University of North Carolina Athletics
Michigan State Quotes
March 22, 2014 | Women's Basketball
2014 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship
Carmichael Arena • Chapel Hill, N.C.
Saturday, March 22
MICHIGAN STATE PRESS CONFERENCE
Suzy Merchant, Michigan State Head Coach:
On how Hampton compares to other teams they have played
"Well, I think they [Hampton University] have some similarities and some threads that they do as a whole that we've played against. I think the Big Ten Conference has a lot of really good rebounding teams, a lot of good transition offense teams, and a lot of good kids that can get their own shot and don't need a screen or a play to get it done. I think it's hard to say there's one specific team. I think every team we play has some of those players on it. So we've played against really good transition offense teams, teams that crash the boards, and teams that can get their own shots. I think it's hard for them, and hard for me to say this is exactly like this team because we've played a mesh of that throughout our season."
On the difference in play after Kiana Johnson's suspension
"I think the one thing is that we have a lot of different people that handle the ball in our break. So it was an easier transition. Tori [Jankoska] had played some point guard. Probably the difference, the biggest change is that Klarissa [Bell] primarily has taken that role. That's something that she hasn't played a lot of. However, what I do think it brings is Kiana [Johnson] did a lot of good things for us, obviously, but she was also a kid that was a deferring point guard first. She was always looking for a pass, which I liked. I think this gives us a little more scoring options. Klarissa was our leading scorer, and now she's at the point. She can handle it. But again, I haven't really played really differently. We still run the same break and the same sets and things like that. I think maybe there's a difference in the commanding presence out there. If I had to say that there's one unique thing, I would say that the dominating, aggressive, always looking around and having that commanding presence. But in terms of the way we play and style of play I haven't seen any differences. In fact, I think it's made us better and stronger in some ways.
On the team's adjustments into post-season play
"Well I think probably all of us that are here at the tournament feel that way. For us, it's no different. We have three freshmen that play a lot of minutes, two that start, so this is their first time. I think you've got kids on your team, it's their first time. You've got vets and seniors that kind of understand and know what it's all about. So it's really about meshing and mending those different experiences together. I do think at the end of the day, though, you go out there and you play the same game you've played for the past thirty plus games and you just get after it. The team that competes the hardest and executes better than the other team wins. It doesn't matter about seedings or if you've been in NCAA tournaments before. At this point, I think it's anybody's opportunity.
Klarissa Bell, Michigan State Guard:
On Hampton's players
"They have some really aggressive and athletic guards who are quick. Number 0 is a scorer, I think their leading scorer right now. Number 2, their point guard, is also a score at will type of point guard. Number 1 is a shooter who can also drive to the basket, and 21 is what we would call probably the best player on their team. She can rebound, she can dribble pull up, shoot threes, drive it to the basket. She is a very good four/guard. Then 33, she's also a good player. She gets in there, she cleans up the boards, and she's always ready. She's always attacking the boards, which is awesome for their team. So they have a really good, solid five players."
On how the team plays differently without Kiana Johnson
"I would say there's definitely some differences without a true point guard out there on the floor. I think everyone's responsibility of knowing what plays we're in and making sure we're getting in our spots quick enough, I think that has just been something that everyone's taking on. It's just the responsibility role. I think that we're bigger without Kiana out there. If I'm playing point guard, I'm 5' 10" where she was 5' 8", and then Tori is also out there. I think it gives us a bigger look. There are some differences and some similarities, but I like where we're at right now and I think we're going to do really well."
Annalise Pickrel, Michigan State Forward:
On the team's adjustment after Kiana Johnson's suspension
"I think people have had to step up in positions they don't normally play, Klarrisa [Bell] and Tori [Jankoska] specifically. So transitioning, when there needs to be a spot on our team that needs to be filled, point guard is probably the hardest especially under Coach [Suzy Merchant] because she was a point guard. The expectation is really high especially for a point guard, especially in the Big Ten. I think Klarissa and Tori have done a really good job of it, not only having to put others in a good position but also being scorers themselves, because that's what they are. So transitioning from that as a team, I think that we've all had to adjust and fill in more of the glue, or getting everyone controlled and set where they're supposed to be. It's been a team effort in that sense, and then also just specifically Klarissa and Tori just being able to handle the ball and pressure and stuff like that for us.
