NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: REGIONAL SEMIFINAL - NOTRE DAME VS NC STATE

March 25, 2022

Wes Moore

Jakia Turner-Brown

Elissa Cunane

Total Mortgage Arena

NC State Wolfpack

Sweet 16 Media Conference

WES MOORE: We're excited to be here, obviously. Getting here is not easy, so I'm proud of our players and what they've been able to put together. Obviously we're facing a familiar foe, so we know it's going to be a challenge. We know how good they are. Hopefully our experience from the past few years will benefit us here this weekend.

Q. Coach, your last loss was obviously at Notre Dame February 1st, which seems like a long time ago. How have you guys changed since that game?

WES MOORE: Well, again, I like the way we're playing now, obviously, but you have nights. We didn't shoot the ball particularly well that evening. We missed some shots. But, again, you've got to give credit to their defense. But Dodson is who really, I thought, hurt us in that game in particular. We didn't really have an answer for her. I think she got seven offensive rebounds. We've got to do a better job in that regard.

I just think this time of year, and I say it all the time because I was around Pat Summitt some in my early coaching career, she would say offense sells tickets, defense wins games and rebounding wins championships. We've got to be a great rebounding team this weekend if we want to be successful. I think transition offense and defense, hopefully we've gotten better in those areas, but we're going to continue and need to grow.

I just think at this time of year, too, I think we learned it last year, you've got to have a lot of toughness, and so hopefully the experience we have on our roster will help us in that regard. We're going to have to -- it's win or go home now. We've got to really bring it, I think, every possession of every game.

Q. Does it help you guys or does it make any difference that you're familiar with them and that your team knows what Notre Dame is and obviously you've played them so there's that familiarity instead of playing some team you've never played this season? The second part is what do you think Notre Dame has gotten better at since you played them since they've been on quite a roll lately?

WES MOORE: Right. Yeah, they have been. Yeah, I think as far as making it easier, it maybe makes it easier on the coaches because you already have film and scout and things like that, and obviously head to head -- in our case we lost, so we need to look at everything we did and adjustments we need to make.

Then I just think Notre Dame is a young team, and so I just think they've continued to grow. Ivey has done a great job of bringing them along, and they've got so many weapons. Olivia Miles makes them go, just transition and penetrate and kick. Mabrey, if you give her the smallest gap, she's going to knock down a three. I think seven threes in the last game. Citron to me is one of the best freshmen in the country, as well, somebody that you really have to account for. Westbeld, Brunelle, those two at the 4 position both deadly, and like I said, Dodson is the one that really hurt us the first time.

I just think they're all playing better collectively and hitting on all cylinders. You're going to have to defensively be really locked in on strengths, and they've got a lot of strengths so that's a big challenge.

Q. I know you've addressed this before, but I just was curious, now that you're actually here in Bridgeport, can you just talk about the fairness of being here? Obviously it doesn't affect you in the first game, but --

WES MOORE: Yeah, right. Where else would you want to be, right? I mean, heck -- I've actually been up here before when I was at UT Chattanooga, and this is how old I am, I'm trying to remember if this was the exact place we played. I think it was. So I've been up here before. They love their basketball up here, so I know there's going to be a lot of energy and all that, but we've got to worry about Notre Dame. We lost to them earlier, so we've got our hands full.

Our focus right now is on that game.

Q. Obviously Notre Dame had that huge performance a couple days ago. What did you take out of watching that game?

WES MOORE: We'd better guard better than Oklahoma did or we're going to be in for a long night.

Again, they've got a lot of weapons, and when they're all hitting -- let's face it, that's why you play these games. Otherwise you just throw stat sheets out. You've got to go out and do it that day. You're right, Oklahoma ran into a juggernaut. We've just got to try to, like I said, take away some of their strengths and slow them down a little bit and hope we're playing well. At this time of year that's what it's all about.

Q. I'm curious as to how you think pace of play is going to be a factor in this game especially after what we saw against Oklahoma?

