BIG 12 CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 9, 2023

Brandon Schneider

Chandler Prater

Municipal Auditorium

Kansas Jayhawks

Postgame Press Conference

TCU - 57, Kansas - 52

THE MODERATOR: Coach, an opening statement, please.

COACH SCHNEIDER: Congratulations to TCU. Tough day at the office for the Jayhawks, collectively. And when I say collectively, I mean everybody -- coaches, players. We didn't have a very good day today.

There's some stats that really jump out at me. You shoot 15 percent in the fourth quarter and lose the quarter by one. Get 22 offensive rebounds but only nine second-chance points. The ball didn't go in the basket for us today. And I thought we had a lot of good looks. Hopefully we'll get more opportunities.

Q. Chandler, you're obviously very upset right now. Could I hear what's going through your mind right now after a tough loss tonight?

CHANDLER PRATER: I hope we make it to March, the rest of March Madness. I'm ready to go to the Dance.

I'm going to take this night to cool off, do what I do, get right mentally. I was really excited to play in Kansas City tonight. And I'm really proud of all the support that I got from my family and friends, from my hometown. But, yeah, stick and move.

Q. Chandler, you had 21 tonight to lead the Jayhawks. I know the result isn't what you wanted, but what can you take from this game to help you as you move forward in the postseason?

CHANDLER PRATER: Just having confidence that I have the ability to score and understanding that at the end of the day, the only numbers that matter are the ones on the scoreboard. So I'll do what I can to help the team win and play with confidence if we get that other chance. But, yeah, whatever it takes to win from now on.

Q. Obviously it's a tough loss. With the three-game winning streak you guys had to end the season and the likelihood that you guys are making it to March, what lessons can you take from tonight's game to help you as you are looking ahead to the postseason?

COACH SCHNEIDER: I think we're going to have to, obviously, break down the film. But it's hard when you don't make shots. And TCU shot 33 percent. They scored 57 points. If you would have told me that before the game, I would have taken it without question.

I thought they played loose and free, and I thought we played tight -- and, maybe with the exception of Chandler. And that's just not -- I wish there was something.

We talked about it at halftime. We talked about it in timeouts. But sometimes when you're tight, you try to will the ball in and you miss one or two. And then you just get tighter and tighter. And that's not a recipe for success. And hopefully we'll learn from that.

Q. How confident do you feel in your NCAA Tournament resumé at this point with this game over?

COACH SCHNEIDER: I mean, I've been confident, I think. The three wins down the stretch, especially Oklahoma State and Iowa State. Everything that I've been told, the people that I talk to -- and they're not people on the committee, obviously -- but is that we'll be part of the tournament. I'm probably a little more anxious than I would have been had we won.

Q. What was the message in the locker room then after this one? Obviously Chandler was emotional. But what was the message in there?

COACH SCHNEIDER: Collectively, we didn't have our best stuff today. And that happens. And let's support each other through it, know we can be better. And given the chance to compete again, maybe we just got this one out of the way.

Q. I just had a question regarding you seemed to sub out a few of your starters early on in the game. Was that a game time decision, or were you planning on doing that hoping they could get some more rest come towards the end?

COACH SCHNEIDER: There were some times, you know, especially before medias, where we felt like we could get them a little bit longer break. We'd like to play our bench more, regardless of what the situation is.

Q. Despite the outcome, what did you think of Chandler Prater's performance as well as for her season?

COACH SCHNEIDER: I thought she was really aggressive. She's put together back-to-back games where she's really shot the ball well. And it gives us, I would typically say, a fifth scoring option.

But tonight, obviously, she was kind of the lone option in terms of making shots. And it's nice to see her confidence continue to grow.