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NCAA Selection Show Quotes
March 16, 2009
Virginia Head Coach Debbie Ryan
On being a No. 5 seed and playing Los Angeles:
I knew we were going to be a five seed. I thought we would be in the West to start and I had a feeling they were going to put us in Trenton; that is where I’m from and it seems like we have a magnet to Connecticut we always get pulled back in that direction.
On the matchup with Marist:
It is a very, very difficult draw. Marist is a great team with excellent coaching and I think that being in that bracket with California is going to make for a great challenge for us but a whole lot of fun at the same time. Marist is a perennially strong team that always seems to have big upsets because people overlook them. They run an exceptional motion offense. I plan on spending this week studying them, watching tape and just preparing for what should be a great game.
On whether the idea of traveling to Trenton gives extra motivation:
I don’t think we need extra motivation. We have a highly motivated group of players no matter where we go. We have had a great week of practice so we just need to keep working hard and preparing this next week.
On what to tell the freshmen going into the tournament:
I think we really have to get some good performances from them. At this time of the year I really just want them to play and do what comes naturally to them. They need to be aggressive, rebound the basketball and get to the free throw line.
Virginia Senior Forward Lyndra Littles
On being a No. 5 seed and playing in Los Angeles:
I think a five seed is great. I think that is what we expected. I know the whole team is excited about going to Los Angeles. I think it is a great venue and there should be a great crowd there.
On playing far away and seeing a new part of the country:
It’s great to see a new part of the country. I think there are Virginia fans wherever we go. In some ways it is good for us to be far away because there will be no distractions from family or friends just 40 minutes of basketball. We are just focused on advancing in the tournament.
On whether Virginia can make a deep run in the tournament:
After this past week of practice, I think we can make a great run. The coaching staff has done a great job challenging us and pushing us to our limits in practice. I’m very surprised and glad to see how we’ve responded to the pressure and I think we can make a great run.
On playing Marist in the first round:
I’m sure the coaching staff will prepare us in this upcoming week. I’m happy that we’re a No. 5 seed playing in Los Angeles. I’m happy that we are in the tournament at all that in it of itself is an honor.
On being in the last region to be announced:
It has been a long day and I think that everyone has been a little anxious but I don’t think we were overzealous or overly excited.
On how to prepare Virginia’s younger players for the tournament:
I tell the [young players] that they are no longer first years. We are in the second half of the season now, just two months away from May so they are sophomores now. I think the young players know that and that they are going to be just fine.
On being in the same bracket as undefeated UConn:
I don’t have any thoughts on that right now. The only thoughts I have are on Marist. Right now we just have to take it one game at a time.