Post-Game Quotes: Wisconsin
3/6/2021 7:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
On that moment like when Claire [Hendrickson] knocked down that shot...
We'd been practicing it and talking about it, we had a plan. Because you know she's really hasn't done anything all year. She tried a little bit in the beginning, but doesn't practice with us physically. And so we kind of thought we give it a try and she felt confident enough so I said 'okay if we get on defense first, or they win the tip' … alright, we're on defense that's fine, we'll get you that offense and we kind of ran that little flare screen for her. If you are open, shoot it. So when we get back on defense get a foul - we told the refs we were going to foul to get her off because I wasn't sure how she was going to be able to handle it. So, we had like the game plan right off for what we were going to do but she still has to hit the shot, right? For her to be that open … I don't know, it just warmed my heart. Each ref came up to me and said, 'Man, that's kind of what it's all about.' That was a big moment for her and I'm super proud of her for just, you know, everything she's done for the program but certainly just stepping up in that and starting things off on a positive note.
On what Hendrickson has meant to the program...
She's really been an unsung hero. I mean, you know, like [Mardreika Cook] has had her injuries and still does, but you could get her minutes, you know, we find ways to get out there and she guts it out and does some things for our team. Claire really had a promising career - you can see what a good shooter she is. The kid hasn't done much all year, but she's got a beautiful stroke. It really felt like she could be that kind of knock-down distance shooter that we, you know, we recruited her to be. So it's been hard on her at times, but one thing I just really appreciated about her and her character is - and I said out there - It didn't matter what was going on with her, it was always about everybody else, and she was probably our most hyped, energy, crazy, fun. Even if she was feeling down you wouldn't know as she was always giving to her teammates in that way as an energy person. And, she just found a way. If it can't be physical, then I've got to mentally be here for my guys, you know, and that's what she did all year long.
On Cook's impact on this program over the last few years, even with the injuries...
Yeah, I mean you know, this kid, on top of all of the other past injuries that this kid has from torn Achilles and ACL, compartmental syndrome … I mean, she's just doing everything she can to just find a way to get out there. Probably the kid that I've had that's had the highest pain tolerance in my coaching career. There's no way - I don't care if you get a shot or you're taking ibuprofen or medicine to make it feel better at the end of the day, if you have something torn in your knee and arthritis in your knee, at the end of the day that's still gonna hurt regardless. The fact she's just out here trying to find a way is just very rewarding and not surprising. She's really worked on a three ball a little bit because her power left her with some of the injuries. So she was really working on becoming a pick and pop guy for us at times and then of course you can't stop her defensively with loose balls and charges and things like that I mean that's just who Dreika is.
We'd been practicing it and talking about it, we had a plan. Because you know she's really hasn't done anything all year. She tried a little bit in the beginning, but doesn't practice with us physically. And so we kind of thought we give it a try and she felt confident enough so I said 'okay if we get on defense first, or they win the tip' … alright, we're on defense that's fine, we'll get you that offense and we kind of ran that little flare screen for her. If you are open, shoot it. So when we get back on defense get a foul - we told the refs we were going to foul to get her off because I wasn't sure how she was going to be able to handle it. So, we had like the game plan right off for what we were going to do but she still has to hit the shot, right? For her to be that open … I don't know, it just warmed my heart. Each ref came up to me and said, 'Man, that's kind of what it's all about.' That was a big moment for her and I'm super proud of her for just, you know, everything she's done for the program but certainly just stepping up in that and starting things off on a positive note.
On what Hendrickson has meant to the program...
She's really been an unsung hero. I mean, you know, like [Mardreika Cook] has had her injuries and still does, but you could get her minutes, you know, we find ways to get out there and she guts it out and does some things for our team. Claire really had a promising career - you can see what a good shooter she is. The kid hasn't done much all year, but she's got a beautiful stroke. It really felt like she could be that kind of knock-down distance shooter that we, you know, we recruited her to be. So it's been hard on her at times, but one thing I just really appreciated about her and her character is - and I said out there - It didn't matter what was going on with her, it was always about everybody else, and she was probably our most hyped, energy, crazy, fun. Even if she was feeling down you wouldn't know as she was always giving to her teammates in that way as an energy person. And, she just found a way. If it can't be physical, then I've got to mentally be here for my guys, you know, and that's what she did all year long.
On Cook's impact on this program over the last few years, even with the injuries...
Yeah, I mean you know, this kid, on top of all of the other past injuries that this kid has from torn Achilles and ACL, compartmental syndrome … I mean, she's just doing everything she can to just find a way to get out there. Probably the kid that I've had that's had the highest pain tolerance in my coaching career. There's no way - I don't care if you get a shot or you're taking ibuprofen or medicine to make it feel better at the end of the day, if you have something torn in your knee and arthritis in your knee, at the end of the day that's still gonna hurt regardless. The fact she's just out here trying to find a way is just very rewarding and not surprising. She's really worked on a three ball a little bit because her power left her with some of the injuries. So she was really working on becoming a pick and pop guy for us at times and then of course you can't stop her defensively with loose balls and charges and things like that I mean that's just who Dreika is.
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