NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: REGIONAL 4 FINAL - LOUISVILLE VS IOWA

March 25, 2023

Lisa Bluder

Monika Czinano

McKenna Warnock

Caitlin Clark

Climate Pledge Arena

Iowa Hawkeyes

Elite 8 Pregame Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: Coach, if you want to make an opening statement, go ahead and then we will open it up to questions.

LISA BLUDER: Well, obviously, glad to still be working. I mean, this is -- it's really exciting for our team. We know we have a really tough challenge. Jeff is a great coach. Louisville has got a storied program. Another great defensive team. I don't think you can talk about Louisville without talking about Hailey Van Lith. All ACC player. She and Caitlin play together in the USA basketball, so they know each other pretty well, which is kind of fun. I think Robinson, excellent defensive player. Chrislyn Carr's kind of a local player. She's from Rock Island Illinois, so really only about an hour and 15 minutes from our campus. She is shooting the three ball really well. So great team and we're looking forward to the challenge.

THE MODERATOR: We'll take some questions.

Q. You talked the other day about how it would be great if Des Moines, or Iowa, hosted a regional down the road. The crowd last night was amazing, I think, for being 1,500 miles from Iowa. How has it been for you guys as far as this regional and everything on outside besides the basketball and then also what it was like having that amazing crowd last night and probably again tomorrow night?

LISA BLUDER: Yeah, the Hawk fans are special. There's a personal attachment between this team and the fans, I believe. Because when you get to know 'em, you really love this team. They're great role models they're great human beings, and you want to support them, you want to support people like that. And people coming all the way out here, that's really special. It means a lot because it's hard. It's not easy to get here.

When we played in Minneapolis in the Big Ten tournament, we had 9,000 fans there. Well, that's a five-hour drive. But this is a lot tougher to get here. So it's a commitment. So it means a lot for us, it's special, and, yes, we didn't think we were going to have that many fans here. So when it got loud -- it got loud last night a couple times for us, and it helps us. We appreciate it a lot.

Q. As you started to scout Louisville and dive into film, is there any team that you've played so far this season or in recent history that will be helpful as you guys can prepare for them, anything that kind of is similar to other teams that you face, either in the Big Ten or even non-conference play?

LISA BLUDER: Yeah, I mean, when I think about them in the Big Ten, I think of Maryland, possibly. Just really good defensive team, good rebounding team, press a lot. So I think of that, maybe. But I think Louisville has their own identity. They're, again, a really good defensive team, and Hailey really make that's show run. She's a pretty impressive leader on the floor.

Q. With such a tight turnaround, how late were you up last night? What's kind of your schedule like trying to prep for a team that you've not faced before?

LISA BLUDER: Yeah, we had our scout done before the game. We had a scout done on both teams, so it did make it a lot easier. I had not watched film ahead of time on either team yet, so last night my staff took me through the team and -- or through the scout, through the film. We were only up to about midnight last night.

I think sometimes you can -- you know, rob Peter to pay Paul, so to speak, with the sleep thing. So today we'll spend a lot more time watching film and we'll spend a lot more time with the team watching film today. We didn't watch any film with the team last night. We just sent 'em the scout and sent them some film that they could watch if they woke up earlier.

Q. Building off that question, you came back out to watch the Louisville-Ole Miss game from the baseline, I think it was. When you're watching that game, how are you consuming it? Are you both trying to relax coming off the game you had? Are you trying to pick up details about offensive and defensive sets, like how are you watching it?

LISA BLUDER: More for just an eye test for more of like their personnel, their style, how physical they are, that type of thing, how fast they are, because sometimes you can't tell those things on film as much as seeing them live.

But I wasn't trying to pick up sets or anything like that because my staff was doing that. They were in the scouting seats. Sometimes after a game, it's hard for me to focus. I'm not a very scouter immediately after a game because I'm kind of thinking about that last game. I missed the whole first half, anyway. But just kind of an eye test more than anything.

