Quotes & Audio: A&M vs. Stanford pre-Final Four presser

COACH BLAIR: Texas A&M, we say howdy. You're supposed to say howdy back. And most of y'all are just getting up, I understand. Sportswriters work in the afternoon and at night. So we appreciate -- the media coverage has been great. I look back to 1992 when I was at Louisiana Tech and the first NCAA Final Four was at Norfolk, Virginia. This was about the total number of media that covered the whole tournament. Look at us today. It's been very special to see the growth of women's basketball, seeing the media coverage. There was excellence on the court back in 1980 and 1981 and 1982, but I think we've taken the game to the next level, with the help of the media, with the help of television, and with the help of some pretty doggone good coaching along the way. This team has earned its way here. We've done it the hard way. Our strength of schedule is No. 3 or 4 in the country. We play in the Big 12, which we consider the best conference in the country. And I know everybody has arguments for their own, but top to bottom, what we've done in our RPI over the last five or six years has justified how good our league is top to bottom. I think we're going to present a little bit different style than the other three teams that are playing. All of us have good offensive players that can create their own shots. We can all run the floor. We can all play defense. But we try to play pressure defense 94 feet, sometimes we'll back it off to the half court. But when you come down, we want it to be hard for you to run your offense. We're not going to play hope-you-miss defense. We're going to hopefully play make-you-miss. And that's a little bit of the difference. We're not in a hurry to get to the offensive end; we're in a hurry to stop you on the defensive end and let's get down the court and play. I'm proud of the young ladies here, the two Sydneys, they've sort of been the face of Texas A&M for the last three or four years, both on and off the court, in the classrooms, everywhere. These kids are more recognized around College Station than this old man ever will be. Danielle Adams we've only had for really about 18 months, because she was a Junior College All-American. She's done what it's taken to be able to play our style of ball. And she could have gone to other schools that played more of a half court game. But this style of ball that we're playing, I think it's going to get her ready for the next level. And she's one of the most versatile players I've ever had the opportunity to coach. Questions?

Q. What do you as a coach tell your team in a locker room for a game like you played against Baylor last week? How do you approach their mindset, make them believe that they could overcome the three defeats and win that game?

COACH BLAIR: The first thing I told them is when we got off the bus right there at American Airlines Center, I stood up and told them: Do not get off of this bus unless you expect to win. Want tos and could haves and should haves, that's not going to cut it at this level. If you really expect to win, I mean, that is just something that you have to have the mindset. Sydney Carter was the first one that jumped up. And I just believe these kids -- I've been here before. I've always been the Cinderella, the trendy team, or back at Louisiana Tech, we were the best team for that era right there, from 1980 to 1985, 1986. And it's a different mindset. But I think when I look at the Hall of Fame coaches that I'm going against, with [Stanford Head Coach] Tara [VanDerveer] and [Connecticut Head Coach] Geno {Auriemma} and [Notre Dame Head Coach] Muffet [McGraw], they've all accomplished that. It is not for Gary Blair to accomplish it, because I think I've had a pretty good career. But to be measured, Texas A&M, which used to be just called a football school, y'all realize that in 20 sports we're in the top 10 right now? Top 10 in those sports. And used to be you would hear about football or you would hear about our band. But now all of a sudden we're a complete university. Sort of like what the Ohio States and Stanfords are doing out there and some other schools. Florida's winning in all sports. And I'm proud of that from the university, because we're probably going to win another track championship or two. The equestrian will win Big 12 this weekend today. And our baseball team, our golf team, that's what's so fun. The e-mails that I've gotten or the calls from my coaching colleagues across the nation, that's great. But the ones I've gotten from the people at the university has been special. Texas A&M. I hope I answered your question. Let me throw something on this one while I'm thinking of it. Did you hear Danielle? This morning at 9:00 she just got the biggest award that can ever be given out, State Farm All-American, and she talked about playing with her teammates. That was her number one accomplishment. Playing with her teammates and just having fun. That's what that kid's all about. You saw ten of the greatest players, the greatest players in the game today. And again she deflected that to her teammates that she's with now. And she came off the bench last year. That's how dumb I was. She came off the bench last year because we wanted that offense off the bench. And [Sydney] Carter came off the bench last year. So that's two pretty good players right there.

Q. I'd like to ask you two questions knowing that it might take up the rest of your time up there, but do you feel like you guys have put the Baylor win behind you and not carrying it over here, particularly? And also the two Stanford sisters, are they as tough to stop as they are to pronounce their names?

COACH BLAIR: Sure. Just think about it. Every time I flew out recruiting, I drove by their high school, which is 45 minutes. And we recruited them hard. We lost them, fair and square, to Stanford, a great academic school, a great basketball school. And we lost them. But I thought about them every day since I've been at A&M, because that's where I would fly out of Houston. And every day I would look at that school and say, hey, but we're winning with the kids that chose us. And after I would pass Cy-Fair High School I would stop at Five Guys restaurant and get a big ol' cheeseburger and it didn't matter by then. But what those two sisters bring is so much energy. I think that's the difference back when Stanford was winning in 1990 and 1992, whatever the two years they were doing it, it was with great precision, with [former Stanford student- athlete Jennifer] Azzi and great point guard, and later on in the 2000s with [former Stanford student- athlete Candace] Wiggins and everything, but they've never had anything like those two sisters. And they're very special. They're great students. They're great young ladies, and they just kill you on the boards. They just constantly move without the ball. And that's what a basketball coach looks for, is somebody that can do something when they do not have the ball. And that's what makes them very efficient. Now, what are we going to do with them? Try first to keep them off the boards. We've got enough other problems with [Stanford guard Jeanette] Pohlen and [Stanford guard/forward Kayla] Pedersen and the rest of them. They're a complete team. This will be the most complete team that we've played this year, and we've played Duke also. And we've played Rutgers and Georgia and all of them, and Baylor.nBut this is a complete team that has no weaknesses, all the way from the coaching staff on down. The only thing we've got better than them, I like my Yell Leaders a lot better than that tree that walks around like that. But it's going to be a great game.

