Iowa women's basketball press conference
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00:00 [FOOTSTEPS]
00:03 You guys have held the last two opponents in the 50s.
00:09 What's going well defensively for you guys?
00:11 I think we've grown a lot over--
00:19 I'm just thinking of the years that I've been here.
00:21 I think we've grown a lot defensively.
00:23 And just we have a really good offense.
00:28 And we've had really good offense for the past few years.
00:30 But we've had to learn to take defense more seriously
00:32 because that's how you--
00:34 defense wins championships.
00:36 That's what Coach Flutter preaches to us all the time.
00:38 So I think it's just been a different mindset that we
00:40 have to focus on that.
00:42 Rebounding has been a big thing for you guys.
00:44 You're one of those big rebounders.
00:45 How much is that defense getting better?
00:47 How much is it just being able to clear the defensive boards
00:50 and not allow second chances?
00:52 Yeah, I think we always talk about ourselves getting
00:55 second chance opportunities.
00:56 And that's a really big emphasis for us.
00:58 So taking that away from the other team
01:00 has been really important.
01:01 And it gets our transition going.
01:03 You get the rebound, people are up the floor.
01:06 Hannah's running the floor, Katie at the floor.
01:08 So I think that's really important for our transition
01:11 game as well.
01:11 What do you think you guys are doing specifically
01:14 that's better defensively?
01:17 I've written two game stories.
01:19 And the lead was both--
01:21 was defense.
01:22 It just hasn't happened before.
01:24 I think the biggest part of the defense is probably rebounding,
01:28 limiting their offensive rebounds,
01:31 their second chance points.
01:35 But I think just--
01:35 I mean, we have Gabby and Molly and people
01:40 that are willing to step up and take their main players.
01:44 But yeah, I don't know.
01:45 I think, like I said, I think it's just
01:46 the attitude on defense is different than knowing
01:49 we have to get stops.
01:50 You guys obviously have a tough matchup against--
01:52 this Sunday against Ohio State.
01:54 How would you describe them on the road traveling over there?
01:56 How would you describe them as an opponent?
02:00 I mean, we played there last year.
02:01 I don't think it was necessarily completely sold out.
02:04 But I think it will be this time.
02:06 And it's just like any opposing crowd.
02:08 There'll definitely be more fans for Ohio State.
02:10 But I know we'll have a ton of Iowa fans there,
02:13 which is really exciting.
02:14 But staying together and making sure we're huddling up
02:17 at every chance we get, every dead ball time out
02:20 is really important because it's so loud in there.
02:22 You can't hear all the time.
02:23 So that'll be huge for us.
02:26 I'm sorry.
02:26 You two obviously know that the crowds come for Kaitlin
02:29 when they're selling out those shows.
02:30 But what's that like for you guys?
02:31 I mean, I think that every game you've played in
02:33 has been sold out since the start of December.
02:35 What's that been like for both of you
02:36 two to have this on a nightly basis
02:38 where you know you're playing in front of packed arenas?
02:41 It's crazy.
02:42 It's just like it's almost the normal now.
02:44 And it's crazy to think that we didn't have that
02:46 the past few years.
02:47 But yeah, tons of people are coming to watch Kaitlin.
02:50 But I think our coaches, they always
02:52 talk about the light that shines on her, shines on all of us.
02:55 So we all have that attitude.
02:58 It's our circle.
03:00 And it's just really special.
03:01 And we are so grateful for the fans
03:03 that come out and support us.
03:05 When you look back at your games last year against Ohio State,
03:07 Ohio State's really good at forcing turnovers.
03:09 They like to press, things like that.
03:11 I think they had 27 total points off turnovers in two games
03:15 against you guys last year.
03:16 What did you guys do well in those games
03:17 to limit those extra points for them?
03:21 I think really just taking care of the ball.
03:23 Like you said, they do press.
03:24 And they're a very aggressive team.
03:26 So there's not going to be a ton of fouls called all the time.
03:29 But it's fun playing.
03:31 People want to press us.
03:32 When we break it, we're going to get points in transition.
03:34 So I think once we break it a couple of times,
03:37 they'll end up taking it at all.
03:38 But valuing the ball is going to be really crucial.
03:41 Have you guys watched the Maryland-Ohio State game?
03:44 I guess for Sharon, Nikolaj Csikovas
03:50 showed some post moves that I don't think anybody's
03:52 seen before.
03:54 What sort of problems does she present if they keep her inside?
03:58 She definitely-- she likes to be outside.
