Head Coach and Player Quotes

March 17, 2008

OKLAHOMA HEAD COACH SHERRI COALE
On if she thought the Sooners would be in the Oklahoma City Region:
"I don't know that we didn't think we weren't going there, it's just great to see. I don't know that any of us knew what to expect, truthfully. We just knew we were going to be fortunate enough to be in the bracket somewhere."

On if being placed in West Lafayette, Ind., stirred any memories from the 2000 NCAA Tournament:
"Immediately. (I have) such sweet memories of West Lafayette. Sometimes there's just some serendipity involved. That's where we really catapulted on the national scene. Made a name for ourselves on the shoulders of Phylesha Whaley playing the trademark way this program has been built --sharing the basketball.

"I remember the most moving part of that entire game (East Region second round 76-74 victory against Purdue, March 20, 2000) was the way we came back in the second half. Everybody scored, everybody took their turn making a big play -- the rebounds, the diving on the floor for a loose ball. It was just truly a team effort. We really willed it. To be able to go back there to that spot and to be engulfed by it, it's a really special thing."

On if being selected in the Oklahoma City Region is a shot in the arm for Oklahoma:
"Yeah. We could really stand for something good to happen to us right now. We don't really care form whom it comes or whence it comes. I really feel like there are two reasons we are playing in Oklahoma City. One being our strength of schedule. Doing what we did in the pre-conference in situations we've put ourselves in really, I think, plays a huge role in the eyes of the committee. I also think that our fan base plays a tremendous role. I think that the statement that we made consistently, regardless of who we're playing, when we're playing, was the number of people who file into the Lloyd Noble Center to watch us play. And the statement that Oklahoma City made in hosting the Big 12 Tournament last year, I think people look at that and I do think it matters."

On if it will be a challenge to remind her team that they must win two games to get to Oklahoma City:
"I don't think there will be a challenge to remind our team how important it is to get a win right now. We are hungering and thirsting to get on the floor and right the ship and really restore pride in the way we play and the way we compete and who we are together, what our identity is, playing in the style that we've built this program upon. So, we're excited to be able to do that and feel like, if we do that, we can win two games and return to Oklahoma City."

On what's changed since returning from the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City:
"Fresh air. Clear heads. Deep breaths. A chance to look at what we are and what we've done and what we're capable of and what the possibilities are and what's missing and how to find it and how to put it back together. The great news is that it exists within us. We don't have to go out and get a new player. We've only got to be a little better version of ourselves. I think we have used the time wisely. We're going to be fresh. Our guys our excited. You can tell they are still just as fired up as if the season just started. We're going to be ready for it."

On if she was surprised with a No. 4 seed:
"Yeah, I was a little bit surprised with a No. 4 seed. Again, I think that goes back to our...strength of schedule. The teams that we played. The places that we played them. Many on their home floor. Many at neutral sites. We put ourselves in position to be exposed and grew as a result of that. You can't discount playing in the Big 12 Conference. There are eight teams in the NCAA Tournament. I think that plays into it as well. Texas A&M being a 2 seed and Oklahoma State and Baylor being 3s -- I think that moved us up a notch in the eyes of the committee."

On what she knows about first round opponent Illinois State:
"From what I can tell on paper, they might be like a mini-Iowa State. Their head coach is a former (Iowa State) assistant of Bill Fennelly's and they've got two girls who've shot over 150 threes and they're very efficient offensively. Their assist-to-turnover ratio is excellent, among the top 10 in the country. They share the basketball -- assists are really high. They don't beat themselves. Sounds like a little bit of Iowa State to me."

On if Oklahoma City is a tough bracket with Texas A&M and Tennessee:
"It's tough. There's no doubt it's a tough bracket. If we can win our way back to Oklahoma City, I don't know that there's anybody I wouldn't want to meet. (Texas A&M is) very, very talented. (Tennessee is) the reigning national champs. So, if you get to that point, and we've been there the last two years in the Sweet 16, everybody's good. Everybody's good and you're going to have to play your best basketball to advance. There's not an easy (bracket). There's more parity in women's basketball than there's ever been. I don't think there's necessarily a for sure road for anybody."

OKLAHOMA SOPHOMORE FORWARD AMANDA THOMPSON
On if looking ahead to Oklahoma City could be a distraction:
"You always have to take it one step at a time, one game at a time, one possession at a time. We're not rushing, we're not looking forward. Just taking our time and, I think, if we do that, we'll be perfectly fine.

"It's really exciting to get another chance to play in front of our fans and give us hope. Hopefully, they still believe in us as much as we believe in ourselves."

On what her reaction was to losing in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament:
"It just made me want to work on my game even more. A lot of people doubt us and that's perfectly fine. I'm excited; ready to work."

OKLAHOMA FRESHMAN GUARD DANIELLE ROBINSON
On what she knows about Oklahoma's first round opponent Illinois State:
"Actually, I don't know anything at all (about Illinois State). Obviously, they're in the NCAA Tournament. They have to be doing well -- winning their conference or something along those lines. They must have a pretty good schedule. They are obviously going to be some good competition."

On the disappointment of losing in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament:
"I think we were most definitely disappointed right after the game. We just sat in the locker room and talked. I think that was huge for us. As we've had time to rest, we've worked on things that are going to be critical for us to be successful."

OKLAHOMA JUNIOR CENTER COURTNEY PARIS
On the difference in the team entering the NCAA Tournament this year than in past years:
"We've done a lot of great things the past few years and now we've got a bunch of young guys that have to live up to all that. But, I think they can. This week has been a good week of practice for us, so I think we have a good shot.

On if the extra time at home practicing will make a difference:
"You've got to start somewhere. In practices, the way you feel is the way you have to come out there and play in the game. Good practices -- it's a step in the right direction."

On if being selected to the Oklahoma City Region will energize the Sooners:
Definitely, when you're one of the top teams in the nation and get to stay at home, you have an opportunity to get in the Final Four from here -- it always feels good.

"We really weren't sure and we weren't focusing on it, but it was a good surprise."

On if Oklahoma's fan following had any influence in the tournament committee's selection:
"I don't have any idea how that stuff works but I've got to guess that what we had at the Big 12 Championships last year -- selling out that big building -- had to have helped somewhat. Whatever it was, we're just glad to be a part of it."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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