Murray State University Athletics
Weekly Press Conference
1/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Monday, Jan. 31
Questions were addressed to head coach Joi Felton.
Opening statement: It was disappointing, these past couple of games. We really felt like we had a very good chance to take both of them, knowing that it's tough to win on the road, and that you have to play defense and rebound, especially on the road, and you can't depend on outside perimeter shots, and that's exactly what we did.
The first game, we got into a big hole at Eastern (Kentucky), and defensively, did not do the things that we knew we needed to do to win that game. And then, at Morehead, we started out pretty good, and then ended up giving up some easy baskets and not really adjusting to their zone defense and really relying too heavily on three-point shots. We didn't shoot any free throws in the first half, and that's indicative of our aggressiveness -- or lack of -- in the first half of that game, so it's disappointing, but we've got to put it behind us.
I think we're still in good shape if we can improve quickly here in the next couple of days before we start this homestand. We've got some very tough teams coming to the RSEC, but I'm excited that we have them at home, and we have another opportunity to get back to where we want to be.
On the biggest challenge against Southeast Missouri State: Well, they've got a kid inside, of course, who is a very talented post player (Tatiana Conceicao), and that's something that we've seen every game, as far as kids on the inside really hurting us. We've just got to step up and defend the paint a lot better; that's easier said than done, and I realize that when I talk to our team about it, but we've just got to find a way, because teams are going to continue to go at us in the paint, and our kids know that.
The guards have to do a better job, and they've been doing a better job rebounding. We challenge them to do that, so if we'll continue to do that and not give up second- and third-chance shots, then I think we could be in great shape. But, Southeast is talented; they've got some kids, a lot of their inside kids are junior-college transfers who are very talented and athletic, so, again, I'm glad we've got them at home the first time out.
On adjusting to a height advantage in gaining rebounds: It's tough. Rebounding, you can talk about technique and teaching different things, but the bottom line with rebounding is being aggressive and going to get the ball. We sometimes do a pretty good job of making contact and blocking out our opponent, but then, we don't go get the ball or chase it down. So, we are going to be out-matched sometimes, but we are not going to use that as an excuse. We've just got to do better and anticipate where shots are coming off. We've been working on that, and if any of you have any rebounding drills that you want to give me, I'll be glad to take those suggestions. Really, it's just repetition, and we're just going to keep at it. We've seen a little bit of improvement, and hopefully, we'll see a little more in the coming games.
On putting Kaleena Miller in the starting lineup at Morehead State: We wanted Jessie (Hirsch) to get a feel for the game coming in. She's been doing a good job. She gives us a lot of hustle plays and things like that, and Kaleena has earned that through the last couple of practices, so we gave her an opportunity to get back in the lineup, and she's been rebounding better and has also been looking to be more of an offensive threat, which we need all of our posts to be.
On the challenges of Eastern Illinois: Well, Eastern, they've got a couple of kids who can really shoot the ball. They've got Pam O'Connor, who's an all-conference player inside, a post player, and again, we're looking at some very talented post players. One kid who returns from last year is Janelle Cazy, who has improved tremendously. We were able to see them play at Iowa State's tournament. They're 6-2, 6-3, and they're going to pose a problem if we don't hunker down and box them out and keep them off the boards. Basically, they've got a pretty good inside-out attack. I think we have a definite speed and quickness advantage, and we need to take advantage of that and hopefully get more points in transition.
On the mood of the team after the two road losses: After that game at Morehead, we had a long talk as a team and talked about doing some soul searching and figuring out exactly where we wanted to go, our kids being honest with themselves about what we need to do. Everybody wants to win, but the bottom line is that you've got to be willing to prepare and do what it takes.
We've got some young kids who aren't used to losing -- and certainly, I'm not, and I'm not going to get used to it. I think our job as coaches is to let them know, and I did let them know after the game Saturday that we've got plenty of games left to improve and get better. We're certainly not giving up, and I don't think they have that attitude, but we've got to be realistic and understand that we can't just talk about it any more; we've got to go do something about it.
I think they feel pretty good. We're just going to keep at it and work hard in practice, and hopefully, it'll pay off this week in these games.
On SEMO getting every OVC Newcomer of the Week but one (MSU's Jessie Hirsch): No, I'm not surprised (that SEMO's newcomers have gelled so well). That's one thing that (SEMO head coach B.J. Smith) has done, is he has a history of recruiting junior-college players and building his program around that. Every coach has a different philosophy about that. He came from the junior college ranks as a coach, and has done a good job of getting those kids to play together by conference time.
Like I said, they're talented. Their kids, junior-college players, have college experience, so they've been there. It's not like high school (graduate) freshmen that are kind of like a deer caught in the headlights. They are talented, and that speaks for itself, especially with Tatiana Conceicao, who has been a huge presence for them inside.
On the need to sweep all five home games: Well, we're going to take one at a time. I'd love to win all five, and that's, of course, our goal, but we've got to worry about one at a time. We can't worry about what's going on (around the conference). We've got to take care of ourselves, and our first order of business is the game on Thursday night. That's important for us to win it, and then when we get that one, we need to think about the next one, but I'm certainly not going to let them think about what could have been or what might be if we win five. We've just got to go one at a time.