WES MOORE: Well, like I say, Olivia Miles makes them go, but Dodson will go out and go, run to the rim. Westbeld, Brunelle, Citron, they all get out and go, and then you've got to worry about Mabrey getting down the court spotting up for the three. Transition D will be critical. We've got to try to get back, match up quickly, and try to stop the ball and make them get in the half court. Because, like I said, as you mentioned, they played really well in transition, and I think that's their best offense.

Got to try to slow that down.

Q. First two games Notre Dame has scored 50 points in the paint. How do you stop that in this tournament, Dodson from getting points in the paint?

WES MOORE: Well, like I say, Dodson is a great player and she really had her way with us last time. It's tough because they also have great shooters around her. It's not like you can help off and cheat somewhere because if you do, they're going to have open threes.

Mainly you've just got to -- your players have to really have a lot of energy, a lot of urgency, trying to help in, close out, recover, maybe dig, whatever, pressure the ball a little bit more so the feed is a little bit tougher. But then keep her off the glass. Like I said, seven offensive rebounds against us last time. Most of those result in points when she gets those rebounds.

Got to do a better job there and just battle. She's a great player.

Q. Do you go back and watch last year's Sweet 16 loss or do you talk about it? How does that kind of experience impact your preparation going into this stage?

WES MOORE: Yeah, we haven't gone back and watched it in a while. We did look at clips early in the season and talked about it a little bit. But no, I think they all -- again, we have three players that chose to come back for their fifth year. I know a lot of that had to do with me, getting to spend an extra year with me. I'm sure that was it.

No, they want to rewrite the last chapter, so that's why they came back is for this opportunity. So I think they understand what it takes.

I thought Indiana was tougher than us a year ago, just to be real honest. I just thought they took it to us and they had a veteran team and they were hungry.

Hopefully that experience a year ago and then also really working all year long to get back to this point will be a benefit for us.

Q. There's speculation that the further players advance in this tournament the more money they can make. I wanted to ask you about NIL; how do you think that is affecting the players' mindset going further and further in the NCAA Tournament? How has it affected recruiting, and do we need to see some more transparency and evenness in terms of the rules?

WES MOORE: Yeah, you know, I think the NIL is a great thing for the student-athletes, for them to have opportunities to benefit from their achievements and accomplishments. Obviously as a coach, we're supposed to kind of stay out of that. We're not supposed to have -- we're definitely not supposed to use it for recruiting or enticements or anything like that.

I know Adidas who's our sponsor just came out with an NIL program for our student-athletes, and I think it's a great -- like I said, a great trend.

I think in any situation, the more you win, the better. If that opens up opportunities for them, I think it's a great thing.

Q. You've had several phenomenal seasons back to back, but for this program to be considered elite, does it have to get to the Final Four? Is that fair or not fair?

WES MOORE: Well, I think that's fair. I think we need to take another step or two. We understand that. It's nothing to take away from what this team has accomplished. To win an ACC regular season championship, to win the tournament, as well, to have the No. 2 net in the country -- we played an unbelievable schedule. Nothing is going to take away from that. But I agree we need to take another step or two, and again, that's why a lot of these players chose to come back for their fifth year to try to make that happen.

Q. You mentioned just what the experience that your team brings, how that can factor into the game. What does that look like on the court? Does that look like fighting through adversity? Does that look like out-toughing the opponent, especially when you're going against a younger team? What do you hope your experience will be able to bring throughout the weekend?

WES MOORE: I think it shows up in confidence, not panicking, even if you get off to a slow start or whatever, believing.

This team last year went to South Carolina and to Louisville, both of whom were ranked No. 1 in the country at the time and won. So I think they've experienced that. This year we went to Indiana, we played a great schedule, so I think you draw from all those experiences.

And like I said, the ACC, you look at it, we've got four teams in the Sweet 16 still playing, so I think the night in, night out challenges that you face there, I think all those things are a benefit.

Just like I said, just playing together and being on this stage for four and sometimes five years, I think hopefully gives you a certain level of confidence.

Q. You mentioned toughness twice now. You said you guys have got to be tougher and you said last year Indiana was tougher than you guys. What does a tougher NC State team look like? Who leads the way for the team being tougher this year?

