Doug Bruno Game Quotations

I always try to pre-play the last minute or two of different game situations. We needed one stop, and as great a game as Caprice played, she didn't make my five for defense.

I thought we got some pretty good looks the last seven minutes. They're just a big-time team playing a big-time game in a big-time atmosphere.

I thought we got some pretty good looks in the last seven minutes but once they got it spread there in the last two minutes I started running some thing to get quick shots. It's a tough team to get quick shots against. That's a big time team playing a big time game in a big time atmosphere.

We've been here (playing a top seed) before, but it was always in the first or second round. The kids have to be able to focus and still enjoy it. One-and-out basketball is still one-and-out basketball, whether it is the first game or the third.

Something that coach taught us, basketball is important but basketball life and people involved with the sport are more important than the game. And no game can keep you from doing and having the opportunity to pay your respects to someone as great as coach Ray.

Having a bye can be a curse or a blessing. The blessing, obviously, is you don't have to play four straight games. The curse is the team you're playing has a game under its belt. If you're not ready, they can use that to their advantage. My players came out ready to play.

Basketball is a game of easy baskets ... and we had no place to go for easy baskets.

We were careless with the basketball and the game turned back around Notre Dame's way.

I really thought our second unit turned the game in our favor in the later part of the first half. We were able to press a little, turn the tempo up and that's how we took the lead.

When you have an All-American player, you go to her. We went to her early in this game and she didn't answer the bell. When you get her the ball on the block, you expect her to score. She missed some bunnies and that's why I gave her an early seat. When she went back in, our kids are smart enough to realize she's our bread and butter. This time she produced.

She knows when to hold 'em, she knows when to fold 'em. She knows when to walk away. ... I just love how she's playing the game very simply and that's a total compliment.

What?s great about the tournament is every first-round game has a story line.

When you lose three in a row, your next game is your Super Bowl. You lose a couple, that's what it is.