Michigan State University Athletics
Post Game Quotes: ETSU
11/11/2018 5:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Michigan State head Coach Suzy Merchant
On the difference between this year and last years team... Â
For us, I think we are more mobile and I think we play better together. I think think I had more depth and played more kids but I don't know if they played as hard at times. I think Nia Clouden adding to Taryn (McCutcheon) and Shay (Colley) brings a lot of ability to bring great energy on the defensive side of the ball as well as handle any kind of pressure and attack. I think that is positive. We have been able to move some people around at the four position where last year our fours and fives were more fives like. Jenna (Allen) was a four, Sid (Cooks) was a four, where now we don't really have to do that.
On what has been a surprise so far... Â
I wasn't sure how good Nia Clouden would be. That changes a game when you have an attacking, downhill, scoring point guard. Â Â That is something that is really hard to find and she finishes. I also think that she has a high IQ. Both of those things are hard to find and she has done a great job. That is why she can step in and step out there. I also think that this year's team is a little more committed to defending a little bit better. We fouled a lot last year, and have talked about that and spent some time watching film and making some adjustments and I think the kids have really bought into some of that. Â Â
On today's performance... Â
It was a tale of two halves. I thought we were a little flat in the first half which surprised me since we have had some really good practices, but a little bit flat in the first half. I thought the second half we definitely put our foot on the gas and I don't know if some of it was they ran out of gas or if we just started to do the things we needed to do. Which was get ourselves to the free throw line and play a little more downhill. Make sure we found their key shooters and that kind of thing and get some stops.
On the Shay Colley status…
She said someone kind of fell on her so I don't really know where or what. She will be fine, when I went back there she said 'I'm good coach.' I probably could have played her if I had to but we were in control and didn't feel like it was necessary. We have an opportunity to have a couple days off here because we don't play again until next weekend. Then with our schedule the following week we have to take two days off either before or after so we are going to do it this week. It's a good time I guess for people to heal up a little bit, her included. Get a little further along in Sid (Cooks) and Mardrekia's (Cook) rehab because those kids are not 100 percent yet.  Â
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On the difference between this year and last years team... Â
For us, I think we are more mobile and I think we play better together. I think think I had more depth and played more kids but I don't know if they played as hard at times. I think Nia Clouden adding to Taryn (McCutcheon) and Shay (Colley) brings a lot of ability to bring great energy on the defensive side of the ball as well as handle any kind of pressure and attack. I think that is positive. We have been able to move some people around at the four position where last year our fours and fives were more fives like. Jenna (Allen) was a four, Sid (Cooks) was a four, where now we don't really have to do that.
On what has been a surprise so far... Â
I wasn't sure how good Nia Clouden would be. That changes a game when you have an attacking, downhill, scoring point guard. Â Â That is something that is really hard to find and she finishes. I also think that she has a high IQ. Both of those things are hard to find and she has done a great job. That is why she can step in and step out there. I also think that this year's team is a little more committed to defending a little bit better. We fouled a lot last year, and have talked about that and spent some time watching film and making some adjustments and I think the kids have really bought into some of that. Â Â
On today's performance... Â
It was a tale of two halves. I thought we were a little flat in the first half which surprised me since we have had some really good practices, but a little bit flat in the first half. I thought the second half we definitely put our foot on the gas and I don't know if some of it was they ran out of gas or if we just started to do the things we needed to do. Which was get ourselves to the free throw line and play a little more downhill. Make sure we found their key shooters and that kind of thing and get some stops.
On the Shay Colley status…
She said someone kind of fell on her so I don't really know where or what. She will be fine, when I went back there she said 'I'm good coach.' I probably could have played her if I had to but we were in control and didn't feel like it was necessary. We have an opportunity to have a couple days off here because we don't play again until next weekend. Then with our schedule the following week we have to take two days off either before or after so we are going to do it this week. It's a good time I guess for people to heal up a little bit, her included. Get a little further along in Sid (Cooks) and Mardrekia's (Cook) rehab because those kids are not 100 percent yet.  Â
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Players Mentioned
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