Kevin McGuff on Expectations to Finish the Season Strong
Head coach Kevin McGuff talks getting past a tough Maryland team and what to expect with Michigan coming to Columbus.
Transcript
00:00 Really, for me, it was more about playing Maryland today.
00:05 They're really good, they're playing their best basketball of the year right now.
00:07 I think they're going to be a tough out in March.
00:10 We've got more games to play.
00:14 So it's really about now focusing on Michigan, who obviously beat us in Ann Arbor, and they'll
00:19 come in prepared.
00:20 So we've got to have two great days of practice and on to the next one.
00:22 What did you see improve so well from playing them in college park to today?
00:27 They're really playing well in transition.
00:29 They're really quick up the court right now and they really hurt us at times in transition.
00:34 I thought their defense, even though we scored, I thought their defense was really effective
00:42 and really made us work.
00:45 Can you talk about Celeste's offense and how she's kind of provided a spark in the first
00:49 and second quarters these last few games, especially that was the area of the game where
00:54 you were starting off well?
00:55 Yeah, she's done a great job really just integrating herself into our program, our system.
01:02 Kind of how we play is a little bit different and unique and just something that she hadn't
01:05 been a part of.
01:06 But each week she seems to get better and better.
01:07 It's really just attributed to all the work and effort she's put into it.
01:13 Can you talk about the maturity of Cody coming out in the fourth quarter with four fouls
01:16 and being able to produce five quick points and not foul out?
01:20 What did you say, maturity?
01:23 Yeah, maturity.
01:24 No, she did a good job in the fourth quarter.
01:27 She's an emotional player and obviously she got a little bit upset there, but she really
01:32 got locked in and focused and played great in the fourth quarter.
01:35 You guys led pretty healthily throughout the entire game, but Maryland kept making runs.
01:38 Can you talk about the resilience that your team showed throughout the long stretch?
01:41 Yeah, like I said, Maryland played great.
01:42 They really had some great stretches there, but I was really proud of our kids for making
01:47 sure we had the poise to continue to execute and do the things necessary to come away with
01:52 the game.
01:53 What did you think senior day?
01:54 Did your players use that as motivation or were they just compartmentalizing the emotions
01:57 and staying focused?
01:58 I think that especially the younger ones wanted to play for the seniors to make sure that
02:04 we sent them out on a high note.
02:06 We had a great ceremony before it, but I think they did a good job regaining their focus
02:12 to get ready for the game.
02:13 There's still a lot of basketball to be played, but what is the legacy you feel of this senior
02:16 class?
02:17 Yeah, we'll see.
02:19 Just one, we've had incredible kids.
02:21 They've really represented the program on and off the court in a first class manner,
02:24 so that's probably the happiest thing to talk about.
02:29 But they've also had great on the court success as well.
02:32 So just really great kids.
02:34 I'm really happy that I've had a chance to coach all of them and hopefully we have a
02:38 lot more games left.
02:39 Kevin, you talked a little bit in the offseason about wanting your half court defense to be
02:42 better.
02:43 It seems like it's getting better week after week.
02:46 Both pretty good again today.
02:48 How much growth have you seen in that and how much do you feel like that changes this
02:51 team?
02:52 Yeah, I think it's allowed us to get to another level because we weren't good enough in the
02:56 half court last year.
02:58 Our press was really good and it created a lot of habit, but in the half court we lost
03:04 some games because we just didn't work enough.
03:06 I think we've gotten better.
03:07 We've really emphasized it.
03:08 And as I say, you are re-emphasized.
03:10 So we've gotten better there.
03:11 I still think our rebounding needs to be more consistent and a little bit better.
03:15 So we'll put some more focus on that.
03:17 As you guys pair that with the press, I think people always thought of Ohio State as a really
03:22 good press team, but now it seems like you guys are more than the press.
03:25 Do you feel like that's helped?
03:26 Do you guys get over that?
03:27 I do.
03:28 I do.
03:29 I think that it allows us to really wear on people that we're pressing and really making
03:33 the game extremely fast and kind of grueling, yet even when they don't turn it over, we
03:38 can still stop them in the half court.
03:40 Madison didn't participate in the season today.
03:43 So the expectation is that she's going to be back for a year or so?
03:46 Yeah, probably.
03:47 I mean, with all the kids, I mean, with COVID and injuries, it's like some days I'm like,
03:51 "How many years do you have left?"
03:53 It's hard to keep track of.
03:54 But for all of them, we'll kind of get all sorted out here when the season's over.
03:58 You were talking about that.
04:00 No, no, you go.
04:01 You were talking about that press and the aggressiveness.
04:04 Is that what was the difference in the fourth quarter after they got, I think, five?
04:09 Yeah, I thought the press was good.
04:11 But really, I thought we really probably won it on an offense.
04:15 I thought we had a stretch there.
04:17 We settled for way too many threes.
04:20 And we got a little more balance in our offense down the stretch.
04:22 Just some better shots.
04:24 What is it like getting to this Michigan game without another loss?
04:28 It kind of feels like a full circle moment in the Big Ten.
04:30 Yeah, it's been interesting.
04:33 We certainly didn't play well there, and they played really well.
04:36 And they'll be ready, but I think we're better.
04:39 I haven't had a chance to watch them a whole lot.
04:41 I will in the next couple days.
04:42 But they're probably better as well.
04:44 So I think both teams have improved, so it should be an entertaining matchup.
04:48 What are the ways in which you think this team is better from when you played that game?
04:53 I think I'll start with if you look where we were December and--
05:00 yeah, still December when we played Michigan.
05:02 One, Celeste is playing at a different level.
05:04 Two, Cody is playing at a different level.
05:06 So personnel-wise, I think we just have players playing more to their capability.
05:09 We're not going to be the team we're capable of being unless they are who they are.
05:13 I also think we've gotten better in the half court defensively,
05:16 and kind of put all that together, it's got us at a different level.
05:21 There was a certain stretch there in the first half where you had Emma, Ricky,
05:24 and Jacy all on the floor at one point.
05:26 What was it like to have three primary ball handlers on the floor at one point?
05:29 Yeah, it's good.
05:30 I mean, sometimes the ball kind of sticks and doesn't move as much as I'd like.
05:34 When they're out there together, usually the ball moves around a little bit better.
05:37 And Ricky feeling all good after that ball in Penn State?
05:39 Yeah, yeah, she's fine.
05:40 She was having a little bit of a sprained ankle, but she did a good job with the trainer
05:43 the last couple of days, and she's good to go today and should be fine moving forward.
05:48 Cody's had two technicals now since February 11th.
05:51 She's not the only player who complains to the refs.
05:53 Today, it looked like a tech team whenever she's running out into the court,
05:58 but is this a habit that you talk to her about?
06:01 Yeah, of course, yeah, we talk about that in the dressing room practice.
06:04 Anything that happens for any place.
06:06 Is some of that rooted in the fact that she goes to the basket so many times
06:09 and doesn't seem to get a whole heck of a lot of consideration?
06:13 I put you in a bad spot.
06:14 No, but what I would say is if you really watch,
06:17 is she's such a physical and aggressive player and athletic,
06:20 and she plays through contact like most people can.
06:23 And so that's always my gripe is just to make sure we don't penalize her for that.
06:31 Thank you.