THE MODERATOR: We're joined by head coach Mark Campbell.
Q. I remember after that last season's game you said this was a learning experience. How did that game and even the Texas game maybe shape how you guys built the roster this offseason?
MARK CAMPBELL: Good question. As we hit the portal, we did try to add some size to all the different positions. And that was intentional.
We got the opportunity to play South Carolina at Dickies in the preseason a year ago in our non-conference and then playing Texas in the Elite Eight. One thing that I thought we'd try and close that gap in, one of the areas, was size. And, so, I think we did a great job going out and building a roster where we are a little bigger and stronger this year.
Q. So much talk about Olivia for you guys and Raven for South Carolina. I know you're looking at it from a coach's perspective. But for fans, why do you think this match-up is so exciting?
MARK CAMPBELL: They're two of the best point guards in college basketball, I think they're two of the top five point guards in college basketball. They're both old veterans that have been doing this at an elite level.
They go about their games and they go about impacting winning differently, but they're both incredible at what they do.
So I've been able to watch Raven since high school way back in the day when I was at Oregon. Recruited her hard. Obviously didn't land her. But she's just a winner. It's what she's done her whole career. She had a tremendous game last night.
But what a great match-up at the point guard position between those two players.
Q. I don't know if you had a chance to see what Geno Auriemma said yesterday about the setup and how much of a grind it is with the two regionals. You obviously played a late game on Sunday night. You had to travel to the West Coast today. Can you talk about what your experience has been with the schedule?
MARK CAMPBELL: Geno's done this so long at such an elite level, and he's done it so long, he's got to see the different formats in play, whether it's two sites, four sites.
His lens that he sees things from and his experiences he's had is so unique. I've had last year's run and this year's run to pull from. So I don't have the same lens that he has.
I'm just happy to be here, that we're still playing. And I know there's obviously all sorts of areas to fine tune and ways to improve.
What I love about women's basketball is we're always pushing the envelope to try to figure out how to improve our game. And our game's been a rocket ship. And I think everybody's trying to figure out how to capitalize best on it.
So again, Geno's perspective has so much wisdom and experience that I think everybody needs to really listen and pay attention when he talks.
Q. You mentioned this yesterday what Jennie said that when you're playing South Carolina you're not just playing South Carolina, you're playing the history of South Carolina. Is that something that you get into with your team? Do you just talk about it amongst the coaching staff? How do you approach that?
MARK CAMPBELL: That's a great question. Their history is incredible, and what Dawn's built and the players that they have had and currently have.
We get 48 hours. Jennie had the whole week. This one is such a quick turnaround. We get one film session today and a walk-through, and then we get one more walk-through tomorrow.
On the second game, it's such a quick turnaround, you've just got to be the best version of your team. You want your team to be incredibly confident. And then you've got to go play.
So I think there's a huge difference in preparation of game one versus preparation of game two in how you approach it. And it is a very short window to turn around and play.
So we're just focused on this year's team, the scout and the personnel that they have, how we're going to try to attack what they do defensively, and then lace them up and go compete.
Q. You've obviously had a lot of success in the portal the last couple of years. Are you in favor that it move to after the tournament's over to make life a little easier for coaches like yourself who are still actively coaching right now?
MARK CAMPBELL: Yeah, that's a great question. I don't think there's, like, a perfect time. I think there's pluses and minuses of each window.
And the portal is just a tricky deal. Again, the longer you delay it, it makes players have to wait. If you start it early, coaches are trying to juggle March Madness and postseason basketball with the portal open.
Again, there is no perfect timing. There's pluses and minuses to both, and you've just got to make the best of it. That's how I would approach it. I don't have a suggestion on a window that I think works for everyone.
Q. I asked Olivia last night about her ability to read ball screens. I'm curious from your perspective how much you feel like she's grown in that area from when she started with you to now and just her ability to implement defense coming off that screen and seeing things that she sees, I don't know how she sees them, but she makes the pass go where it needs to go.
