NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - UMASS VS NOTRE DAME

March 19, 2022

Tory Verdi

Sam Breen

Sydney Taylor

Massachusetts Minutewomen

Media Conference

Notre Dame 89, UMass 78

MODERATOR: We are joined by Head Coach Tory Verdi and student-athletes Sam Breen and Sydney Taylor.

COACH VERDI: Just really proud of these guys to my right and our team. You know, we had an unbelievable year. We have accomplished so much. And, you know, I think, you know, tonight's game really doesn't -- you know, define who we are and what our season was all about.

We played a really good team. And we got to give Notre Dame a lot of credit, you know, for what they did on both sides of the ball. But again, it doesn't define who we are as a program and as a team.

And we have so many firsts this year. It was the first time in the history of the program where we won an A-10 tournament championship. The first time -- we have the most wins in the history of the program. We have the first time in the history of program where we have three players make the all-conference teams in the A-10. We have the player of the year.

So, you know, regardless of this game tonight, there is so much for us to celebrate.

And this team has been special. It's been an unbelievable journey. And just really proud and of what they accomplished.

Q. A lot of teams in this tournament would get down 17 points in the second quarter, especially teams that had never been here before, and that would be it.

What was different for you guys? What -- what did you guys do to kind of turn that around to stand in and play as well as you did for as much of the game as you did after that?

SYDNEY TAYLOR: Well, we're definitely a team that like never quits. So like a three-minute run is not going to define us. There's 40 minutes in a game. And we know they're going to make their runs, we'll make our runs. So just like staying in it and knowing that the game wasn't even close to over and that we had so much more to play.

SAM BREEN: We've been there before, we've had games this season where we've been down big and clawed back. And it's been a one possession game, whether we pulled it off or not. But, you know, like she said, like they're going to go on runs and we went on our runs. unfortunately, we didn't close the gap all the way obviously. But I mean they're a really good team. And just keeping our exposure with all of the experience that we have is how we stayed in it.

Q. Sam, you tied a career high with 31 points in your first ever NCAA game.

What was the key for you to have that much offensive success?

SAM BREEN: I don't know. Just confidence, I guess. You know, the first time I have ever been here, and we've all ever been here. And just knowing, you know, it's a big stage, nothing to lose. That was really the mindset, just nothing to lose.

Q. You two have shared the court since you arrived over the last three years. I know it's early after this game, but having gotten a taste of the NCAA tournament, what do you -- what -- is there any sort of lesson that you take away about what it takes to compete at this level and sort of maybe going into next year as you guys are both leaders?

SAM BREEN: Yeah, I mean I think that this isn't going to be our first time here. We'll definitely be back. I think our team, I don't know, we're -- most people are returning. Next year is going to be a really good year obviously. But yeah, we'll definitely be back. We have a lot of talent on our team, and just working with that and developing our game even more.

SYDNEY TAYLOR: Yeah, kind of like Sam said, we'll definitely be back. No surprise there. Just getting back in the gym and working hard on the things that we need to improve on and just coming back stronger next year.

Q. Sam, can you walk us through what you saw in the end at the last play of the half as far as what you are thinking, your awareness of the clock? And then what that play did for you guys in terms of confidence and momentum?

SAM BREEN: Yeah, I mean I knew Angelique got the rebound. There was probably like threeish, three or four seconds left. Me and Syd were both leaking out. She had us both. She hit me, and I knew I had to get it off. Like why not. Got it off in time. I think it was a big momentum thing going into halftime. I mean, what it brought it within like eight points. So I think that definitely helped. Just going through my mind, I knew I had to at least get it off.

Q. What did Notre Dame do in the first quarter that knocked you back on your heels so much?

SYDNEY TAYLOR: I feel like they just shared the ball really well. Got us in rotation a lot and hit the open man like in the skip passes. We were just a little late closing out, helping on the weak side. And just, you know, we just -- but we just like -- we knew what we had to do. We fixed it in the second quarter. And yeah, we got it back to, like Sam said, got it back to eight points and that was a huge momentum shift.

SAM BREEN: Yeah, kind of like what Sydney said, I felt like it was more defensively than offensively. I mean we were missing a lot of shots that we usually make, but it was not like we weren't scoring at all to. So it was a big defensive thing. They were definitely finding the open man and hitting the open man. Like she said, we were just a second late. And they did a good job finishing shots, finishing inside and finishing all that.

Q. Sam, are there things that you experienced in this game that you can only experience in this game in an NCAA tournament game that you'll think about in the offseason when you are in the weight room, when you are spending time, you know, trying to work on your game? How do you use this game specifically, the caliber of team that you played to try to get you and this team and this program to get value out of losing this game?

