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The University of Utah Athletics
Quotes from Lynne Roberts Weekly Press Conference
11/29/2017 11:26 AM | Women's Basketball
Opening Statement…
"We were just discussing Thanksgiving. It was a good week and we had much to be thankful for. We had a good Thanksgiving with the team and then we all got to go our separate ways and do Thanksgiving with friends and family. As I shared, I ate both meals and so I had a great Thanksgiving in that regard. We had a game on Friday against the University of Incarnate Word. We got a good, convincing win. Everyone got to play and got up and down the court, so it was a good game to get in after Thanksgiving coming off a big win against Purdue. We played UT Arlington on Monday night and got another good solid win. I think they are a good team, but we had a really solid night defensively. We are sitting at 5-1 and will play a really good Saint Mary's team at home on Saturday. It will be a double-header with the men. They are very good and will be a good test for us. We kind of do a West Coast Conference tour here in the state with Saint Mary's on Saturday and then Pepperdine at home and then we will play at BYU the following Saturday. That is kind of the next couple of weeks for us."
On getting to be at home for five straight games…
"There is nothing better than playing at home. It is nice and is good for our players. They get to go to class and sleep in their own beds. As coaches, it is easier to prepare at home. We can keep up with recruiting and all of that kind of stuff, so as a program there are obviously benefits to playing at home. For me, I didn't know we were in the middle of a five-game home stand. I go one at a time, and next we have Saint Mary's at home and that is where 100-percent of my focus is. I'm not going to lie, I like playing at home and there are benefits to it, but I didn't pay attention to that stat."
On less personal fouls and the stronger defensive performance in the last few weeks…
"I think it is a couple of things. Gavin Petersen does our defense and he does a really good job of keeping it really simple even though a lot of the stuff we are doing wouldn't be considered simple. He is a good teacher and the players understand what we are trying to do. Scheme-wise and coaching-wise I think we do a good job getting our players dialed in to who we are playing without having to spend six hours in the film room. We keep it pretty concise and so the players know what to focus on. And then secondly, the players have made the impact. I haven't made a defensive stop all year or gotten a rebound. It is the players. So, we have depth and size and athleticism. It is a luxury defensively to have size. To have Emily Potter, who just tied the school record in blocks, and then we have players like Megan Huff and Maurane Corbin, we have that length and size that really plays a difference defensively. You can do some things on the perimeter gambling because you know you have a 6-6 or 6-5 behind you backing you up."
On how the offense has progressed and what they need to get better at…
"I think we are much improved offensively from last year. Just statistically alone if you have never watched a game, our numbers are better. Shooting percentage is better, we are shooting the three much better, our assist to turnover ratio is better and we are just being much more efficient, but it is a work in progress. We certainly aren't Pac-12 ready and we are still in November form, so much to improve on. I think the fact that we have balance, legitimate post play, great guard play, we have kids that can shoot it and if you have those three things, then you are tough to stop. I thought against UTA, offensively we weren't very good. We were just kind of sputtering. We were doing so well defensively that we would get out and run and try to force things, and we just weren't executing to the level that I expect, but we still scored 71 points. I think that said, we are scoring the ball pretty well even when we aren't executing at the level that we need to be successful in the Pac-12, which is a good sign."
On where the issue from the three-point line against UTA came from…
"It was a team effort, but that was the first time all year that we haven't shot the ball well from the three. I don't mean that we have been hitting 15 threes a game and have been incredible, I mean that we have consistently shot the ball well around 37 to 40-percent every game, which was good until that game where we went 2-for-18. Everybody played a hand in that percentage, but that will happen. There will be games that you don't shoot well and that is why you have to rely on your defense and grind things out. We had 52 points in the paint against UTA, so that as a coach is a good sign. We didn't have to shoot for percentage from the three and we still scored because our defense was enabling us to get out and go. That is why there is so much emphasis on getting stops and being a good defensive team first. You can still be up tempo on offense, but there are just going to be nights where you don't shoot well and that was one of them, but that has not been the case all year, just one game."
On if aggressiveness in the paint gives the team a spark…
"It is the highest percentage shot, and I want to take high percentage shots. We have really good players that can score in the paint. We want our offense to be inside-out. Start on the inside, and when they take that away, you have to be able to knock down shots. If is an inside-out three meaning through penetration or pass inside to the post and they kick it out and you are open, shoot it. Don't think about it, let it fly. But when we dribble down, hit the wing and shoot it, maybe we can do something better. So, it takes time for players to understand good shot, great shot, bad shot but I think we are leaps and bounds ahead of where we were last year with that understanding. I do want our players to have some freedom to play and not worry, but we have to educate them on what that looks like. So the short answer to the question is yes, we need to score in the paint to be successful and that will be our go-to, but teams are going to shut that down to you have to be able to go outside."
