Nov. 23, 2011
Recap | Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery 
Kentucky Head Coach Matthew Mitchell
Opening statement …
“I was very happy with our effort today. I thought we gave a very good effort. I thought we hustled and that was something we talked about before the game. I am really happy with that on a day where we obviously didn’t shoot the ball well from the field or from the line. To still have the energy on defense that we had and the energy to go to the offensive boards, I was pleased with that. I am happy the players played so hard and we just keep plugging and trying to get better.”
On the post players and how they played …
“I was really happy with how our post players played today. We brought them in for an early morning workout and a little extra work this morning and they had a good practice yesterday and a good early morning workout today. They also had a good shoot around. I was just happy and still there is room for improvement there. They took a step forward and I was really looking for that today. That will be a key for us to be really good this year if those post players continue to develop because I believe they have some talent. We just need to keep working on our fundamentals and technique to get better. They certainly played better today than the last game.”
On the team attacking the zone and working the ball around to get an open look …
“Very happy with that and like I said, we didn’t shoot the ball today, but we worked for good shots. I think we just missed some shots we would probably make. The players worked really hard for the last two days on it and we had a gameday practice and worked on it again today. That is encouraging to see. I noticed the difference as well. They really did a good job there. If we can become an efficient basketball team on the offensive end and continue to look like we are a team that likes to share the ball and make that extra pass to an open person and not force a lot then I think this team has a chance to reach its potential.”
On the defensive effort of Bria Goss …
“She is one of the players that can pick the basketball up and really try to make the opposing point guard work hard. One of the things that we feel like can be a strength of this team, if the players will really commit to it in practice, is being able to make the point guard work for 94 feet to get down the floor and get her team into an offense. Bria is one of those players that can do that and I thought she got off to a pretty good start with that today.”
On forcing 42 turnovers and if they set a goal each game they want to reach as far as turnovers forced …
“We have not this year yet. We are concerned with effort and hustle and I think if you are more athletic than a team and have maybe a little bit stronger team than the number is different than when it is a team in the Southeastern Conference. The number for conference play would be somewhere around 25 and you are trying to reach that goal. Obviously, this team with some really good hustle has forced a lot more than that and they are off to a good start there. We are still not anywhere close to being solid in our rotations and we still reach a little bit too much and gamble a little bit too much. I think you can see it on the court that we have a chance to be a pretty good defensive team.”
Kentucky Players
#1 – A’dia Mathies, Junior, G
On being close to a triple-double and if she has ever had one before…
“Maybe I did in high school. I don’t really know. I don’t keep up with the statistics. I’d rather play well. It would be nice to have statistics on the resume’, but I don’t care. As long as we have the win, that’s what I’m going for.”
#13 – Bria Goss, Freshman, G
On winning SEC freshman of the week…
“I was excited. It’s an honor, but it doesn’t stop there. I have more goals in my vision.”
On if she enjoys being the point person in the full court press…
“Yes, I enjoy it. When we are playing higher ranked teams, I want to be the person to shut somebody down. I’m going to take it game by game and really try and get my defense up. And I guard A’dia everyday in practice so she is a big help.”
On stepping up her defense the last couple of weeks…
“It’s just more of a focus. I tell myself this is what I have to do. In order for my offense to come, I feel that my defense has to be there first.”
Nebraska Omaha Head Coach Chance Lindley
On playing at Memorial Coliseum…
“It was a great experience to play at Memorial Coliseum, and to play against the University of Kentucky. Coach (Matthew) Mitchell and his staff are one of the best staffs in the country and it was definitely a pleasure to get to play against them. They are as good as advertised.”
On Kentucky’s defense…
“Their defense has got to be one of the best in the country. He’s got a lot of the pieces of puzzle, very deep, very quick, and very athletic and with all that athleticism they are very well coached. They aren’t just trapping to trap, they know why they are trapping and who is replacing. They forced tons of turnovers on us.”
On the transition to Division I…
“It’s going well, it takes time to change the culture and build a new foundation. This is our first D-1 game ever, obviously a great way to start out against No. 11 in the country. But I think it was good, they exposed some things and we now know what we still aren’t very good at and what we need to work on.”
