‘Still dancing’: Everything Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey said before Sweet 16 vs. TCU

Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey fielded questions from reporters in Birmingham early Friday morning, just over 24 hours before her Fighting Irish face off with the TCU Horned Frogs in the Sweet 16.

This is everything Ivey said in her press conference.

On Notre Dame’s first meeting with TCU this season

“Just having that experience, having the film of knowing what we need to fix. I think it’s, again, a great opportunity. We’re really excited to be here. We know defensively that’s, again, an area that we are really, really focused on. They had an incredible year, playing extremely well. They have great guard play and also have great post play with Sedona [Prince]. We’ve been really focused on defensively defending their sets.”

On if she’s a morning person

Editor’s note: This interview began at 7:30 a.m. local

“I am a morning person, especially when you are still dancing. We’ve talked about it all week, just making sure that they got their rest. We got a chance to practice earlier, so we got into Birmingham a little bit earlier, went straight to dinner. Have curfew, just to get their bodies knowing that it was going to be a very early morning.

“Again, they’re so excited and so excited to be here. They’re locked and focused. No matter the time, we’ll be ready.”

On Notre Dame not being healthy the first time it played TCU but having more players now

“Yeah, really excited about that. Again, depth was a big area for us, not having one post-up off the bench. Kate [Koval] was maybe her fifth game of the season, so very green at that point.

“Looking forward to having more depth in the post position. With the experience Maddy [Westbeld] and Liza [Karlen] both have incredible experience. Definitely going to rely on that and happy that we have a healthier roster than the last time we played them.”

On if she’s a fan of the two-site regional format

“Well, when you are still dancing, it doesn’t matter what type of format it is. I think it’s super interesting. You get a chance to watch great basketball. We have incredible basketball play with eight teams in one region, so the environment I think is really exciting.

“I think it’s interesting and, again, just happy to be a part of it.”

On being a Black head coach on a stage like this

“Right. It’s an honor. I understand that my role is major. I understand the magnitude of being in this position, being in a leadership position as a black woman, having success and hopefully opening doors for more black women, people that look like me. My players being able to relate to them, knowing that having this opportunity and being a leader, it’s big for them to see as well. That’s a big piece of recruiting. I take it on like a cape. It’s something that I know that it’s bigger than me.

“I’m fortunate that I have a lot of role models that I look up to. Dawn Staley is one of mine. She’s someone that has always reached out to me, empowered me. Being in this role, I’m hoping to continue to inspire people that are looking, especially young assistants, that want to get in this profession and be successful, and just try and pay it forward is what I’m always trying to do being in this role.”

On USC superstar JuJu Watkins tearing her ACL

“We are still praying for her. I reached out to Lindsay [Gottlieb] watching the game. So unfortunate the timing of it, and her team is rallying behind her because it’s something, again, we’ve experienced the last couple of years. Having everybody step up to do a little bit more is going to be motivation for them.

“Again, just trying to keep — for Lindsay I would say just keep encouraging the team, keep doing the same thing that you’ve been doing. They’ve had such incredible success the last few seasons and what she’s done in turning that program again. Just really pour into the rest of the team and allow that to be motivation for them to continue thriving in this tournament.”

On Notre Dame’s response to a tough finish to the season before the NCAA Tournament

“I’m really proud of them. As everyone knows, we had a rough couple of weeks. We bounced back from the ACC regular season, conference play. Got back to work, really focused on our fundamentals. Came out in South Bend the first two rounds and played inspired basketball. I thought they were relentless. I thought they were focused and locked in. You could tell there was a big carry-over. I challenged them. They had a great response to that challenge.

“Now stakes are high. They’re just playing at a high level and playing for each other. Defensively they’ve really taken on a different identity. I’m really proud of that.”

On if the week off has helped with Olivia Miles’ ankle injury

“Yes, I gave her a couple of days off after Sunday’s matchup. She’s practiced the last couple of days and she really feels good, but just being cautious making sure that she’s really getting in the rest that she needs.

“Credit to our performance team and my trainer, Anne Marquez. They did a great job preparing her before the Michigan game and then getting her ready for tomorrow.”

On TCU using the transfer portal as a vault to the Sweet 16

“That’s the nature of collegiate athletics having that opportunity to go into the portal and bring in experienced players. Like you mentioned, they brought in seven to ten portal players, players with experience, years of experience. Tennessee, same.

“I think that’s the nature of collegiate athletics that you can go in and get experienced players that can come in, ready-made for the next level, for collegiate level, and you don’t have time to have to groom high school players. I think that’s just what our game is trending towards.”

More on being a Black head coach in this space

“Right. I think outside of just being a black woman in sports, I played at Notre Dame. I have had success. I’m fortunate that Notre Dame has shaped the person that I am. So in recruiting I talk about not only somebody that looks like them or a female, but somebody that has walked in their shoes.

“I’ve been a student-athlete, got a degree from Notre Dame. I had success, came back from an injury. I had two ACL injuries. Being able to relate to the parents, knowing that I’m a player’s coach, but I’m also a coach that has walked in their shoes. I’m a mother as well, so I talk about that, wearing multiple hats.

“It’s all about love in my program. They know that I can coach them and challenge them hard because they know that it’s coming from a place of love. I wear that mother hat a lot, so I’m coach, I’m mom. I think that’s another way that I try to recruit, so parents can be comfortable that their daughter is going to be taken care of, not just for the four years here at Notre Dame, but for life.

“Those are my recruiting pitches because, again, I’ve walked in their shoes. I know what it feels like, looks like to be a collegiate student-athlete, and to be one at Notre Dame I think is unique because I know exactly what they’re going through. That’s the way that I coach them.”

More on the status of Miles

“I thought that the adrenaline definitely kicked in for her. It is going to kick in tomorrow as well, but again, we had the entire week that she received a lot of rest, a lot of treatment. She did exactly what she needed to do as far as being at home, doing the things that our trainer required her to do. She feels really good, has had a couple of practices, and she’s fresh and ready.”