BASKETBALL FLASH QUOTES: Anne Donovan, Tamika Catchings, Sylvia Fowles



by Caroline Williams - USA Basketball (719-590-4800)













USA head coach Anne Donovan
On the game:
Once again, we’re pleased to get a game behind us and feel like we got better in the process which I think we did. Much credit to New Zealand; I thought they came out and really fought hard in this game even though athletically, it looked there was a tremendous advantage for the U.S. New Zealand did a great job coming back, particularly in the second half and not letting us get momentum and just roll. We did have to work. We were able to try a bunch of different things defensively in this game that we know we’ll need in the medal round. So, it was a good game for us.

Has your team played the way you expected it would?
I say this almost every day to my staff in practice. I couldn’t ask for one thing more from this team. It’s been a challenging schedule in that we’ve had the late game for five games so our routine is practice, shooting practice, game. So, it’s a lot more practice time than these players are used to. Coming off the WNBA schedule, coming off prior that their European schedules, they have worked extremely hard and they’ve really been focused on themselves and getting better. And really not trying to look too far ahead but just everyday getting better as a team. Our mantra has been defensively. We just have to get better on that end of the floor. Their focus on that end has been much more than I could have hoped for.

Thoughts on South Korea:
Interestingly, the game against Latvia today, they played extremely well. They hadn’t shot the ball very well in their first four games and today, they just got really hot from the outside. It was a good game for us to watch; all of our coaches were there. They shot the three today very well. They like to shot fake and drive which obviously today we didn’t do a very good job with that. Just very active, very interchangeable parts. We’ll have to stay alert, probably switch a lot of screens. We tried to practice that tonight so we’d be a little more prepared for South Korea. They’ll be a good challenge … experienced team … they got good experience and they’ve got nothing to lose. They have absolutely nothing to lose. That’s how they played Latvia today and they played very well. They played loose, relaxed and efficiently from the 3-point line.

Is there anything that bothers you about playing this late at night?
Toughest part about this is getting back at one o’clock, the girls trying to get something to eat and unwind and get in bed. Two o’clock at the earliest. The late night start is definitely challenging. We’ve had two of those games and we haven’t heard the announcement for the next medal round, but it wouldn’t surprise me if we end up in this slot. So, hopefully we’re getting used to it. We’ve done it twice and we know how to do … not fond of it, but at this point, it doesn’t matter. We’ll play at 9 a.m. or 11 p.m.

If the bracket goes according to form, you’ll have Russia and Australia next … thoughts?
I don’t know. I think these games are going to be really interesting. I think the matchups are going to be very interesting. I’m really not thinking Russia. Australia is in the back of my mind because they’re playing very well. There is really only one team on our mind and that’s South Korea right now.

More thoughts on South Korea:
Just a typical Asian team where they are very interchangeable. We’re going to end up switching a whole lot in that game. Very good from today from the 3-point line … didn’t shoot the three well until today. So, we’ve gotten to see both sides of Korea: the real good and the not so good. I’m sure they’ll come out … they’ve got nothing to lose. I’m sure we are going to see them effective.

Does it matter you’ve had no close games?
Spain game was close. I mean second half we took care of it. But, it was a five-point game at halftime so that was a good test for us.


Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever)
On the game:
I think we came out tonight … our focus was mainly to come out and focus on what we can do as we move into the media round. I think as a team, one through 12, we did a really good job. We lost focus here and there but overall, I know Anne was pretty impressed. I think as a team we’re moving forward and we’re ready to start focusing on our next opponent, South Korea and getting ready for them.

Can you tell us about the South Korean team and how you are going to approach that game?
I think the biggest is that we’ve talked about, as most Asians teams, they are very good at shooting the 3-ball and shot fakes. Tonight, we struggled a lot with the shot fake, going out of control and they got a lot of open shots that way. That’s one of the things that we’re really going to have to focus on. They move the ball really well and the play team ball. I played over in South Korea for four years so some of the players I’ve actually played with, they’ve been on my team. I’m looking forward to playing against them.

Does it matter you haven’t had a close game entering the medal round?
I wouldn’t really say we haven’t had a close game. I think last game against Spain was a game that we struggled with, especially in the first half. I think looking at that … one of the things we haven’t really had much time to prepare. But, I think every single day that we’ve gone out whether we practiced or played the game, we’ve really focused on how can we get better as a team. As we move forward, that’s what we have to continue to focus on. We can’t really play the score. When we face harder teams, we got to be ready to go to battle.

Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky)
The U.S. is off to good start, you’re a first time Olympian, what’s the experience been like?
The experience has been awesome, it’s more than I could have ever imagined. It’s everything that I expected and I think our team got off to a good start and we’re going to get better every day. It’s going to more tough once we start playing the medal round game.

You were one of the players who played here in April that played in the Good Luck Beijing Tournament, has that helped you at all having played here before?
I think it gave me a lot of confidence my first time here. The fans were good to me, we got off to a good start with that team, I played well, so it most definitely helped me get a good experience before we came back.

Nobody seems able to match up with you down low, as you advance to the next round , what’s you’re biggest challenge?
Just to come out and play to the best of my abilities every night. I remember my first two games I got out to good start and then I’ve been on cruise control should I say, the coach says. I’ve got to regroup, come back and make sure I’m on point for the medal round games.

You’re playing behind Lisa Leslie who is one of the greatest players in basketball history, her fourth Olympic Games, what has she taught you?
Just to give it all when you’re out there on the floor, compete every chance you get, be ready, take no pity, play every game like it’s your last game.

You’ve been dunking in warm-ups, will we see one in a game?
Hopefully, if I get the opportunity you’ll definitely see one in a game.










Author:
Caroline Williams


Organization:
USA Basketball


Phone:
719-590-4800