NCAA WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR

March 29, 2001

Camille Cooper

Kristy Curry

Katie Douglas

Kelly Komara

KELLY KOMARA: I think it speaks volumes for Indiana basketball, I think, to have two teams from the same state in the Final Four really contribute to how much Indiana basketball has come along in the last few years and I think it is a tremendous thing for Indiana basketball.

KATIE DOUGLAS: I think, just echo what Kelly said, it's just a great tradition that Indiana has. It's a true example this week how Notre Dame and Purdue are in the Final Four, to show you what kind of tradition that we've had the past couple hundred years in Indiana and, it is something special; until you experience it, a lot of people don't know about it.

CAMILLE COOPER: We just had a sense of urgency. To lose at home, and so early, was something that the veterans definitely learned from, so we wanted to communicate it with the entire team, just going out and playing hard, because each game could be your last.

COACH KRISTY CURRY: No question. We happened to see her on film this year and the past and a lot of things I've read about her in the past, a thousand shots a day, all of the things she does. Certainly, her work ethic, that's just second to no one that I've ever heard about. It just shows, the many hours away with practice, how that pays dividends. Certainly her drive and enthusiasm for the game, she is really special.

KATIE DOUGLAS: It was a tremendous honor to receive the award last night. It's truly the most special award I receive, and as far as adversity, I'm just here to play basketball this weekend, and, you know, I just want to focus on Southwest Missouri State.

COACH KRISTY CURRY: You know, I think all season long, you know, last night someone did tell me do we feel like that, that we snuck in the back door. Not really. You walk in the locker room, we had a sign that says "Meet Me In St. Louis." That's been our goal from day one. Our entire year we have had some up-and-downs, a lot of adversity in the past and I think this team just believes that we can do anything we want to do. And we have expected the unexpected. Everyone expects us to be the unexexpected but not us. As far as the attention and accolades, we are all just laid back and blue-collar about it. They can focus on whatever they want. We are not satisfied just coming to St. Louis. We want to win.

KELLY KOMARA: Well, I think we match up with them very well. I think that, you know, obviously Southwest Missouri State is a great team, but I feel that Purdue is a great team also. I think it's going to be a war. I think it's two teams that play very, very hard, it's just going to be back and forth back and forth. Whoever wants it more is going to win this game, I think.

KATIE DOUGLAS: I don't have fond memories, because Jackie gave me a head butt which resulted in six stitches when I played with her, but Jackie is a phenomenal player. She has gotten better over the years, since I in the past played with her, I think it was three years ago out in USA. She is a tremendous scorer, but a lot of people overlook the other things that she does and she's just a complete player. Obviously we are not going to be able to stop her. Just going to have to try to contain her.

COACH KRISTY CURRY: Certainly, you know, I felt privileged, No. 1. I think certainly everyone asked, you know, do you feel the pressure this, that and the other. The pressure comes from within. Just always expected to be the best. The biggest thing I did was just went in there and tried to be myself. I think you have to give these kids a lot of credit because they have been through so much change and here comes some more change. I think the styles as far as people wanting to have fun, the enthusiasm I think, as far as the head coaches; the systems, when Dale brought hers from Lousiana Tech. And here I come with some Louisiana Tech background. I think it hopefully made the transition a little easier. And I also looked at it if it's not broke, don't fix it. It was pretty -- there was a lot of good things in place. Certainly, we were fortunate to be able to go out and sign the great class last year that has really helped add and give us some more depth. We have combined a lot of the old with the new and tried to make the most of it.

COACH KRISTY CURRY: I think what makes her special, No. 1, is just how hard she works. She moves so well with the basketball, she reads screens, she plays both ends of the floor, she is extremely quick. I mean, you know, I'm not sure there are words to describe her. She is incredibly special. As I say, it is great for our game. You know, I'm not sure if I've ever seen anyone that can score like she can score, and -- (inaudible) -- Rookie of the Year, Katie Douglas every day, and those are also great players in their own way. So the thing about it is, she's truly special, and I'm not sure how you describe her. Can we stop her? No one has stopped her. We're going to try.

