TENNESSEE LADY VOL POST-SELECTION SHOW QUOTES HEAD COACH PAT SUMMITT (On the current state of her team): “I think we really have a lot of confidence. I think we’re very invested. I think this team took ownership a long time ago and they’re holding on to it. If I have an issue, I’ll just walk over to (junior guard) Angie Bjorklund and tell her to take care of it or I’ll talk to Kelley Cain and say, ‘you need to make sure that everything’s in check,’ and I think their leadership has put us in this position.” (On this year’s tournament): “I’m just excited for our basketball team, our program and our fans. We’ve got the greatest fans in the game and I want them to come out and really support us. Certainly, this team has kept everybody in check and they’ve worked hard. They’re getting in extra shots outside of practice. I think that’s why our shooting percentage has gone up so much.” (On the importance of playing the first two rounds at home): “I think being at home in your comfort zone and sleeping in our own beds is a real plus for us because we are still a young team. I think getting that situation is really good for a young team and we’re predominantly sophomores.” (On how close her team is to being a championship-level team): “I think we’re very close. If our practices are any indication, this group is really focused. I feel that from them in practice. We’ve only had a couple of players who I didn’t feel that from. One of them was Glory Johnson. I met with her today and we had a heart-to-heart. She’s got to play for us and so does Kamiko Williams. Those are two of our best athletes. If those two athletes invest in this team, it’s going to be a hard team to beat.”
SOPHOMORE FORWARD GLORY JOHNSON (On what it means to earn a No. 1 seed): “I’m excited about just playing in general. It doesn’t matter who we play because we have to bring the same effort no matter what team we play against.” (On getting a chance to atone for last season): “We kind of showed everybody a new side of us. We just have to continue doing what we’re doing and play the way we’ve been playing so that people don’t underestimate us anymore.” (On the importance of playing the first two rounds at home): “I love playing in Knoxville. The fans and the support that we’ll have here in Knoxville while we play will help so much. Being in my hometown will be great.” FRESHMAN GUARD KAMIKO WILLIAMS (On her first NCAA Tournament game): “I’m very excited. I’m glad that it’s a home game so it won’t be as nerve-wracking as it would be somewhere else. I’m real anxious but when game time comes, you’ve got to bring it. It’s really counting now.” (On how the intensity level changes in the postseason): “Coach has been pushing us and trying to get the best out of us, telling us that we need to play to a higher level. She has been stressing to Glory and me that she needs us out there and we took that to heart. Our teammates have been helping us and when we bring energy out there, it picks them up. We’ve been feeding off each other and there hasn’t been any negativity.”