TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - On Saturday, the Marist women's basketball team held a news conference and practice at the Donald L. Tucker, site of Sunday's NCAA Tournament first-round game between the 13th-seeded Red Foxes and fourth-seeded Georgia.
The news conference lasted from 12:30-1 p.m., and practice followed from 1:10-2:40.
Here are some quotes from the Red Foxes, as well as Georgia, which had its news conference and practice earlier in the day:
Marist Head Coach Brian Giorgis
How important is guard play to win against Georgia?
Guard play is going to be extremely important because we are going to have to be able to handle their pressure. Even though they are not a big full-court pressuring team, they really get at you at the halfcourt and there are a lot of times they like to run, jump or scramble at the halfcourt. We will have to recognize those moments and prepare for them. ... When we have been successful in this tournament, it has been because of great guard play. We are going to have to have it tomorrow.
Being here for the seventh straight year, does that seem to dwindle a little bit because now people really know who you are?
We know are not going to sneak up on anybody. ... We gave them a tough game in 2006 so he knows what we are capable of and he's seen us upset teams in the past. If anybody is going to be ready, that's a team that is going to be ready. Andy never takes anyone lightly, so we have to be just as prepared.
Marist Senior Guard Corielle Yarde
Does the team's experience playing the tournament make it easier to know what to expect?
A little bit; we are used to playing with a huge target on our back, but this time we got to be the chaser, so that's exciting and there's a little less pressure there. We just have to perform well and shoot well.
Marist Senior Forward Brandy Gang
Does Marist see itself as being an underdog or does its past NCAA Tournament experience help?
We are really excited for this. We also come into this as the underdog, so we have the excitement all around us. We are really pumped; we just have to stay strong.
Georgia Head Coach Andy Landers
On facing Marist:
We are meeting a basketball team that is very good with its motion offense, is very disciplined in its approach to how it wants to play, is very skilled in shooting the three ball, is very knowledgeable in how it wants to go about availing its players to shoot the three ball.
Georgia Junior Guard Jasmine James
What have you seen about Marist's guards on film that you might have to take care of tomorrow?
We are very aware that they are very good shooters, we are aware that we're going to have to do a good job of defending them and being aware of where they are as well as being able to defend their guards.
Georgia Senior Guard Meredith Mitchell
Marist always comes to this tournament as an underdog, what it's like going up against a team that really has nothing to lose?
I know they have upset teams in the past and we are aware of that, we definitely won't take them lightly coming into this game, regardless of how they upset teams in the past or not. Regardless of their seed or ranking, we are going to give it our all.
