Syracuse vs. St. Bonaventure
December 31, 2007
Syracuse, N.Y. - Carrier Dome
Fantasia Goodwin on the big win over an 11-win team:
“It feels really good to win a game like this, the last game in the preseason. I just feel like hard work pays off. We did a really good job in the preseason of getting up and winning early – just playing hard.”
Goodwin on the confidence boost:
“It does a lot for our confidence.When you get used to winning you want to win all the time. So it is good, especially for our young kids on the team, who are not scared, but not used to playing in the BIG EAST. I think it gives them confidence too.”
Tasha Harris on starting to get it:
“Well coach wanted me to do a lot that I wasn’t used to. I know how to play the game, but I really didn’t learn the game. I was playing, but it’s different. You have to know different techniques and things like that. Coming in, if I made a mistake I’d probably get down on myself and be like ‘I don’t want to do it this way and be lazy,’ so at the beginning of the season if you look at the stats I wasn’t really playing. If I wasn’t going to buy into the system I wasn’t going to play. I figured if I’m going to be here and practice everyday I might as well just go hard and play hard and compete and do what coach said and then I could play. Coming from high school I was always playing, I wasn’t used to sitting on the bench, but I had to do what I had to do and play hard.”
Harris on her more assertive play today:
“I’m real comfortable with having zero points and ten assists as long as my team wins. We have Fantasia (Goodwin), Nicole (Michael) and everyone averaging double figures, so it’s a nice goal and we will keep doing that unless we have to fix it.”
Goodwin getting the ball more:
“I love playing with Tasha I know I’m going to get the ball. I work hard all the time down there. So if you work hard you are going to get rewarded. I’d rather teams worry about me too so she can get her shot and open up the floor.”
Goodwin on the attitude from first game to now:
“When I first got here I wanted to win, but you know some things happened last year. I was going through my own little things, but there is a big difference from last year to this year. I’m more confident in my game and in my team and in my coaches. There is a big, big, huge difference from last year attitude wise – not only in me, but in my team. The girls have great attitudes and you can tell that we’re not selfish and the coaches work hard in preparing us to win games. I just feel confident and secure.”
Harris on any one game that triggered new attitude:
“I think it started the first day of practice.”
Goodwin:
“We had that attitude when we first all got together and had a meeting it wasn’t even at the first practice. We all got together and everyone spoke their mind and was on the same page.”
Goodwin on the respect the team deserves:
“Keep winning. All we can do is keep doing what we are doing. Practice hard, play hard and compete. That’s all we can do.”
Goodwin on if they feel like a top 25 team:
“I feel like we are.”
Harris:
“I think we are. We just have to keep playing hard and competing and see what happens. The more people don’t recognize us the hungrier we get out on the court. That just builds and makes us go work harder.”
Goodwin on if a 12-1 record will now intimidate other teams:
“We are for sure not the same team. That is going to be a deal breaker.”
Harris:
“It’s going to be a long season. The BIG EAST is a new beginning.”
Harris on her confidence now:
“I think from a scale of 1-10: a nine now. I’m playing more I’m getting better feedback from my team and my coaches. I’m playing better. I’m getting it, but I’m not all the way there yet. I still have time to grow and get a little more confidence. Sometimes I’m still a little shaky.”