Up next in 10
Press conference before #UNC's game vs. Md., with Elina Aarnisalo, Lanie Grant & Courtney Banghart.
Mar 21, 2026
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0:22
Good afternoon everyone. This is the
0:25
press conference for North Carolina as
0:26
we preview tomorrow's second round game
0:28
between UNCC and Maryland and the 2026
0:31
NCAA Division 1 Women's Basketball
0:33
Tournament. As a courtesy to everyone,
0:35
please silence your cell phones. Please
0:37
provide your name and media affiliation
0:39
each time you ask a question during
0:40
today's press conference. If you are
0:42
joining us on Zoom, please use the raise
0:44
hand function for questions. We will
0:46
address questions in the room first and
0:48
get to Zoom if time allows. Recording
0:50
press conferences on cell phones or
0:52
cameras is prohibited. We have with us
0:54
here on stage student athletes Elena
0:56
Arnoso and Laney Grant. We'll go ahead
0:59
and open the floor up for questions for
1:00
the student athletes. We'll start with
1:01
Ariel Hill in the front.
1:03
>> Hey Ariel Bottom of Torill Tribune. Hey
1:05
Laney. Uh obviously the last month or so
1:08
you've been the focal point of other
1:10
defenses. You've been faceguarded. What
1:13
what are the adjustments that you've had
1:15
to make and what has the team done to
1:18
help you get through that and still be
1:20
effective as you have been?
1:22
>> Yeah, I think it's just a testament to
1:24
the great guards and great teammates
1:25
that I have around me that they're able
1:27
to work with me through that. Um, I
1:29
think that especially in the latter part
1:30
of the season, we've kind of used that
1:32
as a weapon, putting me in specific
1:33
spots to make it difficult for the
1:35
defense to either tag or to rotate. But,
1:38
um, just a testament to my teammates and
1:39
the coaching staff
1:45
>> individually. Um, just moving more off
1:48
the ball, finding windows, um, just
1:52
being shot ready, knowing that my
1:53
windows to shoot the ball are going to
1:55
be a little bit shorter because they're
1:56
they're keyed into my shot. So just
1:58
staying shot ready.
2:06
>> Uh TJ French USA today for you Elena. I
2:09
know you're one of the um players with a
2:11
lot of experience in this tournament.
2:12
Just kind of what experiences do you
2:15
have, you know, from your time last year
2:17
at UCLA and then um what have what have
2:20
been the messages to your teammates in
2:21
these later rounds of the tournament?
2:24
Um yeah, obviously last year made it to
2:26
the final four. Um thought a lot
2:28
individually and what we need to do as a
2:30
team. So um we've been emphasizing
2:33
togetherness, just being connected. Um
2:35
whatever it is, enjoying every single
2:37
moment off the court, enjoying
2:38
ourselves, but when we're on the court,
2:40
being just like super locked in and
2:42
present. So um I think that's just
2:44
something we're really focusing on. um
2:47
staying together
2:53
>> for for both of you. Can you talk about
2:55
the evolution of the the backcourt
2:58
chemistry since December when things
3:01
were there were few bumps in the road to
3:03
till the last few weeks and what's been
3:06
the difference?
3:08
>> And Laney, can you start us off with
3:09
that and then Laney?
3:10
>> Yeah, for sure. Um you know, it's always
3:12
fun playing with E. She's an amazing
3:14
player. uh she does a great job handling
3:16
the ball and getting our team ready to
3:18
um attack specific matchups um and
3:21
personnel, but me and E work out
3:23
together every single day. So, we're on
3:25
the court constantly. We're constantly
3:26
in each other's ears picking each other
3:28
up, pushing each other. Um so, I think
3:30
it's just a testament to our
3:31
relationship and the relationship that
3:33
um we have with our teammates.
3:36
>> Yeah. Um well, exactly what she said.
3:38
Like on the court, we're a little bit
3:39
different players. Um she can shoot
3:41
really well, so it opens up different
3:43
things for other guards. um just working
3:45
out every day with her. Um it's been a
3:47
lot of fun being on the court and just
3:50
showing what we can do.
3:54
>> And News and Observer, there's a lot of
3:56
old-timers in here that still think of
3:58
Maryland as an ACC school. You guys are
4:01
pretty young. Uh where do you fall in
4:03
understanding the history of uh
4:05
Maryland, North Carolina, and does it
4:07
mean anything to you? When did you kind
4:10
of realize it? Elena, if you want to
4:12
start us off and then Laney afterwards.