Q. Regarding Danielle's development, both you and she have talked about her remarkable weight loss. How has she done it? And what has it meant to her development as a player?

COACH BLAIR: I think the quickness -- in junior college, junior college is about transition and about creating offense off the bounce. It's not about defense. It's about doing the things, and it's about getting yourself academically sound so you can be able to compete in the classroom, not just on the court. And that's hard. Nobody ever thinks about that. Those kids are coming from junior college now have to go against those kids that have got the 26 to 32 ACTs. And now all of a sudden emotionally can they compete in the classroom, are they going to fit in. Are they going to be able to -- our style. We just got finished going to the Elite Eight without her. And so she said, Hey, I want to come make a difference at A&M. But I want you to make a difference with your style of play, how we play defense. We put her all over the court on offense. I've run so many plays. I'm one of those maverick coaches, I'm not going to have a pretty triangle offense. I'm not going to run the flex. I'm not going to run a pure motion. I run a whole lot of stuff. I sit up at night with a legal pad like you've got and watch those West Coast games from about 11:00 to 1:00 a.m., writing down different things that will fit in our offense. So I'm a set coach, and we have a lot of options off of it. And that's just how we play. Now, people are going to play zone. I've got to be a little more predictable with our 1-3-1 offense or triple post offense. Whatever it takes to score. But we want to attack. If we get passive against the zone and you see us out there and we've got four people outside the 3-point line, we're in trouble. We have got to get inside and make things happen. And that's what Colson can do for us.

Q. During the course of a long career, I'm sure you've developed relationships with many interesting and successful people, both in the women's game and men's game. Can you talk about some of the people who had an impact on you career, professionally, and just some of the special relationships you've come across over the years?

COACH BLAIR: Leon Barmore, for one. That's a start. I was with him five years at Louisiana Tech, now I'm competing against him. He's got the best job in America now. He works six months a year. He doesn't have to recruit. All he does is come in and help Kim. And the day they win or lose he's back in Rustin playing golf. That's a great job. Just think if we could all have that type. Go back to Sue Donohoe, she was our manager at Louisiana Tech. She's running this whole damn tournament. She runs women's basketball. She was my assistant coach at Stephen F. Austin. Then she came to Arkansas with me for a year before she went into administration. To be able to see women choose the correct side of athletics -- some women are better suited to go into the administration part, and they're so much better than men in a lot of those areas, because they pay attention to details. And then to see the women that stay in the coaching, studying under Pat Summitt, I was a high school coach when I first met her, and just be able -- I studied by far the intensity she has. When Geno and I both got head jobs the same year in 1985, he was in Virginia and I was at Louisiana Tech. And look at the different stops that we've made along the way. And he's been able to just take Connecticut to that next, next level. He's an icon up there. He's as important to that state as Jim Calhoun is. And a guy that you never heard of, Bob Schneider, coached at West Texas State and Canyon High School. Those are the people that shaped my life, and you just want to be thankful and appreciative, because it doesn't happen. It doesn't happen all the time. It's just a good ride. I'm enjoying it. I'm not looking to retire. I'm not looking to be as old as Joe Paterno and keep coaching too, but I'll give it a hell of a ride until then, and then I'll be on that golf course and I will beat Barmore on the golf course, I think.

Q. Gary, sometimes, when you get to this point, it can be matchups can make the difference. And it appears that you guys just have the kind of team, the kind of style that is a great matchup against Stanford. Can you just talk about the matchup? And I know you've addressed part of this, but were you glad in a way that you got Stanford, like, hey, this is something that we can exploit?

COACH BLAIR: You know, it's sort of funny -- when I was at Arkansas, I was always on the bubble. I was a bubble team. I could figure out the bracket as well as the committee could. And I got 62 out of 64 this year. That's a down year for me. Usually it's 63. I've never gotten 64 yet. They just don't listen to me. But I like the bracket. I thought we possibly could go west again. Okay? To tell you the truth, I was worried about Tennessee, because I thought at the time Tennessee was playing tremendous basketball going in. It didn't bother me going to the Dallas Region, because I wanted to be able to bring our fans -- and we're still trying to grow the sport at A&M. They've got spring football still going on there at the same time we've got this going on. And they're getting a lot of hits on that. I have to grow my sports and get the crowd to come to Final Fours and to regionals, and to do that I needed to be in Dallas. And I guarantee you, our season tickets will go sky high next year. Not just because we're here, but we're educating fans that there is another sport. You do not always have to wait for football or men's basketball. Stanford, I just admire their execution. I saw them when they were bad when they played DePaul, without Pedersen, and they were not really playing Chiney [Ogwumike] as much. I know what the sisters can do. And I know what Pohlen has done as a point guard. A lot of times we were able to handle the situation -- with Baylor we had a senior point guard going against a great freshman point guard. And so sometimes that's the difference. Seniors win for you. Seniors take it to that next level. And while I'm thinking of it, sir, your Giants beat my Rangers, but I grew up a Giants fan. I'm a Willie Mays fan, and if you can get me an autographed ball or his rookie card there, you and I will have dinner and I'll be your fan for life. But Willie Mays and Whitey Ford. Whitey Ford was my other one. So that's want I really need. And then get Larry Bird to come to the ballgame tomorrow night. Hey, what a great time I would have.