Q. Wondering if you could give us a little history lesson on your tradition of point guards and how do you coach 'em? Beyond talent, like how hard are you on 'em? How do you -- how important to your offensive system is it to have that kind of point guard play?

LISA BLUDER: Yeah, I mean, I think point guards -- in high school, your best players are usually point guards. I mean, right? So, sometimes we've had three point guards on the floor at the same time that were in high school. I think it makes it harder for you to be pressed. I think it makes it -- you have that leadership ability out there when you have more than one typical point guard.

This year, we're not like that as much as we have been in the past. In the past, we've had several point guards on the floor at the same time. I think we've had some good ones. I mean, you go back Kachine Alexander, who played for us who was drafted by the Lynx. I mean, Cara Consuegra, Christy Smith. Sam Logic was a first-round draft pick in the WNBA. Of course, Kathleen Doyle, who was the Big Ten Player of the Year, and now having Caitlin, who I think is the most spectacular player in America right now.

I mean, we've had great ones. I've been very blessed with that. Jenni Fitzgerald used to be our point guard coach. She kind of retired from the recruiting aspect and does a lot of our scouting for us now and helps me out a lot. Now Abby Stamp does our -- is our point guard-specific coach. But, I mean, it's a crucial position, obviously, because they're your captain on the floor, they're your quarterback coach on the floor.

You have to have a special relationship. That's what I think is -- when you're recruiting point guards, it's just a different relationship than you have with other players because you spend so much time with them. You spend -- you have to have -- kind of like Caitlin and I can look at each other and almost know what we're thinking. We trust each other a lot. So I think you have to build that relationship in the recruiting process. You have to have that connection with your point guards.

Q. This the fifth straight year Louisville's reached this point of the tournament. From afar, how have you seen Jeff kind of build this program to where it is now? And is there a tangible benefit that they have going into tomorrow having that experience of getting to this point of the tournament so many times in a row?

LISA BLUDER: Yeah, I mean, I think that experience is a great teacher, and so definitely I think that experience that they have had is on their side. Each game you play, a little bit more pressure mounts, right? I think when you have been there a lot, you know how to handle that a little better. So I think that's to their advantage.

I don't think Jeff is -- I mean, he's almost been successful since the moment he got there. I mean, he has done a great job with his program right from the get-go. He's recruited well. He's obviously a very gifted coach. He's coached USA Basketball. I mean he's -- and besides that, he's a good guy.

This summer, I don't know if you're aware of what happened with one of our recruits. She was in Louisville and was hit by a car and was in the hospital there for over a month. And I reached out to Jeff, and Jeff provided a car for the family to use at no expense and it was immediate. It was like not even a thought. It was something he wanted to do for that family. So I just think he's a really good guy. That speaks volumes about a person when they're helping you when you're in need like that.

Q. Can you describe Louisville's defense and what kinds of things you're going to need to do to get some open shots?

LISA BLUDER: Well, it's just -- they really have great denial defense, great ball pressure. But beyond that, what is, I think, one of the best things is the variety of presses that they have. It's not just one press, but it's a variety of different presses that they can throw at you. So you have to change up your attack based on what they're doing a little bit on that press situation. So I think that's what makes it hard.

Q. You guys are led by an experienced group of players who have done this before, been to NCAA tournaments, won Big Ten championships. How has the experience of this team allowed you guys to push through adversity and maybe the emotional maturity that comes with that leadership?

LISA BLUDER: I do think that we are a pretty experienced team now. We've played together for a long time. Again, it goes back to that experience is a good teacher. It also let's you build culture. When you spend this much time together, it helps you build relationships. That's one thing, I think, is not great about the portal, right? People are hopping around. It doesn't give you time to build relationships with each other, with your school, with your coaches.

We have that. Sometimes that culture and that I've got your back can help a lot in situations that are pressure-filled.

