University of North Carolina Athletics
Canisius Press Conference Quotes
March 19, 2005 | Women's Basketball
CANISIUS PRESS CONFERENCE
MARCH 19, 2005
Canisius coach Terry Zeh
Opening statement:
Obviously, we're very very excited to be here and to represent Canisius College in the first day of the NCAA women's basketball tournament as well as western New York women's basketball. It's a great opportunity for us to come to an area that is so basketball rich for so many years. You have knowledgeable fans and people who are excited about college basketball. We're really excited about that and the opportunity to play Duke, a tremendous basketball program. When you think about basketball, Duke is definitely a name that comes to mind, so we're excited to have the opportunity to play them as well."
Are the concerns more with Duke's talent or more with the nerves your team may experience?
"They are obviously a very talented team. Any coach, every game, you try to coach it similarly, like we did in our MAAC tournament games. Most competitors before a game, whether it's Duke or Marist, have some kind of butterflies in their stomach, but once that ball is tossed up, that's usually gone pretty quickly. I'm pretty confident with this team that that will be the case as well. They can certainly compliment that. It sinks in that we're here, and we'll be focused on the task at hand as well."
Do you think things are starting to turn your way given the recent Duke player injuries and sickness?
"Well maybe tomorrow they can have three of four but, Duke is Duke. They're pretty good. Those six players are really good. You only put five on the floor at a time. They've had players that have played significant minutes all season long, so I don't think it's a huge concern for them because they've played with a short and shallow bench most of the season. It'd make us happier if they got down to three-that'd be great."
How have the tapes of Duke impressed you so far?
"I think everybody knows statistically where they lie, obviously their record and where they are in their defensive field goal percentage and things of that nature. It reminded me of a conversation I had with my head coach at my Division III school in 1993 when we talked about the average margin of victory. There are these teams who have average margin of victories in double-digits. How often in college basketball does that ever happen where you're winning by ten points or more. This team has an average margin of victory of 22 points."
Junior Guard Becky Zak
On the excitement of being in the tournament:
"Just like our coach said, we are all very very excited and it is starting to sink in a little more now that we are actually here and walking into the gym. I'm just really living in the moment right now playing Duke, which coach said was a great team. I'm really excited to be here and thankful for all the support that travels with us, the travel party and especially the fans and parents that come with us."
Is it starting to sink in being in the tournament now?
"I think as soon as we walked in and saw the gym floor, that so many of us have seen on TV so many times and never actually thought that we'd actually get a chance to play on that court. Walking in and seeing Michael Jordan and his whole team and that kind of thing, it is starting to sink in. It is very exciting for us so, as soon as we start practicing I think we'll get a little more comfortable with it, but it is sinking in a little."
Junior Guard Jessie Lamparski
On the excitement of being in the tournament:
"I'm just as excited to be here and can't wait to get on the court to practice and get the little shakes out of the way for the first time."
On nerves she may experience from the game:
"I'm pretty sure once the ball is tossed up, all the shakes will be out and we're going to play a basketball game like we've played a million times this year. We're going to get the job done, work hard, and I think we're ready."
