KU Postgame Notes

Dec. 31, 2006

Recap | Final Stats | Notes

Kansas Postgame Quotes
Xavier 72, Kansas 63
Dec. 31, 2006

Head Coach Bonnie Henrickson
On Kansas’ intensity:
“We sent a message early that we were going to be aggressive — got a block and a turnover. We do so many good things but we can’t save ourselves from some spurts. We had some opportunities missed to get some game-changing plays. We are close. Its not that we didn’t compete and its not that we didn’t play well. I thought we did. It is just tiny things, not major issues for us. We just have some things that we need to clean up. When we have five people trying to score, we are better than when we have five people trying to run an offense.”

On Xavier:
“Xavier is the closest team we have had this year to Baylor. I thought we played pretty big around the rim and tapped a couple of balls and got possession. I thought Porscha (Weddington) gave us a great presence early. She is going to make some of those shots she missed in the first half.”

On LaChelda Jacobs:
“She elevates pretty well, and I thought she used her athleticism today much better. She took balanced shots. I always tell her that once she gets that down, she is going to be a special player. She can makes shots. She has one of the best follow-throughs of a kid who is struggling to shoot.”

Kansas Player Quotes
Freshman forward LaChelda Jacobs
On starting:
“I have been working really hard in practice and last game I worked hard. When Coach (Bonnie Henrickson) told me, I was really excited to start again. It gave me a momentum booster and I really wanted to play well after the last game against Indiana.”

On the game:
“I helped my team out by scoring but we just have to find a way to pull it out at the end. Overall, I thought we played really well. Blocking out was a major factor. They got a lot of easy put-backs at the end. We were down by one and they just kept getting easy put-backs. I think we have to find a way to win, whether that is making shots or boxing out, we just have to find some way to win.”

On conference play:
“The Big 12 is not a joke. The teams that we have been playing are good teams and are good preparation for conference play. We really have to step it up a notch for the Big 12.”

Freshman guard Kelly Kohn
On her shooting:
“All players are going to struggle with shooting. When you get cold you have to learn how to find shots that you are going to be able to make; start inside and work your way back out again. I struggled tonight and LaChelda (Jacobs) stepped up and has a career-high. That is just the type of team we are — we support each other and if one of us has an off-night we have others who will step up and take the lead.”

On Porscha Weddington starting:
“We usually don’t know who is starting until game day. It was not much of a surprise; Porscha (Weddington) has been working hard in practice all week and she is a tough player. She did great on defense tonight against (Amber Harris).”

On conference play:
“I am looking forward to conference play. We got a lot of new people and we are all excited to see teams in our conference. I know the Big 12 is a tough conference, but I think we are ready to take the challenge.”

Xavier Coach and Player Quotes
Head Coach Kevin McGuff
On the game:

“The thing I was most proud of was our ability to show resiliency when they made runs at us. To their credit, they continued to play hard the whole game. I was proud of how we stayed together and played good defense and executed on offense to stop those runs.”

On Freshman center Amber Harris:
“They were physical with her trying to get her off the block. They also double-teamed her at times. I think she handled it well for the most part, but occasionally she was forced into some bad shots. She is such a great kid and is very coachable. She wants to be a great player and we are happy that we have her. She has a very, very bright future.”

Freshman Center Amber Harris
On the game:

“They made some great runs at us and they kept attacking us so we had to match their intensity.”

On facing double and triple teams:
“I have adjusted to it. You get bullied in practice and you just start to get used to it. In the game I just try to work hard and go play.”

On her decision to come to Xavier:
“The people around me were good people and they made me feel like family. It is close to home and Xavier is very good academically as well.”