Q. Can I get you something from Connecticut?

COACH BLAIR: Geno's paycheck. His restaurants. His summer camps, everything (laughter). I mean, what does Geno not have?

Q. I don't know. I haven't been able to figure it out.

COACH BLAIR: I'm just another pretty face up here. And Geno's got it all. And as Geno says, he's got Maya Moore.

Q. We thought for a while this year that Connecticut was going to play Texas A&M next year in St. Thomas, but I guess that's not going to happen. Have you and Geno had any discussions about putting together a series in the future and can you tell us about that?

COACH BLAIR: We've tried to get series going with Stanford. We'd love to play Tennessee. We'd love to play Connecticut. We are trying to work on the Jimmy V game which they're hosting next year. And ESPN's working hard. But we have got to get a Big Ten team to change or else we cannot go to the game. Last year we got a change a date where we could play Duke in the Jimmy V. But I'm going to go Connecticut as long as Geno comes back and plays at our place, and they will. And they're playing Baylor this year, and it will be a great series because we're not going away. Danielle Adams graduates, Sydney graduates. We've got great replacements coming in. I think that's what happens when you get to this level. You don't become just the one-and-out team. That's why I'm loving coaching right now, because we've got a great transfer coming in in Kelsey Bone, we've got a great freshman point guard coming in. And when you've got a Sydney Carter playing defense for you every day and just make practice fun, that's what you want to do.

Geno's had it for a long time, and he's going to continue to have it, because I think players today, they want to go to school to win championships. When you look at the men, they're renting players. They're renting players. The one and outs, they're there for one year. That's what the beauty of the women's game is. Thank heavens there's not enough money in the women's game or some smart-ass lawyer is going to come in and say, Well, Tiger could play at 18; the women should be able to play, the Brittney Griners and the Maya Moores. But there's not enough money for the lawyers to take over and say it's worth their while. Our kids are playing four years, they're graduating. I think I heard a stat that 83percent of the women's basketball players nationwide are getting their degrees. That's pretty doggone good. And there's probably some of you out in the audience that played women's basketball that are now holding very good jobs.

Q. Both Sydney's, just jumping off to what Gary said about the pressure defense, in watching Stanford, which many people perceive the vulnerability is the guard, what do you think you guys will be able to do to exploit them?

SYDNEY CARTER: Speaking on my end, I think both me and Sydney are really good on making the point guard on the opposing team uncomfortable and making them try to run a high-low offense, making sure that they're not making any of those entry passes. So if Sydney is on the ball, I'm definitely denying the wings, and vice versa. I think we'll be pretty successful in making them uncomfortable, making them run something they don't really want to run, because it's just the style of defense we play. So hopefully we can do that.

SYDNEY COLSON: Pretty much what Syd said, we like to get up and pressure people. That's a big part of where we get our energy from and where we get a lot of momentum from, on the defensive end. So when Syd and I are clicking and playing a point guard hard or taking away passes on the wing and making the point guard do something that they don't want to do, we know we're doing our job and we're getting steals and getting out in transition. That's what we really enjoy doing, and it's easy points. So that's why we work so hard on defense, just to try to convert on the other end.

Q. Both Sydney's, your situation last week against Baylor is precisely the one Notre Dame faces against Connecticut. And I'm wondering how does an athlete put aside the frustration of losing continually to a team to find the resource to come back and beat them on the big stage.

SYDNEY COLSON: A big part for us was just coming together and having the goal in mind to go out there and play hard and get a win. You have to believe, first of all, because I think that when you lose three games in a row, it can definitely take a toll on a team and make you think that you're not capable. I think that in our case we realized that they were all one-possession games that we were losing by. It was just the fact that we would go for spurts without scoring in some games. We would stop doing what we were doing on defense and what had been working for the whole game. So we knew it was a matter of possessions that was really stopping us from winning and getting over that hump to get the win. So we came out and we played 40 minutes hard from beginning to finish, and the regional final and we came out victorious. I think you just have to have the mindset that you're able to win.

SYDNEY CARTER: I definitely think that you use those last couple losses as fuel. You use them as learning expenses and not dwell on past losses you had against that team. But I think it also helps that you have something so big on the line. Notre Dame and Connecticut playing for a spot in the national championship game. And I think that puts a little sense of urgency into each team to kind of battle it out again and see who comes out as the aggressor and see who comes out and tries to outsmart or out-tough the other team. So I think it definitely helps that there's something on the line that's big and that is everybody's ultimate goal and to use it as a learning experience and go from there. And you have to have that confidence and that focus and that attitude to go in there and say y'all beat us this time but there's more on the line so we're going to get it done this time.

Q. Danielle, the Stanford team likes to pound the ball down low to the Ogwumike sisters. How will you and your teammates try to counter that and what do you think of them as players?

