Ohio State guard Jacy Sheldon breaks down her team's culture and what to expect from a deep Nebraska team.
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00:00 >> JC last year, you all go 19 and 0 and you get that number two ranking,
00:04 lose it after that and have a tough road from there.
00:07 But this year you're getting to number two ranking again.
00:09 How much does last year play into the conversation locker room like hey,
00:12 this is not, doesn't mean anything to get the number two ranking.
00:16 >> Yeah, I think that's just part of our culture.
00:18 I think part of what we do is we go out and work the same amount of energy every
00:22 night, the same amount of effort.
00:24 And that's not gonna change because of a ranking.
00:25 So as cool as it is, we don't focus on that really at all.
00:29 With how good the big 10 is,
00:30 you don't really have time to focus on something like that.
00:32 So we got a really good opponent in Brassica coming up and
00:34 then more good opponents, everybody in the big 10 is really good.
00:37 So that's our focus.
00:38 >> And Brassica is a really deep team that 10 players playing in these 10
00:41 minutes a game.
00:42 Like how do you all prepare for a team that you can't wear down just the first
00:47 five and then have a short.
00:48 >> Yeah, they're a lot like us and in the aspect you said like they're deep.
00:52 And we like to play fast and like you said, we do like to wear on people and
00:56 like I said, we're gonna play our same game.
00:57 We're gonna press, we're gonna be chaotic and like to play fast.
01:00 But you're right, they do play 10 people and
01:03 gonna be in our preparation that already has been.
01:06 And we'll keep keying in today and then be ready to go tomorrow.
01:10 >> JC, what have you and the backcourt and Celeste especially,
01:13 what are you guys been talking about how to guard Jaz Shelley so far?
01:17 >> Yeah, she's a really good player, really good person.
01:19 Someone a lot of people, everybody in the big 10 respects.
01:22 We're excited to go against her.
01:23 I think something that makes the big 10 so
01:25 fun is the amount of good players that are in it.
01:26 I think that's just what you look forward to in games like this.
01:29 But she's doing a great job leading that team.
01:31 She's really good shooter.
01:32 She can score from all three levels and she can guard too.
01:35 So like I said, we watched a lot of film.
01:37 We're getting ready.
01:38 We got ready yesterday and then we're gonna do some more film and
01:40 preparation today, but we're excited to play.
01:43 >> JC, you mentioned on the number two ranking, this is probably culture.
01:47 This isn't something that you gotta get too excited about.
01:50 How have you seen that culture grow since you got here to the point now where
01:53 number two is like, this is what we expect.
01:55 >> Yeah, it's grown.
01:57 I've been here a while.
01:58 So I mean, it's grown a lot since I've been here and
02:00 the people we've got on this team really made it stronger, which has been nice.
02:03 But I think there's coming in here,
02:04 there's a standard right when you step on the floor.
02:07 And whether we're number 25th ranked team or two, it's the same.
02:11 So I think it goes into our culture in a way where we just work our butts off
02:14 every day and wanna get better.
02:16 And that's what this team has been doing and wants to continue to do.
02:19 My gut tells us every day we got a long way to go and we wanna get there.
02:22 So we're gonna keep working and like you said, it's just part of our culture.
02:25 >> I asked you about before the Michigan State game,
02:27 in a kind of sense of that you made the elite last year.
02:30 And you lost to Michael, you bring in Celeste and everybody kind of thinks,
02:33 this is a team that should make another one.
02:35 You lose to USC, you start here, UCLA, Michigan.
02:40 When did you see it click for this group?
02:41 Cuz you're trying to put a new piece together.
02:43 >> Yeah. >> When did you see it click for
02:45 this group?
02:46 >> Yeah, I think our schedule had to do with that.
02:48 I think those teams you mentioned were better than us at the time when we played
02:52 them and just made us better, I think.
02:54 And like you said, we brought in Celeste, we brought in Ty,
02:56 we brought in a lot of new people, a lot of transfers, a lot of freshmen.
02:59 And I think it takes some time to get used to each other and
03:01 learn how to play together, especially in the system we play in.
03:04 It's fast, it's chaotic, and if you haven't been in it before, it takes a minute.
03:07 But it's been awesome.
03:08 I don't even know if truly we have clicked yet, which is a good thing.
03:12 Celeste is getting real comfortable in our style of play, which is awesome.
03:15 Same thing with T, all the newcomers.
03:17 And it's fun to see because it's more fun to play in.
03:20 Chemistry's building.
03:21 Like I said, I'd like to think we haven't clicked yet.
03:23 And hopefully we click at the right time.
03:25 >> Does the experience you guys have help as you were trying to put
03:29 your piece together throughout the year?
03:30 >> Absolutely, absolutely.
03:31 I think that's special.
03:33 We call ourselves old, but we got a lot of fifth years,
03:35 which is a good thing cuz we have a lot of experience.
03:38 And kinda can lead this team in a way where those younger girls and
03:42 underclassmen, we've been here before, so we kinda know what to expect.
03:45 And we're doing a great job.
03:46 Like I said, that standard we've had, and they fit right into it.
03:49 And I'm proud of everybody, but having a lot of fifth years definitely doesn't help.
03:53 >> Along those lines, I mean, obviously,
03:54 you don't wanna be on the bench with foul trouble.