COACH KRISTY CURRY: I think the biggest thing is that, you know, it's been an extremely difficult thing for her, and for our entire basketball family. But we have all tried to support her, be there for her. But if I had one word to describe Katie Douglas, she is just a soldier. She continues to persevere. Not only does she continue to give her team strength. Sometimes things may get rough on the court and things may not be going our way but we can all look at Katie and say if she can overcome what she's had overcome, we can handle this 40 minutes of basketball. If my little girl grows up to be like Katie and the rest my kids, we'll be okay. She has been blessed in a lot of ways to have such a wonderful family. We just want to take care of her. She's just special. It's no question, it's incredible what the team has been through to get to this point. I'm so happy for Katie Douglas and our seniors because they have been through it.

COACH KRISTY CURRY: I'm not going to give you my game plan. (Laughter). But I will tell you that, you know, I think the thing that everyone gets focused on is Jackie, Jackie, Jackie. I mean Southwest Missouri came because they have a great team and they have people around her that play within themselves. I think if you focus too much on Jackie that you are in for a long night. She is going to get hers. Certainly, we would love to hold her under her average. Are we going to be able to do that; we're not sure. We're going to roll up our sleeves and play great team defense. That's why we are in St. Louis, because of great team defense.

KATIE DOUGLAS: I mean, it's totally -- it was totally up to the NCAA selection committee and I think it is exciting that there's another rematch, and as far as that should be the Championship game, that's just how the ball bounces. I know both of those teams are great teams and they are going to battle one another and it's going to come out to the team who wants it the most and wants to be in the National Championship game.

COACH KRISTY CURRY: Well, there's no question that she does so many things for us, I think that sometimes go unrecognized. And when the basketball is in her hands, good things happen. I think that, you know, really her numbers may be down this year, but you have to understand she's playing less minutes because we are deeper; and second, she's taking five less shots a game. That may have changed a little, but it's made our team better. They are dribbling, shooting, rebounding, defending tons better. I was on her a little bit for her defense and it's gotten so much better. The thing about her is she does so many things for us besides just scoring. When it's time to score, we need a big bucket, I can guarantee she's going to get that for us. She did a great job of coming out and being the aggressor in the regional final, attacking the basket, distributing and getting to the foul line for us.

KELLY KOMARA: I don't know if I would say a turning point but definitely something we wanted to come out to the NCAA Tournament and just put in the back of our minds. I think when you lose a game like that, you know, when you come to an NCAA, you just want to roll, roll with the flow. We were playing so well, to lose the Championship game was just a blow to us. We just rolled up our sleeves and started working harder.

COACH KRISTY CURRY: I'm not one to complain or anything like that or the negative. I think we have to focus on the positive and what we do have. But certainly I know that we could have sold -- I'm not sure how many times the tickets we have. We draw very well at home and have a tremendous fan support. Sure, we would have loved to have had more tickets, no question. Definitely, wish it was big -- now that we are here and have a chance to have a lot of folks in the stands.

COACH KRISTY CURRY: I don't think there's any question it is a good thing for the women's game. We just came from a regional where Xavier just had a great run and is a very good basketball. I think not only when you see those situations like an Xavier, upsetting a Tennessee, you see a situation with Southwest Missouri getting here, to a certain extent, we are a little bit of an underdog, too. I think it is great for the parity. The game is incredible as far as the parity, the direction we are headed with that. We have better players. I think it's a very healthy thing. I think it is a very good thing and I'm excited about the parity.

COACH KRISTY CURRY: No question. It's a huge advantage. Six young ladies on our team that are toting a National Championship ring, two other people on our staffs, other people have been to two Final Fours. We are definitely going to draw up on our experiences. The biggest thing I told the kids is there are four teams in America having a chance to practice. And we are one of them. We are going to enjoy the experience. And I think everyone that is part of your program understands that we are not just satisfied with getting here. We are going to draw up on all of our experiences.

