NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: REGIONAL 3 SEMIFINAL - OHIO STATE VS UCONN

March 24, 2023

Kevin McGuff

Taylor Mikesell

Taylor Thierry

Climate Pledge Arena

Ohio State Buckeyes

Sweet 16 Pregame Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with an opening statement from coach and then take questions for the student-athletes.

KEVIN McGUFF: Just really happy to be here, obviously. Not only that we're continuing to play, but back in Seattle where I was a head coach at UW before I came to Ohio State. So this is a special place for me and my family. So we're excited to be back in Seattle and looking forward to playing obviously a great Connecticut team. We know this is a huge challenge for us, but our kids are excited about the game.

THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up to questions.

Q. We have seen in the tournament now some teams that are falling that maybe haven't seen the same level of having to come back as Ohio State has all season. How has that really made the difference for this team?

KEVIN McGUFF: Obviously, some of these games it's disappointing the way we get down. But our team has a confidence in our style of play that regardless of what the score is we can put ourselves in a position to come back and win. I also think it's a reflection, we have great chemistry and when things go south, we're not pointing fingers, we stay together, we stay within what we're trying to do, and we kind of just keep grinding.

Q. You guys have had your own injury issues this year with Jacy and some other, and I'm sure you're aware of UConn's issues. How difficult is it to scout them on film because they haven't had this roster together for probably more than a game or two?

KEVIN McGUFF: They have obviously had a really interesting season. Fortunately for them and unfortunately for us it seems like they're getting healthy at the right time. The players they're going to get back this year, they're back and they look really good right now. When they have the players that they have now they're certainly one of the best teams in the country.

Q. Talking about the ability to come back and be resilient in games if you guys get down, how do you balance that as a coach between being happy that your team can show that resilience, but then also not wanting them to get down in the first place to put themselves in that position, especially going up against a team like UConn that isn't really prone to letting teams back in?

KEVIN McGUFF: Yeah. No, I've told 'em several times, this isn't going to happen, continue to happen. We're going to put ourselves in too big of a hole against too good of a team and not be able to come back. So ironically, then, in our last game against North Carolina, we got a great start and got a lead and got the game to place where I think we could have put it away and then let them come back, but held on and found a way to win at the end.

So we have to start better and be more consistent throughout the game if we want to continue to advance in the tournament.

Q. Now that Jacy's had some more games, a few more weeks under her belt, where do you think she's made the biggest difference for this group?

KEVIN McGUFF: I think two very specific areas. Number one, we play much faster transitioning to offense when she's in the game. She just pushes the ball so aggressively and everybody's got to come with her. And then we're more effective in our press. Her ball pressure, her speed quickness, ability to cover ground, quick hands just puts us at another level.

Q. Jacy talked on Wednesday about how much Cotie's emotion kind of lifts the team, and when she's really emotional, it brings the team along with her. How much have you seen that this year from her?

KEVIN McGUFF: Yeah, it's great. One of the things about Cotie is she has a joy for the game and she loves it play. She's really passionate. She competes every single day in practice and it carries over to the games.

I also think just her emotional maturity for a freshman has allowed her to make tremendous progress this year. Where she was on day one to where she is now is significantly different and part of that is just her passion for the game.

Q. I think you're one of seven programs to be in the Sweet 16 back-to-back. Connecticut's been 29 times in a row. For someone who has followed them back from your Notre Dame days, can you try to put that into some perspective from an outsider?

KEVIN McGUFF: Are you saying I need to do 27 in a row to catch 'em? (Laughing.)

Q. If you get the next 27 in a row, you're going to miss by one.

KEVIN McGUFF: Well, that's going to be the next coach at Ohio State's job. (Laughing.)

But, no, it's hard to put in perspective what Connecticut has accomplished. It's a combination of, obviously, Geno and Chris and the staff, and their coaching and commitment to excellence has been like no other. Then also they have recruited year-in year-out mostly the best players in the country.

So they get great players, they do a fantastic job coaching them, and they just have such a culture of excellence. It's one thing to do that for a couple years, but to be able to sustain that is really, really, really difficult. I think that's the thing that's amazing is to year-in year-out be at your absolute very best.

Q. Wanted you to talk about facing Dorka and if you saw the bracket, when you first saw it, did you think maybe eventually that this would come to pass?