DANIELLE ADAMS: Well, we played against tough post players in the Big 12 … Brittney Griner and the [Griffin] girl from Oklahoma. I've played against many great post players. It's nothing changed, just doing great on my technique and being aggressive.

Q. Sydney Colson, just wanted to ask: I watched the video on the A&M Athletics website of you guys coming into Indianapolis the other day. The team seemed to be very upbeat. Loose. Confident. Is that a correct assessment? And just how do you feel about the mood of the team right now?

SYDNEY COLSON: You know, after our win we were really excited. But we brought it back down to reality when we got to College Station and focusing on the next opponent. That's what you have to do. Of course you're happy to be at this point. This is a first time for us, in Texas A&M history, that we've made it to the Final Four. But we kind of put the excitement to the side. We don't want to make it seem like we weren't expecting to be here, because from the beginning of our season we were confident that we were capable of making it to this point. We knew it was a matter of time and it was really up to us working hard throughout the year, not giving in when adversity hit. And I'm proud that we did that. We were strong mentally and physically throughout this entire season, and we're happy to be at the point that we're at right now.

Q. Sydney Carter, what's your mindset when you -- a lot of times you will guard the opponent's best perimeter player. And a lot of times that player is much taller than you. So what's your mindset when you have to guard someone who is 6', 6'1"?

SYDNEY CARTER: I just go into that game, especially if they're taller -- like you said, most of the time they are. I try to go into that mindset that I've got to play taller and I've got to be smarter than that person. And I'm pretty defensive-minded. I've got to make sure I'm playing with that passion and that intensity that Coach Schaefer coaches me with and make sure it definitely has to rub off on me because that's what I'm in the game to do. I'm in there to guard the best player. So I have to make sure that I'm doing my part playing post defense 30 feet from the basket, helping the post players out and making sure that, you know, I'm doing my part on the defensive end so that my man's not getting those easy looks maybe that they're used to getting. So I guess I come in there with the mindset that I have to be the aggressor on the defensive end. Especially if they're an aggressive offensive player, I've got to outdo them on the defensive end. I just have to make sure I bring that physicalness to every single game.

Q. Both Sydneys, could you talk about what it is to play with Danielle on and off the court?

SYDNEY COLSON: She doesn't bring anything. She's really a detriment to our team. I'm just kidding (laughter).

You all have seen her play. She just makes the game fun and easy for us. In the past A&M hasn't always had post players that were really efficient scorers or scored a lot of points in games. And Danielle brought that to our team. She's been a tremendous asset. She can step out and shoot the three. She has a mid-range game. She can bang it down low and get and ones and excellent rebounder. She brings physicality to our team and she's an excellent second line of defense. If people get by us on the defensive end, she's there to take the charge a lot of the time. And she's just a really heady player, and she knows the game of basketball well. So it's been fun playing with her. But we're not done.

SYDNEY CARTER: I'd definitely say she's one of the best post passers I've played with. She's one of the best finishers, and she's so unselfish. And like Syd said, she makes it really easy for us to play with her out there on the perimeter. It's so easy to just pass it in there and just say, Danielle, go finish, because most of the time she's pretty accurate with finishing. But, like I said, she's really unselfish. If she sees that two people are guarding her, she knows that one person is open and she's yelling at us to pass it to that person. I like the fact she's an All-American, but I think what helps with that is that she is unselfish. And she just makes it really easy for us. She's a great helper on the defensive end, and that really helps us out a lot, that she plays team defense as well. So I think she's just an all-around team player.

DANIELLE ADAMS: Thank you, guys.

SYDNEY CARTER: I love you (laughter).

Q. What is your most successful achievement in your basketball career?

SYDNEY COLSON: I think making it to this point has been a moment that I won't forget, obviously, just because this is the first time it's happened for us. And the team that I was on my freshman year we made it to the Elite Eight, but I didn't really play a lot that year. I got minutes every now and then, but it was awesome to watch the girls that were juniors and seniors on that team. They showed us how to lead, and they showed us how to work hard and how to work for a goal that you really believe that you could achieve.

DANIELLE ADAMS: Mine is just playing with these girls, and just getting to the point, getting to this point with them. And just being able to have fun on and off the court. Sydney Colson, the jokester. And then there's Carter. But just getting here with them and being able to help my team get here at this point and just being an asset to this team.

SYDNEY CARTER: I'd have to say just choosing to come to A&M as a whole. I think that I've got to experience so much with the girls that I've played with.

And just as much success as we've had. And I started out not even wanting to play at all when Coach Blair came and gave me a home visit and he sold basketball to me instead of the actual school. So I think that really helped me out. But just coming here has just been -- I've been so blessed to have this opportunity with the people that I've had and everything that I've gotten to experience with travel and the success we've had as a basketball team. So I definitely don't know where I'd be without the experiences I've had.

On the importance of rebounding against Stanford:

“That’s always a team goal to rebound and to find a player, box them out, and then go get the rebound. As far as our guards, we are going to need them to come down and help us get rebounds because we are going to have our hands full with them. Knowing how good they are, of course I am going to be focusing on being a lot more physical with my box out.”

On making the program’s first Final Four:

“It’s a wonderful feeling, but we know that there are two more games left that we could possibly play so we are still focused and still hungry to win.”

On the keys to rebounding:

“I think it’s really important for the posts not to just turn around and find them, but to get them out of the paint. By opening the paint up, our guards will be able to come in and get some easy ones because we have seen multiple times on film how you think they are boxed out but they just reach over you because they are so tall and long. To me, the key is the guards helping the posts out because the posts are going to have their hands full.”