WES MOORE: Well, I think it's a team -- I think it takes the whole team. At this level, one or two players getting it is not going to be enough.

I think the toughness shows up defensively being locked in and just little things, beating people to a spot and making them shoot jump shots instead of lay-ups, boxing out every possession. Just being on edge, ready to pounce, ready to make a play when the opportunity presents itself.

Just physically, mentally being able to rise to the occasion.

Q. Jakia, what's changed about you guys since the last time you played Notre Dame? It was the last loss you had. Seems like it was forever ago. What's changed about this team?

JAKIA BROWN-TURNER: After that game I think we learned a lot. I think we learned how to play together and do the things that we do, like playing inside out and getting stops on D.

So I think playing our game was the biggest lesson from that loss.

Q. Elissa, for you guys to become an elite program, do you feel like even though you've had some fantastic seasons, will this program have to make a Final Four appearance for you to be considered an elite program?

ELISSA CUNANE: I think it's one of our goals for sure, however you want to consider our program. I think internally it's something that we all want and we're all fighting for. I think we've made this team great along the way with our championships, but I think it definitely is time for us to take that next step past the Sweet 16.

Q. I know you guys have addressed this before, but the fairness of coming here and potentially having to play UConn, I know that's the next game possibly, but as a No. 1 seed do you feel it is fair to be able to play here basically in UConn's backyard?

ELISSA CUNANE: You know, we're going to take the games one step at a time and we're going to have a winning mentality with whoever we step on the court with. It doesn't matter where we are, who we are, who we're playing against, we're going to bring it.

Q. For both of you, where does playing Notre Dame again rank in things that are important, your familiarity with them? Coach was saying for them they already have the tape when you played them and the scouting reports, and you know the players and their team as opposed to some teams you haven't played yet. How easy is it for you to face a team that you've played already this season?

JAKIA BROWN-TURNER: Well, first, no game is easy. We are going to prepare. We know they're in our conference and this is one of the main games that we really were looking forward to getting revenge back. We know we're going to have to play hard. We looked at the film and we know what we need to do, and we're prepared.

ELISSA CUNANE: Yeah, I can second what Jakia said. It's not easy to play a team and it's almost harder to play them twice. I think playing another team from our conference, yeah, we're familiar with them, but we lost when we played them before, so I think it's going to be a tough game to come out for.

Q. You've been on this stage before and Coach has talked about how he wants to see you guys come out with more confidence and toughness with the experience that you have from playing in the Sweet 16. What does that look like for you? And just in terms of how much you think you've grown from last year's appearance, what are those areas where you've seen that development?

JAKIA BROWN-TURNER: Well, we know the loss in the Sweet 16 was heartbreaking and we don't want to feel that feeling again. We know we've got to come out and play tough and play hard and just play our game and win it.

ELISSA CUNANE: Yeah, I think what that looks like for us is really focusing game by game, looking at it on the scout, focusing on every little thing we can do. I think it starts on defense for sure, box-outs, rebounding, the little things, going for 50/50 balls. Starting the game just strong, even if our shots aren't falling, attacking, trying to get to the rim or trying to force stops on defense. It's all the little things that make up a toughness game.

Q. I've got one for each of you. Elissa, first for you, I'm curious as to what you've learned this season when it comes to making an impact besides scoring, especially when defenses are going to key in on you and have been the whole year and sort of how that's a crucial skill that's going to serve you at the next level.

ELISSA CUNANE: Yeah, I think it's something that I've just had to learn from and develop from, knowing when teams focus in on me more, we have four other scorers on the court. So learning how to pass out to them, knowing where the double-team is coming from and then knowing my teammates' strengths, knowing who's going to cut to the basket and where I can find them at. I think just knowing when they double-team and when their defense is good inside knowing that that opens up the outside.

Q. Jakia, I'm curious how important you believe that the pace of play during this game against Notre Dame is going to be, especially after what they were able to do to Oklahoma.

JAKIA BROWN-TURNER: Yeah, I definitely think that we need to play our game, look at inside out and getting it inside and then looking to pass -- for the post player to pass it out and just moving around the court and just taking good possessions.