SAM BREEN: I think the main thing is just we can compete with anyone. And that's going to be something we take into the offseason. We'll come back next year, compete just with anyone obviously.

They are a really talented team. We had it within five or six like late in the game. So just that mindset and knowing we're not afraid of anyone. And then just continue to develop and we're only going to get better.

Q. You guys knew going into the game that size was going to be something that you were going to have to deal with with Notre Dame.

Once you actually got on the floor and had to deal with their length, how do you think you guys were able to handle that?

SYDNEY TAYLOR: They are really big but going into the game our game plan was just kind of help on if they were ducking in in the post. Kind of the two corner players kind of helping a little bit. I mean they finished around the basket, we kind of missed a couple of boxouts that could have gave us a little bit more momentum. But, yeah, they're a big team, yeah.

SAM BREEN: Yeah, I don't think like their length necessarily bothered us too much on the defensive end. I mean they definitely altered some shots, but I think we were getting open looks. And then yeah, kind of like Syd said, they were hitting tough shots and creating that really for themselves. I don't know, they were just a step quicker really.

Q. I know you guys have said this isn't going to be the last time that you will be at the NCAA tournament. But it is first time that you guys were both here. So starting with Syd, what has this experience been like for you all being on the biggest stage?

SYDNEY TAYLOR: I mean this is everything to me. Like I grew up watching this tournament with my family and it is just a dream to be in it, win or lose. The scenario was just like the stage is so big. There is so many people watching. So I'm just so grateful for the experience. And I just can't wait to be back here.

SAM BREEN: Yeah, I mean it's definitely been, you know, a dream since I feel like all of us were little. Obviously the outcome isn't what we wanted, but just being here and being on that stage was amazing experience. And there is just no other group of people that I would have wanted to be here with. So that in itself was just amazing.

MODERATOR: That concludes our student-athlete availability. Thank you, Sam and Sydney.

Q. When you look back on the season, a season with no blowout losses and all of the firsts that you mentioned, is there a particular element of this team that you are most proud of?

COACH VERDI: You know, I'm just thankful that I get the opportunity to coach them each and every single day. That in itself is a blessing. Everything else is just a bonus. You know, and you -- you got to think about the amount of time that we spend with our student-athletes. We see them every day for hours and hours and hours. Regardless if they are on the court, okay, or off the court. And so it is just those times you get to really develop those relationships. You get to really know your players for who they are as people.

And so to me, that's the most special thing. You know, as far as, you know, where we were to where we are now, I'm just really thankful and really appreciative -- I mean just excited and happy for everything that they have accomplished this year.

Q. What were you thinking on the buzzer beater? What was going through your mind as you were watching that develop at the end of the first half?

COACH VERDI: You know, Ange got the rebound. Like Ange, get the ball out of your hands, I mean like get the outlet, you know. And Sam was right there. And you know, and it's funny because as soon as Sam launched it I'm like that's going in. You know, and so that was great. A little momentum going into the halftime.

But, you know, the first half, especially the first period, we just did a lot of things that were uncharacteristic of who we were.

And, you know, they kind of hit us right off the bat. And you know, we were on our heels. And I just thought that defensively we were dysfunctional at times. You know, but you got to give Notre Dame credit for attacking us. I thought Miles did a great job of splitting us on the on-ball screen action and attacking downhill. And, you know, we didn't do a great job of hedging on ball screen action. So got us in rotation. And gave them high percentage shots. And lastly, we didn't box out and rebound.

And we knew that we needed to match their physicality here tonight. And it goes for all five players on the floor. Everyone needs to -- I mean it doesn't make sense when you have four people boxing out and then one person just standing and watching and then we give up second chance opportunity points. So that was a big thing.

And then also we gave up points in transition. Just passes from the back court to the frontcourt for lay-ups. And that's something that we have not done all year long. So you know, I just think that, you know, it took us awhile to really settle down, you know. And so that is, you know, what I'm hoping for, you know. We have the bulk of this team coming back next year, you know. And so I hope that this, you know, it was, you know, a great experience for them.

And they got a taste of what it's like. But we're ready to take that next step. And in order to move on, like you got to do all those little things. And we talk about them all the time. You've got to box out. It's every possession. It's every single possession.

And I felt tonight that for whatever reason we weren't locked in to doing all those little things for 40 minutes.

Q. What do you think Notre Dame did that shut down Destiny in particular? She seemed very frustrated. And then also just this game aside, what can you say about her progression this year throughout her time at UMASS?

COACH VERDI: I think that their length bothered her especially at the rim. She has the -- you know, she's explosive. She can turn the corner and try to get to the basket. I mean that's what she's done all year. But really struggled because they stayed on her hip. So she's turned the corner, but yet she has a body on her hip. And then she has zero coming over. And you know, their length bothered her, you know.