On trying to play up-tempo, force turnovers, and control the pace of the game:

“That’s when we are at our best, when we are forcing teams into doing things that they don’t want to and forcing them to play our tempo of ball, which is fast. Even if they don’t turn it over, hopefully we can force them into shots they don’t want to take.”

On being a senior and making the Final Four:

“It’s been fun so far and this is what we set out to do from the very beginning, so it’s fun and it’s great to see that we finally achieved a goal that we said we were going to do.”

On the ancillary events around the Final Four:

“It’s been amazing. All the different things they have put together for us, the signings and the banquet. It’s amazing and we really do feel appreciated.”

On the keys to the game against Stanford:

“We are going to have to be aggressive of course, and matchup with them. We need to be aggressive and keep them off the boards. We have to block out, deny the ball, and just play Texas A&M defense like we usually do.”

On helping lead Texas A&M to its first Final Four:

“It means a lot and it goes to show that all the hard work and dedication we put in has paid off in the end. To be able to come out and play on the center stage like the Final Four is a blessing for us.”

On the keys to success against Stanford:

“We need to play with pressure, I don’t know if Stanford has played anybody with our physicality where we deny the wing or deny the dribble. I think it will be a good game and I think our defense will be something they need to work on. We need to be smart and execute. It’s going to be difficult for us, but we are working everyday with their switching man-to-man defenses. I think both teams are going to have to get adjusted to the things the other team brings.”

COACH VANDERVEER: Good morning. We are thrilled to be here. We're very excited to get to practice on the new floor, and we're really looking forward to our game with a great opponent playing against Texas A&M.

Q. Kayla said this is the most relaxed she's been at a Final Four. How relaxed are you?

COACH VANDERVEER: You know, I think that we're very excited. I feel good. I'm working as hard as I can to get to know Texas A&M, their personnel, their schemes. And I think the fact that you've been through kind of some of the-- whether it's interviews, all the different things that you've done, there's a certain routine. And you don't feel as maybe just stressed about things. If you're five minutes late, maybe the first year you were worried. But I feel that our team has worked very hard, and we know we're playing a great opponent, but we're very confident.

Q. [Connecticut Head Coach] Geno [Auriemma] has bristled a little bit throughout the first few rounds of the tournament about the attendance, the attendance at the venues that they played, including Gampel [Pavillion]. It seems your experience and your team has been a little bit different playing out west. I was wondering what is it you think makes for the most compelling draws in the tournament, in the women's tournament?

COACH VANDERVEER: Our experience has been really positive with attendance. We had -- as far as I can remember -- and this is just eyeballing it, but we had the most ever for our first and second round game at Stanford. And I think a lot of it is game time, game days, and obviously having a local team, bringing in new and different competition. We played -- Davis was a local team, which was great to bring in Davis, and then St. John's. We drew very well for that. When we played in Spokane, the crowds were exceptional. I think that Gonzaga being in that tournament was a big part of it. But when we played there, even three years ago, they're a hotbed of women's basketball. I think we should go -- play where people come and watch and support women's basketball. Just look at the attendance of different venues throughout the country and play there.

Q. Do you think sometimes when people anticipate that the games will not be close, that that -- especially given the fact that they're all on TV, that that is an incentive to not go, whereas, for instance, the Texas A&M/Baylor game was highly anticipated and drew quite well in Dallas?

COACH VANDERVEER: All right. Well, I think in the situation with -- I mean, they had teams that could drive. You had your fans that could drive to the games. And I don't know that -- I mean, as our game progresses, it's less and less predictable. But I think also part of the situation may be with, for us as an example we didn't play our Pac-10 tournament right at Stanford. Some of it is the saturation point, where you have so many games. How many games can people go to? They do have other lives. And I think that with the NCAA Tournament, it's really looking at places that draw really well and bring the games to them instead of making people go to where we want to put the games. But obviously having big draw games is really key.

Q. Wanted to ask you about your seniors, the young ladies that have been in so many Final Fours leading up to this point and the sense of urgency that they may feel. I think Jeanette made mention she didn't feel like they had got the job done yet. Can you talk about that feeling and how you think those kids are handling that?

COACH VANDERVEER: Well, I mean, I think it's a great accomplishment for any team to go to any Final Four. And, you know, when you get here, obviously playing well is the key. And our team has played very well in the Final Four getting to the championship two out of three years. But I think there is a sense that, you know, when you're here you want to win it. And our team -- our seniors, they really want to win it very badly, not having won it, having been here and been so close. But I think that that is a good thing. They're playing very motivated, playing hungry. They're very excited. But I don't want them to put pressure on themselves, nor do I put pressure on myself or any of the other people on the team. I want them to enjoy the process, to be here in this city that really knows how to host, just a wonderful environment. The court -- it's so exciting to look at the court, and for them to really come out and play with a lot of spirit and a lot of enthusiasm and not feel like, oh, we have to do this. What we have to do is just do what we've been doing all season long, and that will be enough.

Q. You said you were trying to learn as fast as you could or as much as you could about Texas A&M. Can you talk about what you've learned and how much of maybe, I don't know if it's 180 degrees, but you had to make a switch because the Brittney Griner Baylor team has been looming in the background for everyone who had aspirations to get to this and now you don't have to deal with that?