Q. For both of you, there's an idea that the further teams advance in the NCAA Tournament the more business opportunities there are going to be for you this year NIL-wise. I wanted to ask both of you, have you had more money-making opportunities because you're in a program that's going far in the NCAA Tournament, and how do you separate that business side of what you do versus the student-athlete side?

ELISSA CUNANE: Honestly, yeah, I think there's been a lot of opportunities over the entire season. I haven't really looked to see if they've increased over the tournament these past couple weeks. But for me, I'm just kind of focused on basketball right now. There's a lot going on besides basketball, like school and just life. For me I haven't really focused on it. I'm here to play in this NCAA Tournament and that's my main focus in life right now.

JAKIA BROWN-TURNER: Yeah, I'll have to agree. I'm focused on basketball right now, and hopefully the opportunities that have come to me understand that as a basketball player. I'm just worried about the tournament right now.

Q. Have you guys watched back last year's Sweet 16 loss maybe at any point this season, and if so, what was that like, and what do you wish you did differently last year than this time around?

JAKIA BROWN-TURNER: Yes, we definitely -- well, I've definitely watched the game over, and we just didn't play hard enough. Indiana, they outworked us, and I think this year we know that we have to play hard, we have to play defense, we have to get offensive rebounds. Like Elissa said earlier, we have to do the little things in order to get to the next step and to keep winning.

ELISSA CUNANE: Yeah, I second that, as well. Definitely watched the game, and it was tough. Tough heartbreaking. It makes you want to get out on the court and play more basketball. I think that's kind of fueled us to be where we are now and just knowing that I don't think we had the identity as a team as we wanted to have that game that we've had this season and doing the little things.

Q. I have a non-basketball question. Did you solve the mystery of the hotel room locked from the inside last night?

ELISSA CUNANE: Honestly, no. One of our doors was locked and shut and dead bolted from the inside. But the hotel guy came, he figured it out, we searched under the beds, we searched in the closet. So it was all good but we were all still a little scared.

Q. What do you think at this stage the identity of this team is?

ELISSA CUNANE: I think we're a tough team. I think we're an offensively-minded team. I think whenever we come out, our offense is usually there in games. So I think this year our focus has been to really be a defensive team, to come out from the jump, to get stops, to get rebounds, and to limit the other team of what they're good at. If we know someone is a three-point scorer, trying to stop the three-point; if they're a driver, try and not let them attack.

I think our identity has been an offensive team, but this year it's kind of shifted to a defensive team, and we're going to come out and jump on you.

Q. The NCAA has faced some controversy in past years over how it treats the women's team versus the men's team. I'm just wondering if this year you feel that you're getting any more support from the organization and what can be done in the future to kind of put more value and more focus on the women's team, especially given how well you're doing this year.

JAKIA BROWN-TURNER: I definitely think it's definitely better than last year. They've been giving us gifts -- that's not really -- they've been giving us gifts, and they've just been supportive. You see it everywhere now, and people are constantly talking about it and getting more people to look at women's games. I think it's improved since last year.

ELISSA CUNANE: Yeah, I think it's improved, as well, and even just the buzz around women's basketball is growing and it's because people realize that we are full of talent. I think in the future everyone just like continuing to speak out and stand up for themselves is going to help us just continue to move forward.

Q. I'm just curious what you believe -- what matchup is going to determine who survives and advances?

JAKIA BROWN-TURNER: I think the matchup that is going to win every game is the team that's the toughest that day, that's going to score and win the game, and that's going to be us.

ELISSA CUNANE: Yeah, I think just like being locked in, taking it one game at a time.

Q. Guard play in the tournament has been traditionally -- teams with great guard play usually advance further. How do you feel like your point guard is playing right now in this tournament, your point guards?

JAKIA BROWN-TURNER: Well, I think they're playing great. They've been playing great all season, and they help us -- they bring the ball up the court, they make great plays. I trust them, so I think we're going to go far with them.

ELISSA CUNANE: Yeah, I think Raina has the experience of being in the tournament, and I think Diamond has the confidence to be here. Even though she hasn't been with us the past couple years, I think knowing that she has the confidence to come in and do what the team asks of both of them.