THE MODERATOR: Questions for Coach, please.
Q. Hosting, how special is that? Obviously your second time to do it. How special is it being here? First time at the Foster.
NICKI COLLEN: Yeah, I think it was a goal when we went on the road and won last year, how difficult that was and what an emotional advantage Virginia Tech had. So it was always a goal to make this happen.
Just I think sleeping in your own bed. Just the way you get to prepare and not travel. You know, you're more comfortable. That's the advantage. Your fans, your building, your rims, your routine.
So excited to be here, even if I don't sound it.
Q. Having Buggs back in practice and available, what is kind of advantage is that?
NICKI COLLEN: Yeah. She is obviously on a minutes restriction, so it's not going to be the same as before she was injured, but I certainly think the energy, the rim run, the rebound, her ability to screen and play in space is really important for us.
Q. What do you see from Grand Canyon, watching some film? Is there a looseness that they play with having the kind of win streak they've been on?
NICKI COLLEN: I don't know that they're loose. I think they play like they expect to win, and I think there's a difference. They've played in more close games than you think, but they get to the fourth, and they know how to finish.
I think there's a confidence because of that win streak that they know they're going to find a way to get it done, so that's what I see. A team that if they need to score, they score. If they need to get a stop, they get a stop. Both of their UTA games down the stretch were close. You know, they just finished better.
So I think that's it. I don't think they feel less or more pressure. I just think they know how to win.
Q. What have you seen from Sarah and Jada? (Indiscernible.)
NICKI COLLEN: I think for Sarah she's been here every year. You know, hopefully with Jada, the confidence that she got in last year's tournament run helps her search for her shot, which I think helps us. I think there's just a confidence in running the team.
Q. Nette played pretty well during the tournament.
NICKI COLLEN: Solid.
Q. Do you expect her to kind of carry some of the momentum into this first round matchup?
NICKI COLLEN: Yeah, I hope. I think are the position she created early, early in transition, deep, it's hard to bring a double. This team is going to bring a double. They're going to scrap. If she doesn't make quick moves, they're coming.
So they're going to be aggressive. They're going to be aggressive on our passers. They're going to make it hard for other passers to get it to her. They're going to try to stay loose. So our passing has to be on point, and her seals have to be deep and early. So, yeah, I think she's got confidence, but it's a different team that plays a different way.
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