Pregame Press Conference Quotes: DePaul
3/19/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 19, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Pregame Quotes
Doug Bruno, DePaul Head Coach
On the importance of rebounding and defense: We've led the nation in scoring the last two years, and it's never been a goal of ours, we really like to play defense and rebound to maximize our possessions, we do want to try to attempt to put pressure on the net and not just play around with the basketball. I think that scoring is something we like to do, it's the object of the game, but it still starts with defending and rebounding and this is a very good rebounding basketball team. I think it's going to be very important that we're able to get the ball and secure the ball and rebound the basketball.
On Virginia Tech: We know that we're going to have our hands full with a very good Virginia Tech basketball team. If you look at our RPI, we're at 27 and they're at 28. It's a very interesting Virginia Tech team because you have a strong point player in Carrie Mason, who gets the ball where it needs to go with precision and touch. Erin Gibson does a great job of anchoring the post, and you've got four players who are all very strong and similar in that they're long and athletic, they have guard skills and they can go inside and post. That's a match up we really haven't seen all year long, with teams that are have are combination post/guard.
On senior leadership from Jenni Dant and Khara Smith: We have quality senior leadership from Jenni (Dant) and Khara (Smith). After the loss of Charlene Smith (ACL tear) she had to move to the point guard position, and is a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman award. To become a finalist when you've never played that position is a tribute to Jenni's will to do whatever the team needs. Khara and Jenni both took the team by the horns and took these freshmen and led them.
Jenni Dant, Senior Guard
On Virginia Tech:
We know the ACC is a strong conference, in preparation for them, we know they're a great team, we see them get up and down the floor, they're a great rebounding team, and they have a lot of height and quickness so that the combination right there in itself is kind of hard to defend.
On making her last NCAA Tournament appearance: This is our third appearance in this tournament and every time it's the same excitement. You play your whole season to get to this point and it's been a blessing to get here. Now that we're here we're trying to do what we've done to get here, which is defend and rebound.
