Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff talks what to expect from a big second half team in Nebraska before their matchup Wednesday.
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00:00 >> Let's pick up the number two ranking and sure you've heard a lot of the talk
00:03 around the curse around the number two ranking the last five teams have all lost
00:07 after getting it, like are you superstitious at all?
00:09 >> Not really, just whether we're two or five or seven, it's always the same for us.
00:14 It's like, hey, we've got a big game tomorrow against red hot Nebraska teams
00:17 coming off a great win.
00:18 So we need an excellent practice today and all of our focus on that game tomorrow.
00:22 >> And you've been playing now bigs in every game for
00:26 really formidable opponents like McKenzie Holmes or Sarah Williams.
00:28 And now tomorrow night, you'll just have Alexis Markowski,
00:31 we have Natalie Potts too is a freshman, but she's really helping open things up.
00:35 What do you kind of see there?
00:36 >> Yeah, no, their post play is really good.
00:37 And obviously when you combine that with like Chad Shelley on a perimeter,
00:41 they've got good balance in their offense and how they can score the ball.
00:43 So our defense will need to be really on point for us to be successful.
00:47 >> And does it help you at all?
00:49 They just beat Iowa, you've been in that spot a couple weeks ago,
00:52 where you kind of maybe have a little letdown after that big high of a win.
00:56 How do you kind of take advantage of that?
00:58 >> Yeah, we'll see.
00:58 I mean, sometimes people can have a letdown and
01:01 sometimes they also inspire a lot of confidence and
01:03 they can come in here and play really well.
01:05 So it's just on us to be prepared and to be at our best and
01:08 hopefully be able to dictate the outcome that we want.
01:12 >> Kevin, you obviously don't want Cody or JC on the bench with foul trouble.
01:14 But what does it say about the growth and the still upward momentum of this team
01:18 that you all were able to do what you did with them spending so
01:20 much time on the bench?
01:21 >> Yeah, I mean, we unfortunately in the defense and got in foul trouble, but
01:24 we had other people step up.
01:25 Celeste was really good in that first half.
01:28 Taylor Theory was good, Rebecca, other people, and
01:30 we had people come off the bench and play well.
01:32 So we have a deep team, I think that's a strength of ours.
01:34 So hopefully they can continue to evolve and
01:37 we can withstand foul trouble when it happens.
01:40 >> How does Rebecca specifically help take you guys to a next level?
01:43 >> Well, she's a unique player because she can score around the basket, but
01:46 she can also shoot threes.
01:47 And I think just her ability to stretch the floor just gives us great spacing on
01:51 offense.
01:52 And that's kind of a big part of how we approach that end of the floor.
01:56 >> And now have you seen kind of her post defense and
01:58 offense get much better?
01:59 And that drop step on offense has become automatic.
02:02 >> Yeah, she's being really patient around the basket and making efficient moves.
02:06 And her defense has gotten significantly better.
02:08 She's more physical and
02:09 just really making it harder for post players to score around the basket.
02:13 >> Kevin, you've talked a little bit in the past about how the program now,
02:16 you have more culture fits.
02:18 Maybe not as highly rated as some players that you used to have in the program, but
02:22 now players that just kind of fit more with the cultural program.
02:25 Was there a moment or what kind of led to that shift for
02:29 you where you thought yourself for this program to get to the next level?
02:32 We need to make this change.
02:33 >> I think it's just kind of evolved over time.
02:35 It's just I felt like early on, I mean, we had great kids and
02:38 really talented teams and good teams who were successful.
02:41 But maybe we just had one or two that really didn't fit and
02:43 kind of threw things off.
02:44 And so in general, it's just kind of been an evolution,
02:48 kind of a slow burn type thing.
02:50 >> And as you brought in those types of players, Ricky, JC, Madison, Rebecca,
02:55 how important have they been not only in just kind of taking the program to where
02:58 it is now, but getting through some really difficult times in 2019,
03:02 20 with just everything that happened in the program.
