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The University of Utah Athletics
Quotes from Lynne Roberts Weekly Press Conference
11/15/2017 11:59 AM | Women's Basketball
Opening Statement…
"We are excited to be back in Utah. We flew to Alabama on Sunday, practiced there Sunday night and then played on Monday and flew back Monday night. This week, we play at Weber State in Ogden on Friday night, which will be a good test and a good game. We then play Purdue on Monday, Nov. 20, so those are the next couple of games we are looking at and preparing for. We had yesterday off, so we will get back into the gym today and kind of debrief the Alabama game and start preparing for Weber State."
On some of the takeaways from the Alabama game…
"That was a really good game for us. I say 'good game' meaning it was a great learning experience for us. We tried to increase our schedule this year. Last year, we went undefeated in non-conference and then got to Pac-12 play and I don't know if we had prepared our team for how big and physical and good the Pac-12 is, so we have tried to schedule up a little bit this preseason and so that Alabama game was part of that. I loved that we played it and as weird as it sounds, I loved that it was on the road. It was really good for us in that way. I hate losing. Flying home, I watched the game over and over and broke things down and I hated that we lost, but there were a lot of good things that we did. We were ahead at halftime. I thought we controlled the first half and they controlled the second. They are big and they are athletic. That is an NCAA Tournament team. They returned all five starters from a team that won 22 games last year, so that was a good game for us and a good test. We did some good things and then in the second half they kind of took it to us. They were very aggressive and they shot 22 free throws in the second half where we only shot six and none in the fourth quarter. That is good for us because it showed the mentality we need to have to win those games. When you win at home like we did last week against Nevada and we did pretty convincingly, we talked after the game that our attention to detail was not great and here were some things we have to get better at, the players kind of nod because we won and we won pretty well and it was fun. And it was, it was all of those things, but then you lose on the road by four or five that was back and forth, and we had a chance to win it at the end with a shot that didn't fall our way, so now we have their attention a little bit. It's the little things, the devil's in the details when you want to win those big games. But, that game will help us as we get into Pac-12 play because we can reference that for sure."
On how she felt the team responded to its first road game…
"I enjoy playing on the road to be honest with you, especially when you go and fly across the country. I think we had a couple of sets of parents there, but other than that it was all roll tide in that place. I like that adversity because you really have to lock arms and know that it's just you and the people in that locker room. There is something cool about that. I was pleased with our fight. I think our culture is kind of setting in. Last year, I think the roundhouse punch that Alabama threw at us, we would have folded a little bit, but we didn't. We hung in there and fought. The energy on the bench was all very positive and constructive, which is different and that was good and as a coach I looked at it and went 'this is good and this is what we need,' and it worked. We hung in there and had a chance to win it, the ball just didn't bounce our way at the end. I felt like it was a good showing for us against a good SEC team."
On what the team can do to fix the foul problem…
"We have to stick with the principles. I thought we did a good job in the first half. You have to know your personnel and you have to know who you are closing out on. They have the best shooter in the SEC, so you have to close out on her differently than you would close out on an attacker. In the third quarter we lost our focus a little bit and we were closing out too close on attackers and closing out short on shooters. You just have to stay dialed in with knowing personnel. And again, that is why this game was good for us because that is how it will be in the Pac-12 too. I think it is just maintaining focus. I think we have a really good defensive team, we really do. I think Gavin Petersen, who coaches the defense, does a heck of a job. We just have to stay focused. It is hard when you are on the road, you are tired and there are all sorts of things happening with the fans, but that is what good teams do though. You stay locked in to the game plan and who you are guarding."
On Megan Huff and Tori Williams so far this season…
"They are doing a good job, and those are two new players. I think we are still learning the rotation. Like I said, Alabama has all five of their starters back, and we have a lot of new faces. I am still trying to figure out rotations and getting people going and all that, so it is a work in progress. Tori and Huff have been very consistent in practice and in games. They are both shooting the ball really well and I have to do a better job of getting them more looks, especially Huff. She is very efficient. She doesn't take bad shots and she is shooting at a really good percentage. But those are new players right, so we are kind of integrating and learning to play together and I am still learning what groups are best together. Tori as I have said before is a really good freshman. She understands the game and it is hard not to have her on the floor."
