Iowa WBB 31724
Hawkeyes Talk NCAA Tourney
Transcript
00:00 About the bracket and then also just getting that number one seed.
00:04 Yeah, the number one seed was something that I just think gives credit to our program.
00:09 It establishes us as one of the very best teams in America.
00:12 And so it's just a credit to our recognition, which I'm very happy about.
00:16 But it's just a number, right?
00:17 We got to the championship game with the number two seed last year.
00:20 So we know number one seeds don't guarantee anything.
00:24 It's been the first time since 1992.
00:27 So I mean, it is, you've done a million things here, but this one was one that,
00:31 okay, slayed another dragon.
00:34 >> [LAUGH] Yeah, I don't know.
00:38 Like right now, I'm just kind of looking at this week, and
00:41 I try to break this tournament into week segments.
00:44 Like these two games this week and then the next two.
00:46 You just try to break it down like that.
00:48 Cuz if you look at the overall picture, I think it can be overwhelming.
00:51 Look at all those teams, but now we have a path and we know what it's gonna take.
00:55 >> I know you're not gonna be looking too much further ahead than the first round
00:58 game, but do you feel like you like having to play the team from the playing game?
01:02 Does that matter, good, bad, one way or the other?
01:04 >> Well, the only thing is that we don't have as much time to prepare for them.
01:08 It's like we don't know which one of those that we're gonna be playing.
01:12 Obviously, it's kind of a flip of the coin.
01:14 And so you can't spend all your time investing in one team like you would if
01:17 you knew exactly who you were playing.
01:19 So that's the only thing.
01:21 >> What do you know about West Virginia's Princeton?
01:23 Have you crossed any paths watching any other films?
01:25 >> I don't know much about either one of them.
01:28 And so I'm gonna be excited to get down there and start watching some film.
01:32 >> There are a lot of familiar names in this bracket.
01:34 What were you thinking when you saw- >> I was a bit surprised by the Kansas State.
01:38 Just because I've always heard that they don't like you to play against somebody so
01:42 early that you've already played.
01:44 And we played them twice already this year.
01:45 So I was a little bit surprised by that one.
01:47 But definitely a lot of familiar faces with Colorado in there and
01:52 LSU, right, it's in that same one.
01:53 So a lot of familiar faces, but I think that's okay.
01:57 That's not a bad thing.
01:58 >> Including Drake.
01:59 >> Including Drake, that's right.
02:01 >> Very familiar program for him, especially.
02:02 >> Yeah.
02:03 >> When you look, what went on this last week?
02:07 How much time did you give him away?
02:09 Was there a spring break, I guess?
02:10 >> Yeah, it was their spring break and I gave him quite a bit of time off.
02:13 I just feel like we were exhausted after last week.
02:16 We played three games in less than 48 hours time.
02:19 Unheard of.
02:20 Unsafe, really, in my opinion.
02:22 So, I mean, they were exhausted.
02:24 Our staff was exhausted.
02:26 We took Monday, Tuesday off.
02:29 We practiced really well Wednesday, Thursday, and
02:31 I gave them Friday and Saturday off again.
02:33 I wanted them to have a reset, cuz now today we practice and now it's go.
02:37 And there's gonna be no time for breaks.
02:38 And I think this time of year, having your legs under you is really,
02:43 really important.
02:44 And not having injuries happen in practice that could be avoided.
02:47 >> Speaking of those injuries too, can we get an update on Molly,
02:50 how she's doing?
02:50 I saw she was not on crutches tonight at least.
02:52 >> Yeah, she's not on crutches, but she's still limping, not a good sign.
02:55 I was hoping she'd be further along by now than she is.
03:00 I'm not saying that she will or won't play this weekend, I don't know.
03:04 But it's not as good as I was hoping it would be by now.
03:07 >> You talked about playing back to back to back like that in this tournament.
03:10 How much does that kind of help though going into the NCAA tournament where you
03:13 said it's just go, go, go until the season's over?
03:15 >> Yeah, now it is.
03:16 And that's again why I kind of gave him that time off is because now,
03:19 there are no more breaks.
03:21 It is go.
03:22 And so going into this tournament, I feel like we are prepared as we could be
03:27 prepared, playing in that Florida tournament where we played three games in
03:32 three days, playing in the Big Ten tournament three games in three days.
03:35 That requires so much of them mentally to be able to do that,
03:38 to flush the last scout, to have the new one come in.
03:41 And now we'll have an extra day of prep in between, so they'll be ready for it.
03:46 I think the thing I feel like we're more prepared for is atmospheres.
03:50 Like, I feel like every game that we've played in this year has been that NCAA
03:54 atmosphere.
03:55 It's been an unbelievable crowd.
03:56 We've had our name circled on everybody's schedule.
03:59 And so I think that we're prepared just because of what we've went through
04:03 throughout the year, not just during the Big Ten tournament.
04:07 >> Yeah, I was really excited.
04:08 I think we planned on just sitting and clapping.
04:11 And then when we saw the one up there, my adrenaline just kind of boosted me up and
04:15 I just jumped up in the air.
04:17 So I'm really excited, really happy for this program and for Coach Boeder.
04:22 One seed, I mean, obviously it doesn't matter a whole lot, but
04:27 it's just really cool to see that one by our name.
04:30 >> What was your thoughts when you started to see the rest of the bracket unveiled?
04:34 >> Yeah, yeah.
04:34 >> I mean, LSU, Colorado, Louisville, Kansas State.
04:38 >> K-State, yeah.
04:39 >> Teams you've played.
04:40 >> UCLA, yeah, I mean, really good teams, but
04:43 I mean, there's a lot of parody in the college women's basketball these days.
04:47 And so we knew it wasn't gonna be an easy path and we're excited for what's ahead.
04:54 And it's gonna make it that much sweeter for us, just take it one game at a time.
04:58 But yeah, we have a really tough side of the bracket and that's good,
05:03 that's exciting and we're just really excited for what's to come.
05:07 >> Saw you and Caitlin share a look and
05:09 a little bit of a smile when the term murderers row was first said.
05:12 What telepathically was said in that little moment?
05:15 >> Man, I don't even know.
05:17 I think it was just like, it was funny what she said.
05:20 Cuz I do think it's a tough side of the bracket, but that doesn't mean anything.
05:25 I mean, we don't have to play every single team on that and
05:29 you never know, it's March Madness for a reason.
05:31 So yeah, more than anything,
05:34 I think it's just excitement that we shared telepathically.
05:37 >> How do you guys feel about it?
05:38 >> For me, especially, this is my last selection show of my career.
05:41 I feel like earlier in my career, you're a little nervous,
05:43 you're a little anxious sitting there wondering what your draw is gonna be.
05:45 But you have absolutely no control over it.
05:47 So I think I'm just happy for our program, first one seed since 1992 or 93.
05:52 So it's pretty impressive and
05:54 I think it just speaks to how we've been playing basketball lately.
05:57 And kinda need to carry that into this tournament, so.
05:59 >> We've been counting down your final home game to get a chance to play here at
06:02 Carver, so we hope for two more now that we have at this point.
06:05 What does this mean to be able to know that you guys have two more home games
06:08 coming up?
06:09 >> Yeah, I think just really fortunate and lucky and kinda knowing every time I take
06:12 the court could be my last and soaking that in and going out there and
06:16 playing my heart out.
06:16 But anytime you get to host is a huge advantage and
06:18 I expect our fans to travel really well if we can advance off of our two games here,
06:23 off our home court.
06:24 So yeah, I think more than anything, I'm just excited and
06:27 gonna try to soak in the moment.
06:29 And I know that ticket's gonna be hard to come by, so.
06:31 >> Do you like playing the winner of the playing game like that?
06:34 I mean, does that work in your favor or do you-
06:36 >> I don't think it's a huge negative or
06:40 positive, it kinda just is what it is.
06:41 You probably prep a little bit for both and once you know your opponent,
06:44 you go from there for whichever one it is.
06:46 And our coaches have kinda been, and our managers have been coding games like
06:50 every possibility possible, so credit to them.
06:53 >> What's your mindset?
06:55 You know this is your last tournament now, obviously.
06:58 But you had so much success last year in this event, so
07:01 personally how do you feel going into this?
07:04 >> I think just understanding how long it was last year and
07:06 how you really have to go game to game.
07:08 After you kinda get out of the first round,
07:11 every team is basically a top 25 team, that's what you're looking at.
07:14 And we were on the upset side of that my sophomore year, and
07:18 then obviously we were very fortunate last year.
07:20 And you need a little luck, you need a good draw,
07:23 you need to be playing your best basketball.
07:25 But I think the biggest thing for me is just enjoy every single second,
07:28 cuz this is the most fun basketball, you heard me say it.
07:30 I think this is the greatest postseason tournament in all of sport.
07:32 You don't have it one night, you're out of luck.
07:34 But if you do have it and you can shrink some games together,
07:36 you can put a special run together.
07:38 So I'm really excited, honestly.
07:41 >> Emotionally, about certain plays or shots that you've made.
07:44 >> That was up there for sure.
07:46 Cuz I feel like, cuz she had just hit two threes, right?
07:49 >> Yeah.
07:49 >> In the overtime, so that's up there for me.
07:51 >> That's probably why she had a quick trigger, probably, yeah.
07:54 >> Is this team as ready as last year's team was to get into the NCAA?
07:59 >> Of course, we're just as excited.
08:01 I mean, no matter what seed we were, that doesn't really matter to us.
08:04 We're just gonna prepare for every team the same way, take every game.
08:10 I mean, we can't really get ahead of ourselves.
08:14 We have to just take it day by day.
08:15 And honestly, our focus is the next practice and next practice.
08:19 And we're just excited.
08:21 I mean- >> Can you quantify how this team is
08:23 different, sort of getting them to take this next step?
08:28 >> Like from- >> What's different from last year?
08:31 >> With this team?
08:32 >> I mean, it's the same mentality.
08:35 We're gonna have to be just as mentally prepared as we are physically, and
08:40 we're just gonna have to take it day by day.
08:43 I think one thing is that everyone on this team had been through that run last year.
08:48 And so that's kind of good, like with kind of, I don't know,
08:53 used to what it takes to get there.
08:55 And I think that will only help us in this run this year.
08:58 But we can't really compare the years, it's a whole new,
09:02 kind of a fresh new season right now, fresh new start.
09:04 And so we're just ready to get it underway.
09:07 >> Sorry if I asked something that's already been asked.
09:09 >> You're good.
09:09 >> But somebody, Carolyn Peck called this Werner's World region,
09:13 with all the good teams that are in that.
09:15 Just your thoughts about that?
09:17 >> Yeah, I was saying earlier how it's a lot of familiar teams.
09:21 And so that kind of can be an advantage to us.
09:25 I mean, we'll know the players on the team pretty well, personnel.
09:29 We might have some scouts still on these teams.
09:32 So just the familiarity can be, we can use that to our advantage.
09:37 I mean, pretty good teams in our region, but
09:39 we're not gonna really worry about who we're gonna be playing.
09:43 Just when it comes, it comes.
09:46 We'll just use it.
09:47 >> We're not gonna take any team that we play lightly.
09:50 We know that it's one game at a time.
09:52 When you lose, it's over.
09:53 So just never looking ahead, never underestimating anyone in the tournament
09:57 is really important.
09:59 >> I have such a cliche question.
10:02 How much of a chip on your shoulder was it after you did not get 6-1 in the year?
10:06 Does it just seem like there was an extra little edge to you?
10:09 >> I think I've always had that edge.
10:12 It had nothing to do with being named that.
10:16 But I've always been a super hard worker.
10:19 And just to be able to show that in the Big Ten tournament was really special.
10:23 >> So does it seem like you guys should not showcase your game a little bit more?
10:25 Maybe it's just the extended time, but hitting threes, doing different things,
10:28 you kind of feel like that.
10:29 Maybe some of your most complete basketball.
10:31 >> For sure. >> On campus.
10:32 >> Absolutely, yeah.
10:33 I think those three games were something I was able to show.
10:38 Like all the hard work that I've been putting in, that's who I am as a player.
10:43 But- >> I think so.
10:44 >> Thank you.
10:45 >> So I'm working on a story about the assistant coaches.
10:48 >> Okay. >> So do you mind?
10:49 >> So special, the fact that we get to see our names pop up.
10:53 Next to that one is really awesome.
10:56 And the excitement really just holds in us that we get to play another game.
11:01 And we're taking it game by game no matter what.
11:04 But we're definitely, hope to finish out the season in Cleveland, so.