NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: SECOND ROUND - KANSAS VS STANFORD

March 19, 2022

Tara VanDerveer

Kiki Iriafen

Alyssa Jerome

Hannah Jump

Stanford Cardinal

Media Conference

Q. Talk a little bit what you know about the Jayhawks so far and just kind of what your initially impressions are, if anything?

ALYSSA JEROME: So we know that they're definitely a really strong team. We know that they're really aggressive, really, really well-rounded, have great shooters and great driver, big inside presence. So we will really need to play strong against them for sure.

HANNAH JUMP: We have to win the battle of the boards, so taking care of that tomorrow will be big.

Q. Hannah, they've got a big girl in the middle that can swat shots away. General statement on the guards taking it to the hoop tomorrow?

HANNAH JUMP: Yeah, we're just going to have pay attention to the scout, know our personnel, know who the drivers and who the shooters are, and we'll hone in on that and be ready to go.

Q. Hannah, you shot 5 of 11 from the field yesterday, and all 11 of those shots were threes. Just talk about kind of your shooting mentality, taking threes, how that feels for you. You made them so it was fine. Interesting stat. Thoughts on that?

HANNAH JUMP: Yeah, I know I have the confidence, and my coaches and my teammates and everyone keep telling me to shoot, so if I'm open I'm going to let it fly.

My teammates are really good about getting me the ball when I'm in positions that I'm able to score.

Q. KiKi, was the reaction to Belibi's dunk choreographed or was that improv?

KIKI IRIAFEN: Improv. All natural. That was my general reaction to what happened. My chest was like beating, my heart was beating out of my chest. That was totally real.

ALYSSA JEROME: Yeah, a bunch of us were all just in shock that she really just did that, so we were all super excited for you her and everyone was freaking out on the bench.

We were told we had to sit down, because we were super excited and we were sitting on each other and no one had seats, so it was really exciting.

Q. How much has it helped to have won the Pac-12 Tournament coming into the NCAA tournament. How much does having a conference tournament before the NCAAs help, especially when you've won the tournament as well?

HANNAH JUMP: Yeah, I think it's given us a lot of confidence. We've played a lot of really talented teams in the tournament and each one has prepared us differently for teams we'll face. I think winning that is definitely giving us confidence for this tournament.

ALYSSA JEROME: Yeah, I would just add playing in the Pac-12, you're playing against a top 25 team every single night, so it really helps prepare us for what's to come in the NCAA tournament. We know that we really have to hone in on scouts and stuff like that. So having the tournament right before this, I think we're really locked in.

KIKI IRIAFEN: Yes, just to add on, I feel like we became hyper focused, and having a tournament atmosphere before the actual big tournament just helped prepare us for the NCAA.

Q. Kansas has some quick guards, and I think that was a factor yesterday. Can you give a general statement on the backcourt?

HANNAH JUMP: Yeah, like we said, they have a lot of really good shooters, a lot of really aggressive drivers, so just knowing the scout, who you're defending. We'll watch a lot of film and we'll be ready for that.

Q. KiKi, you attempted a dunk this year; didn't go in. You can dunk it. Did seeing Fran do that kind of inspire you, if given the right chance to do it at some point?

KIKI IRIAFEN: Definitely inspiring. Like Fran is amazing, such a great role model for me, besides like and everything. But we'll see. Maybe next season. I'm just really excited to be in this position and be on a championship winning team.

ALYSSA JEROME: It's coming one day for KiKi. It's coming.

Q. For Alyssa and KiKi, what are some -- I know Hannah you're a shooter; you really focus on that -- but for Alyssa and KiKi, I haven't talked to you guys as much this year. What are areas of growth that you guys have worked on this year, and where do you see you've grown over the course of the season?

KIKI IRIAFEN: I think I've just worked on being more efficient and giving all that I can in the minutes that I get and just being very productive with what I'm given. One thing I really focused on is finishing inside and rebounding more, and something that I'm still trying to work on is having better defense and being able to guard 4s and 5s as well.

ALYSSA JEROME: Yeah, I think for me just being versatile, whether I'm needed at 3 or 4 or yesterday the 5, just kind of expanding my skillset in that way and just like KiKi said, being ready when I'm needed to guard players as well, hit my open shot, rebound, stuff like that.

Q. Just in general, what is the challenge in playing a team for the first time all season? Solid opponents. Just talk about seeing a team for the first time all year. You haven't seen them. Just the unique challenge that poses?

