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Coach's Quotes: Duke 77, Clemson 53
2/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Duke Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie
Opening Statement
“It was just a really great start and an excellent, excellent first half. It was just a great team effort and a great team first half. I'm really pleased about the rebounding stats. That's so important for us as a team to be dominant on the boards, and everybody in the second half really tried to make a difference there. I love Krystal [Thomas'] game; she just seemed to have a kick in her step and looks very comfortable on the floor. That's very exciting for us because of all that Krystal has gone through there. And rebounding, I thought that Bridgette [Mitchell] with nine rebounds was huge. The fact that she played, had nine rebounds, and did not turn the ball over was really important from the guard position there. Chante [Black] did some nice things as well, and Abby [Waner] had five great steals. Everybody did a little something to make a difference.”
On Bridgette Mitchell's first start of the season
“We've had a lot of different people start; we change the line up a fair amount. We try to work on finishing games and finishers, and I just think that B[ridgette Mitchell] gives us a lot of lift. She's a tough kid. She's tough! She's somebody that can rebound, and that was her only job today was to go get the ball. And, she did. We just have to be consistent with that. I know she can be, and I know she will be.”
On “finishing” a complete basketball game
“You just try to play aggressive, excited, and hungry in every minute regardless of the scoreboard. I mean it's got to be a ?no scoreboard' mentality anytime you play whether it's a close game or not a close game. That's just something we all preach, and we're just trying to get better at playing every minute and making sure we're not satisfied. Like tonight the score was in our favor a lot, but the reality is that there are things we needed to work on, and the team really answered the bell, I felt, in the second half. I know the second half wasn't our better half, I understand that, but it was our better half in terms of our rebounding. We were almost even with them at the point, so the team had to really work hard to change that. That's important because that's what March and April are all about. It's about rebounding, about who can get the ball and control the game. Certainly, our game Monday night [at
On Duke's defensive intensity early in the game
“I really liked B[ridgette] and Carrem [Gay] on the front of the press. I thought they both did a great job, and I thought the back line really played well also. You had Abby and Jas[mine Thomas] back there working things and working to see what they could get. I thought there was great energy and hussle, and it was just a very good start by everybody.”
On the importance of Krystal Thomas stepping up for the rest of the season
“It's two-fold. Krystal's been through a lot with last year and her knee, and I don't think people realize how difficult that is to go through that experience and then not quite be yourself upon return. What I saw tonight was, I sort of felt in my mind that Krystal's mobility was what I was thrilled about. She was moving differently, and that's just great for Krystal and that's great for the team because Krystal can do so much out there. She can change the game by playing great defense, and she can definitely change the game by doing some neat things offensively. I like to play her and Chante [Black] together. I think the two of them can really feed off each other, and we couldn't always do that. Last year we couldn't do that at all, and this year it's coming on strong, and that's a good thing for us.”
On the upcoming game at Tennessee
“They're excited for the game. It's a great game. It's a great place to play. Duke has had great success there. I just think it's another great game. It's another NCAA game. I think we've had many on our schedule, but again, as a coach, I think about the rebounding, and I think about how physical they are. They are not small. Clemson is small, they're quick, but they're small.
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