The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
VIDEO: Karen Aston NCAA press conference [March 17, 2014]
03.17.2014 | Women's Basketball
Quotes and uncut video from the UT's NCAA selection show press conference.
Opening Statement:
I'm really, really excited for our basketball team. I think the year has been a long journey. We had a lot of goals that we had set forth in the beginning of the year, and obviously this was really at the top of the list to get back and get Texas back to the national tournament. I'm thrilled for our players. They put a lot of work in to get to the point where we are. I wanted them to be rewarded and today was a huge reward for them and our basketball program.
On what it's like to know they're definitely in the tournament before the selections:
It was a fun week for us even though we came off of the loss against West Virginia in the Big 12 tournament. It was a fun week because the players knew we were practicing for a purpose. They understood that and knew they were in the tournament. We gave them a few days off after the West Virginia loss, but I was really pleased with how we came back because I think they knew there was a definite purpose for what we were doing. It's a respect for our program, but it's also a respect for the league. When you finish third in the Big 12, then you're going to be recognized as a good basketball team. I think we have been all year, but we've just had some slips that kept us from being recognized in the manner that we should have been or could have been.
On what came to her mind when they saw their seed:
Just excited. Really honestly, you have to understand there were a lot of players sitting in those chairs that had not experienced that at all. As a coach, that's what you're coaching for -- to give young people an opportunity to have some joy in the game and understand why they work so hard. That's the purpose of what we did today. It's why I wanted the fans to come. I wanted them to be a part of it because it's what Texas basketball is all about.
On how she's keeping the girls fresh and loose:
The one thing I feel really good about our team right now is that we have some depth and therefore, practices are pretty spirited and competitive. I feel like we have two teams that really get after each other and that's a little bit unusual sometimes in women's basketball because of injuries. We have practice guys but they weren't here last week because of spring break, so I didn't know how practice would go. It was actually pretty good. I thought they really went after each other. I have to figure out when our next day off will be and how to manage them until Sunday because it is a long time. We'll try to manage that and manage their legs, but they'll be ready to play. They're excited. This team is really excited.
Sophomore G Brady Sanders
On how excited she is to be back in the NCAA tournament:
I'm actually really excited. My freshman year when we made it, I was redshirted so I knew I wasn't going to be playing in it but I was still happy for my teammates. There's something about knowing you're going to be playing in the NCAA tournament when only a select amount of teams get to do that. Knowing that we haven't been there in a couple years now, it's really exciting knowing that you're part of a program that's getting back on track.
On how much dedication and hard work has gone into this season:
A ton. After last season, we all looked at each other and said, 'We are going to do what it takes to get Texas back to where it's supposed to be.' From top to bottom, from the older players to the freshmen that came in, everyone did a great job focusing on that all season. We had goals that we were trying to meet and I think everyone just stayed focused knowing that we wanted to get back to the tournament. I'm just proud of everyone for getting it done.
On wanting to make some noise in the tournament and win it all:
One of our goals was to make the NCAA tournament and now that we have done that, we're not satisfied with that. We're going to take it one game at a time, play the way we know how to play and take ourselves as far as we can go.
Sophomore C Imani McGee-Stafford
On how hard it is to think about the fact that once you lose, you're out:
I think it's just baby steps focusing on what we're doing every day and focusing on getting better every day. If we do the little things, then hopefully it's going to carry into the big picture.
On if the teams understands the opportunity:
It probably won't hit us until we lace up our shoes for that first game. We understand where competiveness is, so we're going to go out and fight as hard as we can.
On the excitement and thoughts of the tournament:
It's fun that we finally get a chance to partake in March Madness and not sit at home watching other teams do what we worked so hard for. It's like your reward for running sprints and waking up at ungodly hours. It's just fun and exciting.
Junior F Nneka Enemkpali
On the team's progress under Karen Aston:
Honestly I was a freshman. Going into my sophomore year, I was excited but nervous at the same time. Excited for a new start, nervous because I didn't know her. She didn't recruit me. I didn't know if she'd like me, but of course last year, our overall record was not indicative of how much work that core group of girls put into our season. I feel like we've taken last year and put it behind us but we've used as a growing experience and we've only gotten better this year.
On what was the key to turning things around:
I think the key to turning things around would have been just growing trust in our coaching staff and our coach. Coming in with a new coach, you don't necessarily know her, you don't know her system and you have to buy into it. You have to trust her and know that she's not against you and she's there for you.
On what they need to do to keep going:
Stay humble and stay hungry. All the teams that made it into this tournament obviously made it in for a reason. Everybody's competitive, everybody's striving for the same thing and if you don't stay hungry, well we just have to stay hungry.
