Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff talks what her seniors mean to him and what to expect from great backcourts in Penn State and Maryland.
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00:00 >> I will.
00:02 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:04 >> Sounds good.
00:06 >> Hey, coach, Kellyann has a very important question.
00:10 She's curious about Sunday being senior day and what will that mean to you?
00:16 >> Well, obviously, we've got a lot of incredible young women in our program and
00:21 none more important than our seniors.
00:23 And so, just, it's hard to kind of put into context what
00:28 Jacey and Rebecca, Ricky, those kids have meant to our program.
00:37 But really, I'm just kind of focused on trying to enjoy the time that we get to
00:41 coach them here from now to the end of the season.
00:44 But just incredible young women who obviously left an indelible mark on
00:47 this program.
00:48 >> Thank you.
00:51 >> Got it.
00:52 >> Kevin, do you have finalized plans yet for
00:55 who is going to be participating next?
00:56 I know Ricky and Madison both have another year if they want it.
00:59 And you would discuss maybe Ebony getting another year as well that you
01:01 were looking into.
01:03 >> Yeah, I don't actually know who will be participating Sunday yet.
01:07 And my staff probably knows, but I don't think much past today's practice and
01:13 tomorrow and in Thursday's game, so.
01:15 [LAUGH] >> And with that game,
01:18 obviously Penn State's in a little bit of a different spot than when you guys played
01:22 back in, I think it was December.
01:23 Ashley Alusu's back and they've had some injuries.
01:26 What are your thoughts heading into this matchup and
01:28 kind of the keys you're focusing in on?
01:30 >> Yeah, no, really good team, obviously very talented.
01:33 We had a hard fought game against them first time around where we had to go to
01:37 overtime to win.
01:38 But they're talented, they've got as good as guard play as anybody in the league.
01:43 And Alusu's playing now and she's playing great and
01:47 they play particularly well at home.
01:48 So this will be a very difficult challenge for us at Penn State.
01:52 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:56 >> And they're on a five game losing streak right now with
01:59 Tae Valadie going down for the rest of the season.
02:02 What have you noticed kind of looking at them, watching them and
02:06 maybe not diagnosing as your own coach and trying to improve them.
02:11 But what's changed about them that's gone from Alusu's back and
02:15 they're playing so great to now kind of on the other end of that.
02:18 And they're losing by double digits almost every night.
02:22 >> Yeah, it's hard to say because they're really talented.
02:24 I think they've got a great scheme X and O wise.
02:27 And they're playing pretty hard.
02:28 They just haven't played at the same level that they were certain parts of
02:32 the season.
02:32 So hopefully we can do our thing and kind of play well and
02:37 kind of impact the game with the way we can.
02:40 But they're very dangerous and
02:41 like I said they've played extremely well at times this year.
02:44 >> I know going into the game a lot of the players for
02:47 Penn State have been talking about this.
02:49 Well, not just as facing Ohio State, but they're also playing at rec hall.
02:53 They're playing at an arena they have played at 28 some years.
02:57 What does that kind of boost for teams?
03:00 I know how say you've all played at St.
03:02 John's before.
03:02 What does that do for the players in those games,
03:05 especially now facing number two team?
03:07 >> Yeah, I think it's for them it's probably pretty experience.
03:11 It's gonna be much more intimate than Bryce Jordan Center.
03:13 And I'm sure they'll have a wonderful crowd.
03:15 It'll be a tough environment throughout the play.
03:17 [BLANK_AUDIO]
03:20 >> Hi, Coach.
03:21 Speaking of arenas and playing in environments, third time this season,
03:25 you guys are opening up the upper half of the shot.
03:31 So what does that mean to you, seeing the growth in the fan base that this team has
03:36 had even just throughout the season and since you've started here?
03:40 >> Yeah, no, it's really awesome to see and I'm just very appreciative of our fans
03:43 and the community here in Columbus to get behind our team and
03:48 support us like they've been doing.
03:50 >> Have you had any personal interaction with these fans,
03:52 like these new fans who've been coming out?
03:55 >> No, not really.
03:56 >> I do wanna ask too about the state of the Big Ten.
04:00 The Big Ten, it just seems like no one's safe.
04:03 If I'm gonna put it like that, no one's safe.
04:05 Can you just describe your thoughts on how this conference
04:08 looks compared to past seasons playing in Big Ten?
04:11 >> Yeah, it's just really deep.
04:12 There's no easy nights.
04:13 I mean, everybody's, there's a lot of great coaches.
04:18 There's a lot of talent.
04:19 There's a lot of older talent and we have a lot of fifth year players and so forth.
04:24 So everybody's got a really good team and
04:26 it's just, it's a real grind for lack of a better term.
04:30 And you gotta just really do everything you can to have great practices,
04:35 good preparation heading into any game or else you'll get got out there.
04:39 >> I know you've talked about a little while ago,
04:42 you guys would have won some of the games.
04:45 I kind of did the math.
04:47 It seems like you're talking about that Michigan game being the turning point in
04:51 the season and everything.
04:52 I know that's when Cody started practicing better too and everything.
04:56 So now coming up on a stretch where you're seeing teams you've seen already and
05:01 specifically in Michigan soon.
05:03 What is it like, if you could just describe the turnaround your team's done
05:05 since that period?
05:07 >> Yeah, we've continued even like we didn't play as well as I thought we could
05:12 early in the season, we continue to practice pretty well.
