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Quotes: Blue-White Scrimmage
10/24/2015 4:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Duke Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie
On team effort and execution:
“The only thing that we really tried to do today is just to get out there and get a feel for playing together, and get some officials to help us out with calls, and understanding how the game will be called. Everything needs improvement. There is nothing that is good enough at this point. It's fun to see different people step up, I thought Crystal Primm was an interesting person today. So you look for those little things. It was the only time Lexie [Brown] will ever put a uniform on this year so it was a good opportunity for her. We didn't have any stellar performances, but I think we learned to play together better. I think the film will be the best thing, when we go to film tomorrow that will be the best thing to show.”
On rules adjustments:
“There were no differences really. I mean I wasn't coaching today but not really that different best I could tell, but I look forward to it, when we are getting ready for the exhibition games.”
On Lexie Brown as an asset in practice:
“I think our guard play really has a chance to get very good. Lexie [Brown] obviously has a great deal of experience and Kyra [Lambert] is an explosive player. I think having Lexie in practice is a huge benefit. Again she is attacking all the time and plays with a great deal of energy and also poise as well, so it will benefit all the guards, and of course getting Angela [Salvadores] back as we will shortly.”
On Haley Gorecki and Rebecca Greenwell and guard play:
“I think they're definitely similarities in their play, I think they look for each other, and I think that they can play off of each other pretty well, like all of our guards. I saw some nice play with Kyra and Lexie. I just think we have an opportunity here, like with what Crystal did, to be an interesting group of guards, with a lot of diverse strengths and talent it is going to be fun to see how we develop it and how each person brings their game to it.”
On improvement for the next game:
“There isn't a thing we can't improve on. Rebounding was very poor, offensive rebounding was poor, transition offense was poor, there just is so much. It is the first time we are out there. It is just a good teaching film.”
On injuries:
“Mercedes [Riggs] and Kendall [Cooper] were both out due to a car incident that occurred. So nothing on the court so they will be back within the next week I would guess, and Angela we have been holding her, and Lynee [Belton] has been out for the ACL since last year. So nothing is new from that group, except I must say it was disappointing to have Kendall and Mercedes not have the opportunity. I would say hopefully everyone will be back for the next exhibition.”
On playing without subs:
“It is a great opportunity for the 10 who did play to be out there performing, and we had some turnovers and bad decisions. But I can't think of anything better, to know that I am not going to be subbed out and I can play and play.”
On defense:
“I think we got more aggressive as we got comfortable playing. We do have a variety of defenses we are trying to shore up, whether its pressing or man or matchups, we have a lot of work to do. However, I think the experience they gained was very valuable. To know when to pick up the ball, to be more aggressive denying entries and really playing physically And really playing physically, I think it was a good experience going through that together.”
Graduate Center Amber Henson:
On being back in Cameron Indoor Stadium and her outlook for the season:
“I felt great; it was great to be back out there again. Obviously we have a different team, but I'm extremely excited about the newcomers. Obviously we wish Lexie could play; we're going to miss her competitive spirit, but hopefully that rubs off on some of the freshmen. We have a lot of things to work on – execution, shoring up our defense – but that will all come.”
On her role this season:
“My role is a lot like last year. Obviously when it's my turn to shoot and get a point, I can do that, but at the same time I'm directing traffic, setting good screens, rebounding, and playing great defense. That's always been an important part of my role, and I think this year I'll have more confidence in my shot as well, and hopefully that will be reflected in future games.”
Junior Guard Lexie Brown
On the opportunity to play in Cameron Indoor Stadium as a Blue Devil for the first time:
“Today was really fun. I've been looking forward to this game all summer. It's actually my second time playing in Cameron, but the first time I was the opponent, unfortunately, so being able to be on the home team was amazing. The crowd was really fun, and to finally be out there playing together after we've been practicing for the past couple of weeks was great. I'm just really excited for next year, but I'm going to do my best to contribute on the bench this season and be the best cheerleader I can be.”
On having to sit out the season due to the NCAA transfer rules:
“It's definitely going to be hard, but I've talked to Coach P a lot about it. I still contribute a lot in practice, and I basically do everything anyone else does except for actually playing in the games. So it's my job is to make everyone better, and that's my biggest motivation. If I'm feeling down one day, I can't act like that because I need to able to push everybody in practice. Coach P said I need to be a 'practice All-American' this year, so that's what I'm going to try to be.”
On hitting the final two free throws to tie the game:
“I enjoy those big pressure moments, but it's funny, we had a free throw drill in practice, and I missed four in a row and made everybody run four times, so it's kind of ironic that I was responsible for those free throws at the end of the game. But thankfully I sunk them, and fortunately we were able to tie the guys, even though I think we should have beaten them.”