04:00 But when she comes inside, she's a good post player.
04:03 And she sets you up for the pro move and everything like that.
04:07 So it'll just be like every other game.
04:11 You've got to do what--
04:14 I don't know.
04:14 Post defense will be big.
04:16 And it will be more for us probably,
04:19 more so than Hannah for me and Addy and Asia.
04:21 That's when she brings us out to the perimeter
04:23 that we got to focus on that.
04:26 But no, I think we'll do OK.
04:29 Coach Blewetter said after her last game
04:30 that this was the strongest bench
04:32 that she's had in a long time.
04:33 As both players have come off the bench this season,
04:36 how does that make you guys feel about the overall mentality
04:39 of some of the bench players as well?
04:40 I don't know.
04:44 I think it's really important to have a deep bench.
04:45 Everyone's not going to have a perfect game
04:48 every single game.
04:48 And starters need breaks too.
04:52 And being able to look at your bench
04:53 and rely on those players is really important.
04:56 And on the bench, everyone knows how good they are.
04:59 And you know you're just as good to go in there
05:01 and give those minutes.
05:02 So it's a big strength for our team this year.
05:04 Do you think Ohio State will be extra motivated this time
05:07 around?
05:07 You guys headed them to--
05:09 were successful last year against them to twice.
05:11 So do you think they'll bring that extra motivation
05:14 this time around?
05:15 Yeah, they're definitely going to come in wanting a revenge.
05:17 So we got to be ready.
05:18 And but you can't take--
05:22 we are already-- what are we halfway through the season?
05:25 Yeah, so it's like this is the funnest part of the season.
05:29 And those rivalry games are fun.
05:31 And I mean, Indiana was coming in hot.
05:34 They want to beat us too.
05:35 And everybody's going to give us their best shot.
05:37 But yeah, it'll be fun.
05:39 That's what basketball is all about.
05:39 So we're excited.
05:41 What do you remember about the Big 10 final against them?
05:43 I mean, it was just kind of a snowball game
05:45 where everything went right for you guys.
05:48 We loved that.
05:49 Yeah, it just seemed--
05:50 it was just one of those games where we were on a roll.
05:53 And it did.
05:54 It kind of was a snowball effect where
05:57 things kept going right for us and kept making shots.
05:59 And I think our defense was good that game too.
06:02 So--
06:03 Chase Shelton didn't play much in that game.
06:05 And she didn't play at all in the game in Columbus.
06:09 How does she change the way you prepare for them?
06:14 She's a great guard.
06:15 She can score at all three levels.
06:17 And that's a really big emphasis for us.
06:19 And tag her on all screens and get a handoff
06:23 on all of her shots.
06:24 She's a great player.
06:25 So she'll make tough shots.
06:26 But that's what we need to focus on
06:28 is making her take tough twos, not wide open layups or open
06:32 threes.
06:33 That's what she wants.
06:35 Sharon, I'm curious about the progression of the post room
06:37 right now.
06:37 Because especially with Hannah out this last week,
06:40 you guys kind of had a post by committee with AJ even
06:44 in getting in there and getting a lot of quality minutes.
06:46 For sure.
06:47 Has that been kind of the theme this year
06:49 as the season has developed?
06:50 With the absence of Monica, you guys are kind of just stepping
06:53 in.
06:53 And everybody knows that if you're a post player,
06:55 you're probably going to come in and see some quality
06:57 minutes at some point.
06:58 Yeah.
06:59 The coaches said that at the beginning of the year.
07:01 And I think it still kind of holds true
07:02 that they don't know what we're going to need
07:04 in which game we're playing.
07:06 And all three of us have different skill sets.
07:09 And we have different strengths and weaknesses
07:12 between the three of us, excluding Hannah, I mean.
07:15 But they've done a good job of telling us
07:19 that we need to be ready when we're called.
07:21 And I think that was a perfect example the other night
07:24 that everybody was ready and dialed in and ready to go.
07:28 What did you get from Caitlin for her birthday?
07:32 What did we get from her?
07:33 Yeah.
07:34 They seem like limited edition.
07:35 I've never seen those before.
07:37 But they're really cool.
07:38 They look like Nike dunks probably.
07:40 I think they are some green Nike.
07:43 Yeah.
07:44 I'm excited about them.
07:45 I like them.
07:46 We love that we get presents for her birthday.
07:49 We like Caitlin's birthday.
07:51 So first, did she dance for four years past?
07:53 She did last year.