On Tanaeya BoClair coming off the bench…
"I think it has been great. Her numbers statistically coming off the bench versus starting are night and day in terms of effectiveness. I don't know if you can put a value on having a three-year starter coming off the bench and anchoring that second group. She has played a lot of minutes in a Utah uniform and she has a ton of experience. I have a tremendous amount of trust in her and she always knows what we should be doing. That is really a luxury to have experience like that coming off the bench. To her credit, she has bought into that and has done a heck of a job."
On who is standing out on the team so far outside of Megan Huff…
"I think a lot have. The first person that comes to my mind is Daneesha Provo. Before our last game she was our second leading scorer, now she is our third leading scorer. She is averaging 12.5 points a game, she is shooting 54-percent from the three and 61-percent from the field, that is really good and it is hard to do much better than that from the three spot. Defensively she is just everywhere and has done a really good job. I think Erika Bean has improved. Statistically you might not notice it, but her approach, demeanor, mentality, competitiveness, leadership, all of those things that don't show up in a stat sheet have really improved. She is probably the one that I get on the most, because as your point guard she is the one that you need to, but she has answered the ball. This season, her assist to turnover ratio is ridiculous. She is doing a really good job. I think everyone has improved, and I'm not just saying that. Everybody has gotten better."
On what she thinks the team needs to work on before Pac-12 play starts…
"A lot. That is a good question. I think everything. We just need to keep getting better. Offensively we are a work in progress, but getting better. We have to continue to value the ball and not turn it over or take bad shots. When we are really locked in and thinking about those things, we are pretty dang good offensively. I thought against UTA we got a little sloppy and our execution wasn't clean, and it showed. We have to eliminate those kinds of mistakes. If defensively someone forces a turnover on you, that is good on them, but if you do the same mistake two or three times in a row, that is just not smart basketball. So it is things like that that you can't do in a Pac-12 game when it is a two-point game. I am always going to emphasize rebounding. Even if we out-rebound someone by 15, we should have out-rebounded them by 20. Honestly though I think we are in a good spot. We just have to keep getting better every day just a little bit at a time."
On Saint Mary's…
"They are big. I was in that conference for years so I know that team and I know the staff pretty well. They are very well coached and they do a good job. It is going to be a test rebounding wise, they rebound hard. They are big, physical, strong and relentless, so we are going to get tested there. That is going to be a key to winning. They have really good post play and it is going to be a physical game on Saturday, I can promise you that. They aren't going to back down and we aren't going to back down, so it will be physical. It will be big girl basketball in that sense. We will have to answer the bell in terms of being physical and rebounding and that kind of thing."
"We were just discussing Thanksgiving. It was a good week and we had much to be thankful for. We had a good Thanksgiving with the team and then we all got to go our separate ways and do Thanksgiving with friends and family. As I shared, I ate both meals and so I had a great Thanksgiving in that regard. We had a game on Friday against the University of Incarnate Word. We got a good, convincing win. Everyone got to play and got up and down the court, so it was a good game to get in after Thanksgiving coming off a big win against Purdue. We played UT Arlington on Monday night and got another good solid win. I think they are a good team, but we had a really solid night defensively. We are sitting at 5-1 and will play a really good Saint Mary's team at home on Saturday. It will be a double-header with the men. They are very good and will be a good test for us. We kind of do a West Coast Conference tour here in the state with Saint Mary's on Saturday and then Pepperdine at home and then we will play at BYU the following Saturday. That is kind of the next couple of weeks for us."
On getting to be at home for five straight games…
"There is nothing better than playing at home. It is nice and is good for our players. They get to go to class and sleep in their own beds. As coaches, it is easier to prepare at home. We can keep up with recruiting and all of that kind of stuff, so as a program there are obviously benefits to playing at home. For me, I didn't know we were in the middle of a five-game home stand. I go one at a time, and next we have Saint Mary's at home and that is where 100-percent of my focus is. I'm not going to lie, I like playing at home and there are benefits to it, but I didn't pay attention to that stat."
On less personal fouls and the stronger defensive performance in the last few weeks…
"I think it is a couple of things. Gavin Petersen does our defense and he does a really good job of keeping it really simple even though a lot of the stuff we are doing wouldn't be considered simple. He is a good teacher and the players understand what we are trying to do. Scheme-wise and coaching-wise I think we do a good job getting our players dialed in to who we are playing without having to spend six hours in the film room. We keep it pretty concise and so the players know what to focus on. And then secondly, the players have made the impact. I haven't made a defensive stop all year or gotten a rebound. It is the players. So, we have depth and size and athleticism. It is a luxury defensively to have size. To have Emily Potter, who just tied the school record in blocks, and then we have players like Megan Huff and Maurane Corbin, we have that length and size that really plays a difference defensively. You can do some things on the perimeter gambling because you know you have a 6-6 or 6-5 behind you backing you up."
