March 27, 2011

Texas A&M – 79 didn't have her normal percentage that she Georgia – 38 normally has. But the kids knew we had to go in the game and have balanced scoring and that's An Interview With: what we did. But the key to the game was the defense in the first half. The 3-point plays were icing on the TEXAS A&M cake. My bench, 7 out of 11 for Pratcher, Baker, COACH Gilbert, and Bellock. All four of those kids played extremely well. I was able to rest kids and not risk Carter and Colson to get their third foul. I was even able to rest Danielle a little in the first half just because we trust our bench and they did a great job.

Questions?

THE MODERATOR: Questions for the

student-athletes. THE MODERATOR: We're now joined by

Coach Gary Blair of the Texas Aggies, Sydney Q. Sydney, what was the key to the fast Colson, Tyra White and Danielle Adams. Coach, start, and particularly you on the offensive end, comments on tonight's win. and how huge was that? COACH BLAIR: We had no idea we could SYDNEY COLSON: Just looking at the shoot the ball that well from the 3 to start the way that they ran their zone in film, we just saw a game. But this player over here has struggled a lot of things that would work. Coach Blair and little from the 3 the latter part of the year and all of Coach Bond were telling us plays that would be a sudden she hit those 3 bombs. effective if we were to dribble one way, reverse the She's very good when the ball is reversed ball and skip it to the other side. to her. And when she feels it, you just get out of They had a girl in their I formation, the the way, let her do her thing, don't try to over bottom one was chasing back and forth, so we coach. And then Pratcher came in for her and did knew if we skipped it then the person would be an outstanding job for us as well. open for a shot or our post player would be pinning So great point guard play. We only had if they try to run out at you. So really we just two turnovers in the first half, ended with nine. You executed what they told us to on offense. win ball games that way. Our shots were falling. People were I'd like to give so much credit to our offensive rebounding and getting shots back up, defense, because normally we're forcing teams 20 and we got a few layups off of them still. It always turnovers a ballgame. But I think our kids learn helps us whenever we're able to get some stops you can make stops. You don't have to have and get out and run a little bit. charges. You don't have to have blocked shots. But I'm really pleased with the way we You don't have to have steals. You can just play executed on offense, and hopefully we can that Aggie defense, and I think that was the key continue to do that. tonight.

Coach Schaefer had them hooked up. I Q. Danielle and Sydney, Coach Blair guarantee you, I've got to go check his blood worked all week to make sure you all weren't pressure. I'm a diabetic, but I guarantee you his looking past Georgia. Could you talk about blood pressure was up. He was excited. proving that you were clearly focused on this And the kids played defense with a game? passion that he coaches it with. And I think it's just a credit to these kids right here. I know Danielle

