NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: SECOND ROUND - BELMONT VS TENNESSEE

March 20, 2022

Kellie Harper

Tennessee Lady Volunteers

Media Conference

KELLIE HARPER: Well, our team is really excited to be playing tomorrow. We know we have a tough opponent, very gritty opponent, who executes well on both ends of the court. So, we know it's a huge challenge, but our team is really excited and hopefully we'll be prepared and ready to go come 7:00 tomorrow night.

Q. Coach, you know my standard one. What are the challenges of Belmont, and what do you all face tomorrow night against them?

KELLIE HARPER: Well, I think if you look at Belmont and what they're able to do, they are excellent and efficient on both ends of the court. They can shoot it well. They pass it well. They are a low turnover team. They're very, very intelligent. They make the right decision and a lot of that is on the defensive end as well. So, I think they're not going to be intimidated. You look at their schedule. They've played a tough schedule. They made a run last year. And this is a very experienced basketball team, and they're going to come out and fight and do what they do and what they do has been pretty good.

Q. Coach, we've talked about it before. You're from Tennessee. You're the head coach of Tennessee's women's basketball team. When you're facing an in-state foe in the NCAA tournament when you can play teams from across the country, what do you think that sort of says about basketball in this state?

KELLIE HARPER: Well, obviously this is two good basketball teams playing against each other. There's no doubt that there are some of those players over there that are very motivated to play their in-state team. To me, it could be a little bit more than just playing in the NCAA tournament. And so I think they'll be inspired and ready to go.

Q. Coach, just kind of following that, what do you think it just says to the game of women's basketball and to maybe little girls watching the game tomorrow to see two Tennessee teams, a mid-major and the legacy that the women's basketball team has here at Tennessee just competing? How special do you think that is?

KELLIE HARPER: Well, I think it tells you how much better women's basketball has gotten. We talked a little bit about the parity. At this point anybody can win and doesn't matter what your league is. It matters what you do now on the court. And there are a lot of really good teams, a lot of good teams that are probably better because they have some maybe fifth-year players. I think we're seeing that across the board, you know. But there's just a lot of talent, a lot of talented teams. And especially in this state, I think when you look across the state, there's been some really good basketball played this year. And I think it is inspiring. You know, when I was growing up, the college teams were very successful in this state, and I think it gives you something to look at and to follow.

Q. Two quick questions. First, has there been any update in Jordan Horston's status? Has she been able to participate anymore in practice?

KELLIE HARPER: No. Jordan, same for her, like I said the other day, she can shoot some because the injury is on her left elbow. So she's been shooting, but that's about it.

Q. And secondly, (Belmont coach) Bart (Brooks) was talking about last night more about the chip on his team's shoulder. There's players in that locker room that feel like they might be under-recruited and you coached at Missouri State. I'm sure you had players like that, too. How dangerous is a team like that when there's players who feel like they deserve better in the recruiting process?

KELLIE HARPER: I know exactly what they're going through right now. I lived that. I know how exactly motivated they are. I know exactly what that chip on their shoulder looks like. I've been there. And as a coach, I use that. They played last year. They want more than they did last year. That would be one more win. So I get it. I get it.

Q. Coach, the freshmen continue to contribute big minutes, 14 total points, four assists, 12 rebounds, two steals combined from them. How would you assess their play last night in their first NCAA tournament?

KELLIE HARPER: Well, I tell you, our freshmen go out and they're typically pretty fearless. They go out and they're trying to make plays, and they made good plays. They made a few mistakes. But after the game I kept thinking how much better they're going to be because they had that opportunity and I'm really excited for them and how they're playing. We finished practice, and we have at least three of those freshmen out doing extra work. So, they're very motivated. They're excited. They're having a ball. I'll say this. They're having a ball. And that energy is contagious.

Q. Coach, you mentioned Belmont wants more than they got last year. Would the same apply to Tennessee, because you got stopped in the second round? I mean obviously the kids don't carry the burden of Tennessee. You know what the Tennessee burden is and what its expectations are. On the other side of this, do you use that as motivation for your team, let's get to our first Sweet 16 for this program --

KELLIE HARPER: I don't think I have to.

Q. -- since 2016?

KELLIE HARPER: I don't think I have to. I think this is a motivated team. They want it for this team. There's a lot, you know, when you start thinking about numbers and win this and you got to do this for the program. And I get it, I understand. We carry that, that's part of being a Lady Vol. But this team, they want to win. They just want to win. They want to advance. And the good thing is they understand it's not going to be easy, and you got to go out there and earn it. So I think that's the really exciting piece about this team and how competitive they are right now.

Q. At one point in the season people were picking your team as a Final Four favorite, and after everything that happened the last month or two, what does it mean to be at this moment, what it means I guess to you as a coach of this program to make the Sweet 16 and to make that statement?

KELLIE HARPER: Well, you know, I told the team today, I love them. I love them and I'm thankful and grateful for them. And I appreciate all that they've done and what they've been through this year and the ups and downs haven't changed them as people. And I get to go out and coach a team that plays hard every single possession, and they try. They will make mistakes, and we may not make every shot or, you know, we'll mess up, but this is the team that I want to coach, because they will fight. They will give us everything they've got. And I just appreciate that. And when you have that as a coach, I just want to see them succeed. I want to see them have that opportunity, you know, and it's a really special group. And they've hung in there. They've hung in there this year and would love to keep coaching them for a little bit longer.

Q. The one thing about women's basketball, it's been seeking over -- I'm going back a couple of decades now -- is parity. Do you think we can safely say, looking at these scores across the country, particularly in these early rounds, that women's basketball has reached that point?

KELLIE HARPER: I think there is a lot of parity in women's basketball, and I think, you know, going into this year you could see a lot of talented teams. And getting to the NCAA Tournament and just seeing, you know, people are talking about upsets, upsets. I don't know if it's upsets. Once you get to the tournament, it's this team is playing this team. It just happens to have a number in front of their name. It's more about matchups than numbers at that point. So, I don't know how many upsets we've really seen. These teams are good. If you're in the NCAA Tournament, you're there for a reason. You're there because you've won. You've there because you've passed a test, whether it's a conference tournament or you've passed the season-long test of, you know, showing your body of work is deserving of being there. But there is a lot of really good women's basketball teams right now. It's fun to watch, because you can't predict it. You don't know what's going to happen next.

Q. Just to follow up on that, then, what's the challenge now of maybe trying to grow the game, not just on the court, but growing fans and getting more support across the whole sport? Is there any concrete steps that you've thought of or that might be helpful or what could be next?

KELLIE HARPER: Oh, I'm -- yeah. I wish I could give you a laundry list of items. You know, there's a lot of people more creative than I am about how we can do those things, but I think right now, just I feel like there is just a positive trajectory for women's basketball. I think, again, I think we've got to find ways to build on the excitement that we've had. I mean, what a great first round that we've had. I mean some really good games and some exciting basketball, some exciting individual players, some exciting teams. I think we just have to continue to grow on what our product is and, you know, continue to talk about it, continue to brag on it. And hopefully people will tune in. If you like sports, you got to tune in to women's basketball because it's worth it. It's good.

Q. Obviously a different team than last year, but if you had to maybe sum it up or pinpoint something, what do you feel like would be the difference in why this team would be the one to make it to the Sweet 16?

KELLIE HARPER: You know, this team for us has -- we have a lot of grit. I do think we have a little bit more experience now. I think the NCAA Tournament last year was great for us to have that experience, both the positive and the negative. And our returners can think back and remember what that looks like. But I just -- I think their toughness and their grit, their competitiveness is what gives them an opportunity to win basketball games.