MARK CAMPBELL: I loved her answer. She makes it sound like it's so simple. The ball screen, when we were able to land her, I was so excited because it's a gift. You can't teach someone what she sees in the way she processes and how quickly she's able to do it.
Again, I really mean this, male or female. There's like half a dozen people in the world that have her vision that can process it that quickly, that can throw a one-handed bounce pass to the opposite corner, off the dribble, on a laser and then do it with their left hand. It's truly incredible.
So I think the area -- I've had nothing to do with helping her with those reads. What we've done really well is put players like her and Hailey in space that puts a lot of pressure on the weak-side defenders to figure out where the help is going to come from. Are they going to help on the roller? Are they going to double up on Liv? Are they tagging from the corner?
So our spacing just allows Olivia to be able to see all those different reads, and then it doesn't matter where it comes from, she sees it.
Sabrina was so similar that way. So it's been a treat to be able to put her in different positions and figure out how to use her that way. I think the area we've helped her with is she gets out of bed and sees everything.
I think we've helped her with her confidence in scoring. And her ability to be the pinnacle obviously was Olivia taking 20 3s on the road at Baylor. That was the moment that you knew she had broken through on believing in herself as a scorer and believing in herself as a shooter. To be able to take that and do it without flinching means she felt confident and comfortable enough to do that.
I think that's the area that we've been really able to help her grow this year. So it's at the point -- Olivia could score 30 on any given night. Olivia can have 15 assists any given night. Now it's up to her to process what the defense is trying to take away. Does that answer that?
Q. What do you need from Clara tomorrow, and how does she represent using size to close the gap between the team when you talk about roster construction, between a team like you and South Carolina?
MARK CAMPBELL: Oh, every area. There's three areas. I mean, rebounding against South Carolina, you have to be able to battle them on the boards. If they punk you and can get offensive rebounds and shoot layups, you have no shot. So one of the huge areas is being great on the glass.
Second, defensively, their post players are some of the best posts in college basketball. And to be able to defend and hold your own against them so you don't have to double. Hopefully we can play them straight up.
Then on the other end, we're pick-and-roll based and she's 6'7" and mobile. We got it going in the second half, but to be able to finish around the rim. She did a great job keeping some plays alive and getting us extra possessions yesterday.
But Kennedy Basham is going to have to have a huge role against these guys. We're going to feed both. Silva and Basham, in order to compete and hold our own inside against them.
Q. You just were kind of talking about the dominant post players that South Carolina has, and for years and years, they've had that go-to post player. I know you said you don't compare -- you're competing in this iteration of the Gamecocks -- but they do run things a little bit differently this year than years past. What makes them so lethal from the inside to the outside as well?
MARK CAMPBELL: You answered your own question. Yes. It's why they're who they are. They have tremendous post players. Joyce, as a forward, can punish you inside and is great out. Playing iso ball at 15, 17 feet.
Then their three guards, that guard trio is as good as anybody in college basketball. They're all old veterans.
There's not a lot of weaknesses when you look at their group and their team. Yes, it's a different version of what you're used to with them. Man, Coach has done just a tremendous job of blending it all together, and they share the basketball. They have five players on any given night that can really, really hurt you.
So, we've got our hands full defensively of guarding them and slowing them down. It was amazing to get to see them in person, this year's team, live against Oklahoma. But that was an impressive performance last night.
Q. I know you've been asked this a lot over the last few days. I want to reference something. Five years ago you land in this city, take over a struggling Hornets program, get them to the tournament. Now you're getting ready to take your team to the Elite Eight with the potential of punching your ticket to the Final Four. When I spoke to you on Friday, you said the last four or five years have just been a blur with the trajectory of your career and everything that you have accomplished. Have you had a chance throughout this whole run, getting ready for the Elite Eight, have you had a chance to at least just reflect or acknowledge where you're at, what you're doing with this team, the historic and just incredible run on how remarkable it has been? And if so, have you at least had a chance to somewhat appreciate it or is your head just down and working hard?
