George Washington University Athletics
George Washington Press Conference
3/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 21, 2005
George Washington Coach Joe McKeown
Opening Statement
"We're still trying to wind down from a great game last night against Ole Miss. We're real excited about Carolina. It's going to be the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the winner advances, with everything [going on] this time a year it's just a lot of fun. I know our players have a lot of respect for them, but we like the way we're playing and we like our approach right now."
On matching up athletically against UNC:
"We like to run, so we're not going to completely change the way that we won 23 games for tomorrow night. But we're going to have to make sure that when we do run it's under control and we get good shots. If you start playing at a [high] pace, they're probably the best team in the country at playing that way."
On upsetting UNC in 1997:
"...This team is their own team. I think playing North Carolina for us is going to be a situation where there is a lot of pressure on North Carolina being the number one seed and playing at home. We're just going to be loose and free and relaxed and play hard and have some fun. I don't want our players to worry about this player or that player or why [North Carolina's] record is what it is. I just want our players to go out and play. Our approach all year, whether it was Tennessee or some of the other outstanding teams we have played, has been to focus on us. That's going to be our main concern."
On Ivory Latta:
"She's a terrific player. I think what makes her special when you watch her on tape is that she is a scoring point guard. She is really a threat to put a lot of points on the board. She's got great range and she makes everybody better...The other thing that impresses me is that she seems to make the other players on the floor better. Like Anna and Kim, that's a trait that coaches really appreciate and respect."
Senior Forward Anna Montanana
On intensity in the game tomorrow:
"I think it's going to be one of the keys, because they have a great team and if we let them get ahead and get ahead by 10 points or more, it's going to be hard to get them back in it. It's not going to be like it was yesterday."
On personal expectations to upset UNC:
"As compared to last night's game, I feel that I took too many threes. I have to play more inside and more in the 15-foot range to help this team more tomorrow."
Freshman Guard Kimberly Beck
Thoughts on heading into tomorrow's game against UNC:
"I think we have a lot of momentum heading into tomorrow's game after the big win yesterday. I think Carolina is very beatable. It's going to be a tough matchup, but I think if we do what we're supposed to do we have a chance of beating them."
On why she thinks Carolina is beatable:
"I think every team has their weaknesses. They might have less than others, but we're playing really well right now and with our emotion and heart I think we can beat anybody right now."
On her high assist-turnover ratio versus Ole Miss and the type of performance she expects from
herself against UNC:
"I guess down the stretch I made some bad decisions and turned the ball over carelessly while handling the ball. I just have to do better than that tomorrow because UNC will definitely capitalize on that. I just have to calm down and make better decisions when I have the ball in my hands."