ALYSSA JEROME: I think for the most part it poses a challenge on your coaches to kind of scout them. They do a such a good job getting us really prepared. We've never seen this team before, but I feel already really prepared going through the scout of them and locking in today on their tendencies, knowing their personnel and how we'll guard them, their ball screens. So I think we'll be more than prepared for tomorrow.

Q. Just how nice is it to have a dominating win, how much momentum does that build? And also, just in general, I guess by getting No. 1 seed you put yourselves in a position to have a dominating game to start. How much does it help he to have a win like that to open things up for the tournament?

HANNAH JUMP: Yeah, I think it feels pretty good. Gives us a lot of confidence. We haven't played in a couple weeks, so just to be able to play again was really nice. But, yeah, going forward we know what we got to do, and just going to lock in on every single scout and every single team we play and just take it one game at a time.

KIKI IRIAFEN: Yeah, and as you said, just momentum, a big push coming into the tournament, which is what we're going to need.

Q. For Alyssa and Hannah, how different did it feel to be playing in a postseason game on your home court in front of a crowd as opposed to last year in a double?

ALYSSA JEROME: For me this is my first postseason tournament game even at home with my freshman with getting canceled, so it was a super, super cool atmosphere and the fans were really great, super loud. The arena was packed and Fran's dunk erupted the place, so it was super, super cool to be able to play in front of all your friends and family in this kind of level of competition.

Q. In terms of tip off times, you don't know when you're going to play. Sometimes you play mornings, sometimes you play night. You guys got a 7:00 pm tip off yesterday; you guys got a 6:00 pm tip off tomorrow. In general is it nicer to have games later in the evening during a more regular kind of game time versus like 11:00 am, 12:30 kind of thing, or does that just like not matter at all to you guys?

HANNAH JUMP: We're ready to go whenever.

ALYSSA JEROME: Yeah, I would say it's probably nicer, more time to prepare, especially for a team we haven't seen before. Yeah, I think each player has their preference, but I think in general we are ready to play whenever.

Q. Coach, you wanted say something about the student-athletes up here?

TARA VANDERVEER: Usually I get a chance to talk about them before they're excused. I wanted to bring KiKi today. She's a rising star, as a freshman, for her to get used to this because she's going to be at a lot of the press conferences, and I know this is going to be kind of something really part of what she's doing. She's had a great freshman year. Loved your answers, KiKi. She gives us a really great presence inside. Rebounds, runs the floor, really concentrates, really hard worker. She'll be here a lot more. Alyssa has done everything for our team. This is her last game in Maples, and I wanted her to be here today. She's kind of the heart and soul of our team in how she knows all the plays. We call her Coach Jerome. She knows everything we're doing. She's started for us. She's come off the bench. She's been on the scout team. She's done it all, and she does it all in the same way, just extremely mature, a great, great teammate, and someone I'm really going to miss coaching.

I'm really glad she came back for a fifth year. We're going to try to keep it going. Hannah Jump, she had an outstanding game. She's had a fantastic season. Again, has started for us, comes off the bench, does whenever we need her to do. I think she's one of the hardest workers, not just on our team, but in the country. She's in that gym early every day working on her shot, working on her ball handling, and she's really -- her defense has really improved. Just an all-around great player. For these three women, I think they represent our team really well, but just wanted to give them extra shout-out before they get back and get warmed up four practice.

Q. I asked the players the question, but for you as well, your thoughts on Kansas, having seen and watched tape of them, what are your initial impressions of them and what they do well?

TARA VANDERVEER: Well, you know, you're exactly right. They're a really quality NCAA team, play in a great league. You know, feels like a lot of times we play a Big 12 game at this part of the tournament. We played at Kansas State I think -- I don't know what year that was -- 2017 maybe. We played Oklahoma State last year, so we know they play in a great conference, they're a very talented team. And with any team, if you let a team do what they like to do you're in trouble. We have to really focus on things that will help our team be successful.

Q. They have a big girl in the middle. Is that something to be conscious about?

TARA VANDERVEER: Definitely. She's one the top shot blockers in the country, but I think for our team, you know, you have Cam that you play against every day in practice, too. Ashten blocks shots, KiKi. So it's not something that's totally new. It's not like playing against something you never seen before. We went to South Carolina. They have a great shot blocker. We went to Tennessee. They have a great shot blocker. So we've played -- in our own league you've got six, seven players, so we're used to playing against it. But she does have a good knack for good timing, and it is something that our team is well aware of.