And so I know that she was, you know, trying to force it just a little bit too much. And at the end of the day, she -- she is so competitive, and she wants to win so bad. But I think that she was kind of forcing it just a little bit too much where she didn't allow the game to come to her.

But as far as Destiny and her -- the evolution of who she is as a player and as a person, I mean I -- I mean I could write a book on it. And it's a feel-good story. She's one of the main cornerstones to our program, there's no question about it. When we recruited her, we were trying to bring some athleticism into our program. We knew that she was dynamic, we knew that she was fast. But she worked on her game each and every single season, she continued to improve as a player.

But then not only did she improve as a player, then we looked at her for leadership. And she didn't want that role in the beginning because she didn't know, she was like well, I can't hold myself accountable, how am I going to hold other people accountable?

You know, but then she continued to grow. And there was a maturation process that took place, and then became a leader, you know. And she did a great job of holding her teammates accountable because she knew what we needed to do in order to win a championship, you know.

But this game here today doesn't define who she is as a player. I mean she's had an unbelievable career. She's over a thousand point scorer for us. Over 500 assists, you know. And so I'm just extremely proud of Destiny, who she is both on and off the court.

Q. Did Sam's confidence kind of get contagious as the game went on? She early in the game didn't look -- did not look rattled compared to some people at the beginning. And then it seemed like as the game went on, that as she continued to make shots and continued to make plays that other people kind of picked that up around her.

COACH VERDI: Nothing fazes Sam Breen. I mean nothing, you know. And that's just who she is. She's so confident in herself, in her abilities. And she has a mental toughness about her.

But you got to understand, like that's conditioned. Like she shows up to practice each and every single day and she's our hardest worker. So like all this, there is no surprise here. There's no surprise in what she does out on the court for us, you know, because she does it each and every single day.

Q. Talking about how nothing can phase Sam Breen. I also wondered if you could speak to the play of Ber'Nyah. I don't have it in front of me right now, but I think midway through the third quarter she had the most rebounds despite being the smallest player out on the court.

Just as a sophomore, what did you like about her game tonight?

COACH VERDI: I mean she's -- her competitive spirit. I said this all along, I think she is the most undervalued player, point guard in the A-10. I mean she gets absolutely zero credit. And this is a player who's started every single game since her freshman year. And you look at what she does. She does a great job of creating for herself and creating for her teammates and she plays every minute of the game. And there is never, you know, I mean she just -- her competitive spirit is unbelievable, you know, and her coachability, I mean it's off the charts.

You know, and so to me, I mean I -- I look at her and I'm like Ber'Nyah, like you need a sub? Are you tired? She's like no, I'm good. Like and that is what I get each and every single day from her. You know, and she gets zero credit. She gets zero credit.

But that's who she is. She doesn't care who is out on the floor. She doesn't care that she's playing against Notre Dame. She doesn't care. She's going to get out there and be competitive and she's going to continue to drive and attack and try to get to the rim. I know that she fell short a little bit in the first half, but she made up for it in the second half.

Q. After the Iowa State loss in November, you kind of talked about what that game would mean in terms of March and just putting UMASS on the map and kind of how it was an advantage playing that game in November. So flash forward to now, how are you going to continue to build this momentum into next season now that you are not only just a consistent force in the tournament but also just making sure that these putting the -- putting yourself on the map moments aren't few and far between?

COACH VERDI: I think that, one, this experience today, this game today, you know, I mean it's something that you grow from. And it is really hard to get here, first of all. Like that's what people have to understand. It's really hard to win a championship as well.

So our players understand what it takes, you know. The effort, the work that you have to put in during the offseason to get you prepared for just the longevity of the season in itself. And so it is just each and every single day it's a grind and you have to work at it. I think that just being here playing on this stage, and just the moment in itself, I mean like this is a dream for a lot of people. This was a dream for a lot of our players, you know. And so just now being here, I think that if we had the opportunity, which we're going to work like heck to come back, you know, next year. So that we're back here again, I just think we're going to be more experienced and we're not going to allow a first, you know, a period like we had today the first period. We're not going to allow something like that to happen.

We'll be more prepared for that moment. And, you know, but I'm super excited about this team. I'm super excited about what we have returning. You know, but at the end of the day, we need to continue to work harder, and we need to continue to be different than we were this year. And this year we were -- we were good, there is no question about that. We did some amazing things. But if you want to take that next step, you need to be different the following year.

MODERATOR: Thank you, Coach. That concludes Massachusetts' availability.

COACH VERDI: Thank you.