COACH VANDERVEER: Baylor is a great team. And they're obviously a Final Four-caliber team, as I think Tennessee is, as DePaul could be. This is a game of musical chairs where there's four seats and there's a lot of capable teams that could be here. I didn't assume that Baylor was going to make it. When I saw the bracket, I was like, whoa, this is a challenge. And I've watched a lot of Texas A&M games along the line and watched Baylor games, a lot more of the Baylor-Texas A&M games. So I feel like I had familiarity with both teams, but once we had to really get working on it, I studied their team. And they have a great team; they have great players. I've learned a lot. I love a lot of the things they do. And we are going to be very challenged to come out and be successful tomorrow night.

Q. I know this question focuses on the other game, but as someone who has been a thoughtful observer of women's basketball, in your opinion how good a coaching job has Geno Auriemma done with what's now essentially a six-player rotation?

COACH VANDERVEER: You know, I think that -- I think you have less margin for error in the fact that about maybe about things you can't control. Sprained ankle. We had one time appendectomy. And so sometimes you have to have some luck or be very fortunate. And I don't know that -- it doesn't really matter the six players. I mean, they play six great players. And most teams, like for us in the tight tournament games, you're not playing -- we've won with six players. So I don't think that's the issue. I think the issue is obviously you don't want people getting into foul trouble. You have to keep them healthy. But I think Geno's done a great job with this team. It's less talented than last year's team. But he has arguably one of the very best players to ever play women's basketball in Maya Moore, and that counts for a lot.

Q. You talked about how badly Kayla and Jeanette want to win this. What about for you? This is going to be, well, four in a row. Seven since you last won a championship. How badly do you want to come away with a national championship?

COACH VANDERVEER: I think that you can talk about what you want. But it's more the actions, what you're willing to do for it. And I feel that for me personally I've worked harder with this team in terms of the time putting in maybe than any other team I've coached at Stanford, just in that having come so close and it was exceedingly painful to have a -- to be there two out of the three years. We didn't play very well in the year in between. But to be in the championship game, to be knocking at the door and to be denied. So I feel like I've done everything that I can do. And so I can't talk about it. I've got to back it up with my actions. And I feel our team is doing the same thing. But I feel like our coaching staff, myself and Amy, Bobbie and Kate, have dedicated themselves this year to really studying what not only our team's doing but our opponents and working extra with our team to give our team the best chance of being successful.

Q. When you see [Sydney] Colson and [Sydney] Carter on film, what troubles you the most about them? And maybe in particular the defensive pressure that they put on the ball?

COACH VANDERVEER: You know, I think there's a lot of things actually that really impress me about them. I mean, it's obvious that they're very athletic. They work hard defensively. But they also -- they take the ball out of the basket. They knock down outside shots. But I think a lot of it is the things you have to be very impressed with their game against Baylor where maybe some teams you get beat, you get beat, you get beat and they just said we're not taking it anymore. I think it's more with intangibles. A lot of players -- there's a lot of teams that have very athletic, talented, quick guards. But it's the fact that they play well together. They play within themselves. They're very well coached. And they're driven.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about Danielle Adams, and she didn't have a great game against Baylor, but just what you think of her as a player and what challenges she poses?

COACH VANDERVEER: She's an interesting player in that maybe like if you went to the gym and you were kind of shooting around, you might not say, well, this is who I want on my team. She's maybe not the most athletic-looking player. She's not that big for a post player. But I saw her last night at du Salute dinner and I went up and congratulated to her for being All-American. And I said, now, be nice to our Stanford players tomorrow. She smiled. She seems like a really nice, nice young lady. She's old school in a way that I think she is a great basketball player. She has great hands, great feet. She scores inside. She's extremely powerful, scores outside with her three. She likes to think she's a guard in a 6'2" body. And I just -- she has a great demeanor on the court. And she complements their other players very well, with [Tyra] White, the three perimeter players, and [Adaora] Elonu. But she to me seems like would be, just a really great player to play with in that she gets it done, kind of rebounds it at every end of the floor. I think she struggles maybe just against Baylor with their size or with kind of their schemes, it was just a little bit different. But we know she has to be the focus of our defense.

Q. I didn't see Jeanette on the State Farm All-American team this morning. I wonder if you think that was a bit of an injustice?

COACH VANDERVEER: Well, I think that the team that was selected was an outstanding team. And I think there are several players that are All-American caliber, but there's just not enough chairs, in the same way there are more than four Final Four-caliber teams. Jeanette is an All-American-caliber player, as Kayla is. But as someone like Danielle Robinson or just Victoria Dunlap, there are a lot of players there just weren't room for. I believe she's All-American caliber, as I believe Kayla is, too. But they know that the most important thing is the Tuesday night prize. And we're very excited that Nneka was named to the State Farm WBCA All-American team. And the committee did an excellent job in selecting their team. And I truly believe that different players, Courtney Vandersloot was a great selection to that team. So I don't feel, and I don't think Jeanette feels slighted in any way.

Q. For any of you that want to answer this, you've had a chance to go over stuff in practice now since last time we talked to you. What further do you know about Texas A&M and what do you think that you need to do specifically to try to win the game?

KAYLA PEDERSEN: I think what we need to do is take care of the ball. You know, I think we need to rebound the basketball and make sure we get a lot of possessions, and I think that's probably the main thing.