07:56 Did you girls get anything for her or just get stuff from her?
07:59 Well, her birthday's on Monday, right?
08:01 The 22nd.
08:02 Oh.
08:02 The 22nd, what day that is.
08:03 Yeah.
08:03 A couple weeks to shop.
08:04 What about Mark Flex?
08:05 Did she give you something?
08:07 They're like sold out everywhere.
08:08 I don't know.
08:09 Are they gone?
08:09 I don't know.
08:10 Yeah.
08:12 The first day, I think it was at Ivy.
08:13 Not even for that, but I was looking for them.
08:16 There's none there.
08:17 No shit.
08:17 [INAUDIBLE]
08:18 [LAUGHTER]
08:21 Thanks, Catherine.
08:23 Thank you.
08:23 [INAUDIBLE]
08:26 All right.
08:32 Obviously, an incredibly difficult opponent
08:36 coming up this weekend at Ohio State.
08:41 It's a team that is 9-1 at home with their only loss
08:45 being to UCLA.
08:46 They beat Tennessee by 20.
08:49 I'm a big fan of JC Sheldon.
08:51 I think she's a tremendous point guard.
08:53 She came back for her fifth year.
08:54 And they're healthy.
08:57 Last year, they weren't as healthy
08:58 as they could have been, especially at the center
09:00 position.
09:01 And now they are.
09:03 Just a really difficult team to prepare for because they
09:05 press so much.
09:07 And they have a lot of weapons.
09:08 And Celeste Taylor was a really good portal
09:11 get for them from Duke.
09:13 Really good defensive player and moved right
09:15 into the starting lineup.
09:17 So obviously, Cody McMahon, a tremendous--
09:20 you know, his freshman year, just a tremendous player.
09:22 Played for USA Basketball this summer.
09:26 Incredible athlete.
09:28 And so we're going to have our work cut out for us.
09:31 But we're excited to go on the road
09:33 and play in another sold-out arena.
09:35 On the status of Hannah Stoltz, you missed the last game.
09:37 Is she good to go for Sunday?
09:39 I think she'll be good to go.
09:42 Lisa, obviously, how much tension
09:45 goes to the starting five?
09:46 But the bench still ranks near the top 10, the Big 10,
09:48 in terms of scoring.
09:50 I guess, what is it about those players
09:51 that make the most of the opportunity
09:53 if they put it on the court?
09:55 Yeah, did you say that our bench ranks
09:57 in the top 10 of the Big 10?
09:58 Oh, you have the top and the--
10:00 Oh, and they're the top.
10:01 OK.
10:05 I mean, Sid Affolter has been playing so well,
10:08 offensively and defensively.
10:10 And she is an amazing spark off the bench.
10:14 Kylie Feerbach provides us some of the same type of action.
10:18 And then we go to Sharon Goodman,
10:20 which is a different-looking post player than Hannah.
10:23 But also, she and Addy and AJ even
10:26 did some really good things going in last week.
10:28 So I've kind of said that I think
10:31 this is the best bench we've had in a long time here at Iowa.
10:34 And I really believe that.
10:36 You talked about Ohio State's press.
10:39 I think they're averaging 21 turn force turnovers a game.
10:42 Something like 30% of their points
10:43 come from off turnovers.
10:44 Last year, you guys held them at 13 and 14 near two wins
10:48 off turnovers.
10:48 What are the keys to--
10:50 obviously, taking care of the ball.
10:51 But what specifically do you guys
10:53 have to do to replicate that?
10:54 Yeah, you can't get rattled, right?
10:56 I mean, that's what they want you to do, is to get rattled
10:58 and to make unforced errors, to make silly turnovers.
11:03 But I mean, they're very aggressive in it.
11:04 And again, they're long, so they cover a lot
11:08 of ground in their traps, a lot of space.
11:12 But we just have to stay composed.
11:14 And hopefully, going through practice this week
11:17 will get us prepared for that.
11:18 Can you put your finger on why it is that this year's bench
11:21 and the role players have developed so well?
11:23 Is it because you lost McKinnon and Monica?
11:26 Or is it because there's an experienced group that
11:28 is deep there on the bench?
11:29 Or why is it that this year's bench
11:31 has been so good for you guys?
11:33 Yeah, I think, first of all, they're quality players, right?
11:36 I mean, they're really good players.
11:38 But mostly, it's that they have that experience now.
11:40 And they have confidence.
11:41 They know that when they go in what they're expected to do.
11:44 And they're relishing in their role.
