SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper and redshirt junior point guard Jordan Walker participated in a Zoom media availability on Monday in advance of Tuesday’s NCAA Second Round game vs. Michigan.
The No. 3 seed Lady Vols (17-7) and No. 6 seed Wolverines (15-5) will meet at the Alamodome at 5 p.m. ET (4 CT). The contest will be televised by ESPN2 and carried on the Lady Vol Radio Network.
Tennessee Head Coach Kellie Harper
Opening Statement:
“We’re excited to be advancing and really proud of our team for getting the first-round win and taking care of business there. We know we have a really tough opponent in Michigan. They’ve got great posts, great guards, and the right pieces. They’re obviously coming from a very physical league, and they’ve got good size. So, it’s going to be a tough one, but we’re excited about it, and we’re ready to get out on the court and play.”
On what challenges she thinks Michigan presents and what she sees on film with them:
“Well, I think it’s an interesting match-up, and I agree with you, I think this is one of those to look at on paper people say, ‘Let’s make sure we tune in to this one.’ Both teams do match up well with each other. I think the problems they present with their opponent are, one: Naz Hillman is really good; she’s not the player of the year for no reason. She is incredible in how she works to get the ball in scoring position, she’s incredible when she gets the ball to score, and she’s incredible in getting on the boards. So, I think she is going to be a handful for our post players. And then, obviously, coming off a good season and a great game, is Leigha Brown, an athletic wing that can put the ball on the floor. She can shoot, she’s aggressive, and she feels really good about her game right now. So, obviously, that’s their one-two punch. Then with other pieces, they have size, athleticism, they can shoot, and put the ball on the floor. They are really excited to be here right now and taking advantage of this opportunity. So, I think they are a really good team, and I think they’re going to be tough.”
On how physical she thinks the battle will be on the boards, and how key it will be for Tamari Key and Kasiyahna Kushkituah to play well in tomorrow’s game:
“I think it would be really great for us to establish some post presence offensively and, obviously, on the glass. We have been consistent there. We’ve outrebounded everyone but one this year, and that was in the (SEC) semis against South Carolina. We have to do that, but they are going to make that difficult for us, because they are going to be very physical, and they’re going to have great size. You’re not just going to get rebounds by outjumping people, and you’re not going to get rebounds because you’re bigger. You’re going to have to stick your nose in there and be disciplined when you box out. They’re worried about the same thing; they’re talking about the same thing, and how they are going to keep us off the boards as well. So, at this point, it’s not about a want to. We both want to (win). It’s about execution.”
On how much she has been following Kyra Elzy at Kentucky, her relationship with her, and Pat Summitt’s legacy:
“I didn’t get to watch their game, but I’ve been following all of the SEC teams in particular. But I just have a special love for Kyra, because she was my teammate for three years. (She was) a great teammate, and I loved playing with her and rooming with her. She was one of my favorite roommates – we always had this rotation for roommates when traveling. She’s such a good person. She was a tough player; she did the little things you had to do, played hard, and I think she’s asking her team to do the same thing. She’s coaching them with discipline, and obviously, everybody knows that’s what Pat did. That would be one where I’d love to step in and watch a practice. I would love to step in and watch Kyra lead a practice, because I’m sure I could see some similarities.”
On how important the post defense will be and making sure her posts don’t get in foul trouble:
“I think our post defense will be critical to this game. Like I said earlier, we’ve got our hands full. We’ll have to see if we can go one-on-one, and we may have to find ways to double team and ways to help them out. But obviously, we don’t play a lot of people in that position, so keeping at least one of the two on the court at all times is going to be important, and they’re going to have to play pretty clean.”
On her philosophy on adjusting the defense to stop one dominant player:
“Honestly, it depends. Sometimes we talk about trying to… typically great players, you’re not going to shut them down. We’re not going to keep (Naz Hillmon) scoreless; that’s just not going to happen. Sometimes you’re going to try to slow them down. Sometimes you’re going to try to cover everybody else and make her beat you. There are so many different philosophical ways to look at each game. I can’t say that I have one particular way that I have going into every game. It is different. It’s different, and it’s different based on how we’re playing at the time, how the opponent is playing at the time, what the matchups are, are they favorable in other places? I think as a team, we have to weigh those. If you’ve got to give up something, you’ve got to give up something probably pretty good at this point. I mean, this is a good basketball team. So, sometimes you’re just playing the numbers, and sometimes you’re playing the feel and how the flow is going in the game.”