Q. Nneka, you and your sister were really dominant in the regional. Do you play off each other? And, I don't know, do you kind of conspire to incite each other like that?

NNEMKADI OGWUMIKE: I mean, absolutely. In our last game against Gonzaga, a lot of people were saying we have this kind of unspoken connection where if I were to miss a shot she would rebound and if she would miss a shot I would rebound. But at the same time I share that connection with all my teammates. It may seem a little stronger, a little more evident given that she's my sister. But we definitely have each other's back out on the court. And I definitely have to say that, yeah, it's real special playing with her. And it's real exciting and I'd like to play a little bit longer with her this year.

Q. As a follow-up to that question, Nneka, exactly how nervous is Chiney today and what have you told her about the Final Four and how do you get her calmed down or whatever in preparation for this?

NNEMKADI OGWUMIKE: I wouldn't say she's nervous at all. She's more anxious. She really just wants to work hard and focus and concentrate on what we have at hand, and I've just been helping her throughout. Obviously it's her first Final Four as a player, rather than a spectator. And she's definitely basking in the moment. She's really enjoying herself. But at the same time she's also focusing, because she's had to kind of hold a large responsibility so early on and so young in this season, and I think she's doing a really good job of containing herself and understanding what we need from her right now while also enjoying Indianapolis.

Q. Jeanette and Kayla, this is the fourth time you guys have been here. Can you both address what you think experience means in this game, going against a team that's not been here before?

JEANETTE POHLEN: I think -- I mean, at this point in the season experience helps definitely. Just, I mean, being in the Final Four kind of knowing what to expect helps. But, you know, I think all four of the teams that are here have just as good a chance of winning. It's kind of up in the air. Yeah, you have people that might know a little bit better what's going on as far as like just the overall picture. But sports.comthere's two games left, and I think people are just going to lay it out all on the floor. I don't think it's going to be too much of an issue. I think overall we have a lot of experience on the team, which definitely helps. But that's just kind of how our team's been all year. I don't know if that gives us an advantage, but just in general I think it's helped to get here.

KAYLA PEDERSEN: I agree with Jeanette. I think experience takes you only so far. I don't think it will be the main factor in the outcome of these games, but it definitely helps. It makes you more comfortable with your surroundings. But at the same time all the teams have played in big games here. Great crowds in front a lot of people. So I think just that experience will kind of take a little bit of pressure off and make it more comfortable. But I don't necessarily think it will determine the outcome.

Q. Nneka, I wonder your impressions of Danielle Adams, how much of a load she'll be in the post?

NNEMKADI OGWUMIKE: She's obviously shown everyone how great she is. She's very good at what she does. She's definitely going to be a big defensive matchup for us. But I'm excited. She's very talented, and she's very crafty, and I'm just really excited to be able to play against a player like her. And she has a really great support system. She has a lot of guards and forwards that really help her do what she does. And I'm just really excited to be able to play against a great player like her, and hopefully we can contain her.

Q. Nneka, Gary Blair said he recruited you very hard coming out of Texas. I know some other Big 12 schools were in on you. Could you just talk about the process and what it finally came down to, why you picked Stanford and maybe who some of the other schools you were considering at the end?

NNEMKADI OGWUMIKE: Well, as it may be for a lot of other student-athletes, leaving home is a really hard thing, especially from Texas, because I love Texas. And he definitely did recruit me very hard. He was great in the recruiting process, as were all the other coaches. But ultimately what it came down to was the mix of academics and athletics. I mean, obviously if you go to a university, you can get academics anywhere, but Stanford really stood out in that aspect. And it really just came down to what place I felt most comfortable and where I would fit in the most. I'm not trying to downplay any other school, because all the universities are great. I'm really grateful that I was able to get recruited by Coach Blair. He's a great person.

Q. Jeanette, Texas A&M's guards really play a lot of ball pressure. When you have just been looking at film, how do you counter that and what do you see when you look at the two Sydneys on film in terms of that 30, 40 minutes of pressure?

JEANETTE POHLEN: I mean, watching them on film, they definitely get a lot of points off turnovers and in transition, but we played a good amount of teams this year that have pressured us. I think it will be important for everyone to get open, especially our posts, to kind of just relieve some pressure. But I think first and foremost we have to be aware of how they're playing us and really work to get open, I think. That will be first and foremost.

Q. Jeanette and Kayla, as your fourth time doing this, is there any different feeling or-- since the last time? What are your feelings on how this time maybe is a little different?

JEANETTE POHLEN: I don't know, I guess maybe because this is our last chance, a little bit more anxious, you know, knowing that we might not have -- we're not going to have any games after this season, kind of puts a little bit -- puts it a little bit into perspective. You know, it's been a great career here. And I think leaving with a national championship would be kind of the icing on the cake. But for me, and I think a lot of people on our team, we're just very focused. Maybe a little bit more relaxed. I know Kayla and I have talked about it's such a privilege to be here, and we're very grateful to have been able to make it this far for four years. But we definitely haven't gotten the job done each time we've been here. So we're very focused, I think.

KAYLA PEDERSEN: As Jeanette said, it's more of like -- we're more focused. I think we're more concentrated on what we need to do, how to get the job done. But at the same time, this is probably the most relaxed I've felt out of all my Final Fours. I'm just trying to enjoy every moment, trying to have fun with my teammates. Leave everything on the floor. Whatever happens, happens, just as long as all of us just lay it all out there for each other.