KEVIN McGUFF: Well, I was hoping because I knew they would get here. So I was hoping we would play, get a chance to see Connecticut and her. But, no, she had three good years for us. She did a really good job. I think obviously she went to a great program with great coaches. You know, I haven't watched them a lot outside of this week, but I'm sure with Chris and Jamelle, the way they help develop post players, that she's had two really good years before trying to go to be a professional. So I think -- like I said, I haven't talked to her, I don't know, but I'm sure this has been a good experience for her in that she's evolved and gotten better, which I think was the goal.

I think we've evolved as a program in a really positive direction. So I think in this case, she went to a great program and we continue to get better, so I think both people are in a good place.

Q. To follow-up quickly on Dorka, she said that when she left, it was on great terms, that there was no animosity. She just wanted something different after graduating. I just wanted to ask you about that.

KEVIN McGUFF: I would agree. I enjoyed coaching her. She did a great job for us. I think this was a good opportunity for her to get into one more program, in a great one at that, where they have a history of helping young people grow and develop. So like I said, I haven't talked to her, but I'm assuming this has been a really good two years for her and that she's even further strengthened her position to go on and be a good pro.

Q. And then on the players that they have returning, what do Caroline Ducharme and Azzi Fudd add to them? I know it's pretty obvious to us but from a coach.

KEVIN McGUFF: One, it allows them to be deeper. When they have lost some games this year, I think it's been a lack of depth, and they just haven't had enough good players. But when they add those two back, not only do they get deeper, but they add two incredible scorers. They really, really help their offense. They already execute at such a high level, but then you add those two in, they can both shoot the ball, space the floor. Their offense goes to another level with those two on the floor.

Q. You guys last played UConn at your place in 2019, so the whole global pandemic and everything happened since then. But when you talk about your program having evolved even since the last few years where do you feel like y'all have evolved the most from say 2019 to now?

KEVIN McGUFF: I just think we've really -- our chemistry and culture is as good as it's ever been. Our kids -- we have great kids right now. I wouldn't tell you that this is -- we've had more talented teams, especially early in my tenure, like the Kelsey Mitchell era. But I think this team is better just because our chemistry and our culture is better. I just feel like we have the right kids in the program right now. I think that goes such a long way.

I think that's been the difference and that's been a big part of our evolution. I think we've also gotten a little more efficient offensively from the technical side. Mostly it's been intangibles, but the technical part, we have kind shifted our offense a little bit. We're a little bit more efficient.

Q. You were in the Sweet 16 last year. Earlier this week Jacy and Taylor Mikesell talked about how that game has impacted this season. How has that loss to Texas put Ohio State in a position this year?

KEVIN McGUFF: Yeah, it's tough. We played our hearts out last year against a great Texas team and it came down to a final shot that just didn't go in. But I think it, one, gave us a lot of motivation in the off-season and from that point to right now just that we want to -- we aspire to go further and to be that close and not get it really kind of gives you a lot of direction where you want to go, and I think our team's been determined, has had a sense of determination from that too. Also a sense of confidence that we can do it. We were a possession away last year, but we didn't do it. But we feel like we're good enough to take the next step.

Q. Many moons ago you coached at a Mid Major, Xavier, and had a lot of success there and made it really far in the tournament. This year I think 16 out of 16 are from Power 5s. What would it take for Mid Majors now to make these steps to get to the sweet sixteen, maybe final four? Because, you see on the men's side, obviously like Florida Atlantic, Princeton. Teams that are not the Power 5s that are obviously having great runs.

KEVIN McGUFF: I think obviously back then we had good players, and so you got to find a way to recruit and to get players that can compete at this level. I also think the other really kind of tricky part of it is the scheduling because when I was at Xavier and we went and made runs in the tournament, we played home games because we were like 3 seed. So to do that, you got to be able to schedule really, really aggressively and win. You've got to win those games or else you're going to be playing on the road. Not that you can't win on road, but it just makes it a little bit tougher.

Q. Following off on your answer to that question, you talk about culture and chemistry being better this year than it was a couple years ago. Is there something you're doing differently in terms of recruiting? Is it something that you talk your players about that has changed it?

KEVIN McGUFF: I think that we've shifted -- we have talented players on our roster, obviously, but we haven't made that just the sole focus, obviously. We've really been a little more particular about who we recruited and just really looked at people that are going to fit our program, our university, our culture, and just been more mindful of that than we ever have, and that seemed to kind of push us in a little more of a positive direction.

Q. Your daughter's at Belmont. Two-part question. When Belmont was in their conference final, did you think if they won they were going to play Ohio State?

KEVIN McGUFF: Absolutely, because they were going to be right around that seed. I think that was definitely going to happen.