On if the team will have a chance to be on the court at the Alamodome before the game:
“We couldn’t get in there today. We were in the Convention Center at our practice today, but we do have a scheduled shoot-around in the morning, so we’ll be able to get in there and see the venue and get some shots up. For me, I want to check out that depth perception and see what that feels like. At least they’re not walking in there at game time and that being the first time they see it, so I’m really excited we have that opportunity in the morning.”
On how similar Tennessee’s stats are to Michigan’s and what she feels is the area that’s key to winning the game:
“I don’t know that I can give you just one; I think that’s tough. I’d like to take care of the basketball. I’d like to try to take away some easy paint points from them. We’d like to win the battle on the boards. I’d like to shoot about 75 percent tomorrow, that would be great. I think when you’re playing somebody even, I don’t know that there’s one stat that can win this game. I think you’re going to have to execute on both ends of the court, I really do.”
On the article by the Wall Street Journal about the term “March Madness” being reserved for use by the men’s tournament:
“I didn’t know that. I’ve been really focused in on our team today and practicing, getting ready for Michigan. I use it. I use that term. I don’t know if I’m using it illegally, but this is March Madness, and to me, we’re a part of that. I’ll have to go and read that… but we’re in the middle of March Madness, and to watch the games being played today and in the next couple of weeks, you have to use that term with what we’re doing right now.”
On it being both her and Tennessee’s first-ever matchup with Michigan:
“For historians, Lady Vol historians like you, Maria (Cornelius), I’m sure when you flip through (the record book), you would’ve already remembered if Tennessee had played Michigan in the past. You probably could have spit out all the stats from that game if we had played Michigan in the past. It actually is very unusual. With Tennessee and how many games nationwide – tournament games and others – that have been played, and not to have a team like Michigan on there is a little bit unusual.”
On being away from her children:
“One thing, I’m so excited to be here, and we understand the bubble. You know, we’re here. We’re in it. We hope to be in it a long time. But as a mom, it’s hard. Thank goodness for Facetime, because we can see the kids, and they can send videos. And I talk to them multiple times per day, but it’s hard. When your two-year-old looks and you and says, ‘You going to get me in the morning?’ You have to say no. And Jackson at least understands it a little bit more, but we’re very fortunate that we have a nanny back home taking great care of them. I’m already ready to squeeze them. I won’t want to go home, but I’m ready to squeeze them when I get to see them.”
Tennessee Redshirt Junior Jordan Walker
On her rebounding ability as a 5’8″ guard:
“I just love rebounding. I love tracking the ball. It’s an effort thing and making hustle plays, which I love doing because you can control that. You’re always in control of that. Now, sometimes when they (opponents) are a little bit bigger, it’s hard to control if you get the rebound or not. I can always try. I can always track it down, and most of the time get that ball.”
On how excited she gets going into a game that’s expected to be physical and what she can do to alleviate some of the pressure from the post:
“Going into a game where there’s a team who loves to rebound, it’s always fun because you know you’re going to have to box out. You know you’re going to have to put yourself in position to go get that board. I think that with this game, our posts are going to have to rebound as well, which they’re good at doing, too. I think to help them out, we can make those 50-50 plays. Any time that we need to box out somebody else when they go to help so they can snag those rebounds, we’re going to have to make those plays. I feel like that’s what I can do to contribute tomorrow.”
On her process of getting a rebound:
“It’s kind of different for each spot on the court. If it’s a weak-side rebound, I feel like those are the easiest to track because most of the time you can see if it’s going to be short and go back to the other side, or you can see if it’s coming over. I notice that when I speed in there, most of the time it’s going to go over your head. Usually, I slow down and see how it’s rolling off the rim. That’s how I do it.”
On if looking for her shot is a key part of her game that keeps the defense honest:
“I definitely think so. Being able to hit shots helps my team out, because they won’t be able to sag off. They won’t be able to help off. I really feel like being able to hit those shots helps my teammates out, helps the team out and helps our offense flow better. I think being able to continue to hit those shots will help us down the stretch.”
-UT Athletics
