March 19, 2007
Head Coach Kim Mulkey
Opening Statement
"We had a great practice today. We understand there is a challenge in front of us in playing NC State. It's a great opportunity for such a young group of players."
On what she remembers playing for Kay Yow on the '84 Olympic team
"I remember she used to always clap and say, 'You know what I mean?' That's what I think of when I think of her encouraging her team. When I think of Kay Yow, she is one coach that every other coach likes. She is as fine a Christian woman as you will ever meet. She is as good as gold. It's a good opportunity for me as a young coach to have the opportunity to coach against her."
On the impact of playing in the '84 Olympics
"As a player the first thing you are trying to do is make the team, and then you are trying to win the gold medal. It's only after years of reflecting that you realize we had quite a group assembled for women's basketball."
On her high school coach coming to watch the second round
"Iwana McGee coached me in my last two years at Hammond High School. We have stayed in contact on and off. She herself is battling cancer. I don't want to say it was a surprise for her to come out and watch, but it kind of was considering her health condition. I asked her, 'Why now?' She said, 'I may not be here next year.' That is about as emotional as you can get. She has influenced a lot of young players in life and in her coaching endeavors, just like Kay Yow."
On how special it is to Coach against Kay Yow again
"It's special because of Coach Yow and her health situation. It's special because it's the NCAA tournament. They aren't the same team they were when we played in Mexico and we aren't the same team either."
On the match-up
"I wouldn't say things are stacked against us. We are hunting them, and that's a different position than we are usually in. They are the higher seed, playing on their home floor with five seniors. There are a lot of things you can prepare for as a coach. You can watch film and tell them how to guard and what offenses to run, and then there are the intangibles. I think NC State has a lot of intangibles."
On the job openings and a timetable for making a decision
"I made a statement at the Big 12 Tournament that it is inappropriate to talk about any job opening while you are still coaching. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Baylor University treats me good. I have everything I need to win a national championship, and we have done that. In this profession, when you are young and you build a program from the bottom up, every job in America that comes open people will throw your name out there. That is a compliment to me personally and a compliment to Baylor University. That's a compliment to all young coaches who continue to aspire in this game. I coach for Baylor, and it's not appropriate to talk about anything else. The players and I laugh about it. My kids are as focused as they can be; we had a great practice today. It's comical to me as a coach, some of the things that are written on the Internet. I'm a country girl, you probably can tell that. With me, what you see is what you get. When and if I ever take another job, you'll get it straight out of my mouth. It's called, 'I'll tell you how the cow eats the cabbage.' And until then, it's not even something that needs to be discussed."
On the buzz surrounding NC State's recent run
"I think its going to be a good game. It's a game you should go and watch. We are quite aware of Coach Yow and her situation. It's a great challenge to play them under the circumstances, but it's also a great opportunity."
On NC State's guard play and rebounding
"They are big on the perimeter. I don't know that we've guarded people that big on the perimeter. They are athletes that run the floor very well and they generate a lot of those points by making runs. We have to make sure we control some of their runs when they are taking it in the open floor. They are very good in the open floor off the dribble. Its two teams that are very similar. The biggest difference is that they have five seniors and we do not."
Jhasmin Player, Sophomore / Guard
On ever facing guards as big as those for NC State University
"I probably haven't ever faced guards as big. That was one thing we worked on today at practice, and Coach did a great job helping us scout them."
On the emotion surround the game against NC State
"It's going to be extremely emotional. We know its going to be that way for both teams because Coach Yow has touched the game in so many ways. At the same time, being the young team that we are, we have to stay poised and stay focused because we don't want to go home."
Bernice Mosby, Senior / Forward
On playing in front of the NC State crowd
"We have played in front of crowds all year long. It's not new to us. I think we need to come in and be focused like we always are and I think we will be all right. Coach Yow is a great woman, and I remember her recruiting me in high school. She has a good heart and its going to be a very emotional night for both teams. We have to stay focused as a team and remember we are playing to move on to the next round."
