Completed Event: Women's Basketball at Eastern Kentucky on March 19, 2026 , Loss , 58, to, 72
Final Score
Women's Basketball
58
at Eastern Kentucky
72
The University of Utah Athletics
Quotes from Lynne Roberts' Press Conference
11/11/2015 12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 11, 2015
Utah women's basketball head coach Lynne Roberts held her first press conference of the season. Watch it on the Utah Athletics YouTube channel or read the transcription below.
Press conference w/ @UtesCoachRob talking South Dakota & "focusing on the process". FRI.5:https://t.co/3SoXJIftu6. pic.twitter.com/Jgp9gCZxye
- Utah Women's Hoops (@utahwbasketball) November 10, 2015
Opening statement:
"We're coming off a good week of practice after our first exhibition game against Fort Lewis. It was a classic exhibition game in that there were moments where we looked good and moments where it looked like we hadn't practiced much. Every program I've even been a part of, that's what exhibitions are. It was good to get though the nerves and we were up 16-18 points and then [Fort Lewis] cut it close and we had to figure out a way to win, which is good practice. Like I told the team before and after the game, we're 0-0. This is glorified practice. It was a good experience for our players. We won. We saw some good things and some things we have to work on. We've had a good week and now on Friday we play a very good South Dakota team. They're a postseason-experienced team. They're very well-coached. They are very disciplined and play with good fundamentals. They're a very good team so we have our hands full, but we're ready to play. We're all tired of practicing against ourselves and talking about ourselves so it's nice to have a scouting report and prepare for someone else. We're looking forward to it."
On South Dakota:
"We've watched quite a bit of film as a staff, we'll start going over it with our team today, but they're just very disciplined, offensively and defensively. They don't beat themselves. Defensively, after watching film, they're extremely fundamental. They don't make silly fouls or lunge, or reach, they just play very solid defense, which can give teams trouble, especially this early in the season. Offensively, they're balanced. They have great point guard play, they have good wings, good posts. Any time a team is balanced like that, they're tough to beat."
On 'coaching the process':
"I talk a lot about that. It just means that with a new coaching staff and new players, while they're getting used to us and we're learning about them in terms of how we can make them better and put them in better situations, it means that you have to understand that there are going to be bumps in the road. Change is difficult no matter what the context and there is adjustment that is necessary when there is change. Everyone has to roll with it. That's what I mean when I talk about 'coaching the process,' there is a process within this season and then there is the process over the next few years, in terms of recruiting and culture change. It's a process. I have done this long enough to know that there is no quick solution. There is no quick fix. There is no miracle button that you can push and suddenly you're a championship team. It takes time, patience and just a lot of hard work. As a coach when you're coaching your players, you just have to remind them of that and not get too high and not get too low and just continue to grind.
"I'm happy with where we are now in the process. I'm very proud of the team and how they have bought in. Like I said, change is hard for everyone. They didn't sign thinking they were going to play for us so that buy-in takes time, but they have jumped in with two feet. That makes it a lot easier to teach, coach and lead, when you're not having to pull people along. They're with us. I'm pleased with where they're at, but we have a long way to go, but I think we're competitive. We're playing a very good South Dakota team on Friday, but I know we're competitive. We're going to do just fine throughout the season because I know we're going to compete. These guys are going to compete through the ups and the downs. I told them at the beginning of the year that if we can stay healthy and stay committed to each other and the process, we're going to do just fine. We'll reach our potential. Right now, they're on board with that."
On first-game memories throughout her basketball career:
"There isn't one that stands out, but I do think that as college basketball player myself, there was just something fun about that first weekend when it counts. That doesn't change as a coach. It's not as fun as when you're a player, but coaching is the next best thing. There's an excitement where you can say 'Hey, the season is finally here.' I remember vividly as a player counting down the days in the kitchen. We had a pull-off calendar where would count off '17, 18, 16.' As a coach, you get that excitement, too. It's finally the season. You've put in so much work and have talked about it and let's finally get going."
On women's college basketball switching to quarters:
"I like the change. Theoretically, the idea is that it speeds up the game. Really up until this year, men's and women's college basketball was the only basketball in the world that didn't play in quarters, whether it's high school, pro or international. Everyone does quarters. For some reason, in college we did halves. We're all used to that, so again there will be an adjustment period. The knock on the women's game is that it needs to be a faster experience. Quarters will do that. It limits the media timeouts, which I like. There aren't as many, like the first called coach timeout of the quarter becomes that quarter's media timeout, which I like. There is no more 1-and-1 [single-bonus free throw situations], it goes to just double bonus after five fouls. A lot of times with a 20-minute half with 12 minutes to go, you're in the bonus and then the half just drags on. With this, it's a chance to restart the fouls and then you're not shooting as many free throws theoretically.
"There's also the advancing of the ball rule, like the NBA. With a minute left in the game and you get a rebound, you can call timeout and that will advance it to in front of your bench. Again, [the new rules] are trying to generate a little more excitement in end-of-game situations. I like that. As a coach, it's great."
On her expectations for this team:
"I'm not trying to sound cliché, but my expectation is that we stay committed to the process. We have to stick together. Again, that's a cliché overused in sports, but it's overused because it's really true. We have to handle adversity, whether there is an injury or a tough loss, we just have to keep picking up pennies, as the saying goes. If you pick up pennies day after day, it adds up to a lot. We just have to keep doing that. Those are my expectations. I want these guys to have fun playing. I want them to enjoy the experience of being a Utah. This is a great place. It's a great time to be a Ute. We won't put too much pressure on outcome and that comes from me. But understand, every time we step on the floor, we want to win. Winning is fun. Losing stinks. If we happen to lose, we have to keep on moving, picking up pennies and going after it."
On implementing her style of play:
"You'll see a much faster team this year. We still need to recruit to the system more. The Pac-12 for women's basketball is full of skilled athletes. We have some skilled players and we have some athletes, but we need to continue recruiting skilled athletes with some size. It will take time to really get the whole philosophy of my system in place, two or three recruiting classes, but we have some athletes and some skilled players so we're going to get out and run. There's been a tremendous emphasis put on conditioning. The team will tell you that they're being pushed physically more than they have been. Every kid will tell you they want to play up-tempo, but to do it, you have to be in great shape. We're getting in great shape. We're not quite there yet, but we'll get there. You'll see a much more up-tempo team, but we also have to play to our strengths and not run ourselves out of games if we're not able to do it."
On Emily Potter:
"She is a stud. It's a big deal to be out for at least a year and not play competitive basketball. She was in the gym shooting and rehabbing, but to not be in a game, is a big deal. As the year goes, the feel will come back and her comfort and confidence level will continue to improve. Her game will continue to take off. She's 6'6", left-handed, skilled and athletic. Those are pretty good attributes for a basketball player. We're still working on her overall strength, but her fitness level is fantastic right now. She's in the best shape of her life. If we're going to reach our potential this year, she's going to have to have a great year. She's part of that."
Coach Roberts' Press Conference Schedule10 a.m. MT on the following dates ...Thur., Nov. 19 Tue., Dec. 1 Tue., Dec. 8 Tue., Dec. 15 Tue., Jan. 12Tue., Jan. 19Tue., Jan. 26Tue., Feb. 2 Tue., Feb. 9 Tue., Feb. 16 Tue., Feb. 23 Tue., Mar. 1
All press conferences held in the Eccles Center Media Room.
Players Mentioned
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