Q. I would like to know if you guys have ever done any community service, and, if so, how has this helped you as an athlete.

KAYLA PEDERSEN: Yeah, our team -- we try to do a community service event every month. We've been to soup kitchens. We've visited schools. We've spoken to a lot of students and played basketball with them at recess. It's definitely developed us as student-athletes, because just getting to interact with these kids, trying to inspire them to stay active and stay in school really pushes us. It really makes us motivated to want to play for them and try to be great role models.

Q. Were you ever bullied? And if so, how did you overcome it?

NNEMKADI OGWUMIKE: I wouldn't call it bullying. I was always an awkward-looking person because I was pretty tall. I was pretty nerdy when I was a kid. But I embraced it. And it never affected me. I just kind of focused on what's important, and it's just being me. And I found that I was good at basketball and I kept doing it. And I was able to accentuate my height on the court and use it to the best of my abilities. So I guess you could say I was kind of a blessing in disguise. I mean, that's pretty much my story.

On what it is like being at a Final Four as a player after watching her sister play the past two seasons:

“I am excited first of all because being in the stands and watching it is not experiencing firsthand. I am just really blessed with the opportunity to play and I am just happy to be here. Most of all, I am determined because I think it is a really good opportunity for us because we have all the makings to win. We are feeling in a good place, and I am excited to play tomorrow.”

On the balance of academics and athletics:

“Our coaches are really helpful making sure we are on top of our grades and everything, but at the same time our teachers tell us this is a once in a lifetime opportunity so they help us work things out with our academic life. Especially at Stanford, we all prioritize our academics and we try to make sure we take care of things ahead of time so we do not have to stress out.”

On the matchup with Texas A&M:

“I am excited to play Texas A&M being a Texas girl myself and knowing a lot of their players. They are coming off a huge win against Baylor, and they are excited to be here and they are going to use that to fuel their defense. Their defense is their primary offense, so hopefully we just take care of the ball and try to mitigate that as much as we can and control the tempo of the game.”

On the teammate’s experience having been here before and how that can help Sunday:

“I think experience is what carried us here, and they are poised and consistent. Our leaders Kayla [Pederson] and [Nnemkadi Ogwumike] have shown us the way and now that we are here we are not nervous as much. I am still a little [jittery], but we are not as nervous as much and we are determined and I think that whole aura of our team is just determination to get the job done no matter what.”

On the excitement to be here and for Sunday’s game:

“We are very excited. Each one of us being here before or for the freshmen, it’s their first time. Each time is more and more exciting. A different team and a different type of atmosphere each year and we are just very thankful to be here. We have worked hard and this is what we do all season to prepare for, and not being here we just have one goal in mind. We are here to focus and try to get that goal.”

On what the older teammates have told the freshmen:

“Just to soak it in and enjoy the experience. Obviously, that is what is most important. They deserve as much as anyone to be here and they have really helped us. It is fun to share this with the new team each year, and we kind of set the bar actually. You try to teach that down the line of what it takes to get here, and it has been awesome sharing this with them.”

On Texas A&M and the keys against them:

“They are a very talented team with obviously [Danielle] Adams in there. She is a big strong body but also can shoot the three and we respect her shot as well. Going with Carter and Sydney Colson very quick, athletic guards, and we have worked this last week on our tempo and our pace. Transition defense is going to be important because it is going to be a running game. That is fun because we like to do that and that is part of our team’s quality. It is going to be a good, aggressive game. They are very, aggressive and scrappy. They are a good team, but we have played teams to help us with this earlier in the season.”

About being a ‘bench’ player:

“I mean you always have to be ready. We have to bring energy. Our volleyball team actually talked to us and just talked about the energy. You have to be ready to come off and bring all your energy even in short bursts to give our starters a quick break from playing major minutes. Knowing exactly what you need to do on offense and defense and just being ready to potentially play and fill in the game. We have to get them pumped up. We also have to know the scout as well as the starters, and we can call out plays that they are doing, their tendencies and screens and other things that are happening on the court and let our players know.”

On emotions of Third Final Four (redshirt sophomore):

“It was so exciting to see the clock run down to all zeros. It seemed surreal until all of our emotions were getting bigger and bigger and it was so great to see that our team was on top in the end.”

On scouting Texas A&M:

“They’re a really good team. They have a different style of play that we’ve encountered before. They’re fast. They like to get out in transition. They pressure the ball, play uptight defense and we’re really just really preparing for that and being able to handle the pressure and we’re just really getting ready for that. We’re watching video and doing as much scouting as we can. It should be a really fun game to play and watch.”

On emotions of third Final Four:

“Definitely, coming to the Final Four is a huge achievement. It was our first goal in our set of many goals for the season. That was really just our main goal in winning that game. It’s a big relief when you know you’re coming because there’s pressure and it was relieved after the game. When the clock showed all zeros, I felt happy day and all of my emotions were released, but in the end, you have to know that you get right back to work the next day. We’re not satisfied with just being here, we want to win games and the title.”

On academic Pressures of being a student-athlete at Stanford:

“We’ve missed already a good amount of class. So you know, you’ve just got to talk to the teachers, be on top of your priorities. You have to work basketball wise, and you’ve also got to be on top of your school work. Whether it’s doing a problem set, or writing a paper, you’ve got to do it. Your teachers usually understand and you know you’ve just got to talk with them. Everyone back at school wants us to win, but we’ve definitely got to still do our school work while we’re here.”