4:14
>> Um, to be honest, I didn't even know
4:17
Maryland was an ACC school. I'm also
4:19
from Finland, so didn't like watch
4:22
college sports my whole life, so yeah,
4:25
pretty new to it.
4:28
>> I think that in the back of my mind, I
4:30
did know, but I hadn't really thought
4:31
about it up until this moment that
4:33
Maryland did used to be ACC team. So,
4:35
it's kind of cool that it came around
4:37
full circle like that.
4:39
Yeah, the other side of that is um you
4:43
know there's so many more transfers now
4:45
than there used to be. How have you
4:46
adapted to learning about these new
4:48
arrivalies, new rivalry games?
4:51
>> Um
4:53
I mean obviously UNCC Duke rivalry is so
4:55
big, so I already knew about that before
4:57
even coming here and stepping foot on
4:59
campus. Um obviously the NC State
5:01
rivalry, too. So, it's just been a great
5:03
being a part of those big rivalries and
5:06
seeing what it's like on the East Coast.
5:08
And obviously, it's it's the biggest
5:10
rivalry in college sports. So, it's just
5:12
been incredible.
5:15
>> Reminder to the media to please enter to
5:17
provide your name and media affiliation
5:19
before each question.
5:20
>> Uh TJ French USA Today for you, Elena,
5:23
you've nearly doubled your scoring this
5:25
season and your three-point percentage
5:26
has seen a big increase. Um, just what
5:29
is it like playing in Coach Bangard's
5:31
system and how has that like allowed you
5:32
to be so successful this year?
5:35
>> Um, I think just putting in the
5:37
individual work. Um, our whole staff is
5:40
incredible. So, getting my confidence up
5:42
in that, getting my obviously my
5:43
shooting percentage is higher when I'm
5:45
working out every day. Um, extra shots
5:47
or whatever it is. Um, obviously playing
5:50
for CB, she wants me to be aggressive.
5:52
Um, do my thing, you know, show my
5:54
strengths. So that obviously allows me
5:57
to do it on offense and my teammates
5:59
allow me to do my thing and they really
6:01
push me to, you know, take shots, be
6:03
aggressive, whatever it is the team
6:05
needs me to do.
6:09
>> Ariel Bottom, Torill Tribune, uh, Elena,
6:12
uh, Coach Bangghart has talked about how
6:14
you're such a nice person and she wants
6:18
you to be meaner on the court. Uh what
6:22
have those conversations been like and
6:24
has has that changed or what your
6:27
mentality on the court?
6:29
>> Um I mean yeah like I guess I am a nice
6:33
person off the court. I hope I'm also a
6:35
nice person on the court but um I think
6:38
like I've always been competitive but
6:39
it's like shown in different ways. I'm
6:41
I'm not the trash talker on the court or
6:44
I've just kind of learned to celebrate
6:46
my own scores too in the last couple
6:48
games. So, I think it's just showing
6:50
emotion on the court. That's that's one
6:52
of the things. And, you know, just being
6:55
aggressive and more physical, all all
6:57
those things, but just like showing the
6:59
emotion and the competitiveness that I
7:00
have in myself.
7:06
>> Any other questions for student
7:07
athletes?
7:10
>> Back here in front.
7:14
>> So, Ari Hill Tribune. Uh so you made it
7:17
to the final four last year and you've
7:19
got that NCAA experience. Uh what have
7:22
have you been able to share those
7:24
experiences with your teammates and also
7:26
uh you were part of a blowout win at
7:29
Maryland last year. So you've obviously
7:31
seen Maryland before.
7:33
>> Um yeah, obviously being at the Final
7:35
Four taught a lot to our whole team at
7:38
UCLA last year and individually. So,
7:40
what I've talked with our team like just
7:42
being together um enjoying every single
7:44
moment, being present, um and just
7:47
locking in. It's March. You got to do
7:49
like every little detail the right way.
7:51
You got to focus on everything. Like
7:52
there's no missed possessions. Like we
7:55
just got to be together in it all the
7:56
way.
7:59
>> Obviously, you'll see a guard you saw a
8:02
few times last season, including the
8:04
Sweet 16. what are the challenges that
8:07
she's going to bring and just overall
8:10
challenges Maryland will bring for you?