On how the offense has progressed and what they need to get better at…
"I think we are much improved offensively from last year. Just statistically alone if you have never watched a game, our numbers are better. Shooting percentage is better, we are shooting the three much better, our assist to turnover ratio is better and we are just being much more efficient, but it is a work in progress. We certainly aren't Pac-12 ready and we are still in November form, so much to improve on. I think the fact that we have balance, legitimate post play, great guard play, we have kids that can shoot it and if you have those three things, then you are tough to stop. I thought against UTA, offensively we weren't very good. We were just kind of sputtering. We were doing so well defensively that we would get out and run and try to force things, and we just weren't executing to the level that I expect, but we still scored 71 points. I think that said, we are scoring the ball pretty well even when we aren't executing at the level that we need to be successful in the Pac-12, which is a good sign."
On where the issue from the three-point line against UTA came from…
"It was a team effort, but that was the first time all year that we haven't shot the ball well from the three. I don't mean that we have been hitting 15 threes a game and have been incredible, I mean that we have consistently shot the ball well around 37 to 40-percent every game, which was good until that game where we went 2-for-18. Everybody played a hand in that percentage, but that will happen. There will be games that you don't shoot well and that is why you have to rely on your defense and grind things out. We had 52 points in the paint against UTA, so that as a coach is a good sign. We didn't have to shoot for percentage from the three and we still scored because our defense was enabling us to get out and go. That is why there is so much emphasis on getting stops and being a good defensive team first. You can still be up tempo on offense, but there are just going to be nights where you don't shoot well and that was one of them, but that has not been the case all year, just one game."
On if aggressiveness in the paint gives the team a spark…
"It is the highest percentage shot, and I want to take high percentage shots. We have really good players that can score in the paint. We want our offense to be inside-out. Start on the inside, and when they take that away, you have to be able to knock down shots. If is an inside-out three meaning through penetration or pass inside to the post and they kick it out and you are open, shoot it. Don't think about it, let it fly. But when we dribble down, hit the wing and shoot it, maybe we can do something better. So, it takes time for players to understand good shot, great shot, bad shot but I think we are leaps and bounds ahead of where we were last year with that understanding. I do want our players to have some freedom to play and not worry, but we have to educate them on what that looks like. So the short answer to the question is yes, we need to score in the paint to be successful and that will be our go-to, but teams are going to shut that down to you have to be able to go outside."
On Tanaeya BoClair coming off the bench…
"I think it has been great. Her numbers statistically coming off the bench versus starting are night and day in terms of effectiveness. I don't know if you can put a value on having a three-year starter coming off the bench and anchoring that second group. She has played a lot of minutes in a Utah uniform and she has a ton of experience. I have a tremendous amount of trust in her and she always knows what we should be doing. That is really a luxury to have experience like that coming off the bench. To her credit, she has bought into that and has done a heck of a job."
On who is standing out on the team so far outside of Megan Huff…
"I think a lot have. The first person that comes to my mind is Daneesha Provo. Before our last game she was our second leading scorer, now she is our third leading scorer. She is averaging 12.5 points a game, she is shooting 54-percent from the three and 61-percent from the field, that is really good and it is hard to do much better than that from the three spot. Defensively she is just everywhere and has done a really good job. I think Erika Bean has improved. Statistically you might not notice it, but her approach, demeanor, mentality, competitiveness, leadership, all of those things that don't show up in a stat sheet have really improved. She is probably the one that I get on the most, because as your point guard she is the one that you need to, but she has answered the ball. This season, her assist to turnover ratio is ridiculous. She is doing a really good job. I think everyone has improved, and I'm not just saying that. Everybody has gotten better."
On what she thinks the team needs to work on before Pac-12 play starts…
"A lot. That is a good question. I think everything. We just need to keep getting better. Offensively we are a work in progress, but getting better. We have to continue to value the ball and not turn it over or take bad shots. When we are really locked in and thinking about those things, we are pretty dang good offensively. I thought against UTA we got a little sloppy and our execution wasn't clean, and it showed. We have to eliminate those kinds of mistakes. If defensively someone forces a turnover on you, that is good on them, but if you do the same mistake two or three times in a row, that is just not smart basketball. So it is things like that that you can't do in a Pac-12 game when it is a two-point game. I am always going to emphasize rebounding. Even if we out-rebound someone by 15, we should have out-rebounded them by 20. Honestly though I think we are in a good spot. We just have to keep getting better every day just a little bit at a time."
On Saint Mary's…
"They are big. I was in that conference for years so I know that team and I know the staff pretty well. They are very well coached and they do a good job. It is going to be a test rebounding wise, they rebound hard. They are big, physical, strong and relentless, so we are going to get tested there. That is going to be a key to winning. They have really good post play and it is going to be a physical game on Saturday, I can promise you that. They aren't going to back down and we aren't going to back down, so it will be physical. It will be big girl basketball in that sense. We will have to answer the bell in terms of being physical and rebounding and that kind of thing."
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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