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visit our archives at asapsports.com conference quotes.doc DANIELLE ADAMS: It was just our focus since the last Elite Eight run, kind of fallen in practice. Coach Blair and everybody, all the short as a 2 seed the last couple of years, what coaching staff made that point, just to focus on does it mean to take care of the business to get Georgia and not look towards the next game. to the winner of the game that's going on right But we just executed out there tonight. now? Our defense was great. Colson hit some great TYRA WHITE: I think it's a real big shots. Tyra hit some great shots. We were all accomplishment for us. My freshman year I wasn't hooked up, like Coach Blair said, and we just able to play in the Elite Eight. Just to get back played together and as a team. there, be with my team, and then basically have an SYDNEY COLSON: I think just respecting inside presence. When we got back there last them and what they do. We saw a lot of their film. time, I think the only thing that really stopped us We knew a lot of their players. They're very was having an inside presence like we have in athletic and capable of going off. So we wanted to Danielle. come out and give them their due respect for sure But I think the only thing really stopping us because they're a really good team. now is ourselves. We're executing more, running And we just came out. People guarded the floor. Our defense was tremendous today. So people well. They didn't have anybody in double- I think if we go in with the game set, the sky's the digit scoring. limit for us. I'm really proud of the effort we gave on SYDNEY COLSON: I concur defense today, and I think that spurred our offense, wholeheartedly. for sure. Q. Tyra, is this the most complete Q. Danielle, we were talking to Coach game as a team that you guys have played this Landers. I asked him A&M's three blowout year? And what do you do now going forward victories in the tournament should put the to Tuesday? Aggies into the championship conversation. TYRA WHITE: Yeah, I think it's the most And his answer essentially was yes, if they complete game on the defensive end. I think we bring their A game every day, he says you guys kind of struggled on offense. But that was the key have a shot at it. Your comment? coming into this game was defense, because they DANIELLE ADAMS: I appreciate the play just like us. comment. Pretty sure the whole team does. But So, I mean, just going into the next game that's a great comment. I mean, we just have to we just want to watch film, study some more, do keep our focus and just keep coming out every what we did coming in for today's game, and just game. And each practice is executing and just execute on both ends just like we did today. When getting better each practice and each game, and you keep a team scoring 38 points, I think it leaves just doing the little things right and just being ready everybody happy at the end of the day. and just coming out and playing A&M . Q. Tyra, let's get back to starting those Q. Danielle, can you talk about making 3s. You hit the first one and actually got a it to the Elite Eight and what kind of lucky bounce. Could you talk about was it hard accomplishment that is for you and the team? to get the ball into Adams? When you took that DANIELLE ADAMS: It's great. I mean, 3, did you think it was in without the bounce? I've never been to an Elite Eight. This is my first TYRA WHITE: Yes (laughter). It wasn't one, and I'm pretty sure these girls are happy to lucky. Shooters -- it's never hard getting into, you get back to the Elite Eight. So it's all a dream just want to get her when she wants the ball, that come true to us. We just have to keep our focus way it makes it easier for her and makes it easier and just keep pushing towards the next game and for us getting it into the inside. But it's never hard just focus on each team. because she's pretty there. When we see her, And, I mean, we just gotta do what we do both shoulders, we get it to her; if we don't, we kind best and just play that aggressive defense that we of get yelled at. So we just pretty much want to played tonight and just keep executing each game. give it to her. SYDNEY COLSON: That shot was going Q. This is for Tyra and Sydney that have been here since the -- all four years, so

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visit our archives at asapsports.com conference quotes.doc in anyway. Q. Can you compare this team to the THE MODERATOR: Thank you, ladies. 2008 Elite Eight team? Questions for Coach. COACH BLAIR: We're getting better and better defensively. As you can tell by our stats in Q. From the time the brackets were the NCAA Tournament, the team in '08 was a announced and all the anticipation to make it to defensive team first, a transition team, but we had the regional final, how much of a relief do you no inside game. feel right now? We had Micheaux and Reado, and we COACH BLAIR: A lot of relief, because would have to the ball from Reado to go instead of griping about being in this region, we down, and she was the best we ever had at embraced it. And obviously you'd like to be away denying the high post. And Micheaux was from Baylor in one way, but -- because I think we probably the best defensive 5 that we've ever had. have two teams that could represent the Big 12 in But we were not scoring there, so we went out and the Final Four. I think we're both that good. But at got offense. That's the difference, we are a whole the same time, we embrace coming here because lot better offensive team. of how much travel and a chance to build up Aggie But we just held a very good team to 38 Nation, and that is just something that we have to points. I mean, we were hoping -- we said the first do. team to get to 60 would win. We almost got there And a lot of coaches, they get in the same in the first half. bracket or they have to find -- they find something wrong with the committee, and I think it rubbed off Q. The question I asked earlier to on our team. When they saw that I was happy, Danielle, the Georgia coach was they were happy. acknowledging that A&M should be in the And I know our fans were happy about championship conversation now because coming here, because if -- if we play Baylor, we based on the way you've played in your first need to pack this lower bowl and everything like three tournament games, and just to get your that. comment on that? And I know they'll have a sell-out at COACH BLAIR: I think we've been in that Spokane. They might have one in Dayton and conversation the whole year. The top six teams in Philadelphia, and I think it's good for basketball the country have not changed: Duke, Connecticut, now because you've got the top teams there. And us, Stanford, Tennessee. Are we all still in it right I just want to play in Dallas, represent ourselves, now? Nothing's changed. Everybody has held bring these four kids back home. I think it's very serve. special they get a chance to play in front of their Now, there's two of us. Duke has got to high school friends and coaches and relatives. play Connecticut. And we have to play Baylor. They're the top six teams. But don't rule out little Q. Not going to be one of the big story Gonzaga. They've got the motion, they've got the lines, but what did Pratcher give you coming home crowd, they'll play in front of a sell-out up off the bench, Coach? there. I think it's good. I hope Gonzaga wins. I COACH BLAIR: Huge. Colson got her think it would be great for the game. But, more second foul like she normally did. First one was a importantly, I hope A&M wins; it'll be greater for my reach and the second was coming over the back. game. I don't blow up anymore. I just expect it. Let me say something that nobody's asked It's coming. But now we've got an alternative. I me: Danielle's defense on Phillips. She had four could have played her to her third foul, but points at half. She ends up with seven. But Pratcher came in. From the moment she came in, nobody ever looks. They just look at how many she broke their press, made the right pass, then hit points she scores or how many charges she takes. a couple of big outside shots, particularly the one She's a very, very underrated defensive player. that Maryann Baker -- shot clock when she threw it That was the key to the game. They had a across and Pratcher just put it up. That was a balanced scoring effect all year long. But when tough shot. And the kid has no fear. She doesn't you take Phillips out and make it hard on her, and speak a whole lot. But she knows how to play. it's a little bit harder because we put so much

