Everything Dawn Staley said after practice before playing Mississippi State

Women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley spoke to members of the media Friday in preparation to travel to Starkville to take on Mississippi State. Here’s everything she had to say.

How was practice after the first SEC road game?

“It was good, it was good. I think my team is focused and I think they understand what’s in front of us. Our league is tough, so it’s going to require a lot of just focus. Maybe a little less just actual physical getting out here and doing things and more of watching film and just kind of break down stuff versus getting up and down and really getting after it.”

What were you most pleased with last night and what’s a tough gym to play in?

“I’m pleased with our ability to adjust because it takes an adjustment when you play Missouri. I thought they did a really good job at pressuring us and being physical with us and making it hard for us to catch. A lot different than what they normally do which is just kind of sit back and force us to take outside shots. So I thought they played as well against us in the first half, where we expected it? Yes, probably a little bit more pressure than they had. That’s what they’ve shown all season long. And then for us, I thought we did a great job just coming out of the second half and playing efficient basketball, sharing a basketball, and then just playing gritty defense.”

[USC-Texas WBB: Win tickets, parking pass]

What impressed you about Adhel Tac and what are her next steps?

“What was truly impressive about Adhel is she doesn’t know whether she’s going to play or not, but when her numbers call, she gets in and she was more intentional last night about just making her presence felt on, you know, definitely offensively, defensively. It’s getting better like we have to, we have to really understand that she really hasn’t played in two years, so she’s continuing to knock the dust off. She looked she looked great. She does a great job with being on our Highlighters. You know, she’s getting reps, her and Maryam, they just for what they’re not getting planned on. You know, on the other side of things, which is with us, they’re more than what we can handle when they’re on the Highlighters. So it’s a win-win situation where they’re getting basketball reps and not standing on the sideline”

How similar is Adhel’s previous knee injury and recovery process to Laeticia Amihere‘s?

“I mean, Adhel is just probably a lot more rusty, a lot more and, you know, but the part that they have similar is the rehab process is over with. LA was fearless, you know, I don’t even think she had her brace very long. Adhel was a little bit longer. So, I mean if Adhel gets going, she’d be a real asset to our team. She already is, just her progression and her not rushing things and her trusting the coaches and trusting her process, that’s half the battle, because we’re not going to put her out there where she’s not completely ready, like she’s not completely ready, like we could play her like we’re playing her right now, when the match shows, match ups dictate that if they go smaller, it’s really a hard guard for her when teams go smaller, but if they got a big like, I’m looking forward to giving her some minutes on Sunday, because they got some bigs that are, you know, her size, and breathe the air that they breathe up there. So I’m looking forward for that.”

[USC-Texas WBB: Win tickets, parking pass]

What have you seen from Mississippi State?

“Probably everybody loses if Kentucky makes as many threes as they made against them, formidable opponent, they still score 77 points. So they can score it. They are coached well, they are very calculated in what they want from an offensive standpoint. Defensively, they’re a little stingy. I think it’s going to be wills of discipline for us and what we need to do to continue to get another road win in our conference.”

How are you balancing playing time between starters and bench players?

“I mean, the starters are experienced. They really know what we want, you know. And I have a lot of comfort in what they do for us. I think the bench is unpredictable, you know, they’re the ones that could come out and score, I don’t know, 57 points, you know, in a game, to 13 points in the game. But they’re learning. They could start anywhere else in the country, Tessa, Lay, Ashlyn, Joyce, you know, all of them could be, even Maddy, when Maddy gets, you know, up to par, they could be starters in other places, but they know that it’s not totally about starting. It’s about the big picture, which is preparing them to be a pro. Because I don’t think we have anybody on our team that can go into the WNBA and start. Not anybody, not anybody. So you know, to be able to play a role like that, that will be a natural role for you in the league in the very beginning, it’s not a bad thing.

How much better are the Gamecocks when Raven Johnson is confident?

“Raven’s come a long way from the beginning of the season. And you know, that’s the thing about us. We’re patient like we understand, we understand she probably did not do exactly what she did the season prior to getting ready for the season. And when you don’t do that, you’re gonna see the results of it, which is a slow start. When you get back and familiarize yourself by getting back in the gym and loving up on basketball and loving up on your game. You know, it’s an easy fix, and that’s what she’s done. But we’re a much better basketball team now than we were a month ago which is great. That’s really, you know, indicative of what Raven’s contributions are to our team offensively.

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