The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Stanford
Women's Basketball Gameday: vs. No. 6/5 Stanford [Nov. 22, 2013]
11.22.2013 | Women's Basketball
Texas and Stanford meet on Saturday afternoon in front of a national TV audience.
Game 4: Texas vs. No. 6/5 Stanford
Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013 - 12:30 p.m. Central
Austin, Texas - Frank Erwin Center (16,540)
| TV | Radio | Live Stats | Social | Tickets | Game Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOX Sports Network | AM 1300 / TexasSports.com | TexasSports.com | Twitter / Instagram | TexasSports.com |
Texas Stanford |
Notes at a Glance
• Texas and Stanford -- two of the most storied Women's Basketball programs in the history of the NCAA -- meet on Saturday in front of a national television audience (12:30 p.m. CT, FOX Sports Network).
• The Longhorns and Cardinal both entered the season ranked in the top 10 of the NCAA's all-time winningest programs -- Texas at No. 7 (935-344, .731) and Stanford at No. 4 (917-290, .760). Stanford leads the all-time series with Texas, 5-2.
• Texas holds a 78-64 (.549) record in home games against ranked opponents
• UT improved to 3-0 after defeating New Mexico 67-52 on Tuesday, Nov. 19 in Albuquerque, N.M. It marked Texas' first true non-conference road game in the Karen Aston era.
• The Longhorns lead the Big 12 in scoring defense (45.3 ppg allowed), FG percentage defense (.262 FG% allowed) and rebound margin (+15.0).
• Texas is receiving votes in the latest Associated Press top 25.
• Junior forward Nneka Enemkpali leads the Longhorns in both scoring (15.7 ppg) and rebounding (10.3 ppg). Enemkpali made her first 10 free throw attempts and is shooting 91.7 percent (11-12 FT) from the line this season.
• Sophomore center Imani McGee-Stafford leads the Big 12 in blocks per game (3.7 bpg).
• Texas Women's Basketball is in its 40th season of competition. UT is the seventh-winningest program in NCAA Women's Basketball history with a 935-344 (.731) record through the previous 39 seasons.
• Last week Texas signed a recruiting class ranked No. 10 by ESPN.com -- Diani Akigbogun, Ariel Atkins, Tasia Foman and Brooke McCarty.
Promotions
• Saturday is Fan Appreciation Day, presented by St. David's HealthCare.
• All fans in attendance have the chance to win t-shirts, autographed basketballs by Karen Aston and a 40-inch flat screen TV.
• The first 1,000 fans will receive the team motto "#ownIT" wristbands distributed from the marketing tables in section 29 and 44.
• Player trading cards and roller banners will be given away at the doors.
• FREE neck and shoulder rubs, hand massages and more on the concourse before the game.
QUOTES
Head Coach Karen Aston
Opening statement:
This is an exciting time for our program and this is always a good time when you can bring a top-10 program to your home court. We all have an enormous amount of respect for Stanford and the tradition of their program. Any time we can bring a team of that caliber into the Frank Erwin Center I think it's a great test for us. It's a great measuring stick for Texas and its fun for the fans.
I'm curious because I think our team is making a tremendous amount of progress. I'm not sure we are where we need to be, and I said at the very beginning that I thought we would be a much better team in January and February. So in saying that, we're making progress so I think this is obviously a terrific test for us. There are several games in the next few weeks that will test us. So I think it's just where we are now, and a team like Stanford will give you a very good idea about what you need to work on.
On what makes her think the team is better prepared this year than a year ago:
I think experience. I think that the fact that we had several players that started a numerous amount of games were inexperienced, but having the opportunity to have all those minutes, now they seem more confident. They seem not so surprised about everything; by competitiveness, by practice, academics. Everything is just better for a player because they are more comfortable in our system. They know what to expect, they have minutes under their belt, and we have more depth. I think that's one thing that is very clear when you watch out team play, that we can get up and down a little bit better because we have more players.
It's a game of respect, absolutely. It doesn't have to be this one specifically, but we need to be competitive. I'll be disappointed if we are not competitive because I've seen our team be competitive every day in practice, so that would surprise me. Having to win is a journey for your team, and this is just part of it. It's going to make them better and all of these, I would say the next six games are going to be extremely competitive. They will be games that will prepare us for the Big 12 play. I think we'll be more prepared than we were last year when we went into conference play.
On if playing zone this year is because of rule changes and fouls:
I think it made me think about it. Just the fact that if you had some players that might be in foul trouble, then you may go to your bench with your less experienced players. Also to protect your players a little bit. When you look at our team we have some size and a lot of length and we will be able to zone-press and go back into a zone sometimes. It gives the team a different look and gives them a chance to use their length and do some of things that they do best. It's kind of fun. I enjoy the zone, I enjoy what we are able to do in it because we can press, and we can still be aggressive in it. I do think we are adjusting to the changes. It's ironic that I was watching film from a couple of games last year, and it is remarkable already the difference in the style we are playing because everybody is not just pounding on each other. I do think that at some point it is going to be a little bit easier to look at. We are not just going to be scratching each other to death, and I think that as time goes by you'll see less free throws.
On if she senses a change in the players while preparing for this game:
I actually saw a change in them really when we started the season. I think they are excited to play a team like this on their home court. They were excited to go to New Mexico because that is a tough place to play, and we didn't had that opportunity early in the year last year, to go on someone's home court and see what we could do with that. I would say that they are just excited to play every day. This team in particular doesn't seem to mind practice; they enjoy being around each other. It hasn't just been this game. They are excited to play basketball and they're a fun team to coach.
On if beating Stanford would help bring Texas fans back:
I think it would be helpful. I would be joking if I said that a win like this wouldn't help our fan base get more excited about our program. We haven't had a big win in several years. But I also think that if we are competitive, that will make a difference. I think whoever comes out tomorrow, if it's a competitive basketball game, then they will want to come back. That's where we have to cross the line. When it is a highly competitive team, we need to match up with them; we need to go toe to toe with them. Sometimes things don't go your way, but you better go toe to toe with them, and then people will come back and watch you play.
On the similarities between Stanford's Chiney Ogwumike and Nneka Enemkpali:
They are very similar. Chiney seems to have a little bit longer reach than Nneka. But as far as what I think, they are similar in their motors. They never stop going. Nneka practices every day like it's serious, and when you watch Chiney play that's the way she plays. They have a constant motor that's running and that's where they are similar. They are very good athletes, very good basketball players. What I love about coaching Nneka is that her motor is always running and I think most coaches would say the same thing about Chiney.
Junior forward Nneka Enemkpali
On Saturday's game against Stanford:
I think anybody would be curious to see how we measure up to one of the top programs in the nation. We've been preparing for the past couple of days, and I think that our coaches have done everything possible to get us prepared for what we're going to see tomorrow. It's just up to us to utilize the game plan and come ready.
On what a win over Stanford would do for the team:
It's going to boost our confidence going into Big 12 play. It's going to push us forward.
On how she can help freshmen prepare for a big game like this:
I definitely would say game preparation. Freshman year coming out of high school you don't necessarily understand what it is to scout another player and know that if she's dominant right hand, you need to take away her right hand. With the freshmen, I just tell them to listen to the game plan and actually stay in tune and pay attention to that because that's going to help us win the game.
On the biggest difference between the team now and a year ago:
Maturity. We had three freshmen starting last year and the fact that they are now sophomores, they know how to get past lulls in practice and how to listen whenever coaches are constructively criticizing them and not shut down. I feel like that's going to help us improve this year.
