamelle Elliotttonight?
It was hard for me. After tap I was starring at her and she was smiling at me. I started tearing up a little bit, but I had to keep my composure. She told me don't look at her. It was very hard on a personal level. Because you have someone so close to you, someone you have been talking to since your junior year of high school and getting to know, forming a bond with. It was really good to see her coaching because it is something that she always wanted for herself.
What happened in the second half; did Geno Auriemmaget annoyed with them or you?
It was definitely us. We are the type of team that thinks that the only time things can happen is if we get rattled. We don't let other teams rattle us. It was definitely us. Coach made his adjustments and I can't blame him. The way we came out was sluggish. We weren't concentrating. We weren't setting the tempo that we usually do coming out of the second half.
Lorin Dixondid well against North Carolina last year. Do you think the style of that game will suit her this year?
It is funny that you said that because the other day after practice Coach has said if we played North Carolina every game, that Lorin would be an All-American. I think that any game is Lorin's game. Lorin comes in and she reminds me of Ketia Swanier because she comes off the bench and sets the tempo for the team. She will just have the fast breaks and be looking for the open man. So I think that whenever Lorin wants to bring it she can and that's what she did tonight.
Junior Forward Maya Moore
On Playing against former Assistant Coach Jamelle Elliott(Current Cincinnati Head Coach)
There were times when I would see her, on the bench, or at a dead ball, and I would feel just proud of her. I was thinking of her and feeling proud of how far she has come. As far as the basketball stuff it was more of business as usual.
What happened in the second half, Geno got a little annoyed, was that more them or you?
It is unacceptable, we are not happy with it at all. We were proud of the way we started out the game. The first half was pretty good, but it is unacceptable to come out in the second half, especially as the first five we set the tone and we didn't do that tonight.
Do you expect North Carolina to do dwell on last year's loss at North Carolina and use it as motivation as they come here on Saturday?
I would think they would use whatever motivation they can use. I don't think I would be aware of every motivational strategy they can use. I know I remember losses in my past and they help me to stay focused and to remember what can happen if we are not focused or if we come out not playing our "A" game. We are not necessarily going to draw from that North Carolina game but we can draw from different parts of games like tonight when we weren't focused and you can see that it can happen. It will be a battle but I am looking forward to it. Anytime you have a big game here at Gampel, it brings out the best in our team.
On Tiffany Hayes' injury:
You never want to see that. Your heart just drops when you see a teammate go down and not pop back up. I am just glad that it is a sprained ankle. I don't know how bad it is, but she seems to be in good spirits afterwards. I am just going to hope for the best with her. It helps us to remember how each individual player has to continue to get better because injuries happen and you have to be ready if your name is called.
Cincinnati Head Coach Jamelle Elliott
How happy were you with the way your kids responded in the second half after being down that much in the first half? I was very happy with them. All season long our defense has kept us in a lot of basketball games. In the first half of today's game our defense did not look very good. I told them to get back to the things that have made us successful and they responded. The first five minutes of that second half was probably the best defense our team has played all season. Coach Auriemma ended up taking all of his starters out of the game at that point. Yesterday, I actually told him my goal was for him to get so upset with his kids that he would have to pull them out. Fortunately my prayers were answered. I was pleased with how well we played defense the entire twenty minutes of that second half.
How tough was it to be on the visiting side of a game against UConn?
It was tough. I have been dreading this game all year. I was not looking forward to this game at all. It has been my home for a long time and for me to come back here and be in a locker room I had never been in before was a little different for me. Everybody welcomed me back including the fans and embraced me as one of their own.
Describe your emotions before you walked out on to the court before tonight's game?
At first I was not ready to walk out. I had to turn around and take a few moments to gather myself before I went back out. I knew I had to be strong and I ended up walking out and saw everyone supporting me and it felt good. However, once that horned sounded I knew my team was looking toward me to lead them through this basketball game and that I had to be there for them.
Did you think that maybe your education as a coach was not complete until you coached against Coach Auriemma?
I do not believe my education as a coach will be complete until I defeat Coach Auriemma.