Q. How has being a parent of a Division I athlete helped you as a coach?

KEVIN McGUFF: Yeah, it's really interesting. It's been a joy to watch her succeed. Belmont's got a great program and she had a great year this year. So we really love watching her. The thing that I kind of enjoy is, you know, like every team they have their ups and downs and their issues within the program. They have even if their small ones. But just to get her perspective on how the team's doing, how they're functioning together, and get a young person's perspective about that. How she's getting coached or what the coach is doing. Not that I don't trust my on players but my own daughter saying hey the coach is saying this or that, what do you think. I don't know, I just have gotten I think a better perspective of a student-athlete when it's coming from my daughter. So I think that's helped me just be a little more empathetic of what these kids are going through.

Q. You're familiar with Seattle, I know the team has just gotten in. You haven't hit the court quite yet, but is there any kind of a little bit of a home game feel or are your players able to enjoy the Seattle area a little bit or now that you're here it's just focus and let's get through this weekend?

KEVIN McGUFF: I was hoping we would see some sun. So I don't know who was in charge of that. But I heard earlier this week it was beautiful and then we showed up and brought the Ohio weather, I guess. Yeah, we may try to get out a little bit. Maybe go to the market or something like that. Just to let them see a couple of the highlights of Seattle. It's a great city. The thing that I love about Seattle is a lot of things, it's a really vibrant city, but it's a city that has a history of supporting women's athletics. Specifically women's basketball. You see what how they support the Storm. When we were at Washington and then when he left and Mike Neighbors took over, I mean we had a great following and they really came out to support us. So, great city that really supports women's athletic, which is really cool.

THE MODERATOR: All right, coach. Thank you very much. We'll have our student-athletes from Ohio State in here momentarily.

(Pause.)

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with the questions for the student-athletes.

Q. Looking at this season and having the comebacks that you've had and being able to fight back against Tennessee, Louisville, USF, all these different teams, and now you're watching in the tournament some of the teams are falling that maybe haven't had as many struggles during the regular season. Question for both of you: How has this season and those comebacks and those difficulties propelled you to where you're at now?

TAYLOR MIKESELL: Yeah, you definitely want to experience adversity because you got to know -- adversity kind of exposes who you are as a person and just as a team. I think it definitely did that for us, which has been great. And it happened at a good time that we were able to recover from it and trend in the right direction at the right time.

But that experience comes from just being in those situations, like you said, being in a lot of games like that, the South Florida game, the Indiana game multiple times, like you're ready for those moments when they come and you don't shy away from them.

TAYLOR THIERRY: Yeah, also it just shows what she said about going through adversity. It also just shows how hard we want to play for the person next to us being in those deficits, especially when we're getting stops and on our way to getting a comeback. I think that just shows what kind of team we are.

Q. I know you both haven't been in the program like your four years yet, or at all, but I guess in general like how would you describe the culture and chemistry of your team? Because Coach was saying he felt like this was the strongest it's ever been since he's been at Ohio State.

TAYLOR MIKESELL: Yeah, I've been blessed to have the opportunity to play more for multiple programs and been a part of different teams, but I can definitely say that this is the closest team that I've ever played on. I think like Taylor said, just the willingness to want to play for the person next to us. It doesn't come from just playing on the court. It comes from building those relationships off the court and just really being there for each other. I think you see it when we are in those deficits, when we are going on those runs. I think you see it more in those instances, but I mean we're there for each other on the court as we are off the court.

Q. For both of you, Jacy obviously missed a lot of time this year. How much did it help you guys obviously to have her on the court every game, but to help you develop other players to step up that now that she's back it makes you guys that much more dangerous.

TAYLOR MIKESELL: I think having her out is obviously something that you don't plan for. It's hard to fill her role with one person. But people stepped into it. Like Rikki Harris did an incredible job playing the 1 for, what, two, three months while she was out, which has been awesome because now that we don't have Madison as well, Rikki is able to step into the 1 and play comfortably.

But I think it's just a testament to -- kind of like we've been saying the whole time, just how much we want to play for the person next to us. You got to step into a role that you're not comfortable with. You have to do it because you got to do it for the person next to you more than anything else.

TAYLOR THIERRY: It also just shows how versatile of a team we are, playing positions or roles that we're not really familiar with. It just shows that we're willing to play in different positions if it's going to help our team. So we had different players step up in different positions that helped.

