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

March 19, 2023

Kellie Harper

Thompson-Boling Arena

Tennessee Lady Volunteers

Media Conference

KELLIE HARPER: Yeah, first off, I think we're playing a team that could have easily had a different number in front of their name, a lower number. This is a really talented basketball team, an experienced team who's rolling. They're playing some really good basketball. They're confident. They have big wins on the season, and they've done what they needed to do in their league. So a very talented team. They're disciplined; they're tough. They obviously can spread you out with the three-point shooters. (They've) got some folks that can score in the paint, and that's off the pass and the drive. So they're very talented. And they're a very smart, very intelligent basketball team on the defensive end. Where they might not be -- might not have the size of some opponents, they're able to make up for that with how they play. So we know this is a very good basketball team. We're in for a big battle.

Q. How much, if at all, do you mention last year's NCAA Second Round game? Also another 12 seed. That was a three-point win that you guys had to kind of gut out to get to the Sweet 16. Do you mention it or focus on the fact of what Toledo has got and how dangerous they are with the 17-game win streak?

KELLIE HARPER: Yeah, this is probably one of those times we won't talk about last year. Our team remembers it. We experienced a lot throughout the season, but I think at this point it's just locking in on who we are now and what we need to do. I think our players have kept their eyes on the NCAA tournament, both men's and women's. They see upsets and the challenges. They know that if you get to that point you're playing somebody good. It doesn't matter what the seed number is, you're playing somebody good. If there are 32 teams left, I can guarantee you they're 32 really good teams in the country.

Q. Kaiya Wynn played in so many games for you guys in short sports, you know, go play defense really quick for me. Just talk about her role and how special she's been as a culture piece as well?

KELLIE HARPER: Yes, Kaiya Wynn is one of those people in life that whatever she does she's going to be successful. She has a big heart. She's fun to be around, kind of the life-of-the-party kind of person. You know, in her career thus far, she hasn't had big minutes, and I'm telling you, she's had a great attitude, a great work ethic, despite that. I have a lot of respect for someone like that. I have a lot of respect for Kaiya. When she goes in the game, obviously she brings athleticism. She's aggressive; she can get to the basket. I'll tell you, I think every time we put her in there she'll go get an offensive board, and that's fun to see.

Q. Just curious, as you were out there yesterday watching the Toledo-Iowa State game, just thoughts on Quinesha Lockett and what else you've seen of her on film preparing?

KELLIE HARPER: Yeah, obviously you're not Player of the Year -- you don't happen into Player of the Year, right? She's that talented. Obviously, her speed stood out yesterday. What makes her effective, she can shoot and put the ball on the floor. You can't back off her and get up on her tight. She's very difficult to guard. I'm impressed with how hard she cuts, how hard she runs through her offense, their offense, and then how hard she plays. She'll use that -- some kids are fast. She's fast and plays hard. So she'll go get an offensive board, track down loose balls. She was really impressive yesterday. But I don't think yesterday was an anomaly. That's who she is. She's that talented. (She's) obviously a handful for anybody that's guarding her.

Q. Toledo is a solid team. How dangerous is an opponent when -- I mean, they've won 29 games this year; 17-game win streak; they're coming off this upset. I don't know, does that make it dangerous just in terms of the confidence they're playing with?

KELLIE HARPER: Yeah, when teams are playing with momentum, that's a big deal in March. You see it right now on both sides of the men's and women's brackets. I mean, you get on a roll and you can keep going. You can look historically and see teams that have done that.

So they're one of those teams. They feel good about what they're doing and honestly, they should. They've been that good. I think the other thing that -- you know, when I look at it, they had some tight wins late, and they it figured out. To me, that's also a big confidence booster down the stretch. They get in those close games, they have experience pulling those out.

Q. To get every one of your players in, and not only that, see them all score in the NCAA Tournament, what do you think that does for a team?

KELLIE HARPER: Oh, that was huge. I was so excited. You know, obviously, we take for granted being in the NCAA Tournament I think at times. You know, there are a lot of talented players that never have an opportunity to play in this tournament. I'm excited that all of our players not only just played, they scored. That's a big deal. That is a big deal. I don't take that lightly. But coming into practice today, I mean, it was all smiles. They're excited. There is great team chemistry and camaraderie when everybody gets to go in. It wasn't just everybody scored -- they played well. Everybody that went in the game played well yesterday. That's a good feeling for an entire team.

