March 24, 2004 Techster Press Conference



Amber Obaze

In reference to team play:

"Right now, we are playing as a team, we are working well inside as well as outside. I think we are improving each game. We are going forward. Erica Smith-Taylor is playing at a different level right now. I think she is playing like the best player in the country right now. She brings a fire to our whole team."

In reference to stopping Alana Beard:

"We have to play at her level. We have to play good defense on her. She does hold Duke together. We can't let her have her way if we want to win the game."

Erica Smith-Taylor


In reference to the game versus Duke:

"We deserve to play Duke. They beat us two years ago. I think it is going to be a great game. Alana Beard is great. I watched the game yesterday and I got excited. I am ready to get the scouting report and get our team together to see what we have to do to win."

In reference to the NCAA Tournament:

"I don't want to go home. I don't want the season to be over. I don't want to quit playing with Trina Frierson, Amisha Carter, and Amber Obaze. I could play with them the rest of my basketball career, and that is what I want to do. I am going out and giving 110 percent, everything I got. Because if we lose that is it."

In reference to Smith-Taylor's recent play:

"I have passion. I don't want to lose, and the NCAA Tournament is what we play for. Going though the WAC and winning is a lot of fun, but I am ready to face some better competition."

In reference to Alana Beard as a player:

"She is an All-American and very deserving, but we have great players too. I think with the right amount of concentration and focus, Amber Obaze can defend anybody in the country."

Trina Frierson

In reference to the game with Duke:

"This is what you play for, to play the Duke's, Connecticut's. We are looking forward to it, and we are happy to be in the sweet 16 going to Virginia."

In reference to the game against Texas Tech:

"The second game we got our legs under us, we got the win, but Texas Tech is a great team. We can always rebound and play defense, even if we don't have a good offensive game."

In reference to the game plan against Duke:

"We have not looked at the game plan yet, but any game that we go into: we rebound and defend."

In reference to Erica Smith-Taylor:

"Any given day she can drive or pull up and hit the jumper. She is awesome. She is playing great basketball right now. We are happy with her play and will continue to get the ball to her."

In reference to Alana Beard:

"She can jump, she can run, and Amber Obaze is looking forward to the challenge; a big challenge. Beard is a very athletic person, and she can hurt you in a lot of ways."



Head Coach Kurt Budke

In reference to how good Duke is:

"Duke is the best team in this country. They have the best talent in the country, and they are probably the most experience team in the country. They are no question the favorite to win it all.

In reference to Tech's chances against Duke:

It will take 40 minutes. Our team can put up a perfect 40 minutes together because our team is playing good basketball. We are a balanced team and that is one way to get it done. You have to defend and take their easy baskets away to give yourself a chance."

In reference to pressure of the game:

"Our fans expect, our school expects, and our students expect us to win it all. A lot of schools would say we are just a 5 seed and we don't have a chance, but that is not the attitude at Louisiana Tech."

In reference to how good Alana Beards:

"I think you could flip a coin between Beard and Taurasi. They are both heads above everyone in this country. Beard makes so many things happen defensively, blocks shots, gets steals. She is going to be the 1st or 2nd pick in the draft."

In reference to Beard's 30 point game last night:

"It is what you expect out of big time players at this time of the season. She delivered for her team. I know that they probably think that they can play better than they did last night, but Beard was not going to let them lose."

In reference to Erica Smith-Taylor's play:

"Erica has stepped up for us because everyone that has played against us has tried to take away our post people. Our guards are going to have more opportunities. Erica didn't force any of her shots this weekend. She was very much within herself and with in the system."

In reference to Tech's all around play:

"Amber (Obaze), Lakiste (Barkus), and Tasha (Crain) had a great weekend. They can all shoot the basketball. The pressure on our outside will open it up for our inside."

In reference to the sweet 16:

"There are not any give-me's now; it is about mental toughness. There are going to be times that a great team like Duke is going to make runs. We have to be tough enough to withstand it and understand what we have to do to counter."

In reference to getting past the sweet 16 and elite 8:

"If you make the NCAA Tournament, you have a chance. The parity in this country is unbelievable. The competition is getting much tougher than even two or three years ago. We are seeing more great teams sprout up all over the place."

In reference to Amisha Carter and Trina Frierson:

"I don't think you can just have a game plan to just stop Trina Frierson or Amisha Carter and leave our guards open. Amber was great last game knocking down that 15-foot jump shot. People don't understand that Lakiste and Crain are weapons. Connecticut won it two years ago and was very balanced. We have to have all our players come through.