Q. Just in general, I asked Hannah the same question, but what's your attitude on seeing a stat line of only three point shots from her? Obviously she's making them. Do you want to see her going inside more or are you just cool with whatever comes her way?

TARA VANDERVEER: I think she's just trying to read the defenses. She's open, she's going to look for a three. If people are coming out on her she can put it on the floor and go to the basket. She is a very good passer. She's expanded her game. She is not just a three point shooter. She's really working hard. She's get on the O boards better, playing better defense, but her shot is special.

Q. A lot of fans are happy with a lot of the first round upsets, especially at the hands the mid-majors. What are your thoughts on the emerging parity? Is it exciting for you as well?

TARA VANDERVEER: Thanks for the question, Cheryl. I really focus on our team and our bracket. I am aware of the other scores obviously, but just I think being a one seed, I don't that I get excited about upsets.

Q. Brandon Schneider was Coach the year in the Big 12; you were coach of the year. Talk about matching up against a young up-and-coming coach.

TARA VANDERVEER: As a young up-and-coming coach I'm excited about it. You know, just at this level everyone -- the teams are really talented and the coaches are really talented, so it's really -- for our staff to communicate to our team the things that are important for us to do, and then for our team to really go out and execute. We know it'll be a very challenging game. We know they're a very talented team. So it's not going to get any easier. So whether it's this game or, you know, hopefully we can continue, but it doesn't get easier, it gets tougher and tougher every step.

But our team has experience in navigating these games, and we just have to continue to focus on what will help us be successful.

Q. Tara, just talk about you have done this so many times, so long that I wouldn't say it's not a challenge for you, but how is it different scouting a team for the first time with a quick turnaround? What unique aspects does that pose?

TARA VANDERVEER: Well, you know, the way I do it is when the bracket comes out I look at the three teams in the bracket and try to establish on the very first day what the similarities between all the teams so you're working on things right from the get-go that will help you be successful against the one team you know you're playing, and the other two that you could play. So there are certain things you just have to do no matter who you're playing. And I would say starting with rebounding, you got to rebound the basketball, take care the basketball. Can't turn it over. In last night's game I thought we turned it over too much. But it's not like it's all fresh for me because I been watching it all week and we have the bracket divided up for scouting, as I'm sure Kansas and Georgia Tech and Montana State did, too. It is a little bit different style, a little bit different team because we haven't played them before. I don't know that we've ever played Kansas. I guess never, so it's a first time. But we know we will have to play well, and I feel like our team and our staff knows what we have to do. Of course knowing it and doing it are two different things.

Q. On the home court advantage, just how much of a boost is that for you guys especially, in a 1-8 matchup? And not just for helping win games, but just helping the student-athletes, having a couple games at home, how much do you feel what that kind of helps your team?

TARA VANDERVEER: Well, I feel like we've earned it. The way the women's tournament works, the top 16 teams, in the same way that the NBA, we played a whole regular schedule. Everyone is not equal at this point. I feel we have earned that home court. It's nice to not have to travel. Maybe you get to sleep in our own bed or eat your own food. There is a comfort level. But at the same time, I think sometimes it also puts extra pressure on a team. So we have gone on the road and won in front of crowds and I'm sure Kansas has done that, too. So this level of basketball, yes, there is maybe a certain home court familiarity and comfort, but you have to still put the work in. Home court does not make baskets for you. The crowd doesn't get any rebounds, they don't play any defense that I've seen. So you've got to do the right things.

Q. Tara, I guess one other area of growth that you guys have had is guard play. You don't have Kiana this year. Beginning a bit of a struggle, but you seem to have found more of an identity in the back court. Talk about the growth you have seen in your team in that area.

TARA VANDERVEER: That's your best question. I love it. I love answering. Thanks for asking. I am so proud of the improvement that Lacie Hull, Anna Wilson, Jordan Hamilton, Haley Jones, Jana Van Gytenbeek, our guard, Lexie helping handle the ball. Really everyone buying into the fact that we did lose an all-American in Kiana Williams and it was a big adjustment in the beginning of the year. We did play a very, very tough schedule. When you're playing Texas, who is a very aggressive, defensive team. Playing at Gonzaga, which is a great program. Still in the tournament.

When you go to Tennessee or South Carolina. Teams that -- again, you're playing Indiana. These are all tournament teams. You've got to have guard play. So we kind of I think we front loaded our schedule with really tough competition and threw our guards into the deep end of the pool. They got dunked a little bit, but they came up swimming and they're doing really well.