Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU/Findlay Post-Game Quotes
November 05, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 5, 2007
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Bowling Green State University women's basketball head coach Curt Miller
How would you rate your performance tonight?
"Well I think exhibition games are used to learn about yourself - the good things and the bad things. The good was we found a way to win when we didn't play particularly well. When your starting backcourt goes 4-25 and shoots 12 percent from the field you can't be pleased with them, but we found a way to survive shooting 29 percent inside the arc. When you do that and find a way to win, you have to give credit to the kids for being gutsy and fighting to the bitter end."
Was the intent to get all your freshmen in and get everyone playing time?
"We had a goal to play all 12 people and we got that accomplished. We had 10 people play almost 10 minutes each or more, so I was happy with that. We wanted to look at a lot of different combinations, but at the same time I wanted to get the young group confidence to go out, finish and win that game.
"For the most part we did some good things defensively, but offensively we really struggled on foul shots, lay ups and things that as a coach your handcuffed in. I can't make a lay up or a foul shot for them. We scored 61 points and had a really bad night shooting - it could have clearly been a 75-point night we would have felt better about the game had that happened."
How would you evaluate Whitney Taylor's performance in her first game back from injury?
"Well we've said for years that Whitney is one of our most explosive offensive players in our program and in recent years, we've had so many offensive weapons, that outsiders really never saw that. She didn't need to do that on the recent veteran teams that we've had, but now that's her role. To see her in practice it is easy to be amazed at how many points she can put up in stretches. I think finally, after what I've been talking about for four years, some people outside our immediate family saw how explosive she can be scoring - we are going to need it too.
"[Her scoring ability] saved us tonight with the backcourt really struggling to put the ball in the basket as she came in and really sparked us. Tara Breske also really sparked us on the boards. Tonight our bench play was the difference. Their starters out-played ours and the bench was the real difference."
Do you think this will be a regular thing with Whitney coming off the bench for you?
"You know it's a work in progress right now concerning who is fighting for minutes and where those minutes are going to. We've had the luxury of having a stable lineup for the last couple of years but we've talk about the possibility that there might be a lineup change every game. We're going to go with the `hot person' that earns it in practice and I feel that keeps a young team, who is fighting for their roles, hungry. They know that no role is set in stone. Whitney came out and played great tonight and I love her offensive ability. Starter or not, she's going to affect the game for us."
You've said you like teaching teams after games, is this game going to be one of the more teachable games you've had in a long time?
"Absolutely, first we have to look at our offense and find out why we were ineffective shooting the ball tonight. We're getting ready to turn around and play a Valparaiso team that has had two incredible shooting games out of the gate and that has scored a ton of points in both of their exhibition games.
"We have to find out why we didn't put the ball in the basket today. Was our spacing poor? Was it just our execution? Was it the finishes? Were we rushing? We have a lot to learn on the offensive end.
"On the defensive end, we have to figure out how to keep people off the foul line. We have to continue to rebound the ball and shut people down. With that being said, every game is going to be a teaching game, but I think we learned a lot tonight and it's a work in progress. This whole season is going to be a work in progress. We're going to have really good highs and have disappointing lows with a young group and we just have to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We still want to be playing our best basketball four months from now and we're still want to be trying to peak towards March. I believe if we stay healthy and keep plugging away, we can be a very good team come March."
Point Guard Whitney Taylor
Were you happy to be out there playing tonight?
"Yes it was definitely awesome to be back out there. Getting ready before the game I was so excited because there wasn't that down effect of not being able to play. It was like being home again."
Talk about what you guys need to work on after this game.
"We missed a lot of foul shots and layups, but we are a young team and that will come with time. We need to work on those things, and being consistent. We are a young team so we need to work on the flow of offense better. We need to also keep the pace up, we got slow at times, and we need to keep pushing the ball."
What are the positives that you take away from this game? .
"It was great; a lot of the freshman got their nerves out. Being out there in front of the crowd was awesome too. We saw a lot of good things; the posts were really working hard on the inside. Being younger it's hard to keep the pace up, but they really ran well. We looked good at times, we just need more consistency. The lay ups will fall and the foul shots will drop and we will build a better lead."
What's it like being a leader?
"It feels great, especially since last year I was out and we had that huge class in front of us filling that role. It is defiantly a huge change and its been a lot of learning and adjusting. It's been nice to fill that role for the younger kids. I am learning a lot and really enjoying it."
How does the knee feel?
"It felt great. I felt strong out there and I didn't even notice it. I am feeling really comfortable with it right now."
Forward Crystal Murdaugh
How is it coming from high school to college?
"It is obviously a huge transition. We have a lot of learning to do, but for the most part it is just getting out there and getting use to. In a few more practices and games we will pull it all together."
What is it like being a freshman who is expected to come in and contribute right away?
"Obviously BGSU had a great year last season so we knew that as freshmen there were high expectations. As freshmen though, we come in with a lot of confidence and the attitude that we are here to win.
"Getting playing time right away; you just have to get the nerves out. I tried to just go out there with a lot of confidence and play my hardest."