Q. If you guys advance to the Sweet 16, it will be the first time Tennessee went to back-to-back Sweet 16s since '15 and '16. I know you have to finish the game obviously, but what would that say to you as a coach about what you've established here and how positive that would be for you?

KELLIE HARPER: I think it would be a huge step to get back there, you know. It's so funny, I keep -- not forgetting -- my mind hasn't been dwelling on, 'What if the win," you know. Obviously, we're so locked into the moment. But it would be a big deal. It really would. I think it would mean a lot to our team and to our staff to be able to watch our team make that next step.

Q. Jordan (Horston) is three assists from matching your career total.

KELLIE HARPER: Oh?

Q. As a coach, do you want to see your player maybe pass you, or is there maybe just a little bit of the competitor, former player, like if she gets to two maybe I should just sit her down?

KELLIE HARPER: Sit her out. (Smiling.)

Q. How is that as a former player and now her coach?

KELLIE HARPER: Man, that's funny. I'm going to take a lot of heat on this one from her. I didn't know that. No, 100% obviously, I want her to do great. I want her to have three assists in the first quarter. I want her to be that player for us. I have a little bragging rights up until this point, so hopefully, she can get to that and surpass it by a lot. You know, she and I have a really good relationship, so we'll probably go back and forth on this one for a bit.

Q. Coach, Tess Darby just said playing for Tennessee you're supposed to make the Sweet 16. Knowing what this season has been, some challenges, losses, you know, even with that program record, what would it mean to make the Sweet 16?

KELLIE HARPER: Yeah, I think it would be -- I think it would be very satisfying for our team. I think it would be rewarding. They have really continued to buy in all season long, whether we were winning or losing, November or February. They've done a really good job buying in and really working hard each and every day. They never lost their confidence. So it's almost a reward for what they were able to withstand and what they were able to do.

Q. I'm going to follow up on that. You were as a player part of a team that had the double-digit loss season and went on to win a title. Is that maybe the biggest lesson you have that you can offer this team? Is it the improvement that they make through the season that can make what happens in March matter?

KELLIE HARPER: Yeah, I think every team has a different story, you know. I think you can look at different teams and get inspiration from different teams. You know, obviously, I was a part of three very different national championships, one with 10 losses, one was an undefeated season. I think you can draw from all those experiences. What our players have continued to do is continued to have confidence, continued to believe in what this group can do.

Q. We've seen the way this team has grown on the court and the way they've performed over the course of the season. How have you seen this team grow emotionally?

KELLIE HARPER: I think we have grown with our maturity on the court. I think our team has stayed pretty even-keeled the last couple months. Big wins, tough losses -- I think they've stayed pretty even. I think that's a testament to that maturity. I think the experiences they've had all year havw really helped them grow. You know, I think just battle through adversity, any kind of adversity you have, I don't know if it changes you or challenges you. Maybe both at times. I think that's happened to us. I think our players have -- I think they have found a way to play through tough times. I think a lot of that is with their emotion as well... I want to answer the one about the shoes. High tops. I'm a high-top girl.

Q. Was it because to protect the ankles?

KELLIE HARPER: Listen, they don't make high tops anymore. Not the '90s high tops. So when I pull out a pair of high tops -- played a scrimmage with the players not too long ago and put on some high tops. Now, 'play' is a very loose term. They were making fun of my shoes because they were going way over the ankles. Heaven forbid these days you wear anything that hits the ankles. They like the low tops, but even when they pull out a high top, it's just not the same. It's just different.

Q. What's the difference?

KELLIE HARPER: Comfort. They just don't like it. They don't like the shoes over the ankles. It's not just us. It is hard to find a shoe that looks like it looked in the '90s.

Q. Do they come up not as high?

KELLIE HARPER: Not as high on the ankle. So even high tops, what I would've considered high tops growing up, would've been a three-quarter. Yep, very different.

Q. Thanks for that.

KELLIE HARPER: Yeah, thanks for including me.