Q. Jumping off that question, you guys have a lot of experience, but the only player on your team that was on your Elite 8 team maybe three or four years ago was Monika. How do the other players sort of step up to the bright lights in the Elite 8 in this situation where you're trying to get back to the Final Four for the first time in a really long time?

LISA BLUDER: You know, I think we have to approach it like every other game. I think if you start approaching it like we have to win this game to reach our goals or to get into the Final Four, it just adds more pressure to the mix. We've used the mantra, just be us a lot, be us, be who we are, and don't worry about other stuff. I just think we have to minimize other stuff. Whether that's stuff like this, like you guys, you know, it really is just kind of keeping it normal and not having the pressure. That's what I think is -- pressure can really create some abnormal behavior and we don't want that.

Q. You talked about your time on the baseline after the game and you talked about the eye test. What did the eye test consist of? You talked about are they physical, are they fast. What did your eyes show you?

LISA BLUDER: Yeah, I mean, I've always known about Hailey just from watching her over the years and with USA Basketball. I have always known about Chrislyn, obviously, because she's so close. I was really impressed with Robinson and her speed. I did not know that she was that fast. I would not have thought that from watching her on film or just seeing her statistics for example. I think Cochran is very physical inside. Again, we're going to have to play that post that's very physical and that rebounds really, really well. So it was good. It's good to get that eye test, I think.

Q. This is a little bit unrelated, but now that you've been here in Seattle for a few days, just with the both regionals being here, how have you, like, felt it from logistical standpoint? Has it been pretty smooth with eight teams here at one point and have you gotten enough practice time, and has it felt like it's gone pretty smoothly from that standpoint as they experiment with this setup?

LISA BLUDER: I think it has. I really haven't noticed much difference, other than the practice time. Only being an hour on the court was pretty short. So you kind of have to find another place to practice in addition. Which you have to drive then and get out of your bus. So it takes a little bit more time. The only thing I wish is that you could have an hour and a half. That would make a big difference on the court. An hour and a half versus an hour would really let you probably practice in one place instead of having two places to practice. That's been my only issue. Otherwise, I think it's been great. I think the people of Seattle have been super. I mean, the team has enjoyed the city, seen that. So it's been good. I just wish we could have a little more practice time which I know they probably can't happen.

Q. Up in Minneapolis you spoke to the Big Ten needing to get somebody to the Final Four. I know that's something, but can you revisit that now that you're one step away and just the importance of getting a Big Ten team to the Final Four?

LISA BLUDER: Yeah, I mean what's, right now what's Maryland's score? I'm looking? What's the score right now. It's a one point game at halftime. So we have a couple of Big Ten teams playing today. So I wouldn't hear myself saying this, but go Tarps and go Buckeyes. It's hard for me to say that, but (laughing.) But, yes, we want 'em there.

Q. Along the lines of the eye test and the regionals being in the same place, have you guys or will you guys have some of your assistants scout the games today knowing you might see one of those teams in the Final Four, versus in the past you could maybe watch them on TV, but it's not the same?

LISA BLUDER: You know something, we're really looking at the other bracket. So we'll be doing, really watching TV to see the other side and not this side so much. We've looked at, tried to, you try to figure out who is going to advance and so Virginia Tech being here, right? No. Yes. Yes. I'm sorry. That would be one that we would probably want to did an eye test on, but that's it.

THE MODERATOR: All right. Thank you. We'll take questions for the student-athletes in just a moment.

(Pause.)

THE MODERATOR: We'll take questions for the student-athletes.

Q. Caitlin, I know you and Coach Walz have a relationship from your time at USA Basketball, and everyone probably doesn't know the story, but can you revisit the one from I think the finals game when he had you go and shoot the free throws and the history of I think he told you that morning, if something happens, you're going to do it?

CAITLIN CLARK: I honestly forgot about that until you brought it up. But, man, what was it three years ago now when I was playing for Team USA, and I was the youngest one on the team. The first time I played the U19 team, it was the World Cup. We were in Thailand at the time and we were playing Australia, which the U19 World Cup is one of the hardest Junior National team events to win just because you're playing against a lot of girls that play professional basketball, usually, and we're playing with college girls.