Q. What has just been the focus with scouting UConn and preparing for that game tomorrow on either end of the floor?

TAYLOR MIKESELL: They're an incredible team. They have a really good post presence and a really good guard play. They never beat themselves. They're extremely skilled.

But I think the scout for us has just been really buckle down on what we do best and being able to push the pace, limit transition looks for them, and just be able to guard them well enough in the paint and then rebound.

Q. Taylor Thierry, last year was your first NCAA tournament. You were coming off the bench and making an impact. This year you're starting now in your second year. What's the difference between coming into your first NCAA tournament, now your second, getting to the Sweet 16 for a second season?

TAYLOR THIERRY: Yeah, last year was definitely new for me. I was a little bit nervous obviously, but this year I kind of know what to expect a little bit more and I'm a bit more prepared. I have great leaders on the team that just have a lot of confidence in themselves and also just for this team.

So I think we're just all going to play our game, not focus too much on other teams, but just make sure that we're locked in and doing the things that we know we're supposed to be doing. So I think that's going to help us in this game.

Q. For both Taylors, last year in the Sweet 16, you're here in Washington, different city, but you lose to Texas. How has that loss helped you this season?

TAYLOR MIKESELL: I think it fueled us all summer, for me specifically, one of the driving forces for why I wanted to come back. It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth and you feel like can you always do more.

But, yeah, I think just it fueled us in the summertime to want to be better. When we got the opportunity again, we handled business enough to this point, but you know the job's not finished.

Q. You just talked about your transition first year to second year, the team goals. But if you're comfortable with sharing any of your personal goals that you have coming through the weekend, aside from a couple of wins, anything stats-oriented, tangible or intangible, for yourselves?

TAYLOR MIKESELL: I think the only thing that really matters at this point is our team win. So I know I'm not really answering your question, but I would like to come out with a win tomorrow and then be blessed enough to play on Monday.

TAYLOR THIERRY: What she said. Not too focused on like individual, as an individual, but mostly as like a team. Just make sure we're playing together and it would be nice to win this game and move on to the next one. So I think we're just focusing on that instead of just kind of ourselves individually.

Q. Jacy was talking this week about how emotional Cotie can be on the floor and how much it lifts you guys. How has her emotions helped you guys this year kind of brought you guys together?

TAYLOR MIKESELL: Yeah, it's -- obviously, we all play with a lot of emotion. You see somebody like Rikki as well that plays with a lot of emotion it's just something you can feed off of.

Obviously for Cotie it's kind of rare to see a freshman come in with animated of emotions on the court, but we definitely do feed off of it.

Q. You took a couple losses down towards the end of the season, the loss to Maryland on February 24th, loss to Iowa on March 5th. Those two losses, how did that help galvanize the team coming into the NCAA tournament? We can start with Taylor Thierry.

TAYLOR THIERRY: I think those losses definitely brought us closer. We had to focus on things that we didn't do so well. Just make sure that we don't repeat the same mistakes. It's tough losing, especially like more than one game in a row, but I think that just helped us and brought us closer and I think that helped us get where we are right now.

TAYLOR MIKESELL: I kind of echo what Taylor said. We obviously took away from the things that we needed to work on, but there were also a lot of bright spots on those games that we learned from. Then obviously trying to use that as we got into this tournament. So I think that we've grown from those two losses and just the rest of our losses this season. So I think we've done a good job of fighting through the adversity that we faced.

Q. Thoughts on UConn. You're playing one of the premier programs in all of college women's basketball. Probably a team that you two have followed as long as you've been interested in basketball. Thoughts on facing UConn or is this just another game for Ohio State?

TAYLOR MIKESELL: You can't say UConn without thinking about all their history and all that they have accomplished and just the team and the magnitude of what Geno Auriemma has built there. But then you also have to circle back to the present day. So they have to play us like we have to play them and that's kind of where we're at.

TAYLOR THIERRY: Yeah, obviously UConn's an incredible team, but we just have to focus on what we can do as a team. And just like what she said, like they have to play us too, so just preparation both ways.

Q. When you guys talk about needing or learning what you needed to improve from those losses earlier in the season what specifically were those areas of improvement?

TAYLOR MIKESELL: I think a lot of the areas of improvement came from just our flow on offense and then just defensively rebounding. We were getting out rebounded a lot on the boards. It was a pretty big margin. I think we got back to just our principles on offense and defense, moving the ball and then getting stops and finishing possessions I think was a big thing.

THE MODERATOR: All right, Taylor and Taylor thank you very much. Best of luck tomorrow.