Kentucky-Minnesota Postgame Quotes
Kentucky-Minnesota Postgame Press Conference
Rupp Arena
Dec. 6, 2023
Head Coach Kyra Elzy
On what hindered the team in the second half…
“I thought we gave up open threes. They hit 13 threes, 39 points, and 17 points off of turnovers. And that was the ball game.”
On if the team was tired in the second half…
“I thought we played really hard in the first half. Second half we talked about how the mental toughness needed to kick in. Obviously we are short handed with people out, but I still thought we had some chances to get some stops. We had to defend the three point line, but we were slow there and then stagnant offensively. We wanted to go in to Petty, and we talked about passing and cutting off of her because we needed more movement. But maybe we were too tired to move. But it’s a basketball game and we’ve got to find a way.”
On her message to the freshman…
“I’m proud of our rookies. I thought they came in and played their roles. I told them I needed them to defend, rebound, and take rhythm shots. I thought Jordy (Griggs) hit a big three when we needed, and played solid defensively. We’re going to need both of them and they’re growing up on the job, so I am proud of them.”
On the injured players…
“Maddie (Scherr) , Cassidy (Rowe) and Mimi (Amiya Jenkins) are day-to-day. Hope to have them back soon.”
On the fast break impacting the team…
“No, I thought we had a look. I thought we settled for jumpers instead of attacking the rim. When we attacked the rim good things happened. We went to the free throw line 21 times and only made 11 so we have got to capitalize there. But I thought once we got the teeth we quit running. There were opportunities that we didn’t take advantage of.”
On the plan for Minnesota scoring on all three levels…
“Well you know we have to go back and we have got to be able to rebound the basketball. You know we have a better scramble when they’re playing inside out our closeouts. People are scoring too easily in the paint, so one-on-one defense, rebounding, and then we have to move on offensively and trust the offense and trust it to move the ball side to side and good things will happen. I thought we had some shot turnovers today, which led to the transition of offense.”
On managing the emotions ahead of Louisville…
“Yeah, obviously it’s a big game. It’s a state rivalry game and you know we want to be tenacious and aggressive and all those things you know but we have to go in ready to fight. It’s going to be a battle. It’s a tough place to play. They’re a talented basketball team so we’re going to take the next couple of days to reset and focus.”
Player Quotes
#0, Brooklynn Miles, G, Jr.
On 13 3-pointers from Minnesota tonight…
“I mean we can do it. Honestly, we just had some brain farts and they’re obviously a great three- point shooting team. We knew that coming into the game. It’s just mental toughness.”
On going up against a guard bigger than her…
“It might sound kind of cliché but heart over height. Always, that’s the message I put in my head. I know I can do it so I put my mind to it.”
On preparations for Louisville…
“I mean, I’m from Kentucky, so it obviously means a lot to me. That’s kind of the rival here. I am just proud of what our team did tonight. We’re trying to get back healthy and take steps forward and we are just trying to be prepared.”
On Coach Elzy challenging her to be more of a scorer…
“Yeah, kind of but it’s not really in my personality to go take all the shots. I’d rather set my other teammates up and take what I need.”
On only having seven healthy players…
“Even if we still have seven players, I still feel like we have enough we go make an impact and go play games.”
#13, Ajae Petty, F, Sr.
On how to stay focused when double-teamed…
“I think honestly when I am out there, I do not have to think about it that much because I put so much preparation into performing by stepping into the building. I watch films through hours into the night, I stay in the gym doing whatever I need to do to be prepared so when I step on the court it is more natural.”
On how the freshman did stepping in for injured players…
“I think both stepped in and did what they were supposed to do. They always come into practice ready to work. Freshman year is always the hardest as you are playing against grown women at 18 or 19 years old, but I think they did well when they were in.”
On how to finish games stronger…
“That goes back to what BK (Brooklynn Miles) said about mental toughness with us just locking in and staying locked into the game for 40 minutes and not just the first half.”