8:12
>> Yeah, obviously we're pretty familiar
8:14
with her since she transferred um from
8:16
our conference to Maryland, but she's
8:18
she's a dynamic player. We know that
8:20
going in. So um she's had a great season
8:23
thus far and we're just going to be
8:24
keyed into, you know, trying to limit
8:25
her, trying to limit what she likes to
8:27
do. But um I'm excited for the matchup.
8:31
Any
8:34
other questions for the student
8:35
athletes?
8:39
>> All right, perfect. Thanks so much. We
8:41
appreciate it. Good luck tomorrow.
8:42
>> Thank you.
9:08
So, we got 11 minutes. They want us to
9:10
start exactly at 1:45.
9:11
>> Oh, okay.
9:12
>> We can just hang or if you want to get a
9:13
drink of water.
9:14
>> Yeah. I'm going to get my phone and
9:15
watch out.
9:32
Exactly. At 145
19:02
I got 144. So, we'll get started here in
19:04
a second.
19:12
>> Just turn it over.
19:23
All right, good afternoon again
19:24
everyone. We're now joined on stage by
19:26
UNCC head coach Courtney Bangart. We'll
19:29
take questions for coach. So if you want
19:31
to raise your hand and start us off.
19:36
>> Bob Sutton with the Associated Press.
19:38
Courtney, yesterday you mentioned I
19:39
think the final four 20 years ago and
19:42
were you at that game with
19:43
>> Yes. Yeah.
19:44
>> Okay. with or what do you recall about
19:46
that? And
19:47
>> I was I was a young assistant from the
19:49
Northeast. I was an assistant at
19:50
Dartmouth at the time. Um and so I was
19:53
still figuring out as a graduate student
19:55
I was still figuring out if coaching was
19:56
going to be a vocation for me or
19:58
whatnot. And you know that was old
19:59
school ACC, you know, and um it was in a
20:03
it hasn't been in Boston since, you
20:04
know, that was kind of fun for me to
20:06
have a lot of friends in Boston, too.
20:07
So, um, I just remembered the energy
20:09
around women's basketball and in in a in
20:12
a league that I knew and in a in an area
20:14
that I knew really well. It was, you
20:16
know, it was part of why I wanted to get
20:17
into the business.
20:23
>> Carter Braun, USA Today. Coach, having a
20:25
guard like Alina Arnisalo, what has her
20:28
experience in past March Madness runs
20:30
meant to this one this year?
20:34
>> You know, I don't know. I think E's
20:35
really grown up a lot. You know, I think
20:37
when you I think the undertold story of
20:39
the recruiting of the transfer process
20:41
is that you have to learn a whole new
20:42
language. You have to learn a whole new
20:44
system and standard and and expectation
20:46
and and so she spent some time adjusting
20:49
to that, right? Um and you know at UCLA
20:52
she wasn't asked to do as much as we're
20:54
asking her to do, right? She was kind of
20:56
feed Lauren bets, right? Um and so they
20:59
had that kind of big post in the middle
21:00
of the floor and they were running a lot
21:02
of kind of actions for her whereas we
21:04
want her to be more aggressive. you
21:06
know, I trust her with the ball in her
21:07
hands and I know she can be a hard her
21:09
hard matchup and she's got great vision.
21:11
Um and so, you know, as a player, her
21:14
role is different, right? And and um in
21:17
terms of the NCA tournament, her role is
21:18
different. Like we were we're relying on
21:20
her more than they were, right? So um
21:23
you know, obviously Nyla Harris played
21:24
in an Elite 8, right? Um India's hosted
21:28
before. So there's just I think there
21:29
are kind of the neat thing about college
21:31
athletics is that every year there is a
21:33
lot of difference. even before the
21:34
transfer portal, every year is a little
21:35
different, right? And so I think it's as
21:37
much actually more so about where this
21:39
team and what the stuff they've been
21:40
through and and who they are um as a
21:42
unit more so maybe than the experiences
21:44
they've had before it.
21:49
>> Courtney or Bon Torill Tribune as as to
21:52
like I asked Alina about your
21:54
conversations with her wanting her to be
21:56
meaner. Can you kind of talk about that?
21:58
Yeah. And and have you seen a
22:00
transformation from her during the
22:03
season of being maybe a little meaner on
22:05
the court, more aggressive?