So I remember he came up to me before the game when we were warming up. He's like, If we get in the situation where I got put someone in off the bench to shoot free throws, I'm picking you. And I'm like, Oh, okay, whatever, that's not going to happen. I think Rhyne Howard got busted in the face pretty good and her nose was pretty messed up, gushing blood. We were down at the time, and then I had to go in. They called an intentional foul, and I made one for two. And then I stayed in the game, and he drew up a play, and Hailey Van Lith made a bucket to tie it and send it to overtime and we end up winding gold.

So it was pretty incredible and, honestly, we probably should have lost the game and won silver. But, yeah, he kind of like predicted what was going to happen, so it was a pretty cool moment.

Q. There's a lot of -- when I watch your guys' games on TV, the have fans with the Law of Clark and Czinano, do you know where that shirt came from? Is that something that you guys created or just fans made those?

MONIKA CZINANO: No. Christy Winters-Scott came up with the idea and the law firm thing and it really just stuck. The Clark and Czinano, it kind of just sounds good together. But, yeah, Hawk fans really just ate it up. So it kind of took off from there. But, yeah, all the credit goes to Christy Winters-Scott for that.

Q. Monika, you're the only one on this team who was on the Elite 8 team. You were a freshman way back in 2019. Just what experience did you learn from that and what are you trying to give to your teammates going into tomorrow's game from that experience?

MONIKA CZINANO: Yeah, I mean, it almost feels like a different lifetime ago playing on that team. But I think a lot of it just it's such a cool moment, making sure you're staying in the moment. It's easy to kind of view this as a vacation, but I don't think anybody on our team is doing that at all.

But just it's a business trip and we have more we want to prove. Quite honestly, that team was so different from this team it's hard to even compare 'em. But just taking each game as it comes and just enjoying the moment with your team.

Q. Coach was saying that from her perspective, it's important for you guys all to approach the game tomorrow just like any other game and not let the pressure get to you. How have you just navigated pressure and expectations throughout the season but also going into a stage like tomorrow?

McKENNA WARNOCK: Yeah, I think this entire season we've done a great job of just staying true to ourselves. We know that we didn't have to be anyone else yesterday and we know that going forward. I think that all of the amazing experiences that we've had and all battles we've had through the Big Ten and throughout the season has just prepared us so much for this post-season. That's just kind of what keeps our confidence.

Q. You've obviously played with Hailey. How would you describe her game on the court and what she does for her team?

CAITLIN CLARK: Yeah, I think she's somebody that plays with a ton of energy and passion and that's what I admire most. I'm somebody that plays with that same level of passion and energy and excitement. She's feisty. I think that's what I love about her. Really good mid-range jump shot, really good attacking the rim. But I think more than anything, she's just an emotional leader for them. They're never going to be out of it no matter what the score is. I think she really puts the team on her back and really carries them, carries a big load. She -- I played the point guard spot with her on USA Basketball. We were roommates for awhile on part of the trip, so I know her pretty well. A great person, but also a really good basketball player. So I'm excited to go up against her and go against Coach Walz, who was also my coach. So I know him really well and it will be a fun, fun game.

Q. Coach talked about Hawkeye Nation traveling real well to Seattle. It was a great crowd, a very pro-Iowa crowd last night. Maybe, McKenna, you can start. Talk about how the crowd fed you guys, especially in those later moments when they really got animated for some of the bigger plays coming down the stretch.

McKENNA WARNOCK: Yeah, it's amazing. Hawkeye fans truly are the best in the nation. I think that it's kind of shown through our home crowd and then also coming all the way out here to Seattle. I mean, that's not an easy flight. Kind of a Carver West type situation out here, which is awesome to have.

But they really just feed into our energy and I think that that's something that helps so much down the stretch. They love those big plays and they love to watch Caitlin and love to watch Monika, they love to watch our team, and it's really awesome to have 'em in this experience.