3-27 Georgia Postgame press 3

visit our archives at asapsports.com conference quotes.doc pressure on their perimeter players that they didn't The intensity that we play the game with handle the rock as well as I'm sure Andy would just comes to practice. We never let up. We never have liked, and they didn't have the creativity that let up. And that's the way Coach Landers coaches he's had in the past with the Saudia Roundtrees as well. He never lets up. Okay. And the only and all those kids that have played for them. thing I can beat Landers on for sure anytime is the But Georgia's a young team. They're golf course. But he's beaten me so many times, going to be right back. I've still got a long way to he's got half of his cattle named after me. He's got go before I'll ever get to be 500 with that guy, a bunch of cattle out there; he names them after because that guy's very special and he's a great me. Names some of them after his great players, coach. too. I mean, what a tribute. While I'm thinking of it, I know I need to get Q. You talked so much this week about out of here, but just hold on. I just appreciate focusing on Georgia, playing the song and coming back to Dallas. When you see a Richard everything. When you all jumped out to such a Justice there who used to be at the Dallas Times large lead, did you realize you had really gotten Herald. He was my second beat writer. Jim Dent through to your team? was my first beat writer. John Eisenberg from the COACH BLAIR: I kept looking up at Baltimore Sun was probably my third beat writer. halftime, and I was telling the little NCAA lady, I David Holland, who used to be Dallas Morning can't believe it. I was telling the officials, I don't News, was in there somewhere being interviewed know what happened. I've never had an NCAA in '77 after we won state, South Oak Cliff, the men game like this against this quality of a team. and the women, by Frank Luksa. And we kept saying we have to have that Richard, you're something, but back then last basket. We were coaching as hard to get that Frank Luksa was everything. He was the Jim last basket before half as we were when we got the Murray back here. lead. I mean, I appreciate the job that you all do. Because you never underestimate people Okay? The printed word is the most important what they can do on comebacks. And I think it just thing that we have right now. We got all those got to a point we never had to -- Andy was so far fancy cameras back there, and we got all these behind, he just didn't go into a pressing type of machines there. But there's nothing better than in ballgame, which I think that's to our advantage the morning picking up a newspaper and reading because of Colson. your stories. And, please, keep changing my quotes where I sound like I graduated in four years Q. Even in the second half when you all instead of six. were up by 30, the defense didn't seem to let I appreciate you all. Thank you. up at all. Can you talk about just what that FastScripts by ASAP Sports means for Coach Schaefer and his intensity throughout the game? COACH BLAIR: You mean Coach Schaefer was intense (laughter)? I'm glad the officials let him coach. We've got a unique situation. There are not too many head coaches that will share the spotlight. If we win this thing, I hope you're all smart enough to ask for Coach Schaefer to come up here and sit up here with me, and I hope there's a few ADs out there that are smart enough to hire the right person, not just the person, because he's been that good for 14 years. He keeps getting better and better. And there's more and more teams that keep firing coaches that keep getting worse and worse. Sometimes you need to give these top assistants in the game their opportunity. I've got a bunch on my staff that are ready right now, so does the Big 12. They've got a number of them.

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