Gail Goestenkors Quotes (101 Quotes)

We were a little over anxious to play. We shot the ball well when we got shots off, but to turn it over 31 times, I don't think I've ever seen that from this team. I'm disappointed by that.

We've felt like we've had a great conference for the last two years. It may be the best conference in the country from top to bottom. But until you can back it up and get teams to the Final Four and win the national championship, it's all talk.

When we played there a couple of years ago, I was really impressed with their fans because I felt like they were knowledgeable but not out of control. It didn't feel intimidating to me. It just felt like a great basketball game with good, appreciative fans. It was a different feeling than some places you go to.

They're extremely athletic and they do a great job with their traps and presses. They are extremely aggressive and they get out in transition better than anybody in the country. And they are really well balanced. You can't just shut down one person.

Give Virginia Tech a lot of credit. I thought they played really hard, strong and physical. We knew they never give up. They showed a lot of character.

Some teams don't make you pay. Carolina, they make you pay for your mistakes.

We feel like we have a really deep team. Every game everybody that can play usually gets an opportunity to play. I think we came ready mentally and physically to and getting out to that quick lead (17-2) kind of set the tone.

It was necessary for her growth as a person. She needed to get things in the proper perspective. I told her I wanted her story to have a happy ending. In order to do that, the suspension was necessary.

Monique showed why she's the best player in the ACC and one of the best players in the nation. She's a big-time player.

We took two real quick shots in a row, and on both occasions they came down and scored. They took the wind out of our sails a little bit.

Overall, I was really pleased and I thought it was a great team effort. Everybody coming off the bench played really well for us and that's important.

It was the most ugly win in the history of our program. We felt the pressure a bit. But we did what was necessary . . . We showed great character to finish the job.

You would hope there's a better balance. First and foremost for us are academics. Duke is not an easy school. It's not like we can miss so much class and have the players just bounce right back from it.

I told our players that it's not a bad thing that we played this kind of game. It's been almost too easy to this point. Everything had been clicking for us. We were in sync, playing excellent basketball. I thought this would be the toughest game for us because there was so much at stake.

This team has always played together well. They've always been unselfish. It starts with the senior leadership. They could take 20 shots a game but they don't, and they make sure everyone gets involved.

Early on, we were the aggressor, and I thought we did a great job. But I thought as the game wore on they became a little more comfortable.

I'm not sure if the crowd affected my team. I love a great crowd and so does our team, and I think they really helped Connecticut more than hurt us.

Parity is a great thing for the sport, but I think were still 5-10 years away from reaching the same level. There are more upsets, but only in the early rounds, if you consider those upsets. Theres still a lot we have to do to get to a desirable level, and there are so many things to consider. Its happening a little bit now, but youre not going to see everything change all in one tournament.

She's just such a mentally and physically tough kid. I think especially this time of year, that's what you need.

It's their athleticism. They do a great job with their traps, and you don't see it every day, so it's hard to prepare for. They're the most athletic team in the country, and it's difficult to prepare for that.

We don't run many plays for her, which is different than in the past. But the grand scheme was to make everybody feel important so that, if and when she had an off night in a big game, her teammates would feel comfortable and confident that we were still going to win because they knew they could score as well. She's been the consummate leader for us in that she's been willing to sacrifice for the greater good.

We haven't talked about being undefeated. We can't really worry about the big picture now. We're so focused on the next game at hand.

I think it's quality depth. A lot of teams have a lot of players, but our bench is productive, probably as productive as any team in the country.

I think we're very comfortable with (the rotation) now and I think our players are becoming much more efficient. (Currie) was just very efficient with her minutes and I think part of it is because she's able to stay fresh. And I think we wear people down that way as well.

Years ago, players were willing to come in and sit on the bench for one or two years and work their way into the lineup. And now so many players come in and they want to start right away. They definitely want to make an impact right away. When you have 15 available scholarships it's not possible to have 15 players playing major minutes right away.

You've got to laugh at yourself, or laugh at your team. There's pressure on any team, but you have to make as many great memories as you can along the way.

She takes such pride in her defense, and I could see the frustration on her face. I told her she was going to be fine, and she was. She changed the game for us. She was the difference.

It's the little things (that will decide the game). When you get to this stage, every team is a great team. You're not going to make changes at this point in time, so you have to do the little things very, very well. It's the box-outs, the screens. It's the attack mindset on both ends of the floor. It's the little things that make the big difference.

We wanted to attack the baseline, because when they run a 3-2 zone, we know the baseline and high post are the weaknesses of that zone. And our guards did a good job of penetrating.

Our bench is pretty productive. We have quality depth. I feel our bench is as productive as any in the country.

We wanted to attack the baseline. They were in a 2-3 or 3-2. A lot of the time they were in the 3-2 and we knew the baseline was open. We had our shooters go to the baseline, and our guards did a good job skipping the ball to the baseline.

She competes very hard. There's an aggressiveness about her that, beyond her passing and scoring ability, is something you just can't teach.

Every time their games went into overtime, they won. I've seen many instances where the pressure is really on, and they come through.

I thought it would go down to the wire, so I guess that's what I was most surprised about. We were able to wear them down a little bit. Every game we go into we think our bench is going to be a difference.

It's like playing in the NCAA Tournament. It forces your players to adapt to the time, the distance, the arena and the crowd. It's a great experience.

Other than Cameron it has been our second favorite place to play. The fans do such a tremendous job. It's a wonderful atmosphere - one we always cherish.

She's one of the most dynamic players in the country. She's that team's heart and soul.

People that aren't typically women's basketball fans, if they just tune in for a little bit and see them play, they'll come back for more.

We just weren't playing with the effort, the intensity, the desire, the passion that I think we're known for and that we've come to expect from our basketball team.

They're similar to us in that usually if you take away the outside game, you win. Or if you take away the inside game, you win. But with them and with us, we have great balance and an inside-outside attack.

That loss was a week ago, and did not really play a factor at all. I'm a little disappointed with our effort overall, but I'm happy that we came away with a win.

It can be good or bad. Sometimes you're emotionally drained because you had such a feeling of euphoria coming off a big win. But sometimes it gives you more energy or more confidence.

They're the most athletic team in the country.

I was just a little worried about fatigue and playing this 11 a.m. game. I was really proud of the team. I thought it took us a little while to get going, but once we hit our stride, I thought we had a nice inside-outside game going.

I just feel utter disappointment for my players and my seniors.

She was much more aggressive with the basketball, and it paid off for her and for us. She still passed up three or four shots that I wish she would have taken. But it's a great start for her, and I hope she can build on that.

We were really trying to get a game with Michigan State this year. Both schools worked really hard to make this happen. Both schools wanted a home-and-home. The dates just didn't work out. I'm happy to be playing Michigan State. I wish it was in the state of Michigan.

I would love to have Alana for the rest of my life. I think I was just very fortunate to have her for four years. When you have someone that special to get to spend four years with, while helping them learn and grow, it is special. It was her time to go and it's someone else's time to shine. I don't think it's one person in particular but maybe just this team in general.

I don't think being married has made her more mature. I think because she was (already) so mature, it was one of the reasons she knew she was ready to be married. She's always been from the time we recruited her one of the most mature, responsible people that I've ever had the privilege to be around.

I knew they were going to come out fighting and battling and they did. When you've got a team with such tradition and at home, it's a very dangerous combination.