On if she is still working on getting a starting five set…
"I don't know. There will probably be adjustments as the season goes. Like I said, I am still figuring this group out too. Practice is one thing, but game play is another. It isn't necessarily about your best five, but you want to have some punch off the bench and making sure you start the game right. There are all sorts of variables that go into, not just who are your best five. We are still working on it, but like I said, I think our best asset as a team is our balance. We have 10 players playing right now and all 10 we need. So I really don't emphasize who is starting and more that we need all 10 players to contribute. To me, it doesn't matter who starts, I know as a player it does, but from my chair it really doesn't. I just want to win games and want all 10 to contribute."
On Weber State…
"They are good. They have two graduate transfers that joined a good team. I think they have eight returning players from last year. They are going to be fired up to play us and that is the risk in scheduling these in-state games. It is good for us to play them because they are a good team. We have to be ready to play. They are going to be very excited, they have only played one game, so they have had a week to prepare for us. We have to prepare and be ready to play and be ready for a fight."
On if playing in-state can feel like a home court advantage…
"I don't know. It doesn't matter if you are playing across the country or down the street, being at home is an advantage, but yes it is nice that we don't have to fly and it is a short bus ride. Like I said, they are going to be really motivated to play us and that is the reality of it. I think the advantage in terms of being home is definitely in their favor."
On looking ahead to the game against Purdue…
"We are trying not to talk about them yet. As a staff, we have certainly started preparing, but we have to take care of Weber State first, I can't emphasize that enough. That is not going to be an easy one, so we have to go one at a time. However, we are excited about that game. It is our next home game on Monday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks. Purdue is really good and I have a lot of respect for them. They made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year, they are very well coached, they have a ton of tradition, they are just a good program. They are very talented. Similar to the Alabama game, it is a great opportunity and it is one that will get us ready for Pac-12 play. We hope to have a great crowd that night. It is our "Star Wars" night. I joked yesterday with Bill Riley on ESPN that I may come with my Princess Leia hair, you never know. We are hoping to have a great crowd and it is going to be a great game. I anticipate it to be a fight, but we have to get through Weber State first, I can't stress that enough."
"We are excited to be back in Utah. We flew to Alabama on Sunday, practiced there Sunday night and then played on Monday and flew back Monday night. This week, we play at Weber State in Ogden on Friday night, which will be a good test and a good game. We then play Purdue on Monday, Nov. 20, so those are the next couple of games we are looking at and preparing for. We had yesterday off, so we will get back into the gym today and kind of debrief the Alabama game and start preparing for Weber State."
On some of the takeaways from the Alabama game…
"That was a really good game for us. I say 'good game' meaning it was a great learning experience for us. We tried to increase our schedule this year. Last year, we went undefeated in non-conference and then got to Pac-12 play and I don't know if we had prepared our team for how big and physical and good the Pac-12 is, so we have tried to schedule up a little bit this preseason and so that Alabama game was part of that. I loved that we played it and as weird as it sounds, I loved that it was on the road. It was really good for us in that way. I hate losing. Flying home, I watched the game over and over and broke things down and I hated that we lost, but there were a lot of good things that we did. We were ahead at halftime. I thought we controlled the first half and they controlled the second. They are big and they are athletic. That is an NCAA Tournament team. They returned all five starters from a team that won 22 games last year, so that was a good game for us and a good test. We did some good things and then in the second half they kind of took it to us. They were very aggressive and they shot 22 free throws in the second half where we only shot six and none in the fourth quarter. That is good for us because it showed the mentality we need to have to win those games. When you win at home like we did last week against Nevada and we did pretty convincingly, we talked after the game that our attention to detail was not great and here were some things we have to get better at, the players kind of nod because we won and we won pretty well and it was fun. And it was, it was all of those things, but then you lose on the road by four or five that was back and forth, and we had a chance to win it at the end with a shot that didn't fall our way, so now we have their attention a little bit. It's the little things, the devil's in the details when you want to win those big games. But, that game will help us as we get into Pac-12 play because we can reference that for sure."