11:46 They're not like, I don't get a start type of feeling.
11:49 Instead, they're really relishing in their role
11:51 and going out there and playing to the most of their abilities.
11:54 I think Alashikova showed some post moves against Maryland
11:57 that I haven't seen.
11:59 But I'm sure you have.
12:01 What does that do to your defense
12:05 when she really can make those kind of moves inside?
12:10 And she's also a really good three-point shooter.
12:13 She is.
12:14 She's hard to defend because of that.
12:15 She stretches out the defense because she can shoot threes.
12:18 In fact, I almost think she's their second best three-point
12:21 shooter on their team.
12:23 But she's also able to go into the post area.
12:26 And really, she's strong.
12:29 She's physical.
12:31 She's quick.
12:32 She's quicker than you'd think.
12:33 When you look at her, you think she's not going to be that
12:36 quick, but she's quick off the bounce.
12:38 She's quick in her post moves.
12:40 And it makes it tough because, yeah, I mean,
12:43 you don't want to put our post in a one-on-one situation
12:46 with her because she's got a really good experience, height
12:49 and strength.
12:50 How do you like where your defense is right now?
12:52 You've held two straight opponents
12:53 in the 50s, which you don't do very often.
12:56 Against Big Ten teams.
12:57 Yeah, I mean, I think our defense is just much improved
13:00 over last year.
13:03 And one area is definitely defensive rebounding.
13:05 I think we're just doing a much better job boxing out
13:08 and getting the boards.
13:09 And that enables us to push.
13:11 But I do think defensively, we're
13:15 better overall than we were last year.
13:18 Again, maybe it's experience.
13:21 You know, I loved Monica.
13:23 She wasn't the best post-defensive player.
13:25 And so now I think we have a few different options
13:27 to look at there.
13:28 But I think, you know, Sid again and Kylie and the way
13:31 that they're coming in and contributing on both sides,
13:34 but especially defensively in hustle plays,
13:38 I think that's a big difference for us.
13:40 You guys obviously have been successful on the road.
13:42 Do you think this game is kind of an opportunity
13:43 for you guys to kind of solidify that dominance on the road
13:46 against a tough Ohio State team?
13:47 Yeah, I mean, you're playing a top 10 team
13:49 in a sold-out arena at their place.
13:52 I mean, this is a huge game for us.
13:55 And it would be a huge win on the road.
13:57 So we know it's going to be very, very difficult.
14:01 But certainly, if we get this one,
14:03 it gives us confidence going forward playing at Indiana,
14:06 at Maryland, and some of those places.
14:08 There's been a lot written in the past about Jan Jensen
14:10 helping develop the post players on this team.
14:12 I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on how
14:14 this post group has developed.
14:15 Because with Hannah out, I mean, AJ
14:17 came in there and played a lot of quality minutes
14:18 this last week.
14:19 And where it is you've seen this team grow,
14:21 where you've seen the post players grow,
14:23 especially from the beginning of the season to where they are
14:25 now?
14:26 Yeah, I think they've all really come along and developed.
14:30 Obviously, Hannah's our nod right now
14:32 at the starting post player.
14:35 I like that we have different looks that we can give people,
14:39 in that Hannah's obviously a more athletic, quicker, speedier
14:46 post, where Sharon is a little bit more physical,
14:50 back to your basket, straightforward post,
14:52 kind of old school post.
14:54 Addy brings the most height then.
14:56 And certainly, AJ's gone in and done some good things.
14:58 I mean, so we have four post players.
15:01 That's a lot of fouls that you can give down there,
15:03 which is kind of a nice thing to have.
15:05 And we ran into that against Wisconsin
15:07 when we had Sharon and Addy both picked up two fouls.
15:10 And we went with AJ, and she did a nice job in there.
15:14 But I think that, again, Coach Jensen is a fabulous post coach.
15:20 And she is such a good motivator and confidence
15:23 builder in those players.
15:24 That's what makes, I think, Coach Jensen so special
15:27 in working with our posts.
15:28 How do you expect Ohio State's crowd to be?
15:30 I mean, obviously, they're motivated to come and hand
15:33 you guys a loss.
15:34 But how do you expect the crowd to be on Sunday?
15:37 Oh, it's going to be an unbelievable environment.
15:40 First of all, it's sold out.
15:41 Last year was sold out, but they draped off the top.
15:44 I don't think they're doing that this year.
15:46 So I mean, it's a game that's on national television.
15:49 It's an opportunity for them to showcase their program,
15:51 their university, just like we look at those opportunities
15:54 when we're on national television here in Iowa City.
