March 12, 2012
Selection Monday Quotes
Head Coach Brenda Frese
On earning the second seed - the same seed as her 2006 National Championship team:
"It has [crossed my mind], but I'm not superstitious at all. I don't think the number in front of your name guarantees anything. For us, we've got to take one game at a time and the rest takes care of itself. I like the level we're playing at - obviously coming off of a [ACC] championship, the way we're practicing, the confidence this team has - and now we've got to play that way every time we take the court."
On playing Navy:
"[I am] excited. It definitely generates great interest for the game. [Navy's] fans will travel well. They're a team that doesn't have to travel far and just won their championship. I don't really know anything about them other than that, but [it is a] tremendous opportunity."
On the bracket:
"I think any of the teams selected into the NCAA tournament are great teams. They've had winning seasons and have been very successful. Until you can really dive into scouting reports and films to really kind of see what matchups are better suited for you and what ones aren't, I don't really have a lot to say. But at this point I do feel like our conference schedule and our non-conference [schedule] has prepared us for now. All season long we faced different styles of play and we feel like those styles of play have prepared us for the NCAA tournament."
On what the team learned from last year:
"Well obviously we've learned that you can't take anything for granted. Just playing at home doesn't guarantee you an automatic [trip] to [the NCAA regional semi-finals] in Raleigh. It's one and done. So, we've got to take that same sense of urgency like we did at the ACC tournament to the NCAA's and just focus on the given opponent that we'll be playing and the next opponent we'll be playing is Navy."
Senior center Lynetta Kizer
On earning a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament:
"It's exciting. I know we're excited to play. Just seeing our name up there and getting the No. 2seed, I know we're going to be ready to play."
On playing Navy in the first round:
"Congratulations to [Navy] first of all, it's going to be a fun game. We're excited to get going and we're excited to play in front of this home crowd and hopefully advance."
On learning from last year's defeat in the NCAA tournament:
"Just when it comes to tournament time it's six games. So we've got to go out there and we've got to play hard. We need to go out and take advantage of the moment and just go out and try to make a push to the Final Four."
On if this team is capable of winning a National Championship:
"Yeah. We've got [a great player] at every position. I couldn't be more proud of how the girls have worked and how we've made these strides. Coach [Frese] has always challenged us and we always accept the challenge and have surpassed them, so we're excited."
On what's different from last year's team:
"We have that year under our belts. The good thing about basketball is that there are more opportunities for games. We get to come back and play in front of our home crowd. We know how it feels to lose in the second round last year at home. We get to come back and give it another shot. I know we are going to go out there and play composed and passionate basketball, Maryland basketball."
On what they learned from last year:
"I think what is most important is that feeling that we had going into the press conference with the loss. I think that is something that everyone has at the back of their mind and they feel it. We are going to go out there and we are going to play hard for each other. The underclassmen have been doing a good job of playing hard for the seniors. This is our last chance for the seniors and we want to go out on top."
On this being her last go-round as a senior:
"It is surreal, everything went by so fast. We are going to go out and give it our all. There is no looking back, it is one and done and that is who the tournament is. I know our girls are ready. We have worked so hard this year and we are ready to go out and play."
Sophomore forward Alyssa Thomas
On Navy:
"We just have to take it one game at a time. We have to come out as if every game is our last."
On looking back to last season's tournament:
"It is something that we talk about all the time. We reflected on it earlier in the season. Now that it is tournament time we are ready to go."
On the 2-seed:
"I know a lot of us are happy with the No. 2 seed. We are just ready to go out and play."
On what it would be like to play in the Final Four:
"It is something that you always dream of. I have always thought about what it would be like to play in the Final Four and win my own national championship. If we get there it would be great. But we know that we have to take it one game at a time."
Senior guard Anjale Barrett
On the No. 2 seed:
"I am happy with the 2-seed. I am just happy to be playing. We are blessed to play in the post season. Everyday in practice we know we have to get better and keep it going."
On the difference from last year's team:
"We are a lot more experienced. Last year, our freshman, who are now sophomores, had a chance to play in the NCAA, The Big Dance. I think this year it is more having fun. This year we aren't nervous we are just going out there and competing."
Sophomore guard Laurin Mincy
On playing in-state team Navy:
"I think a lot of people are going to be here cheering for us as well as cheering on Navy. I think we are going to have a big crowd."
On the No. 2 seed:
"We were expecting the 2-seed. We are happy with where we are seeded in the tournament."
Overall thoughts on the bracket:
"I think all the top teams deserve the seeding that they got. A lot of lower teams that didn't get in last year were able to get in this year, so it was nice to see them get in this year."
On looking past Navy to the later games:
"We are going to take it one game at a time. We aren't going to underestimate anyone."
Junior forward Tianna Hawkins
On being a No. 2 seed:
"It is a good feeling to go into the tournament knowing we are a two seed. Last year it was great to make the tournament after my freshman year. But it is just a great feeling."
On having a target on their backs as a high seed:
"Going into the tournament we hold a lot of confidence. Coach has been telling us all year that we are going to have a target on our back. We are still going to be aggressive, rebound and just play basketball."
On playing the best basketball at the end of the season:
"Why not now? Everyone is looking forward to playing on the big show. We are just ready to go out and play."