On team effort and execution:
“The only thing that we really tried to do today is just to get out there and get a feel for playing together, and get some officials to help us out with calls, and understanding how the game will be called. Everything needs improvement. There is nothing that is good enough at this point. It's fun to see different people step up, I thought Crystal Primm was an interesting person today. So you look for those little things. It was the only time Lexie [Brown] will ever put a uniform on this year so it was a good opportunity for her. We didn't have any stellar performances, but I think we learned to play together better. I think the film will be the best thing, when we go to film tomorrow that will be the best thing to show.”
On rules adjustments:
“There were no differences really. I mean I wasn't coaching today but not really that different best I could tell, but I look forward to it, when we are getting ready for the exhibition games.”
On Lexie Brown as an asset in practice:
“I think our guard play really has a chance to get very good. Lexie [Brown] obviously has a great deal of experience and Kyra [Lambert] is an explosive player. I think having Lexie in practice is a huge benefit. Again she is attacking all the time and plays with a great deal of energy and also poise as well, so it will benefit all the guards, and of course getting Angela [Salvadores] back as we will shortly.”
On Haley Gorecki and Rebecca Greenwell and guard play:
“I think they're definitely similarities in their play, I think they look for each other, and I think that they can play off of each other pretty well, like all of our guards. I saw some nice play with Kyra and Lexie. I just think we have an opportunity here, like with what Crystal did, to be an interesting group of guards, with a lot of diverse strengths and talent it is going to be fun to see how we develop it and how each person brings their game to it.”
On improvement for the next game:
“There isn't a thing we can't improve on. Rebounding was very poor, offensive rebounding was poor, transition offense was poor, there just is so much. It is the first time we are out there. It is just a good teaching film.”
On injuries:
“Mercedes [Riggs] and Kendall [Cooper] were both out due to a car incident that occurred. So nothing on the court so they will be back within the next week I would guess, and Angela we have been holding her, and Lynee [Belton] has been out for the ACL since last year. So nothing is new from that group, except I must say it was disappointing to have Kendall and Mercedes not have the opportunity. I would say hopefully everyone will be back for the next exhibition.”
On playing without subs:
“It is a great opportunity for the 10 who did play to be out there performing, and we had some turnovers and bad decisions. But I can't think of anything better, to know that I am not going to be subbed out and I can play and play.”
On defense:
“I think we got more aggressive as we got comfortable playing. We do have a variety of defenses we are trying to shore up, whether its pressing or man or matchups, we have a lot of work to do. However, I think the experience they gained was very valuable. To know when to pick up the ball, to be more aggressive denying entries and really playing physically And really playing physically, I think it was a good experience going through that together.”
Graduate Center Amber Henson:
On being back in Cameron Indoor Stadium and her outlook for the season:
“I felt great; it was great to be back out there again. Obviously we have a different team, but I'm extremely excited about the newcomers. Obviously we wish Lexie could play; we're going to miss her competitive spirit, but hopefully that rubs off on some of the freshmen. We have a lot of things to work on – execution, shoring up our defense – but that will all come.”
On her role this season:
“My role is a lot like last year. Obviously when it's my turn to shoot and get a point, I can do that, but at the same time I'm directing traffic, setting good screens, rebounding, and playing great defense. That's always been an important part of my role, and I think this year I'll have more confidence in my shot as well, and hopefully that will be reflected in future games.”
Junior Guard Lexie Brown
On the opportunity to play in Cameron Indoor Stadium as a Blue Devil for the first time:
“Today was really fun. I've been looking forward to this game all summer. It's actually my second time playing in Cameron, but the first time I was the opponent, unfortunately, so being able to be on the home team was amazing. The crowd was really fun, and to finally be out there playing together after we've been practicing for the past couple of weeks was great. I'm just really excited for next year, but I'm going to do my best to contribute on the bench this season and be the best cheerleader I can be.”
On having to sit out the season due to the NCAA transfer rules:
“It's definitely going to be hard, but I've talked to Coach P a lot about it. I still contribute a lot in practice, and I basically do everything anyone else does except for actually playing in the games. So it's my job is to make everyone better, and that's my biggest motivation. If I'm feeling down one day, I can't act like that because I need to able to push everybody in practice. Coach P said I need to be a 'practice All-American' this year, so that's what I'm going to try to be.”
On hitting the final two free throws to tie the game:
“I enjoy those big pressure moments, but it's funny, we had a free throw drill in practice, and I missed four in a row and made everybody run four times, so it's kind of ironic that I was responsible for those free throws at the end of the game. But thankfully I sunk them, and fortunately we were able to tie the guys, even though I think we should have beaten them.”
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