ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE BASKETBALL TIPOFF MEDIA DAY

October 11, 2022

Nell Fortner

Bianca Jackson

Cameron Swartz

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll get things kicked off here with Nell Fortner in her fourth year with Georgia Tech, and joined by familiar faces in the ACC, yet on new teams. So Cameron Swartz, the reigning most-improved player of the conference, and also Bianca Jackson coming out of Florida State, and then Cameron obviously from Boston College.

When you're looking at this year, a lot of amazing things that you were able to accomplish this the previous season, obviously with Lorela Cubaj just being a huge anchor for you guys in the last season, huge shoes to fill. But you two players that right away can make an impact. What does it look like for you guys in this season?

NELL FORTNER: Definitely a different looking team with Cubaj and Lotta-Maj Lahtinen gone. Those were players we inherited. We played to a certain style with them, and now we're trying to change our style a little bit.

We've got Bianca and Cam in that are difference makers when it comes to scoring the basketball, able speed the game up a little bit, and returners.

Changing that style isn't always easy, but that's something we're looking to do with more shots up.

THE MODERATOR: Sixth in the ACC in scoring. You said we're going to see a lot of scoring. Even going back to last season, you said defense we can lock that down.

Offensively, how do we make that balance? For you in your first year -- we haven't even gone through the first game yet, but what made this the right fit for you?

CAMERON SWARTZ: Obviously with Coach Nell, WNBA, broadcasting everything, that was like a big factor for me. Also just the family atmosphere, the history of going to the tournament, that's what I dream about doing. That's what I want to do, all of that.

And also one of the important factors is coming home. I come from a big family that is close, so that was really fun. Preparing me for the pro, I feel like Nell could do that the best for me.

THE MODERATOR: Time for tickets, filling it up for sure.

Bianca, along the same lines, just making that switch and just deciding to complete your season here, what made Georgia Tech the right fit for you?

BIANCA JACKSON: Just coming to somewhere where I could get a fresh start, coming into a team that is establishing itself as one of the top teams in the conference, and like playing against them, knowing how they run their system and things of that nature.

Then as Cam noted, the family atmosphere here, being around good people that make you feel warm and stuff like that. So it was a good choice for me.

THE MODERATOR: We were walking up and I said, you don't lack in personalities. Wait a minute, how do you guys have this rapport so quickly? She said, wait a minute, we've known each other. If you could just share how you guys have already established this relationship and what it's going to be like to take the floor with her once again.

BIANCA JACKSON: We played AAU together. I'm from Alabama, but I played AAU up here in Atlanta. We played on the same AAU team. We know each other from the AAU circuit, and coming back to see each other and play against each other when she was at Boston College and now at Florida State, and now back together --

CAMERON SWARTZ: At last.

BIANCA JACKSON: -- at last. We were roommates over the summer, so we got really close over the summer. And then being two of the older players, it bonded us together as well.

CAMERON SWARTZ: I remember when I was still deciding, Bianca texted me, she was like, are you coming? I was like, I don't know yet. But just having a history with her and knowing her and looking up to her when I was younger. I was younger, so she played on the older AAU team. So, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: And you're looking at just how you're able to use these pieces in this season. Your are obviously a set offense, it's going to look different. Is there any other special aspect that we're going to see from Georgia Tech?

NELL FORTNER: I think you'll see just a different style game. Hopefully it's a faster paced game, more shots going up obviously. But hopefully we see the same defense because we could really -- like you said earlier, we could really lock people down.

We were always at the top of the league the last three years in our defensive performance, so we've got to be able to do that also.

But having speed and quickness, having more guards on the floor, more ball handlers on the floor, more passers on the floor when they're not scoring.

So it's a different style. It's an exciting style. I think it's something that players can have fun with. It's more fun to play. And we're not looking to run 20 seconds off the shot clock. We want to get down there and shoot the ball, and these two can shoot the ball.

THE MODERATOR: What I'm hearing is the balance that you wanted. I know that you have two prolific players right in front of us for media day, but when you're looking at even what Hermosa and Love can build on for next season, how would you describe their impact, what you need them to do, and what their roles would be?

NELL FORTNER: You're looking at experience coming back. You're looking at a lot of starting experience coming back. That's more responsibility in Hermosa's hands right now without having Cubaj on her side. So her expectations, I mean, we have high expectations for her in that position.

She's one of the best post players in the conference this year. And then Eylia Love has experience as a starter, trying to get her legs back under her, and she's such a versatile player.

But don't take your eye off our freshman class. We've got some that are going to come in and get some minutes on the floor, some important minutes. We've got a variety. It's a variety, a different kind of a style.

So we're just trying to put them in the best positions to take advantage of their basketball skills.

THE MODERATOR: I want to talk about the schedule. Obviously that's the biggest thing and how you prepare for ACC play. Just having Auburn on the schedule, Georgia on the schedule as well, obviously you have Kennesaw State in there as well. What went into making sure that your team was challenged the right way with the different faces, and even phase moving on from Cubaj?

NELL FORTNER: Our schedule has got to be one of the top five in the country without a doubt. We're on the road at Belmont, at Auburn; Georgia comes to us.

Then you've got South Florida, Michigan, Baylor, Michigan State. I'm like who made this schedule? I'm like me. I'm starting to look at that.