On how she felt the team responded to its first road game…
"I enjoy playing on the road to be honest with you, especially when you go and fly across the country. I think we had a couple of sets of parents there, but other than that it was all roll tide in that place. I like that adversity because you really have to lock arms and know that it's just you and the people in that locker room. There is something cool about that. I was pleased with our fight. I think our culture is kind of setting in. Last year, I think the roundhouse punch that Alabama threw at us, we would have folded a little bit, but we didn't. We hung in there and fought. The energy on the bench was all very positive and constructive, which is different and that was good and as a coach I looked at it and went 'this is good and this is what we need,' and it worked. We hung in there and had a chance to win it, the ball just didn't bounce our way at the end. I felt like it was a good showing for us against a good SEC team."
On what the team can do to fix the foul problem…
"We have to stick with the principles. I thought we did a good job in the first half. You have to know your personnel and you have to know who you are closing out on. They have the best shooter in the SEC, so you have to close out on her differently than you would close out on an attacker. In the third quarter we lost our focus a little bit and we were closing out too close on attackers and closing out short on shooters. You just have to stay dialed in with knowing personnel. And again, that is why this game was good for us because that is how it will be in the Pac-12 too. I think it is just maintaining focus. I think we have a really good defensive team, we really do. I think Gavin Petersen, who coaches the defense, does a heck of a job. We just have to stay focused. It is hard when you are on the road, you are tired and there are all sorts of things happening with the fans, but that is what good teams do though. You stay locked in to the game plan and who you are guarding."
On Megan Huff and Tori Williams so far this season…
"They are doing a good job, and those are two new players. I think we are still learning the rotation. Like I said, Alabama has all five of their starters back, and we have a lot of new faces. I am still trying to figure out rotations and getting people going and all that, so it is a work in progress. Tori and Huff have been very consistent in practice and in games. They are both shooting the ball really well and I have to do a better job of getting them more looks, especially Huff. She is very efficient. She doesn't take bad shots and she is shooting at a really good percentage. But those are new players right, so we are kind of integrating and learning to play together and I am still learning what groups are best together. Tori as I have said before is a really good freshman. She understands the game and it is hard not to have her on the floor."
On if she is still working on getting a starting five set…
"I don't know. There will probably be adjustments as the season goes. Like I said, I am still figuring this group out too. Practice is one thing, but game play is another. It isn't necessarily about your best five, but you want to have some punch off the bench and making sure you start the game right. There are all sorts of variables that go into, not just who are your best five. We are still working on it, but like I said, I think our best asset as a team is our balance. We have 10 players playing right now and all 10 we need. So I really don't emphasize who is starting and more that we need all 10 players to contribute. To me, it doesn't matter who starts, I know as a player it does, but from my chair it really doesn't. I just want to win games and want all 10 to contribute."
On Weber State…
"They are good. They have two graduate transfers that joined a good team. I think they have eight returning players from last year. They are going to be fired up to play us and that is the risk in scheduling these in-state games. It is good for us to play them because they are a good team. We have to be ready to play. They are going to be very excited, they have only played one game, so they have had a week to prepare for us. We have to prepare and be ready to play and be ready for a fight."
On if playing in-state can feel like a home court advantage…
"I don't know. It doesn't matter if you are playing across the country or down the street, being at home is an advantage, but yes it is nice that we don't have to fly and it is a short bus ride. Like I said, they are going to be really motivated to play us and that is the reality of it. I think the advantage in terms of being home is definitely in their favor."
On looking ahead to the game against Purdue…
"We are trying not to talk about them yet. As a staff, we have certainly started preparing, but we have to take care of Weber State first, I can't emphasize that enough. That is not going to be an easy one, so we have to go one at a time. However, we are excited about that game. It is our next home game on Monday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks. Purdue is really good and I have a lot of respect for them. They made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year, they are very well coached, they have a ton of tradition, they are just a good program. They are very talented. Similar to the Alabama game, it is a great opportunity and it is one that will get us ready for Pac-12 play. We hope to have a great crowd that night. It is our "Star Wars" night. I joked yesterday with Bill Riley on ESPN that I may come with my Princess Leia hair, you never know. We are hoping to have a great crowd and it is going to be a great game. I anticipate it to be a fight, but we have to get through Weber State first, I can't stress that enough."
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