02:52.2
They punched us in the mouth tonight.
02:55.2
And we don't have a lot of practice time for our next one.
02:58.1
So we'll be in the gym tomorrow watching a lot of video,
03:01.3
trying to figure out how not to turn the ball over 25 times.
03:06.6
Yeah, I mean, we've got to help her out.
03:09.0
We've got to do a better job of coming back to the ball.
03:11.6
Dijanae's an athletic guard, and they had a game plan against her,
03:15.1
and it's just going to take some time for her to figure that speed
03:19.3
and quickness and physicality out.
03:21.6
It's something she's...
03:24.9
She's a rookie in this league.
03:26.3
This is the best league in the world.
03:28.2
We've got to teach her.
03:30.2
We've got to teach her what these games are going to look like for her
03:34.6
every single night.
03:36.0
And we've got to eliminate some of that pressure for her.
03:39.2
That's on my staff to figure out.
03:46.4
I think just a lot of things to learn from.
03:48.1
I didn't think we played well,
03:49.4
and we had cut it to six in the third quarter.
03:51.6
So, I think that's a positive you look at.
03:55.1
Like, we really did not play a good game,
03:57.3
but we were right there at moments,
03:58.8
and then it kind of got away from us at the end of the third and fourth quarter.
04:02.5
Didn't have the greatest start.
04:03.8
So, I think just a lot to learn from.
04:06.4
You know, it's the first one.
04:07.6
There's going to be good ones.
04:08.3
There's going to be bad ones.
04:09.2
And, you know, like we said in the locker room,
04:11.0
like, we play on Thursday.
04:12.3
You've got to learn from it and move on and be ready to go.
04:15.7
I think collectively, obviously, you know,
04:17.7
25 turnovers is going to make it really hard for us to win.
04:20.5
And I think Coach said,
04:21.4
they took 66 shots, we took 50.
04:23.4
Like, you know, it's really hard to win games
04:25.6
when you give them 16 more opportunities than we had.
04:27.9
Like, it would be impressive if we won this game doing that.
04:30.8
So, you know, I think obviously I'm disappointed,
04:33.2
and nobody likes to lose.
04:34.9
Like, that's how it is.
04:36.0
But I don't think you can beat yourself up too much about, you know, one game.
04:40.2
I don't think that's going to help this team.
04:42.0
I don't think if, you know, no matter who it is on this team,
04:44.1
nobody can do that with how they played.
04:45.6
And just learn from it and move on.
04:48.1
And, you know, I guess I'm just excited for Thursday
04:51.4
I'm excited to get back home and have our home opener.
04:52.9
And, you know, I thought it took me a little while to settle into the game.
04:57.9
I thought the second half was a lot better,
04:59.5
minus some of the turnovers.
05:00.7
But just getting more comfortable,
05:03.2
and that's just going to come with experience
05:04.6
and getting to play with these girls.
05:06.5
And the more games I play, the more comfortable I'm going to get.
05:09.6
My role on this team is, you know,
05:11.6
just to help rebound, run hard, and score when I can.
05:15.1
So, you know, I do what I can when I'm in the game.
05:18.8
Thank you, everybody.
05:31.0
First of all, I'm just, I'm really proud of our group.
05:33.1
Came out with a lot of energy.
05:35.7
You know, did an excellent job on the defensive end
05:38.2
for most of the ballgame, making things tough for them.
05:40.3
And that was our challenge.
05:41.5
That's what we talked about.
05:43.2
And everybody that got in the ballgame contributed in a big way.
05:47.9
You know, certainly defense,
05:48.8
defense has been and will always be our identity.
05:51.7
You know, I thought they played incredibly well together
05:53.9
and connected on both ends of the floor.
05:56.6
And it's a big first win for us.
05:59.2
A lot of credit goes to my teammates.
06:01.2
You know, they make it easy for me.
06:03.1
They hit the shots.
06:04.4
I just put it where it needs to go.
06:06.1
So, as much as it's about me, it's also about them
06:09.5
because none of it is possible.
06:11.8
We knew what she was capable of.
06:13.7
This is what we expect from her.
06:14.9
But to take on that job and to play it at that high level
06:18.8
and do things on both ends,
06:20.4
we're proud of her.
06:21.2
But don't get too big-headed.
06:26.7
Congratulations on the win, guys.
06:30.0
I felt like, you know, my teammates and my coaches
06:33.0
put a lot of trust in me.
06:34.7
And obviously, I came off the bench last year.
06:37.1
I started this year.
06:37.9
So, I just felt like, you know, when my teammates trust me
06:40.7
and they put that faith in me, it gives me a lot of confidence.
06:42.9
And, you know, they've been in my ear all week
06:45.5
and all through training camp.
06:47.0
And this is what they expect from me.
06:48.8
Every night, whether it's Kaitlyn
06:50.6
or whether it's whoever we're playing.
06:53.5
So, you know, this is the expectation.
06:56.5
This is the standard.
07:16.8
The women are definitely standing.
07:18.8
They're stepping up the level of play.
07:20.4
It's making the events more exciting.
07:23.2
And that's part of the reason why I'm here.
07:26.4
I'm from Connecticut.
07:27.5
So, we're going for the Connecticut Sun.
07:30.0
Kaitlyn Clark is definitely doing her thing.
07:31.8
I think I see more Kaitlyn Clark jerseys
07:34.3
than Connecticut jerseys than we in Connecticut.
07:36.4
So, we're going to see what happens.
07:48.8
I've never been here before, but it's very interesting.
07:54.5
My wife really is into college basketball.
07:58.1
So, the Kaitlyn Clark effect is why we're here.
08:00.8
And we're also just from Connecticut.
08:02.6
So, we're just supporting the Suns.
08:04.5
What do you expect?
08:06.4
What do you expect?
08:11.6
Support our women out there.
08:18.8
Oh, this is going to be very, very interesting.
08:24.3
I mean, it's going to be a full sellout.
08:29.5
And, of course, Kaitlyn Clark for the first time.
08:32.2
Very exciting night.
08:33.7
What do you think of Tom?
08:35.6
I think she's good for the league.
08:39.0
She's put the league on the map.
08:42.8
And I think she's very good.
08:45.1
I just hope she's not very good