05:15 So I think we've gotten just a lot better because of our practice habits.
05:19 And then within that, obviously Cody's gotten back to being who's capable of
05:23 being, Celeste has gotten more comfortable.
05:24 And so we've got better, but we've also had a couple key players
05:29 really improving up their game.
05:32 And I think that's had a significant impact for sure.
05:35 >> Can you talk about Cody in practice now and
05:38 how just the focus she has in the end of the season?
05:41 >> Yeah, no, she's really locked in.
05:44 She's practicing really hard and with great intensity and focus.
05:47 And she always practice hard, but I think just her intensity and
05:51 her focus are a little bit better in her place.
05:54 And it's really carrying over to the court.
05:56 >> And last thing I wanna ask, sorry.
05:59 >> You're good.
05:59 >> No, the last thing I wanna ask is you're facing teams you've already faced
06:02 already.
06:03 So do you feel like that gives even if you look at it like advantage or
06:06 do you feel like also they know what they expect from you?
06:09 How do you view those type of games?
06:10 >> I think both, since we played them, they're gonna look at the film first time
06:14 around and see what we did well and see how they can kind of stop that.
06:17 And we're gonna do the same thing.
06:18 So it's probably a wash.
06:21 But I think it is good to have played some of these teams,
06:26 you got a little more information on them.
06:28 >> Thank you.
06:29 >> Yep.
06:31 >> G, did you have anything?
06:35 >> Yeah, just one question, Kevin.
06:36 I know you talked about the guard play of Penn State already.
06:39 But coming up on Maryland, also you got Chan Sellers,
06:42 who's one of the best guards in the Big Ten.
06:44 How do you expect, you played so many great guards already this season.
06:48 How does she compare to some of the other backcourts you played?
06:52 And how are you preparing for that matchup?
06:54 >> No, she's very, very talented.
06:57 One of the best players in the league and
07:00 certainly one of the best perimeter players and it'll be a big matchup.
07:03 I mean, I'm hoping our full court press can maybe wear on her a little bit.
07:07 Because she's very special.
07:08 She's from Ohio.
07:09 She's gonna wanna come home and play really well.
07:11 >> And just another thing to that.
07:14 I know we talked a lot about the season like past few times about how
07:19 kind of the third quarter, it's third quarter has been like the Ohio State quarter,
07:22 so to say.
07:23 And you guys have really come out more with the press then,
07:27 as opposed to more in the first half.
07:29 Is there a reason for that?
07:30 Or are you guys looking to play a full four quarters like you've talked about?
07:34 >> Yeah, no, we're looking to play more towards four quarters.
07:38 But it just seems like that we come out of the locker room with the energy that we
07:41 need in the press and it's been effective.
07:43 So hopefully we can get a little more of that in the first half as well.
07:45 >> So.
07:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]
07:50 >> Matt, did you have anything?
07:52 [BLANK_AUDIO]
07:54 >> Kevin, you had mentioned the number of fifth year seniors you guys had and
07:58 really across the Big Ten.
08:00 How different from a coaching perspective and just kind of leading program,
08:04 how much of a difference is there now in program and roster management as you're
08:08 dealing with that just seems like almost a backlog at this point of
08:13 those fifth year players that are still in the program now ready to see leave?
08:18 >> Yeah, no, it's roster management for sure.
08:22 I mean, cuz you had COVID in the fifth years and
08:24 now the portal you can go anytime you want, be eligible.
08:27 So, roster management is here today.
08:30 It's gonna be a thing and it's gonna be a thing forever.
08:33 And so, most days you're coaching and nowadays you get to the end of the year and
08:39 you gotta put your GM hat on and build the roster or keep it or whatever.
08:43 We recruited however you wanna put it.
08:46 [BLANK_AUDIO]
08:49 >> Kind of jumping off that, if you had a grade your roster management,
08:52 how would you especially looking at where you are at this point in the season?
08:57 >> Yeah, I like our roster.
08:58 I think we have the right kids in the program.
09:00 They play well together.
09:01 They have cohesion and that's part of it too, cuz you add people and
09:05 you might not exactly know who you're getting.
09:08 But I think we have right people come into the program the last couple years and
09:13 I like where our roster's at right now.
09:15 [BLANK_AUDIO]
09:17 >> On that cohesion, Celeste Taylor and
09:19 JC Sheldon both referenced how the team is coming closer together to kind of
09:24 block out the noise of the number two ranking and title chances and all that.
09:28 What is this team doing differently this year that you've noticed as a coach that
09:32 maybe past teams, like last year you were number two also.
09:35 What's different this year with how they're acting?
09:38 >> I don't know.
09:38 I think we've added Celeste and Ty and
09:41 I think they've quickly kind of ingrained themself with the team,
09:44 which has been really good.
09:46 And but I think it's similar stuff.
09:49 We're getting good leadership out of JC and Madison and Ricky and Celeste now.
09:54 And so I think that part is similar.
09:57 And so anyways, like I said, I tell them all the time,
10:02 it's my job to make sure we practice the right way.
10:04 We focus on the right things and I set the right tone and it's their job to be
10:09 really good in the locker room and in the hotels and on the scene planes and
10:12 I think they're doing their part.
10:13 [BLANK_AUDIO]
10:18 >> Thank you.
10:19 >> Everybody good?
10:21 >> No.
10:22 >> All right, thanks everybody.
10:23 >> Sounds good.
10:24 Thank you everybody for joining, we appreciate it.
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