MARK CAMPBELL: Great question. I think it's a blur because of the modern-day college athletics. We've had five years and five new teams every single year because of the portal, and because you inherited programs at Sac State and TCU that were monster rebuilding projects.
It was rebuild the team through the portal and then do it again and then do it again. It's been five years of rebuilding teams one year at a time.
So that's where it's just a nonstop, 12 months, you've just got to keep your foot on the gas.
Getting to come to Sacramento, it has allowed me to reflect and enjoy how far we've come, from getting to have practices at the Nest and all the memories that have come back with that, getting to see all the faces here at Sac State. Literally -- I don't make this up -- during the starting lineup, in the whole arena, on the court, there's like a 2-foot-by-2-foot Sac State logo that's on each corner, that's it.
During the starting lineup, I literally just happened to look down and I was standing on the Sac State logo. So it's little moments like that that you're like, holy cow, we've come a long ways in a really short amount of time.
So this week, I would say of the five years, has been the time that I've been able to reflect back the most. So it's been -- you guys, this week has been so special for me personally. I'm very thankful for all of it and the time here. Great question.
Q. You said one of your biggest takeaways from last year's Elite Eight run was learning to immediately turn the page after the win. What are the conversations like with your team helping them reset and refocus after an emotional win, especially for veterans like Olivia Miles and Marta who are reaching the Elite Eight for the first time in their careers?
MARK CAMPBELL: Yeah, great question. So it's so fun because those are old veterans that have accomplished so much in college basketball yet they've never been to an Elite Eight. To see the joy and excitement. They're hungry for the next step. We would a great team meeting last night, dove into the film session but you've got these old veterans that are experiencing some things for the first time. So they're locked in and then just last year's experience until now how quickly you've got to turn the page and the prep and I'm so much wise ser than a year ago in understanding how to take on or attempt to take on some of these blue bloods that have been here, and this is what they do every single year.
So just I think our preparation, I feel much better with it. Getting our players' mindsets right, what we're up against, how to attack it. Not just me but our coaching staff. So I do believe that will help in our preparation. Again, it's a tall task playing these guys. They're a 1 seed for a reason. They earned that thing.
It's great, the more you're in this, I think the more prepared everyone is in our village. So I'm thankful for last year's experience and it's going to put us in a better position tomorrow.
THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Clara Silva and Marta Suarez and Olivia Miles.
Q. There was a moment in the game yesterday where you, Olivia, were fouled hard. Ended up being upgraded to a flagrant one. And Marta came over and gave you a hug. What was said in that moment, Marta? How were you able to give Olivia what she needs in that moment?
OLIVIA MILES: Something about, like, they have to guard you like that. What did you say?
MARTA SUAREZ: Don't worry, I've got your back.
OLIVIA MILES: Had my back.
MARTA SUAREZ: They foul you like that because they can't guard you. And she got all pumped up. That worked great.
OLIVIA MILES: She calmed me down, though.
Q. Marta and Olivia, you play a lot of basketball. Have you played with someone like Olivia that does all the things she does? And how do you feel your relationship has grown? Olivia, what's your relationship been with Marta and your connection together?
MARTA SUAREZ: You asked if I've ever played with anybody like her; have you ever seen anybody like her? She's a very special player. I always say the same thing. I say if you want to watch great basketball watch Olivia Miles. If you know basketball and want to watch great reads, watch Olivia Miles.
I think she's just a different talent. The way she's able to read the court and create windows and get those passes, but at the same time she's so dangerous scoring the ball. She's just different. And she knows that, and I don't really even think she understands how good she really is.
But it's just great for everyone else on the court with her with her vision and IQ. It gets everybody open and gets me great touches. Opens the paint for me. As a player myself, it's just a pleasure.
OLIVIA MILES: My relationship with Marta is special. I don't think I can put it into words because you guys won't even understand the bond that we share and the adversity we face together and things we've been through.
I'm just so grateful and so happy that I've got to experience basketball, not just with her as a player because we all know she's an amazing player, but just her leadership and her ability to ignite a room.