But it's something that the team has to be able to look at and go, okay, man, this is challenging. We've got to get ourselves ready. Hopefully it continues to motivate them every day -- every day.

I don't know about you, as a player, I wanted to play the best. I didn't want to play soft teams. I want to play the best. Every time you go out, it means something every time you go out. It's a top 25 matchup. I like that.

THE MODERATOR: You talked about choosing this school because you wanted to be challenged and win, specifically in March as well. So when you're looking at what the practices have looked like and what you guys have been able to establish so far, what word would you describe, or what word would you use?

BIANCA JACKSON: I would say intensity. That's what we've been focusing on, is upping our intensity in practice every day coming in from start to finish, making sure we're intense and intentional in what we're doing, so when we get to those late game situations and games later into the season, we're prepared for them and we can fall back on what we've been preparing for.

CAMERON SWARTZ: Yeah, and just remaining focused. A lot of people don't understand how that big change, from going to preseason workouts to season like practice, it's a big focus change.

You've got to stay focused and remain focused for two to three hours, and then you have classes, so that's a big thing we emphasize. Just remain focused, continue learning, and continue giving it everything you have with your effort on the court and during practice, because that's what's going to make the difference in the games.

THE MODERATOR: One thing I feel like has just been echoed throughout the media day as far as coaches saying they need to adapt to even what it's looking like in the transfer portal, how it's helped your roster also.

For you, what has been the biggest challenge knowing how to use pieces right away to kind of build on that next season?

NELL FORTNER: I think there's several adaptations that have to happen starting in the summer because you are bringing in so many new players, seven for us. We have six new ones and then one transfer to us at Christmas. So there's seven new players playing this season.

So trying to get them to adapt to each other, trying to do things more team oriented where they're having to spend more time together, and understanding that their chemistry is every bit as important as being able to run a play or being able to make a defensive stop.

Their chemistry with each other on the floor, off the floor is incredibly important to winning. I don't care what kind of team you're coaching. I don't care if you have the best talent in the country, the least amount of the talent in the country, that chemistry had better be on point to give yourself a chance to win.

THE MODERATOR: I thought it was very fun too, and I know this is somewhat off the court, but it is very important because you talk about building the culture and just the locker room. That's how it starts too.

You have the talent. How do you build with the chemistry? You guys were bragging about what you guys were going to do for your team bonding experience. How that's established even in your first year, what that looks like for a group and how that can help moving forward.

CAMERON SWARTZ: Chemistry is important in so many ways, like Coach said, but even just building trust with each other and learning and knowing each person. Each person's different.

Yeah, we've been doing a lot of fun activities. A group of the girls come to my house sometimes, and my parents will cook dinner just to get a home feel. We're going to Netherworld, the haunted house next week, so excited to see all the reactions about that.

But always hanging out, doing fun things, playing games and watching TV in each other's rooms. Building the chemistry off the court is so important and vital to every team. I think we do a great job of that. We're kind of like inseparable almost off the court and everything.

So it's been really fun and really good.

THE MODERATOR: Music to a coach's ears, right?

NELL FORTNER: Well, it is. That's another thing they bring to the table because they're experienced. They're not freshmen. They're not sophomores. They've been through this, and they understand it, and they want to win. They want to win this year. So they know the importance of their leadership in that regard to bringing this team together.

THE MODERATOR: I know you look at a season almost in segments. What have we accomplished here? What can we improve on here? What do you think is going to be the greatest challenge for your team as we're about to start?

NELL FORTNER: Everything's a challenge, but the thing that probably keeps me up at night is being able to start the season and understand the schedule.

Now, that preseason schedule is to get you better, to get you ready for your conference season, but let's face it, how you compete in that preseason has -- there's dividends to be paid when the committee starts to look at who's going to the NCAA Tournament, so you've got to handle your business. You've got to handle your business early, and you have to use that to strengthen your team to be ready for ACC play.

Let me just go back, Angel. Everything worries me. Everything worries me. I'm a head coach, so everything. Everything keeps me up at night.

But it makes me feel good to have experience on this team at the level that these two have had it. That helps me.

THE MODERATOR: Don't worry, I'll send you some Starbucks cards. You'll be good to go.

Cam, coming off a year where you're most improved, that mentality, that mindset, how do you build on that? And was there something within your game that you felt you could take it to the next level? How did you tap into that?

CAMERON SWARTZ: Last year I started off a little slow on the season, and I finally was just told just to play. Just play your game. You're here for a reason and everything, and that really just stuck with me, just to go out there and play.

If you're going to do something, do it 100 percent. If you're going to take that shot, then take it. So that was something that really stuck with me.

Coming off a great season and being most improved player, it wasn't just like overall award, it was something that meant a lot for me for the work I've put into it and seeing how I've been noticed and gotten like considered successful for it.

But just really showing how much work I put in on the court and off the court and my mental mindset and everything just really like -- I was very happy to see everything and just to see the outcome of playing well and helping my team get those extra wins we needed.

And I'm excited for it to go into this season and just remaining that confidence coming off a good season and knowing what I can do and knowing how I can take advantage of that and use that to the best of my ability.

THE MODERATOR: We look forward to being witnesses in this season. Thank you, ladies, so much for your time. Best of luck as well.