CAMILLE COOPER: To talk about Katie she is a great friend on and off the court. I was blessed to come in with a very good class. Katie is a good example, as far as a scholar/athlete. We went through a lot of ups and downs. We have seen a lot of adversity, but we have stuck together and that's what makes it senior class special. As far as my experiences at Purdue, I consider myself extremely blessed. It seems like every four years, I win a championship, I mean with Figgs, but she's not here. It's just a great accomplishment to make it to the Final Four. I want to draw on those experiences and try to come out here and win.

COACH KRISTY CURRY: Definitely, you know, I think we are going to try to use as we always do, our first option is to go inside. We just feel like that, again we are not going to go away from what has working and been successful for us. We are definitely anticipating to come out and be aggressive and get the basketball inside. We have done that all year, so, that's nothing new.

CAMILLE COOPER: That's one thing we have focused on, getting the ball inside early; whether it's to the post, guards, penetrating, we think we will go inside first to open up our outside shots.

COACH KRISTY CURRY: You know what, I think to a certain extent, far as their very similar in personnel and style to a little bit of the University of Iowa. I also feel like that Xavier really prepared us, because they do such a great job in transition, and really when you look at those two, they are very similar with their personnel, post players, being able to step out and hit the 3, especially the four, just a lot of things they do, the back screens, the player screens, shuffle cuts. We feel like we have really drawn on those two experiences. It is kind of ironic that we were able to prepare just recently for Xavier. So hopefully it is going to be a blessing in disguise for us.

KELLY KOMARA: I played point guard all four years in high school. Last year in Purdue I had the point guard position. You know, I've played point guard all my life. It's nothing new to me, but when you've played the 2-guard all year and then you get thrown in the 1 -- and in our team, we are so interchangeable, with Katie, myself and Erika. It is usually if one person gets a rebound, everybody else sprints, so it is not that big of a deal.

CAMILLE COOPER: I think that team was very special. It seemed like awhile ago. It's hard to look back on and when we have so much ahead of us. I guess one quality that both teams share is both teams were very close. We have both seen a lot of adversity and we stuck together. So, that's a common quality that we have. I don't know, as far as feelings, we are just excited to be here. Definitely, we want to draw on our experience and just go out and play hard for each other.

KATIE DOUGLAS: I mean, I'm the type of person, I guess, and the player that wants the ball, but, you know, I know that I have four other players out there who are just as capable of me of hitting the big shot. Throughout my career, I guess I have been looked upon as the one to make a big play at the end but I know if somebody comes out and traps me, I know I have four other players that are capable of doing the same thing that I do.

COACH KRISTY CURRY: Well, I think it certainly helps. (Laughter). But, you know I think that definitely great teams win championships. We are very blessed to have two great seniors and then a great supporting cast around them that play within themselves and understand their roles. I think it takes great teams. But I don't disagree with that.

CAMILLE COOPER: I guess we were just very excited. I mean, each game could be your last. You always say that during the tournament, but it really hits home. We just want to go out and have fun. We want to end our careers here at Purdue going out on top. So it is a huge opportunity that we hope to take advantage of.

KATIE DOUGLAS: Like Camille said, I think this year we realized the sense of urgency we have to play with, especially in the NCAA Tournament. It was great feeling our sophomore years, to go out on top, but we knew that we were going to be able to put on another Purdue jersey, so we had that comfort. But this year, it is something special. You never know; we talk about it every time we talk about it before we go on to the floor, you never know in the NCAA Tournament when your last game is. So you have to play your 40 minutes like it is your last 40 minutes. So, that's special. I know I like the feeling, and I'm sure Camille did, going out on top our sophomore years and we'd like to continue that tradition.

COACH KRISTY CURRY: Yes.

COACH KRISTY CURRY: Yes. Definitely. Certainly the things you here hear about her during the years, you want to watch, if you have a chance to do that while you're preparing.

COACH KRISTY CURRY: Well, you know, I certainly had the chance to work for one of masters of the game, and just everything from travel, everything from eating, everything from, you know, having two practices, everything from shoot around, everything. I've tried to draw up on that, how we want to schedule our day. I think to a certain extent, it has really helped me. I feel very calm and relaxed because I feel like I'm prepared. I feel like, you know, I've been in this situation before, and to learn from someone that's been very successful.