Buffy Baker Quotations

She's still looking to hit that stride. A bit sporadic for her, but it will come with more match play.

If we can keep focusing on earning the right to win points, I think we're going to be fine against Ohio State. I think they're going to come out strong, and gunning for us. But you know what, that's OK. You know where you stand, but you are always going to get better playing against the best.

There is good energy there. They're still learning but they're accepting the challenge. Not it's just getting them to shake off the nerves.

I would say there are several players coming off of last weekend that should be feeling confident. Confidence is a choice, and that's a matter of being able to block the distractions. Everybody has a poor performance. The better athletes know where to place that, learn from it and move on.

I think they are going into their doubles matches with more confidence because they've had more confidence in that area. We know we can be successful, and we know we have good doubles teams. They've been getting better. It's been more finding chemistry between partners that will be able to complement each other.

I think last weekend for a couple of them, it had been a bit disappointing in certain aspects of the game and they're looking for another match to adapt and make those changes. You work during the week and then you have fun competing.

I would imagine they are on the same level as last year. It's not so much as going in and worrying about the level of the competition. For us, it's more or less taking advantage of getting another true match under our belt.

I would like to see us come out and get a lead early on and maintain that. To know when and how momentum is available to us and just reach out and grab it. I feel like we have it knocking at the door, and some of our girls are oblivious that it's there to be taken. Whether that be showing good body language, like pumping a fist, or continuing with the same game plan.

There is a tremendous parody in the Big Ten and home advantage has played out this season for every team -- Michigan State has also struggled on the road.

We had a close one with them last year so they will be ready to come out against us. My goal is that we continue to go from match-to-match and focus on things that will help the team to make that next step.

You have to have the need to want it. I think they do. It's just a matter of when they don't have it to not fall off course.

Each time we show up, we've got two good teams out there trying to win, trying to compete, and that puts us behind the eight ball.

Right now, they are still continuing to figure things out on their own. That is, in my opinion, just doing a better job of getting out of ourselves, and focusing more on our opponents.

The most important thing and the thing that becomes constant messages from the coaches is we're continuing to get better.

They're playing now at a level that is allowing them to dictate and execute the way we see them do in practice. It's showing their level of confidence.

It's knowing and letting good be good enough, and believing that their good is going to be fine. When that's not working, just trying not to do more than what they are capable of doing. Once they play within themselves, they put themselves in a position to do the right things, string points together, and that wins you games.

St. John's has quite a few international students on their team, some good players that we have seen at regional qualifiers. A team that will force us to step up and compete, that will press us and make us play which is what we want.

It's a marathon sport. We've been going since September with a break over the holidays. Those teams that can stay as fresh as possible throughout the duration of the season are going to do well. It's not necessarily the most talented teams that are the most successful. We are looking to go in and continuing to put those things in the right place for us.

It was a bit disappointing, we typically have a great rivalry and battle with Ohio State -- we beat them twice last year so we knew they'd be out to get us.

I'm upset we lost two tough matches, but I'm not upset with the team's progress. Every weekend, it's a matter of who's managing the emotional state of where you are in season, and we did a good job of managing that.

You can't hang on to wins for confidence, because you can't hold on to things that you can't control. Knowing that they've done their best and have gone to the best of their ability, that's confidence. And that's what's going to let them play freely and be able to execute.

The days in between this weekend and the Big Ten Championships will be rest. You can't ask much of your athletes when they are competing in five-hour matches. You have to be careful in monitoring everything from academics to mental relaxation.