Celeste Taylor and Cotie McMahon speak with the press after a 83-40 win over Cornell.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 >> Well, congrats on the win tonight.
00:03 Celeste, you had a big game with seven assists, six different buckeyes.
00:08 How do you feel about this game and overall how you're gelling offensively?
00:12 >> Yeah, I think obviously it takes time with new pieces.
00:15 But I think so far, we're moving the ball really well,
00:19 get helping our teammates get open looks.
00:20 I mean, the way the teams are playing us, it's kind of hard to have five great
00:25 defenders out there to guard everybody on the floor because we are so versatile.
00:28 And we can do a lot of different things.
00:31 But overall, I mean, it's going well.
00:33 So I mean, I just enjoy passing the ball.
00:35 So being able to have teammates who can hit shots and
00:38 not dribble when I pass it to them, it's pretty cool.
00:44 >> And talk about consistent scoring.
00:45 That's been something that's come up over the last few games,
00:49 especially bringing in players from the bench and integrating them into the starters
00:52 and still not losing a step on offense.
00:55 How do you feel today kind of helped getting more reps with that?
00:58 >> Yeah, I mean, I feel like games like this, it kind of helps us just because we
01:02 kind of get to switch up our lineups and stuff like that.
01:05 And just kind of use our pieces that we have in different areas.
01:10 And I feel like it gives a lot of people opportunity on the bench to kind of show
01:13 where they're strong at and stuff like that.
01:15 So I feel like games like this are really used just for
01:18 us to kind of help us gel better together, honestly.
01:21 And kind of help our chemistry as well and
01:23 just counting on each other as well on the floor.
01:26 >> And I'm assuming her shooting's been coming around last year.
01:29 Everyone talked about how great of a shooter she is.
01:31 And this year she's really showing that in a few opportunities.
01:34 Talk about her improvement that you've seen on the court.
01:36 >> Yeah, she's, I mean, shooting is a mental thing.
01:40 And she kind of started off rough just in practice.
01:43 But I mean, just her consistency to get in the gym and shoot the ball.
01:48 Everybody, all our teammates, all of us are constantly telling her,
01:51 if you're open, shoot it.
01:53 We have faith that you're gonna hit it.
01:54 Because we see the work that she puts in and we see her hit shots.
01:58 So I mean, just her being in the gym and getting those shots up.
02:01 And then coming out and being defended as a shooter.
02:05 I mean, I know on the scout, they're definitely saying that she's a shooter.
02:08 And she's still hitting those shots and knocking them down.
02:10 And taking advantage of the role that she's getting given and
02:13 the time that she's given.
02:14 So I'm really happy for her and proud of her.
02:17 >> And then this week, Tennessee's coming out.
02:21 Just how are you feeling about that matchup?
02:23 And what are you looking to focus on individually as a team going into this
02:26 week?
02:27 >> I mean, nothing different.
02:28 They're just the next team ahead of us.
02:30 No matter if they're Tennessee or Cornell.
02:33 I mean, just the next team ahead of us.
02:34 We're not changing our game plans.
02:36 And it's really just staying together as a team.
02:38 That's gonna get us through.
02:39 >> It's definitely gonna be an exciting game.
02:42 They definitely have a great atmosphere over there.
02:44 I've been able to play there once in my career.
02:46 So just knowing that we're gonna bring a good team in there.
02:49 And they're gonna be a great team, just a top 25 matchup.
02:53 Gonna be live and we're excited to play.
02:56 But we're happy we get the opportunity to showcase the work that we put in over here
03:01 and play against great competition.
03:03 >> I wanna talk a little about the defense.
03:06 I mean, what's the dominant defensive overall starting lineup and
03:10 just running so deep on the bench too?
03:12 You guys have run several different schemes in full court press.
03:16 I mean, coming out 2-2-1 and then kind of switching it up and
03:18 going 1-2-2 sometimes as well and blitzing the ball.
03:21 What do you guys think has been working the best for you guys this season?
03:25 >> I think it's a mixture of all of them.
03:27 Different teams have different ways to break a press.
03:29 So then throwing different things at them is difficult because they can't prepare for
03:33 every single thing.
03:34 And at the end of the day, defense is beating people to the spot and
03:38 being able to read.
03:39 And I think we have a lot of people who can be placed in different positions to
03:42 be able to do that.
03:43 So I mean, it's just fun out there just flying around and
03:47 you know that everybody else is gonna fly around with you.
03:49 But I think it's just a mixture of everything.
03:51 The coaches do a really good job of telling us when we gotta get back,
03:56 when we shouldn't press or just whatever's happening in the game during that time.
04:01 But I think it's been a mixture of all the different presses that we have and
04:04 the defenses that we have that's helped us.
04:06 >> How much do you guys drop back after the full court press,
04:11 how much do you guys drop back into a man versus zone?
04:14 What do you think has been working, I mean, the best there too?
04:17 >> I mean, I think a lot, mostly this whole season we played a lot of man.
04:23 Unless we were in foul trouble, maybe we showed a quick zone.
04:26 But I think just we like to pressure the ball and
04:30 I think being in man helps that a lot.
04:33 And just being able to move and everybody can guard different positions.
04:36 You have the same versatility you do on the offensive end.
04:39 So just flying around, but we've shown a lot of man, I guess, and
04:44 that's what we're gonna show, I guess, for the rest of the year.
04:46 Unless anything changes and we have to switch it up.
04:48 But we can get better and we are gonna get better because there's a lot more work to
04:52 do defensively in that half court.
04:55 But we're just gonna take strides and learn from one game at a time.
04:58 >> Cool.
04:59 >> All right, again.