Photo by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
Post-Game Quotes: Detroit Mercy
12/2/2020 10:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Michigan State Head Coach Suzy Merchant
On Taiyier Parks' performance tonight and her ability and presence underneath the basket, getting key buckets tonight...
I thought she did a really good job, she's a physical player number one, that's one thing about Taiyier you don't have to talk to her about, seeking contact. I think she's somebody that really enjoys that part, and she's been working a little bit harder on finishing and creating that seal and that opportunity. She did a really good job of ducking in, holding her seals, getting offensive rebounds. I think she had five O-boards as well tonight and keeping things alive for us. She's come along, she's still young as a sophomore and minutes played wise, she came off the bench last year, so now she's in a little bit different role and it's fun to see her development.Â
On having six players in double-figures and spreading the ball around and getting the offense going...
I'm obviously thrilled about six kids in double figures and sharing the ball, but I was a little surprised that we had that many because I felt like we missed a lot of shots, like a lot of lay-ups and easy open threes and we kind of settled for the three-ball too much I thought, especially in that first half. Obviously it's great to see kids feel like they're contributing to the point total, but you know sharing the ball is something we're going to have to continue, it's going to have to be a collective effort for us. There's no question about that.Â
On Tory Ozment coming out of the gates early with a couple buckets and hustling on both ends of the floor and getting some rebounds, diving after some loose balls, and her performance tonight and what she contribute to the team...
She got us off to a good start I thought, and Tory has really been playing well. Again she's someone that's really committed to competing at a high level and is in really good condition and shape, and has really worked on her game. She's just a versatile player for us, she's got the length for us to be able to do some things defensively and then on offense, she's multi-dimensional, she gets out in transition and runs, she has a little pull-up (jumper), she can shoot the three-ball, and she's pretty decent in terms of getting that ball inside. So just to me, watching her out there, after she had an injury her freshman year and last year had a different kind of role, and now as she's become an upperclassmen, there's more expectations, and to see that in back-to-back games. I thought she's really played within herself and within the flow of the game.
On both Taiyier Parks and Tory Ozment stepping up to bigger roles and importance of building some confidence as they get ready to open Big Ten Conference play and face tougher opponents coming up...
We're going to need everybody collectively and certainly that inside presence is something we're going to need from Taiyier. She's going to just have to continue to just keep grinding and working. Then, as I mentioned with Tory, I think she's so multi-dimensional, we can play her at two different spots, we can go small and play her at the four-spot, or we can go have a little bit bigger line-up in there and move her to the three with her skill-set. So both of those kids are going to be very pivotal and important as we head down the stretch.
On having 26 assists on 32 baskets and the offensive performance tonight...
Assist-to-turnover ratio is something that we put a lot of emphasis on. I thought last year we turned it over a little too much, and so we have some practice goals that we look at from that perspective, so obviously we want to share the ball, but the second piece I think too is we've just got to learn to take care of the basketball a little bit and value it. So, this was a good game to have to handle that because of the trapping, the random trapping came at different places, from corners, wings, short corners. So as we get throughout the season, we'll play bigger, faster, stronger (opponents), as well, so we'll have to be able to continue to do those things but you know it's great that we have a team that wants to share the basketball and collectively were able to play that well together and take care of the basketball. So for me, the assist part is really important, but also making sure that we don't give them possessions that are unnecessary, and really valuing the ball, and we've had some really good outings so far in terms of taking care of the basketball.
On having 19 offensive rebounds and how that led to 19 second-chance points with so many put-backs...
That's an important part, I think we didn't do as good of a job in the last game of really being aggressive, especially our fours I thought were a little bit slow in the last game, the shot will go up and they didn't really attack the glass like they're supposed to, and our big guards as well. So I think there was a big emphasis in this game coming in not only, offensively to take care of the ball but we should be able to dominate if they're in a zone (defense), Â that's a hard thing to box-out, zones are hard to box-out, you have a little triangle that's built in, but if you can evade some of those things and get in there and keep the ball alive, it's going to be an important part of your offense. And for us, there was a handful of rebounds to be had, especially early so I was happy to see us get in there and really keep the ball up and give us another possession.
On after two non-conference games, entering Big Ten play now, facing Minnesota, and how would describe readiness to start Big Ten play and what to work on the most...
Oh geez, (laughing) that's a loaded question, I don't know, I think there's a lot we have to improve on, certainly offensively, we have to get better, some people on the stat sheet, especially our upperclassmen, have to be a little more aggressive and consistent, and give us something. I still continue to think that we have to do a good job on the defensive boards, I think that was something that has been a big emphasis for us. We tend to turn and look when the shot goes up and now when you're playing against a Minnesota, who is 6-4 instead of 5-10, you can't really get away without not seeking contact and hitting somebody. So for us, we have to be able to score some points and shoot the ball a little bit better, and have our offense continue to come around collectively. But, it's a starting point, you just don't know where you're at right now, it's just been such a strange offseason, that it is kind of difficult sometimes to really get a good feel where you're at, but there's some pieces here that I like and we certainly just have to continue to improve on them.
Â
On Taiyier Parks' performance tonight and her ability and presence underneath the basket, getting key buckets tonight...
