Postgame Quotes

Dec. 11, 2011

Oklahoma Head Coach Sherri Coale
On the progression of the freshmen:
“I am very glad to see that. It is just such a process we all have to take deep breaths and be patient and bring these guys along. Unfortunately our schedule has not allowed us to bring them along in a really comfortable pace. They are just kind of just hanging on, their heads are spinning. I thought this afternoon was a good opportunity for all three Kay Kay [Kaylon Williams], Sharane [Campbell] and DaShawn [Harden] to just sort of settle in and allow themselves an opportunity to play without the pressure of the outcome of the game hinging on every single possession. It was good to see them just relax and get involved.”

On the production from the post players:
“Nic [Nicole Griffin] got in foul trouble, but really ran the floor well on a couple of occasions, which is something that we have been looking for from her. So, I thought that was a good sign. I thought when Kay Kay came in, she took advantage of her minutes the first time in. That is why we kept going back with her as far as rotation. We just didn't move well. We found ourselves reaching and taking crazy undisciplined measures to guard their posts that weren't needed. We need to be able to go to the posts more and I didn't think our posts demanded the ball and posted position lies with their feet, enough for our guards to able to surely feed them.”

On becoming relaxed after quick starts:
“I think we get momentary amnesia. When something bad happens we suddenly let that one play define us, instead of the six previous possessions that were actually fabulous. That is what happened in the first half. We were going along and we are executing. Even the plays where we don't make the shot, our execution is sound and everything is sharp. You look out there and you think how have we lost three games in a row. Look at this. Then something bad happens and suddenly we just crumble. That is where the immaturity is. The roots aren't deep enough yet to sustain us through a bad play and bad possessions a bad call or a great play by the opponent. You name it. It could be anything that is less than stellar and suddenly we have become defined by that one play.”

On her thoughts of the team's identity near the end of non-conference play:
“We hope to finish up the first half of the season as we head in Christmas is we want to establish a sense of confidence. We have been trying to build an identity. Who are we without Danielle Robinson? Who are we without Jasmine Hartman and Lindsey Cloman? You think you start to figure out who you might be and Jas [Hartman] is a big part of that. We adjusted to that and start to think and figure out who we might be. Then Lindsey too, both of those guys are captains. We lost two of three captains. We sort of fly under a bit trying to figure out who we are. I thought one of the best things that happened this afternoon is something that is going to continue and we will build on is we got back a piece of our identity as a transition basketball team.”

Oklahoma Junior Guard Whitney Hand
On if this is where she thought OU would be at this point in the season:
“No, it isn't. We don't ever expect to lose. It was a shock to all of us really, not getting a win for a week. But, we're glad to just have a win and stop being depressed around the facility.”

On shooting confidence:
“I heard Ray Allen once say, 'I'm shooting good, but they're just not falling.' I think that's where I am right now and I'm getting really good looks. So, that's a good thing.”

Oklahoma Freshman Guard Sharane Campbell
On transitioning from high school to college basketball:
“It's been pretty difficult. In high school, I was doing everything. I come here and think to myself , 'Oh, I can pass the ball now.' It's a lot easier that way, but I'm not going to the lie, the transition has been hard. But, you have to come in here with an open mind and that's what I've been doing.”

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Milwaukee Head Coach Sandy Botham
On the game:
“My gracious, we were hoping they would miss some shots, but they were on fire, en fuego in the first half. I mean, every shot they took seemed to go in, shooting 58 percent. I thought our kids battled. They were a little undersized in some positions, and they took advantage of that, but I felt good about how hard we played. We didn't make shots. Oklahoma's a good basketball team. They've had some ups and downs and had their own little losing streak going. I'm sure they were glad to get back home and set the tone in the first five minutes. I thought that was the key, how they came out in the fire five minutes and just knocked down shots.”

On getting the offense going:
“Our defense has been pretty strong, pretty solid. We just struggled putting it in the basket. We took some bad shots, some off-balance shots. That's what bigger, stronger, more physical teams will do to you. We just talked about taking better shots and making the extra pass when help comes. I thought we did a better job of that. Sometimes once you can get one to go, everybody seems to relax a bit. The lid was off for them and it just wasn't off for us. We were able to get a little momentum, which we felt good about. It was a 20-plus game and we were able to get under 20. We made a nice run, but I thought we were fatigued, coming off a Baylor game two days ago and then to come in here.”

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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