Taiyanna Jackson and Ryan Cobbins answer questions from the media after the Kansas Jayhawks defeated the BYU Cougars 67-53 on January 31st, 2024 in Allen Fieldhouse.
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00:00 >> Ryan, it's your first time back in the starting lineup in a while.
00:04 What was it like to just get out there right away?
00:06 Obviously, you guys had that bench count out a little earlier, but
00:10 you still started off with the team.
00:11 >> Right, I mean, it was a good feeling.
00:13 I got my nerves out early, usually sitting on the bench, and I kind of wait for
00:16 that first play to happen for me.
00:18 But to be able to get it out of the way early, I mean, it was a good feeling.
00:21 >> Tiana, you obviously had a bit of a size advantage on the BYU front court
00:29 tonight, how do you leverage that to play as well as you did tonight?
00:32 >> [LAUGH]
00:35 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:38 No, I don't like, yeah, I know that they're smaller than me, but
00:42 it's very physical down there, the double team and stuff.
00:45 But just keeping my composure and just knowing contact is gonna happen,
00:49 every possession, the double team is gonna happen or something like that.
00:54 So just keeping my composure and just trusting my teammates and
00:57 just giving me the best positions to score.
00:59 >> I'm sure neither of you guys have played in front of a bat before.
01:04 At what point did you notice?
01:05 >> [LAUGH] >> I was guarding somebody and
01:09 they was like, it's a bat.
01:10 >> [LAUGH] >> I'm like, it's not a bat either, girl.
01:14 >> I saw it, but I thought it was a bird.
01:16 >> Me too.
01:17 >> I thought it was a bird and then it flew in my face.
01:20 >> Yeah, and I was just like, we might as well just keep playing because they're
01:24 trying to throw towels and stuff at us because we're not getting it.
01:27 >> Ryan, did it hit you or just fly past you?
01:29 >> No, it didn't hit me, but I'm pretty sure it was close.
01:31 I don't know, I just closed my eyes a little bit.
01:33 >> Hey, that's embarrassing.
01:34 They laughing at me because it's bad.
01:36 >> [LAUGH] >> Tiana,
01:40 tonight you had 25 points, 21 rebounds.
01:43 It was your first career 2020 game.
01:45 What does that mean to you to add that accomplishment to your long resume?
01:49 >> It means a lot.
01:50 Like I said, I'm gonna be able to do it without my teammates and my coaches,
01:53 because they stress to me how much of a better team we are when I'm on the floor
01:57 and when I'm locking and keeping my composure.
01:59 So I'm really gonna be able to do it without my teammates,
02:01 because they put me in that position to score.
02:04 They're feeding me the ball, so I'm gonna be able to do it without my teammates.
02:07 Yes, it feels so good having that accomplishment.
02:10 >> Well, and 12 of those were offensive rebounds,
02:16 with a lot of those going right back up for points or a foul.
02:20 What was it you were able to do to be able to get that great positioning and
02:23 be able to come down with so many of those?
02:24 >> Like I said, I took offense when they said,
02:28 no 12 is the best rebounder in our conference.
02:31 So I really took that to offense.
02:32 So honestly, for real, that's what motivates me going into the game,
02:36 just knowing that we have the size advantage and knowing that I am a great
02:40 offensive rebounder and I can get a second chance points.
02:42 And I just didn't wanna be boxed out tonight.
02:44 So just giving a second effort to get the ball.
02:47 >> Without Holly in the lineup tonight, what did you guys have to do,
02:51 you guys and your team have to do to kind of fill that role?
02:53 >> I mean, just work together.
02:56 We got twin a lot of touches and usually we can kind of rely on Holly for
03:01 that because she is such a good shooter.
03:02 So people kind of hook up on her and that opens up the lane for twin.
03:05 But I mean, I think it was all around a really good team effort and
03:08 everyone played their role and they did what they could in their minutes.
03:11 So I think it was just buying into knowing that Holly wouldn't be there tonight and
03:15 kind of playing for her.
03:16 >> Like she said, we know she wasn't playing.
03:18 So we all had a discussion like we planned for her and we played for her also.
03:23 >> Who's playing for Vicky?
03:27 >> Also, so just knowing that we planned for one of our teammates who can't play and
03:32 planned for someone who left a mark here.
03:34 So that honestly motivated us throughout this game.
03:38 And just getting the does in front of our family and just having fun.
03:41 [BLANK_AUDIO]