She set my heart on fire. I know I said that the other day. She's enabled me to go out there and play the best version of me. And when I'm messing up she's right there. When I'm doing well, she's right there. Through any up and down she has my back and ultimately she's just a killer on the court and just so fun to be out there with and to pass the ball to.
Q. Clara, what's the challenge of dealing with South Carolina's size in this game? And what's been the emphasis -- I know it's a one-day scout and limited time -- but what's been the emphasis for you going into the game?
CLARA SILVA: (No audio).
Q. Olivia, your coach was in here saying you wake up seeing everything. We don't need to work on that. He said over the last season, though, he likes to think that he helps encourage you with your scoring and being more aggressive and hunting. How do you feel that your scoring has evolved since arriving at TCU?
OLIVIA MILES: I feel like I've blossomed as a scorer, and it's a credit to my teammates and the way they're able to space the floor and also to my bigs who get me open on screens.
They truly have allowed me to get so many reps in that I understand every type of coverage, any type of defense that's on me. It's allowed me to read different situations and be aggressive and score.
And ultimately, at the end of the day, Coach MC puts the ball in my hands to score, and my career average is up, like, four or five points because I've been able to make those reads and my teammates have gotten me open. And I've just changed my mindset to be more aggressive to the basket instead of just one dimensional as the passer.
Q. Olivia, I was talking to Dawn earlier today. I asked her what was the biggest difference between TCU and last year. She immediately said your name and praised your ability to get your teammates involved. I know you're trying to beat her tomorrow, but what does it mean to get that type of praise from a former point guard and one of the greatest coaches ever in this game?
OLIVIA MILES: That's awesome. Dawn Staley is such an icon. She was watching the game I was playing against Virginia. That's her alma mater. Just an important point guard.
High praises, obviously. Excited to compete against her.
But I've had the utmost respect for her. I love any point guard that's touched the game in a positive way. And seeing what she's done as a player and as a coach, USA Basketball, you name it, she's just incredible. I'm excited to finally meet her tomorrow and play against her team.
Q. Olivia, seems like kind of a transfer question. But you've never taken your eye off the ball in terms of your degree. I think you've got a couple of degrees, undergraduate and graduate degree from Notre Dame and then you transferred. What advice -- I know a lot of kids are transferring two, three times, and I'm wondering, I know it's above your pay grade -- but in terms of moving around, not moving around so much that you lose track of your credits, how would you -- what's your advice and how did you do it and stay focused?
OLIVIA MILES: I think for me I had my priorities very in line just because my parents were just very strict. So I had to stay and get my degree.
But I would say any advice I have, I'm all in favor of people transferring and leaving if it's the right situation for them.
Nowadays with NIL -- before NIL, obviously, it was smarter for women to stay four years, get their degree and have something as a basis because we obviously weren't making as much money as the men did. So having that degree is very important.
But I think now that the priorities have shifted, and NIL is helping a lot of women get on the front end of being financially set, I'm all in favor of people leaving and seeking out situations for the right reasons, obviously, but for reasons that benefit you and for reasons that make sense.
Now about three, four, five, six times, I don't know, it gets a little chalky at that point. But, like I said, I'm all for being in the right situation for you and ultimately finishing your degree, wherever you want to finish your degree. But I'm in favor of getting a degree, at least, for sure.
Q. Quick turnaround for tomorrow's game. How do you strike a balance of celebrating this milestone of reaching the Elite Eight for the first time with also staying locked in for the game?
MARTA SUAREZ: I think we're all very grateful and present, we're aware in the game. I think both are compatible. It's not to celebrate just the win, but be here and be grateful that you're here and the journey that we have and that we have another game together and we have a day to get ready together.
That's where the celebration is, and just being present and enjoying each other's company.
But I think we're all pretty -- like, as soon as the game is over, we know what's coming and we know what we want. And what we want is not to be bridging at the Sweet 16. Our minds are ready.
I think they're both compatible. It comes down to being present and being the best version of ourselves.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports