TCU fell to Kansas 81-74 on Saturday at Schollmaier Arena. Sydney Harris scored 22 points, including 5-of-11 from 3-point range, and grabbed six rebounds.
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00:00 For your patience, we had a long, long list of autograph seekers upstairs, but we've got
00:04 Coach Campbell and Sydney Harris after tonight's game against Kansas. We'll start with an opening
00:10 statement from Coach and then we'll take questions in the room.
00:12 Well, really proud of the team and the way they competed and fought. We gave ourselves a chance.
00:21 I think we were up one with about four minutes to go and kind of had that domino where Aliyah got a
00:29 rebound and fell and Luna had the ball and bumps into Agnes. Anyways, they get a bucket out of that
00:35 and after that, gosh dang, we just couldn't quite get the lead back. But this group could not be
00:42 more proud. The adversity that we've gone through, trying to learn a new offense, playing small ball,
00:49 they are fighting and scrapping and giving themselves a chance to win. Same thing in
00:56 Texas Tech, we're right there. So we're going to just keep working, keep going through the process
01:03 of trying to get better and we got to get better defensively. That's the one thing we got to figure
01:07 out a way to get some stops. But tonight I'm proud of the group. On offense, it looks like,
01:14 did the byweight kind of help kind of get the offense flowing a little bit better and kind of
01:18 just understand the emotion a little bit more? Yeah, I mean, it's, I don't even know if it's
01:25 been two weeks of them learning a five out motion. That doesn't happen in two weeks. Normally you get
01:30 two months during October, November to learn something. So it's going to be a work in progress
01:35 the whole year until you get Sedona and Madison back. It's going to be a great compliment though,
01:40 even though we get those kids back, it's going to be good. So we're still working through the kinks,
01:44 but they're getting better. They're getting more comfortable. Practice reps were able to go five
01:50 on five this week. That helps. So offensively though, we're playing good enough offensively.
01:59 You got to find a way to survive defensively. Just how hard is it for your squad to basically
02:05 just have a six man rotation and especially whenever you're playing with high foul trouble
02:11 there towards the end? It's really hard. There's a small margin for error right now for us to win
02:17 these games. And that's, it comes out in many areas. Foul trouble is one of the areas, but
02:25 this group, they understand it. They are locked in. Truly, I could not be more proud of everything
02:34 that's unfolded and how they keep showing up at practice, how they are in the locker room.
02:42 And the reality is we got to play a really good game to get this done.
02:48 Sydney, it looked like you stepped into a couple of threes early on and that got you into a really
02:53 nice rhythm on the scoring end of things. Now that you've got a few games under your belt off of that
02:59 ankle injury, just how much more comfortable are you feeling, especially in the same five-pound
03:02 system? I'm super comfortable and I feel like my teammates have been able to find me super easily
03:09 and everything's come very easily. Like my shots, like you said, I'm stepping into a perfect shot.
03:14 It's been pretty good. Coach, for you, how big of a challenge is it when it feels like in the
03:20 first half it's officiated a little bit differently than it is in the second half? Only 10 fouls
03:25 called in the first half and 29 called in the second. Yeah, first of all, Syd, I want to go
03:31 back to her in the offense. She is such an elite shooter that this five-out motion is really good
03:37 for her. When you add a Madison Cotter, another shooter like that to it, it's going to be really
03:44 good. There's blessings that are coming from the adversity and trying to figure out a new way to
03:50 play the game. But, Syd was dynamite tonight. Then the foul calls, you guys, I never worry about the
03:57 refs. I don't even talk to them much during the game. I try to just pour into our team and our
04:02 kids and worry about things we can control. I did think they were pretty consistent. Foul calls,
04:10 I think it was 20 to 19 overall. Free throws were in the ballpark. We just got to get better
04:17 defensively. We got to worry about what we can control. Well, and kind of on that same idea,
04:22 the rebounding, Kansas, I remember you guys, 36-25. How do you address that discrepancy?
04:29 The rebounding, I mean, they have a 6-6 center WBA prospect. We don't have a center currently.
04:36 We got Aaliyah, who's our power forward, and Sydney and Agnes, who are power forwards and
04:44 wings. They have a big advantage there tonight. You got to fight. This is where I'm proud of the
04:51 team. They're fighting. They got more rebounds, but it's not because of a lack of effort.
04:58 We got to fight harder. We got to be even more disciplined, but they're scrapping down there.
05:03 I'm proud of them. Coach, there was a moment in the fourth when Agnes went down. It looked like
05:09 a cramp. Did a part of you in the back of your mind kind of go, "Oh, no. Here we go again"?
05:14 No. These kids, our strength coach is awesome. It's just been a bunch of fluky stuff that's
05:21 happened this year. You have no control over it. Agnes is as strong of a player that I've ever
05:29 coached. She's logging 40 minutes and guarding the other team's best players every night.
05:35 That kid's a soldier. What comes with sports, you lace it up and go compete. Injuries are part of
05:43 the game. This group, they're grinding you guys. They really are. They're giving themselves a
05:51 chance to win. We just haven't finished it off. What do you tell your team after the game,
05:56 after you're grinding it and getting closer and closer? What's actually the message
06:02 that you tell them in the locker room? It's the same message of control you can.
06:08 In this process, the outcome, you don't always get rewarded with the outcome you want on the
06:13 court and in life. I do know the only chance you have to win is you better work your butt off.
06:21 You got to show up in practice and keep working your butt off. You got to keep grinding. If you
06:26 don't do that, we have no shot. To the team's credit, with all the stuff that's going on,
06:32 they have put their nose down and worked and been coachable. We're going to continue to do that.
06:41 Sometimes you don't get the outcome you want, but it's not because of a lack of effort or a
06:44 lack of trying. Have you learned anything different from any of the players that you
06:49 maybe have not have known about them? No question. Our team's growing up. All these kids.
06:57 Sid missed eight weeks and she's jumping into the mix. She didn't get all the reps that other people
07:04 had and is figuring stuff out. Vic's a kid that's playing 30 minutes a night as a true freshman,
07:11 as a point guard. It's hard to be a true freshman point guard in the Big 12.
07:15 But if you have no other option, figure this out. Agnes is carrying us as an absolute soldier.
07:23 Una and Tara. Aliyah's blossomed. Literally, I think she's leading the league in effective
07:31 field goal percentage. Each one of these kids, there is no other option. You got to figure this
07:38 out now and grow up now. They're doing that. Speaking of growing up, can you talk about your
07:43 point guard, Una, in today's seven assists, zero turnovers? Seems like she's really taken that role
07:49 of being court general and ran with it. Una right now in the Big 12 has a two to one assist turnover
07:56 ratio. I think she's shooting about 45 percent from the field, 50 percent from three. Una loves
08:04 the game of basketball, studies it, works at it. She is all in. Right now, her and Aliyah are
08:12 playing efficient, high level basketball in Big 12 play. But it's part of this growing up phase.
08:20 This group has been thrust into this situation and I couldn't be prouder of how they're handling it.
08:27 Sydney, for you, what do you feel like you've learned throughout this process,
08:32 just the volume change and everything going on? I think I've just learned, like MC said,
08:36 was to grow up. I mean, I've played like maybe four or five games in the Big 12. I'm coming from
08:41 mid-major. I mean, that's both Division One levels, but I mean, the jump is insane. So,
08:47 I mean, I've just learned to get tougher, control what you can, like miss a shot. You got to keep
08:52 going. I mean, you can't turn your head down anything. You just have to keep going. I feel
08:55 like I've grown in that, maturing, not letting small things affect the entire game. And I feel
09:03 like that's probably my biggest thing so far. Adversity of the year aside, Sydney, you made a
09:08 decision to the portal and ultimately to end up here at this moment right now. Hearing your coach
09:14 talk about you the way that he has and knowing how your team is battling through all of this,
09:19 just talk about TCU and your choice to come here and has that been affirmed at this point?
09:24 When I was in the portal, I think my biggest thing was like getting my best ability like out
09:34 on the floor. So, I knew MC would coach me as hard and get me to kind of like get uncomfortable
09:41 and get out of like what I know what to do. And I feel like I'm not the best defender. And
09:47 he works on all the coaches, you know, like just focusing on things that like I need to get better
09:53 at so that I can continue to grow my game. I think that was kind of like my biggest thing I was
09:58 looking for was getting better. I wasn't doing that at my previous school. So, I knew I needed
10:03 to find something where I wouldn't. I trusted him. He told me what he did on my visits and my
10:08 parents and I trusted him and it's been going pretty well. Coach, for you, is it positive coming
10:14 out of today? 23 assists on 25 mid buckets. Yeah, this group shared the ball all year and it's a new
10:22 cast of players and they're sharing the ball. I think that's something that we recruit to and try
10:29 to find kids that do that. And so, obviously, a Jay Nowitz who was one of the best playmakers in
10:34 college basketball. But as these guys are getting comfortable, they're learning how to play together
10:40 as a unit. And there's not one kid that's a playmaker that Jaden is, but they are a really
10:46 skilled offensive group and they share the ball and they create for each other. And so,
10:51 tonight, I'm so proud. We have been harping on taking care of the ball and we did that tonight
10:59 with 11 turnovers. And so, there's some other things. You got to rebound, you got to defend,
11:04 you got to take care of the ball. But tonight, 23 assists on 25 field goal attempts. That's
11:09 this group. That's what they got to do and that's what they're going to do. That's who they are.
11:13 They're a very unselfish group. Sydney, for you, since Jaden's injury, she's kind of referred to
11:21 herself as Coach J. How does she help you during a game? Not just me, everyone. Jaden's always
11:27 talking. Before she got hurt, now that she's hurt, she's still the same person. She's always telling
11:32 you what you need to do, what you can do, things to help you. She's just a great teammate. She's a
11:38 great person. She's just always positive and she's telling you she has the best interest in everybody.
11:44 So, if she sees something, honestly, when you're sitting on the sideline, you see things you don't
11:48 when you're playing the game. She literally even told me, before I had even shot a shot, there was
11:55 a timeout and then I sit down and she's like, "You know how to shoot the ball. You need to stop
11:59 thinking and shoot it." And then I did, I guess. So, she's always saying things that need to be said
12:05 and always in a positive way. Mark, you mentioned earlier when Sedona and Madison get back, is there
12:13 a timeline for their return at this point? No. I've never talked about injuries, but everybody's
12:19 body's different. They have projections and we'll walk through that. We have a great medical staff
12:25 and strength and conditioning, but in theory, they should be back during the regular season.
12:32 And so, those will be great. If we end up getting those back, they'll be great additions.
12:37 Again, they're going to have to learn the five outs or you go back to the four out and reteach
12:44 everybody this season. Holy smokes. But they're on track to get back and be a part of the team and
12:52 help us before we get to Kansas City. And so, that'll be exciting. That's where this process,
13:00 you guys, this group is, okay, I don't know what the wins and losses will be and that was when
13:05 we're healthy. We don't set a number. Max out the talent that this group has, okay? And this team
13:12 currently is, how do we keep getting better? We know we're going to get some pieces back along
13:16 this journey, but we got to be a better team than when we lost them, than when they come back. And
13:23 that's all we can control. And that's where this team has shown a lot of maturity as a group.
13:29 And I know they want to win. We all want to win, but I guarantee you they'll show up at practice
13:36 and chip away. We got Oklahoma on Wednesday and we got to get better and we'll prepare. And I know
13:42 they'll do that. And we're going to be a better basketball team when Madison and Sedona come back.
13:47 I know that for sure. Anything else for these two? Yeah, Sid, you talked, you guys have talked about
13:52 how the team has to grow up in a hurry and adjust all these things. Coach talked about being able
13:59 to practice five on five and what that means. What have the newcomers brought to you guys to
14:04 to sort of help you get back on, grow up like them with us? Well, obviously they brought bodies.
14:10 But, you know, they bring energy. They bring, I mean, they just literally got here. I mean,
14:16 they're like the happiest people ever. I mean, you know, like sometimes, you know, we're not
14:20 the most excited to go do a big, heavy lift. And, you know, they're the ones that are like,
14:23 yeah, like, come on, like, you know, happy to be here. But I mean, they work hard. I mean,
14:28 I think it was like they had tryouts and we had a game coming up. I mean, I saw
14:32 Ellen Piper, they were in the gym getting shots of preparing themselves just as they're putting
14:38 that situation to come down, which I thought was amazing. I mean, it's good to see that they care
14:43 and like they're trying to like perfect their game like if they were put in a position to go
14:47 into the game. So they're really good. Cydney, for you, you know, it's eight weeks recovering
14:53 from an ankle injury. Do you kind of feel like you're back to your old self? It looks like you're
14:57 having fun out there. Yeah, I would say I am. I think I still need to get in a little bit better
15:01 shape, but it's coming along. I think I am playing very confident. My teammates are always, you know,
15:08 having me up to, you know, that always feels great. The coaching staff is always telling me
15:12 do what you can't like do what you do and everything. So I've been very confident. It's
15:16 been awesome to be back. What does it say about the culture of this place that in a season like
15:20 this one, the conversations have always been positive and hopeful and, you know, kind of
15:27 focused on the journey and on the work? I mean, you can't if we were acting upset and angry and
15:35 mad about everything. I mean, we wouldn't even be, we'd probably be getting blown out. I mean,
15:39 we have to stay positive and control what we can, play together, and that's what we've been doing.
15:43 And I think you can just tell, like, in three games we've progressed so much and it's just
15:49 gonna, we're gonna keep getting better. Do you think this, in some way, that this kind of adversity
15:54 that y'all faced this year will serve you well going forward as you continue your college career?
16:00 Yeah, I think it will. I mean, who would have thought? Transferring in, I mean, I would have
16:06 never thought, you know, we'd miss games when we have like four people, whatever it was. But
16:11 I think it would build anybody. I mean, it shows you, like MC always says, who the soldiers are,
16:17 who's gonna fight when things get hard. And I think this has just given us an opportunity to
16:22 fight even harder. And does it kind of give you a new appreciation for the game as well?
16:27 Yeah, definitely. Yeah, no question. I think one thing, staff, coaches, you just, it's fragile.
16:36 Season's fragile. Being healthy. And so, just taking advantage of the opportunity that these
16:45 guys have, we put up on the board today, you know, there's nine, there's only nine games left,
16:50 you're halfway through league, to really cherish and value the opportunity to compete and play
16:55 together and go out there. Because it is, you don't know when it can be taken away. And I think
17:01 everybody within our program has learned that lesson this year.
17:05 How proud of you as a coach? I know you mentioned this a little bit, but you know,
17:10 you come out of this stretch after the game's canceled, you went against UCF,
17:14 you battle Tech to the very end, and you battle Kansas to the very end.
17:19 That, you know, they haven't laid down. Yeah, I'm as proud of this group. When we started 14-0,
17:27 and what's happened since the injuries, equal amount of proudness for this team. Again,
17:36 you're trying to squeeze all the talent out of whatever group you have. And that start,
17:42 which was historic, we had top 20 talent, and that was special. This group, since all this
17:49 stuff's unfolded, we're one and two, they are maxing out what they're doing. And that's all
17:55 you can ask. And so we're going to continue. And there's a seal, I know we're going to keep
18:01 getting better, because we're just figuring this stuff out. But this group's special DNA,
18:09 the locker room special, the leadership on the team special to manage all of this and keep
18:14 fighting the way they are. It's a special group of people.
18:18 Sidney, that's for me. You know, the way this national story has been, it's been about,
18:25 you know, the walk-ons and all that. And it's kind of seemed like a team of walk-ons. Do you
18:30 take that kind of person, you want to go out and be like, "Hey, I'm a D1 player, you know,
18:33 we still have a ton of D1 talent here." Yeah, I mean, I think people know that. I think it's just,
18:39 I mean, it was a big deal. You don't see it every day. So I think that's kind of what it is.
18:44 But I don't think anybody else on the team has kind of taken it like that. But yeah, we have
18:49 plenty of talent on this team. I mean, and the walk-ons, you call them walk-ons, but you know,
18:53 they have their talent too. So thanks, everyone. Thanks. Thank you all. Thanks, you guys.