Q. I know you're still going and looking at film and scouting Louisville, but what stands out about that team that just makes them so tough and able to get to the Elite 8?

CAITLIN CLARK: I think they're a very good defensive team. They're going to come in here and D up. Obviously Hailey's kind of their engine and what makes 'em go. But also they have good post players and then super well coached. They have the tradition of being in the Final Four. Jeff's had 'em there quite a few times. I think this is their fifth straight Elite 8 appearance. So it's not anything that they're strangers of. But I think at the same time, yeah, maybe this group hasn't been to the Final Four or the Elite 8 for us, but we've had the opportunity to play with each other for three years, so it's not anything we're going to shy away from. We've been in plenty of big games. But I think that's the biggest thing about them, they have experience being in this situation, they're really well coached.

Q. Outside of what Louisville does, what do you guys need to focus on just from an internal Iowa standpoint to be the victors tomorrow? What are sort of the things that, trying to push out the noise and really say, these are the things that as Iowa players we need to focus on that are sort of keys for the game?

MONIKA CZINANO: I think just sticking true to our fundamentals, playing Iowa basketball. Not taking super quick shots, really making them work in their defense. But playing good defense ourselves. Like they're a really quick, explosive offensive team, so just making sure we stick true to our fundamentals and like McKenna said not be anything different than we have been all season.

Q. Caitlin, it feels like this is an AAU tournament in a sense, the two regions and different things. I know you guys are focused on the game you had yesterday and the game tomorrow, but have you paid attention to the other bracket at all? I know you have the same hotels, you see them around. Is there any feel -- because this is the first time they're doing this with eight teams in one place, so how do you feel about this set up?

CAITLIN CLARK: I think I like it. Obviously it's not close to the state of Iowa, but I still feel like we have really good support here. We get to play in a city that loves women's basketball. I think at the same time we really love getting to play the first day rather than the second day. Because we won and we're moving on and you get to watch all the other teams play. I think a lot of us just love watching women's basketball. So we always have the TV on. We were just watching the Maryland-Notre Dame game. So I think it's fun. I think it's cool -- obviously we're not going to be coming to all the games today, that's just not really how it works. Obviously we have game ourself that we have to prepare for. But I think I like the two regional sites. I mean, I don't really know too much different, I guess, because I played in the bubble and then one time last year and now this. So it's been different for me every year. But I think it's been good. I thought the turnout was really good yesterday. But, yeah, I think we love getting to watch other teams, we love getting to watch women's basketball, so it's been fun.

Q. Monika, for you, you came back for your fifth year, probably for games like this one tomorrow. Just to get your team back to the Elite 8 is something you haven't done since your freshman year and then no one else on your team has done. How much does that mean to you and how much do you have extra motivation because you decided to come back and play in this last year for a game like this?

MONIKA CZINANO: Yeah, I mean, this opportunity right here was a huge reason of why I came back. But an even bigger one was to play basketball with these girls and our coaching staff. It truly is a family. We don't just say that. So the opportunity to still be a part of it for another year was one that it would have been silly to turn down, honestly. So it's super big. We're just happy to still be playing basketball. We want to be around each other and doing what we love for as long as we can. So the opportunity to come out here and compete every single day is something that we don't take for granted.

Q. When you all were talking yesterday about like at halftime just kind of needing to collect yourselves and figure out what you had to do moving forward to erase that deficit, is that something that is player led, when you all kind of figure out where to move forward; or is that coach led, is that a little bit of both how do you all kind of, I guess, move forward or come together in those moments?

McKENNA WARNOCK: I mean, I think it's a little bit of both. But I think we just have so much maturity on the team and so much experience that we're kind of able to understand when we need those moments just to collect and take a deep breath. I think yesterday that's all we really needed. We needed to just get back down to our roots and just kind of know that we don't have to be anything different going into that second half. And I think we did a great job right out of that.

THE MODERATOR: All right, thank you.