15:56 So it's going to be a very--
15:59 they're always a pretty boisterous crowd
16:01 there at Ohio State.
16:02 A lot of teams, when they go up against the press,
16:04 like Ohio State, their plan is we just
16:06 need to break the press to get in our half court offense.
16:09 You guys are so good in transition
16:10 that if you break their press quickly enough,
16:12 you can find a shooter on the outside
16:13 or get a pass down low.
16:15 How much more important does that make breaking their press,
16:17 knowing that if you guys can break,
16:19 there might be opportunity to get some quick points?
16:21 That's always the goal.
16:22 When we're going against a press,
16:23 we always want to break it and get those high percentage
16:26 scores, because when you're pressing,
16:27 that's what you're giving up.
16:28 You're giving up-- if you can break the press,
16:30 you're giving up mismatches at the other end,
16:32 open shots at the other end.
16:34 And we did that to them last year.
16:36 And they had to take it off.
16:37 And again, any time you can get a team to go to plan B,
16:40 it's a good thing.
16:42 Chasey Sheldon played really short minutes
16:45 in the Big 10 championship and didn't play in the other game.
16:51 How different are they because she's healthy and back?
16:55 Yeah, J.C. Sheldon is just a tremendous basketball player.
17:01 And at 5' 10", she can shoot the three,
17:03 but she can beat you off the bounce.
17:04 And she has a nice pull-up jumper,
17:06 so she scores kind of at the rim, at two points, three
17:10 points.
17:11 But I think she's also somebody that they really look to.
17:14 I think she's the leader of that team.
17:15 I think she's somebody that--
17:17 they were kind of missing it when she was on the bench
17:20 last year, just kind of--
17:21 we say Kate's the glue.
17:23 I feel like she's the glue of that team.
17:25 Definitely the commanding leader out there.
17:31 Last year, they had Mikicel, who is a tremendous shooter.
17:34 Obviously, she graduated.
17:36 So now J.C. is having to pick up the slack in that area.
17:42 But again, I'm a pretty big fan of J.C. Sheldon.
17:47 Go ahead.
17:47 How do you guys kind of plan to guard Kody McMahon?
17:50 And you talked about how well she
17:52 played last year as a freshman, probably
17:53 one of the better young players in the Big 10.
17:55 The first thought would probably be Hannah Stolke because
17:57 of her quickness, her athleticness.
17:59 But she's going to have to play in the post.
18:00 Just kind of what are your plans when going up against her?
18:03 Yeah, and sometimes Kody will go to the five position
18:06 when they go-- they have a short lineup
18:08 that they like to go to.
18:09 And so I'm sure Hannah will have some opportunities
18:12 to go against her.
18:13 But she's a hard person to defend.
18:16 Now, she does pick up some offensive fouls
18:18 because she goes in there sometimes recklessly.
18:20 And we need to take advantage of that.
18:23 But she is hard to guard because she's so strong.
18:25 And she has that spin move at the end of her finish that is--
18:28 you think you have her stopped, and all of a sudden,
18:31 she's spinning the other direction.
18:32 So it's not a one-on-one situation
18:35 when you're guarding Ohio State.
18:36 I think it's going to--
18:37 it has to be a team focus, a team effort.
18:40 Sorry for your statement yesterday,
18:41 but I'd be curious to ask in person again
18:43 about Beth Getz getting hired and getting the interim label
18:46 removed.
18:47 I mean, she was the proponent, obviously,
18:48 of the crossover at Kinnick.
18:49 And so I imagine there must be just a lot of excitement
18:52 for you and for this program having her step in
18:54 as a full-time AD.
18:55 There is.
18:56 I mean, I just think Beth Getz was the right choice
18:58 for this position.
19:00 We needed her now.
19:01 She's an unbelievable leader.
19:05 She's so honest and so transparent,
19:07 and she communicates so well.
19:11 But I'm just excited that the University of Iowa
19:14 is showing how they promote women
19:16 and how they stand behind women.
19:17 And we have a women's athletic director now.
19:21 We're the only school in the Big 10 right now that has that.
19:23 There's only seven in the Power Five.
19:25 So it's a pretty rare company.
19:28 And I'm really excited that the University of Iowa
19:31 chose Beth because of not only her unbelievable ability,
19:35 but because it also shows that we are promoting and backing
19:39 great women leaders.
19:42 Thank you.
19:43 Thank you.
19:45 (toilet flushes)