22:06
>> Yeah, I think she she worded it really
22:08
well. I think I've had really high
22:09
standards for Elena. I knew how good she
22:11
could be. I recruited her hard out of
22:12
Europe. Um and you know I and out of the
22:16
portal recruiting her hard and making
22:17
sure she knew that um we're going to
22:19
play to your strengths and part of that
22:20
is going to be we're going to figure it
22:21
out as we go because you're such a
22:23
creative and talented player. Um, and
22:26
then she got here and again the language
22:28
is a thing. It's not her first language,
22:30
right? And so she might know exactly
22:31
what she's trying to say and and in our
22:33
play call, but has a second to have it
22:36
register on how to say it in English,
22:37
right? And so I think uh there was some
22:40
delay and then also um still learning
22:43
the holistic part of our program in
22:46
terms of what people's strengths were
22:47
and yet I keep imploring her to be
22:49
aggressive, right? So, it just it took
22:51
time and and then I wanted her to, you
22:53
know, I think teams take on the
22:54
personality of their leaders, both their
22:56
coaching staff and of their best
22:57
players. And, you know, I just wanted
22:58
her to be able to show how competitive
23:00
she is more outwardly, right? I wanted
23:03
her to to play with more passion. Um,
23:06
because that helps the rest of the team
23:08
feel more connected to what she's doing.
23:11
Um, and so I think you're starting to
23:13
see even yesterday when she hit that
23:14
shot and got fouled, you know, you got
23:16
to see that kind of flex, right? that
23:18
that means a lot from a kid that is more
23:21
uh gentle by nature. Um so her and I
23:24
relationship has been really strong.
23:26
I've absolutely loved coaching her. Um I
23:28
think she has really enjoyed being here
23:30
and her maturation as a player I have I
23:32
have great pride in. Um and and also
23:35
just great excitement for because I
23:36
think she's only scratching the surface
23:37
still of how good she can be.
23:44
>> Carter Braun USA Today. I've gotten to
23:47
talk with some of the girls this week
23:48
about the Blue Ballers account on Tik
23:50
Tok and um Jordan said you're a fan. Are
23:53
you a follower? Do you support it? Um
23:56
how do you feel about that page?
23:57
>> Yeah, I don't if I say if I follow it,
24:00
it's that's would be I think I do. I
24:02
don't really I'm not as good at Tik Tok
24:03
as our players are. Um but in this day
24:05
and age, you know, branding is a
24:07
important thing and the more um audience
24:09
you can bring to their accounts, the
24:11
more um they can bring in in true NIL
24:13
value, right? So, I do have a Tik Tok
24:15
account off the court for all of you
24:17
followers out there. Um, in part because
24:19
my following helps them in their own
24:21
way, right? Um, and so they started this
24:24
Blue Baller account that kind of um
24:26
doesn't have to go through the
24:27
university formalities and so they
24:29
really do get to show their
24:30
personalities and the way that um the
24:32
way that it works. And I don't know how
24:35
many followers they have. I think we'd
24:36
all be surprised at how many and how
24:38
much viewership they have. I know our
24:39
recruits are commenting sometimes. I'm
24:41
like, "Oh my gosh." So, um, the fact
24:43
that I don't we don't get to okay the
24:45
content is always scary. Um, but, you
24:49
know, they're they're fun-hearted and
24:50
they're and they're them. So, I don't
24:53
know how to answer that besides anything
24:54
that helps them get true NIL, I'm all in
24:56
for.
24:58
>> Tom Shanahan, News and Observer. Uh,
25:00
Brenda talked earlier about coming back
25:02
to North Carolina from her Maryland
25:04
days, and you heard me ask the players,
25:06
they don't really understand it. Do you
25:08
bring it up? Is it important at all or
25:09
not a factor or what? No, I don't think,
25:12
you know, I think they know they have to
25:13
beat sort of like when we talk about
25:14
conference realignments, you know, and
25:16
people ask, "How do you feel about it?"
25:18
Right? I feel about that the people that
25:20
are paid to make that decision better
25:21
make the right one, whatever that is,
25:23
right? Um I have to beat whoever's on my
25:25
schedule, whether they're in the ACC or
25:27
the Big 10 or the SEC or or the Big 12
25:30
or the or the Ohio Valley, it doesn't
25:32
matter, right? And so, um, no, I don't I
25:36
know it sounds crazy, but sometimes
25:38
these kids are so focused on on what's
25:40
ahead and on themselves that they don't
25:42
the history just is a little bit lost on
25:44
them. And I think for them it's about
25:46
who we are right now and who we have to
25:47
be right in front of us.