I thought she did a really good job, she's a physical player number one, that's one thing about Taiyier you don't have to talk to her about, seeking contact. I think she's somebody that really enjoys that part, and she's been working a little bit harder on finishing and creating that seal and that opportunity. She did a really good job of ducking in, holding her seals, getting offensive rebounds. I think she had five O-boards as well tonight and keeping things alive for us. She's come along, she's still young as a sophomore and minutes played wise, she came off the bench last year, so now she's in a little bit different role and it's fun to see her development.Â
On having six players in double-figures and spreading the ball around and getting the offense going...
I'm obviously thrilled about six kids in double figures and sharing the ball, but I was a little surprised that we had that many because I felt like we missed a lot of shots, like a lot of lay-ups and easy open threes and we kind of settled for the three-ball too much I thought, especially in that first half. Obviously it's great to see kids feel like they're contributing to the point total, but you know sharing the ball is something we're going to have to continue, it's going to have to be a collective effort for us. There's no question about that.Â
On Tory Ozment coming out of the gates early with a couple buckets and hustling on both ends of the floor and getting some rebounds, diving after some loose balls, and her performance tonight and what she contribute to the team...
She got us off to a good start I thought, and Tory has really been playing well. Again she's someone that's really committed to competing at a high level and is in really good condition and shape, and has really worked on her game. She's just a versatile player for us, she's got the length for us to be able to do some things defensively and then on offense, she's multi-dimensional, she gets out in transition and runs, she has a little pull-up (jumper), she can shoot the three-ball, and she's pretty decent in terms of getting that ball inside. So just to me, watching her out there, after she had an injury her freshman year and last year had a different kind of role, and now as she's become an upperclassmen, there's more expectations, and to see that in back-to-back games. I thought she's really played within herself and within the flow of the game.
On both Taiyier Parks and Tory Ozment stepping up to bigger roles and importance of building some confidence as they get ready to open Big Ten Conference play and face tougher opponents coming up...
We're going to need everybody collectively and certainly that inside presence is something we're going to need from Taiyier. She's going to just have to continue to just keep grinding and working. Then, as I mentioned with Tory, I think she's so multi-dimensional, we can play her at two different spots, we can go small and play her at the four-spot, or we can go have a little bit bigger line-up in there and move her to the three with her skill-set. So both of those kids are going to be very pivotal and important as we head down the stretch.
On having 26 assists on 32 baskets and the offensive performance tonight...
Assist-to-turnover ratio is something that we put a lot of emphasis on. I thought last year we turned it over a little too much, and so we have some practice goals that we look at from that perspective, so obviously we want to share the ball, but the second piece I think too is we've just got to learn to take care of the basketball a little bit and value it. So, this was a good game to have to handle that because of the trapping, the random trapping came at different places, from corners, wings, short corners. So as we get throughout the season, we'll play bigger, faster, stronger (opponents), as well, so we'll have to be able to continue to do those things but you know it's great that we have a team that wants to share the basketball and collectively were able to play that well together and take care of the basketball. So for me, the assist part is really important, but also making sure that we don't give them possessions that are unnecessary, and really valuing the ball, and we've had some really good outings so far in terms of taking care of the basketball.
On having 19 offensive rebounds and how that led to 19 second-chance points with so many put-backs...
That's an important part, I think we didn't do as good of a job in the last game of really being aggressive, especially our fours I thought were a little bit slow in the last game, the shot will go up and they didn't really attack the glass like they're supposed to, and our big guards as well. So I think there was a big emphasis in this game coming in not only, offensively to take care of the ball but we should be able to dominate if they're in a zone (defense), Â that's a hard thing to box-out, zones are hard to box-out, you have a little triangle that's built in, but if you can evade some of those things and get in there and keep the ball alive, it's going to be an important part of your offense. And for us, there was a handful of rebounds to be had, especially early so I was happy to see us get in there and really keep the ball up and give us another possession.
On after two non-conference games, entering Big Ten play now, facing Minnesota, and how would describe readiness to start Big Ten play and what to work on the most...
Oh geez, (laughing) that's a loaded question, I don't know, I think there's a lot we have to improve on, certainly offensively, we have to get better, some people on the stat sheet, especially our upperclassmen, have to be a little more aggressive and consistent, and give us something. I still continue to think that we have to do a good job on the defensive boards, I think that was something that has been a big emphasis for us. We tend to turn and look when the shot goes up and now when you're playing against a Minnesota, who is 6-4 instead of 5-10, you can't really get away without not seeking contact and hitting somebody. So for us, we have to be able to score some points and shoot the ball a little bit better, and have our offense continue to come around collectively. But, it's a starting point, you just don't know where you're at right now, it's just been such a strange offseason, that it is kind of difficult sometimes to really get a good feel where you're at, but there's some pieces here that I like and we certainly just have to continue to improve on them.
Â
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballRobyn Fralick Postgame Press Conference | Oakland
Sunday, November 23
Robyn Fralick Postgame Press Conference | Eastern Illinois
Thursday, November 20
Robyn Fralick Postgame Press Conference | Western Michigan
Sunday, November 16
Robyn Fralick Postgame Press Conference | Youngstown State
Wednesday, November 12