South Carolina women's basketball: Everything Dawn Staley said after beating TCU

Dawn Staley addressed the media following #3 South Carolina’s 85-52 win over #9 TCU. Here’s everything she had to say. 

Q: Since the loss to UCLA is there anything that you learned from the loss that has led to this string of wins?
Staley: We’re defending like our normal selves. We are very, probably, patient offensively. We know what works for us offensively. We know when we reverse the ball it increases our shooting percentage. It’s unbelievable what it is. Unbelievable. Even if we just get it to the middle of the floor and back to the same side, it’s up. I think when we take bad shots, most teams make us pay for it. They actually did it to us tonight as well when we took a couple of quick shots, fast shots. We just can’t allow the momentum shift because our game is too good. Teams are too good. When you create momentum for other teams, your opponent, there’s really nothing your defense can do because they probably create numbers from our bad shots. 

Q: Why did you want to play TCU and what was your impression of them?
Staley: It actually wasn’t up to us who we played. We committed to playing here not knowing who we’d be playing. I thought it would be fitting once they decided it was TCU with how they’re playing, the type of season they’re having, the team that they have. I think it’s great for women’s basketball to have as many people on a Sunday night show up.  I thought it was for us a great top ten matchup and we brought our A game.

Q: What does it mean for women’s basketball to have some of these non-tradition powers in the top ten or top 25?
Staley: Women’s basketball is here. It’s not coming, it’s arrived. Every arena that we’ve played in has been packed. We’re in high demand. You could probably schedule a game on the moon (and) there would be people going to a women’s basketball game on the moon. I’m happy for our game. It’s long overdue. It’s televised. I mean this is the place that we’ve always envisioned ourselves. We’ve always envisioned ourselves. Maybe some other people didn’t have this kind of vision, but the players and the coaches and the fans, they envisioned us being here. There’s no turning back. 

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Q: What did it mean to have your band here?
Staley: I’m a big advocate for bands. They don’t get enough credit. I’ve always supported our band. Every time we win the NCAA Tournament or we advance regionally, they are the music behind – a lot of people DJs now, and I’m an advocate for DJs as well – but when you’re hearing a band and you know how much they put into their craft, it’s a beautiful thing to hear and see. It’s a natural thing to have a band at a sporting event. 

Q: I know you’ve seen Ashlyn dunk, but could you talk about the play that led to that?
Staley: What did she do? She got a steal? She poked the ball away? (Yes.) Ashlyn’s been practicing dunks for the past couple of practices. We always kid her that she doesn’t have her legs anymore. She can’t dunk anymore. She actually was in shootaround today dunking and missing. Then she makes a play like that and I knew she cleared her runway. She got to the left side of the floor and I knew she was going to attempt it. Prince was closely behind her so I didn’t think she was going to do it. Then when she did it the place exploded. Our bench exploded. I think it’s great for our game.

Q: South Carolina just hired athletics director Jeremiah Donati from TCU. Have you talked with him yet?
Staley: I just met him once. I met him before our game. There wasn’t really a whole lot of time to just chit-chat. I did text him when we got here to see if his schedule was open to come to shootaround or – it probably wouldn’t be best to come to the game for some reason or another. Mark just told me the reason their program is where it is – Mark (Campbell), the TCU coach – is where it is today is because of his contributions to his team. He’s like that with every team on campus. We’re looking forward to having him and welcoming him, and hopefully, TCU will find somebody equally as great as AD Jeremiah Donati. 

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