25:50
>> TJ French USA Today, just kind of a
25:52
piggyback on the Elena answer. Um, she
25:55
mentioned togetherness and being playing
25:57
together, being together. She kind of
25:59
talked to me a little bit about it in
26:01
the locker room. just what does that
26:02
mean in the program and how do you see
26:03
the players playing together, acting
26:05
together and and just being together as
26:07
a team?
26:08
>> Yeah, I hope we recruit it, but I think
26:10
sometimes you have to get lucky, right?
26:12
I think these guys are really connected.
26:13
They care so much about um the Carolina
26:16
across their chest that they're less
26:18
concerned with with their own individual
26:22
this that or the other thing. Um they
26:23
really do celebrate each other's
26:25
success, you know. Um, and so I think we
26:29
emphasize it and celebrate it in the
26:30
right way, but they've really bought
26:31
into it. Um, I also think when you watch
26:34
us play, right, there's an element of
26:36
resilience that we've had to show this
26:37
year. I mean, we lost three of our first
26:39
five ACC games. It's not a great start,
26:41
right? Which basically means you had to
26:43
win every single game you played for the
26:44
next two months, right? And they just
26:46
were resilient through that. And then
26:47
the connectiveness that they showed um
26:50
after we lost to Notre Dame, the
26:51
practice was no different than it was if
26:53
we had won. you know, these guys just
26:55
continually lean into the process um
26:57
because they're connected to the
26:59
mission, not just when things go well.
27:00
We always say when you set goals, you
27:02
set them irregardless of obstacle,
27:05
right? And um they there were some
27:07
obstacles that this particular team had
27:09
to get through and they stayed connected
27:12
both as an individual on their journey
27:13
and then as a group. Um so you see it in
27:15
how they play, how they celebrate each
27:17
other, um how they lift each other up,
27:19
you can see it in their answers, you You
27:20
know, I think that's what's another
27:21
thing that's great about March Madness
27:22
is you put a microphone in front of
27:24
them. Um, and you have really talented
27:26
reporters who know kind of how to ask a
27:28
question that could get at the truth and
27:31
they shine, right? That's that's you
27:33
can't really prepare for the questions
27:34
you guys might ask them, but you can
27:35
tell that they care about their
27:36
resilience and their connectedness both
27:38
in how they play and how they prepare.
27:44
Ariel Bottom, Torielhel Tribune. Can can
27:46
you talk about the evolution of U
27:50
Laney's game from becoming a player that
27:53
other teams are putting a lot of focus
27:55
on
27:56
>> to having to deal with that and what
27:58
adjustments has she made
28:01
>> uh since then and what has the team kind
28:03
of done to help her through that? Yeah,
28:06
I love talking I love talking about
28:07
Laney because we have to remember last
28:09
year when she skipped her senior year of
28:10
high school to join our program. She was
28:12
playing on a team that had so many fifth
28:14
year seniors and she was 18. So that's a
28:17
huge age grab. 22 year olds and 18 year
28:19
olds in a locker room where she hadn't
28:21
yet, you know, lived away from home and
28:23
she's not only living away from home,
28:24
but she had an important role on last
28:26
year's team um as such a young player
28:28
and then wanted to take a we call it
28:30
Laney 2.0. Like you don't get to go to
28:32
your second year here and not get
28:33
better, right? you have to get better um
28:36
in order for this really to work. Um and
28:38
so she went from being kind of a shooter
28:40
to now a scorer. She went from being a
28:43
um a team defender to a lockdown
28:46
individual defender as well, right? Um
28:48
so she's just made incredible progress
28:51
um where she's reliable. I think she let
28:52
us in minutes this year. I'm not sure,
28:54
but it feels like it because she is so
28:56
reliable on both ends of the floor. Um,
28:58
and then when teams really key on her,
29:00
which they started to do, as you know,
29:01
partway through the ACC season, almost
29:02
halfway through, we were able to use her
29:05
in ways that got everybody else layups,
29:06
as you probably remember from the
29:08
Virginia Tech ACC tournament game or in
29:11
the Virginia game on the road. Like, if
29:12
you're going to defend Laney a certain
29:14
way, then we're going to get something
29:15
else, just like if you're going to
29:16
defend Elena a certain way or you're
29:18
going to defend our post a certain way.
29:19
Um, they were really last night, they
29:21
were really um really collapsing and
29:24
protecting the paint, right? So, they
29:26
really were concerned about our interior
29:27
game and we shot up 40 threes, right?
29:29
Like we're going to we're going to take
29:30
what the defense gives us and we're
29:32
going to make them wrong. Basically,
29:33
that's our that's our goal. And so,
29:35
we're part of that is how they deal with
29:36
Laney. And she's just stayed she watched
29:38
a ton of film. We've already watched a
29:39
lot of film this morning. Um, and she's
29:42
she has stayed a student of the game,
29:43
but she's never lost the confidence on
29:45
who she is. She's believed in herself
29:47
from the very beginning. She's believed
29:48
in me from the very beginning. Um, I
29:50
obviously offered her when she hadn't
29:51
even entered high school yet. Um, so I
29:53
believed in her early on and she just
29:55
proves me right every single day. Um,
29:57
and so I look forward to her continually
30:00
progressing. I think Laney 3.0 will be
30:01
even better.
30:06
>> Bob Sutton with the Associated Press.
30:08
Both UNCC and Maryland yesterday had
30:10
pretty sizable rebounding advantages and
30:12
so how do you see that aspect of the
30:14
game playing out tomorrow and the and
30:16
the importance of it?
30:17
>> I would love to say that we're going to
30:19
have a very sizable rebounding advantage
30:20
against Maryland. I don't know if that's
30:22
the case. These guys are elite on the
30:24
glass. Partly is that is they put a lot
30:25
of pressure on the rim, off the dribble,
30:27
and so when they do that, you're you're
30:29
forced into pursuit rebounding at times,
30:30
maybe not as much positional. Um so
30:33
we've got to handle that problem. We
30:34
also um they've got um hungry
30:36
rebounders, right? Like they've got guys
30:38
that are really they pride themselves on
30:41
that first, second, and third step and
30:43
their first, second, and third jump,
30:44
right? And so if we area rebound instead
30:47
of pursuit and contact rebound, it's not
30:49
going to go well for either team because
30:51
we're a problem on the glass as well.
30:52
Um, and so that's what you get when
30:55
you're when you're down to the round of
30:56
32. A physicality and a and an identity
31:00
that is that is laced with toughness,
31:04
right? There's just not a lot of just
31:06
pretty teams. There's pretty and greedy
31:07
at this at this at this point, right?
31:09
And and there's a grittiness factor to
31:11
tomorrow's game that both teams have to
31:12
bring on the glass. And you know, we're
31:14
we're both I'm sure we're both imploring
31:16
it, talking about it, adjusting for it,
31:19
but there's an element of when that ball
31:20
gets tipped, we got to get to the glass,
31:22
both sides.
31:25
>> Carter Braun, USA Today, you're slotted
31:27
for the noon game tomorrow. Would this
31:28
be your ideal timing for a basketball
31:30
game or um would you like it a little
31:33
bit later in the day?
31:34
>> I like any game time that we win. Quite
31:37
frankly, um we had a lot of noon tips
31:38
this year. Um, uh, you know, I think the
31:42
the I don't know if our students will be
31:44
back in time for that, so that's a bit
31:45
of a bummer. Also, I know there's a lot
31:47
of youth sports. My own children have
31:48
them as well. Um, but you know, so maybe
31:51
if it was a little bit later, that might
31:52
help the crowd a little bit. I'm not
31:54
sure. Um, but you're also, especially at
31:56
this time, the later the game is, the
31:58
more you're just kind of watching
31:59
basketball all day. Get kind of like
32:00
drunk watching basketball. Then you're
32:02
like, "Oh god, we have to play." Right?
32:04
So there's something about a noon tip
32:06
which then every game after us they're
32:07
talking about the teams that have
32:08
already stamped their stamped their
32:10
their card into the Sweet 16, right? Um
32:12
and so I started this morning with
32:14
breakfast that like, hey, we could be
32:16
the first team to stamp our spot into
32:17
the Sweet 16, you know. Um you know, and
32:20
so if we win the game, it was the
32:22
perfect time.
32:27
Haram Torhill Tribune. Uh Okanawa
32:30
obviously you've seen her a lot and
32:33
she's a big reason that Duke went in the
32:34
Sweet 16 last year. What are the
32:36
challenges that she gives you?
32:38
>> Her motor uh Aluchcci's got a is a is an
32:41
easy kid to root for because a lot of
32:43
what she does is just sheer toughness,
32:45
resilience, and motor. A lot like Alyssa
32:47
US. You know, there's a lot of Alyssa in
32:49
her and her relentlessness, right? Um
32:51
it's so it, you know, sometimes people
32:54
think that that's just something
32:55
everybody can do. It's a skill. Like, so
32:57
where she might lack skill in certain
32:59
other areas, she has an elite skill in
33:01
how she competes, right? And it's hard
33:03
to guard that. It's hard to guard
33:05
somebody that winning winning plays,
33:07
offensive rebounds, uh, you know,
33:10
creating free throw attempts, getting
33:12
out in transition, some of these things
33:14
that, you know, you'll show a clip of
33:15
somebody else and she just finds her way
33:18
into the clip and you're like, "You're
33:19
not supposed to be in this one. I'm
33:20
working on this." Right? She's just a
33:22
kid that is um you have to account for
33:24
because of her skill, which is her motor
33:26
and her resilience and her toughness and
33:27
her and her um relentlessness. Um and so
33:31
yeah, she's that's an absolutely huge
33:33
part of her game. It was a huge part of
33:35
her game in the ACC. It's a huge part of
33:36
her game in the Big 10 and
33:38
relentlessness travels across school
33:40
lines apparently. Um so yeah, we have
33:42
great respect for her and easy to root
33:44
for her. We've had a kid just like her
33:45
on our roster and and we know how much
33:47
that brings to your team.
33:49
Time for maybe one more question if
33:51
anyone wants to close us out.
33:56
>> What kind of our help out in Torill
33:58
Tribune? What kind of game do you expect
34:00
as far as pace? And does Maryland remind
34:03
you of any teams you've played this
34:05
season in that regard?
34:07
>> You know, like the Big 10 uh in the ACC,
34:10
they've been they've had to play lots of
34:12
different ways, right? They've had to
34:13
play against the press of Ohio State.
34:15
they've had to play against kind of a
34:17
more um you know how Michigan State
34:20
plays versus how Oregon plays versus how
34:23
uh Michigan plays with their guard play
34:25
and they've got bigger guard. I mean
34:26
they've played a variety of ways just
34:28
like if you watch us play Virginia,
34:29
Virginia Tech, Duke, thinking of who
34:31
we've played recently um uh Louisville,
34:34
right? Like we've had to play a little
34:35
bit different ways too. Um, and so
34:37
there'll there's an element of what are
34:38
their strengths and what are our
34:39
strengths, but um, there's also an
34:41
element of the the that when that ball
34:44
is tipped, there's there's going to be
34:45
some adjustments that both sides have to
34:46
make, right? Um, and so they're like a
34:49
lot of teams we've played because
34:51
they're um they're deep in terms of
34:53
they've got all of their guys are
34:55
dangerous. Like there's not a guy you
34:56
can just not worry about. Um, but they
34:58
also they play both sides of the ball.
35:00
Um, and you know, obviously I think we
35:02
do as well. Um, so I think it's more
35:04
just, um, there's not one team that they
35:07
look like. It's kind of a collection of
35:09
teams that we've had to deal with,
35:11
whether that's, you know, they can throw
35:13
a little bit of switching manto man and
35:14
fronting the post or they can they can
35:16
get in some flat hook coverage or they
35:18
can they can extend the floor or they
35:20
can, you know, so we've we kind of takes
35:21
bits and pieces of our of our journey
35:24
sort of in the prep mode. Um, you know,
35:26
and that's what you expect from good
35:27
teams. You know, there's very few teams
35:29
in the country that just this is what we
35:30
do no matter who we play. Right. And I
35:33
think everyone else, we just have to
35:35
continually play to our strengths and
35:37
and find ways to pick on the other
35:38
team's weaknesses and they don't always
35:40
match up each possession. So, you have
35:43
to do it kind of holistically. So, kind
35:44
of a hard a long way of saying, you
35:46
know, there's there's not one way to to
35:48
to beat Maryland. There's not one way to
35:50
beat Carolina. And um we have to
35:52
continually possession by possession win
35:53
one possession at a time. And so they
35:56
>> coach, thanks so much for the time and
35:58
good luck tomorrow.
35:59
>> Thanks, guys. Hammond Communications
36:01
will post a recording of this press
36:02
conference in the NCAA digital media hub
36:04
at ncaa.veritone.com.
36:07
Transcripts are provided by ASAP and
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