03:56 You guys don't want Cody there either, but that was the situation this weekend.
04:00 So just sitting there and watching, how have you seen the girls come off the bench
04:04 and that backcourt, that second line, really just step up and handle the ball well,
04:09 make big plays, and just take you guys to that next level?
04:12 >> Yeah, absolutely.
04:13 Like you said, that's not a situation we wanna be in.
04:14 But to know when we are in a situation like that,
04:17 that we got players that are gonna step up and handle it is awesome.
04:19 And that makes this team so good, I think.
04:21 And girls like Emma Shoemake coming in and hitting shots, without a doubt,
04:25 with so much confidence, and helps this team.
04:27 People like Ricky, who just make winning plays.
04:28 I mean, we have so many of those people on this team, and so many people.
04:32 We go really deep that can do so many things.
04:34 And I think that's part of the reason why this team's so good.
04:37 >> Rebecca has grown so much.
04:39 My ears, not your ears.
04:40 >> [LAUGH]
04:42 >> Can she help you guys really reach another level?
04:45 >> Yes, absolutely.
04:46 I think you guys have seen it in the past couple games.
04:47 She's gone against some really good competition, some really good big girls.
04:50 And she's right there with them.
04:52 I mean, she's an amazing player, amazing person.
04:54 And I'm really glad to see she kind of took a jump from last year, physically and
04:58 mentally, and she's grown so much as a player.
05:00 And I think she's still got room for growth too, which is crazy,
05:02 cuz she's playing at the level she is and helping us win some really tough games.
05:07 >> Jason, I'm curious, you had talked about kind of the leadership you have
05:09 with this team.
05:10 Was it kind of a gradual climb from when you got here to kind of the way you are
05:14 now, where every year you're taking on a little bit more of that responsibility?
05:17 Or was there just kind of a moment where you're like, okay,
05:19 I need to step in as a leader for this team at this point?
05:22 >> Yeah, a little bit of both.
05:23 I think freshman year is hard for everyone.
05:26 I think you kind of grasp what college is really about.
05:29 But as you grow, as you go through this a couple times,
05:32 you learn what kind of happens in college and how to lead.
05:36 And you kind of learn about the girls on this team and
05:39 the girls you're bringing in.
05:39 And I think, like you said, a little bit of both.
05:41 I think for me being here, it was get comfortable once I got to know everybody,
05:45 the players, the coaches.
05:46 And after that, I kind of felt comfortable enough to say some things to lead in
05:50 certain ways.
05:51 And same thing with the girls we got this year.
05:53 I think it's a comfort thing.
05:55 And being here and on this team, we're all really close,
05:58 hold each other accountable at a level I think is rare at a lot of places.
06:01 It's not always being nice to each other and telling people they did a good job.
06:06 But it's the hard part, telling people when they're messing up and
06:09 when they need to be better.
06:09 And that's what makes us really good.
06:11 We don't really like taking even days off, plays off.
06:14 And I think when you have a team full of that, it's really special.
06:17 >> And kind of speaking to that,
06:18 how is the result of this team kind of going over the last couple of seasons?
06:21 I mean, you have big wins over Iowa and Indiana, but you kind of avoided the let
06:25 downs that have kind of been an issue at points in the last few seasons.
06:28 Where do you kind of feel the result of this team has been?
06:31 >> Yeah, I think Coach McGuff this year has set this team at a certain standard as
06:36 well, and I think tells us every day we haven't reached our potential and
06:40 we know that.
06:40 And it's something that we're striving towards.
06:42 And McGuff has pushed us harder than anyone, and
06:45 I think that's why you're seeing what you are from this team.
06:48 But also not making excuses,
06:50 we're not a team that's gonna make any excuses no matter if we win or lose.
06:53 And I think that's special, and
06:54 I think it just makes you work that much harder for each other.
06:57 And then when you're on the court, just give it 100% effort, which we do.
07:00 But he's pushed this team, he's gonna continue to, and we're excited for it.
07:04 >> Jason, kind of a follow up on something you said.
07:07 You mentioned you guys are able to talk to each other, be honest with each other.
07:10 No one's upset, no one gets frustrated or arguing about that.
07:14 That's probably what separates good teams from bad teams.
07:18 At what point did you see that, or at what point do you feel comfortable in a culture
07:22 and a team to kind of make that step and be able to talk,
07:25 be able to have those kind of honest conversations?
07:27 >> Yeah, I think that started for me a couple years ago.
07:31 I think this team, you saw it.
07:33 One thing that makes us kind of unique and has made us unique is our competitiveness.
07:36 And I think, like you mentioned, you have that kind of edge on you where you can get
07:40 into each other, and sometimes you do get frustrated and you do yell at each other.
07:44 But I think that's part of being competitive and
07:46 that's part of wanting to win so bad.
07:48 So we have so many people, like I said, we've had it a couple years ago and
07:52 we've had it probably more than ever on this team, where you just wanna win so
07:55 bad and kind of would do anything to win and put yourself in whatever position it
07:59 is to win, whether it's best for you, but more importantly, I think best for the team.
08:03 And we got girls full of that.
08:04 So it's fun to be a part of and I'm sure it's fun to watch too.
08:08 >> Thanks, Jace, appreciate it.