03:04 How important have they been?
03:05 >> Yeah, they're high character kids who wanna be here and
03:07 wanna do something special.
03:08 So really anything you do that's gonna be great is gonna be based on people like
03:13 that, so we're fortunate to have great kids like that in the program.
03:16 >> Kevin, you've talked a couple times this year about not just a slow burn,
03:20 but getting better at basketball throughout the year.
03:22 This team being so experienced, how did that help?
03:24 You said you lost, you got an hour of a loss there.
03:28 How did that help rebound this group after this?
03:31 >> Yeah, we handled some tough losses early, and I think it showed their character
03:34 that we could take a tough loss and continue to work hard and
03:38 practice in a manner that allows us to get better.
03:39 And I think along the way there is, we've just gotten better overall, but
03:45 individually, Cody's playing much better, Celeste is more comfortable,
03:48 Madison's coming along.
03:49 So we've had some personnel really make some big jumps.
03:52 Emma's been off the bench really good, and people like that.
03:55 So it's been overall team growth, but
03:58 some individual stepping up which has really contributed to that growth.
04:02 >> In the last couple years on this basketball,
04:04 you've seen a lot of parity.
04:05 Number two spot has gone to a ball in door.
04:07 >> Yeah.
04:09 >> Can you just speak to just what it's like on a national scale right now with
04:12 just the parity and politics?
04:14 >> Yeah, I mean, I think this year South Carolina's probably shown to be the best
04:17 team so far.
04:18 So it's sort of South Carolina, a whole bunch of other people behind them.
04:20 We happen to have won several games in a row.
04:23 So we're in that two spot now, and it could be 19 other teams.
04:27 I really think there's 20 teams that are probably good enough to be in that two
04:30 spot.
04:30 So we'll see, but there is a lot of parity.
04:34 And it'll be interesting to kind of see how it evolves as we head down to
04:37 the home stretch of the season.
04:38 >> Kevin, when you have such a great second half team like Nebraska, and
04:41 you saw it almost 30 points up in the fourth quarter itself.
04:45 And you guys have been great in the third quarter also.
04:47 How do you expect to combat them with your third quarter?
04:50 >> Yeah, I don't know, we'll see.
04:51 Like I said, they're playing really well right now, obviously.
04:53 And they've been really good in the second half, and
04:55 they did an amazing job closing out that game versus Iowa.
04:58 So we'll have to be ready to play a 40 minute game.
05:00 I don't think we can show up and play just a good second half and beat them.
05:04 We're gonna have to be good for closer to 40 minutes.
05:07 >> And just another question.
05:09 I don't know if you saw, I'm sure you saw today,
05:11 JC and Cody were named to the top 30 for the national player of the year.
05:15 What do you have to say to that?
05:16 >> Yeah, it's great.
05:16 I mean, they both had outstanding seasons to this point.
05:19 And it's great to see them get that recognition.
05:21 They both worked really hard to put themselves in this place.
05:25 >> How difficult is it with Nebraska?
05:26 They have ten players who play at least ten minutes a game.
05:28 How tough is it to get prepared against a team that is so deep?
05:33 I mean, against Iowa, they have a freshman guard getting 15 off the bench.
05:37 >> Yeah, no, they're deep.
05:39 And one of the things I think we have success with a lot of people in the league
05:42 because they're not deep.
05:43 And we press, we play fast, and we can wear people down.
05:45 I don't think that'll be the case tomorrow because of their depth.
05:48 >> And last question, Taylor Theory has also been getting in foul trouble lately.
05:52 Are you seeing just the way she's playing is changing,
05:54 the way she's getting calls against her is changing?
05:57 What's going on with her?
05:58 >> Yeah, I don't know.
05:59 I don't know if there's any one thing, but she's gotta continue to be aggressive and
06:04 play just with some anticipation and just a sense of urgency.
06:11 And but do it without getting in foul trouble, for sure, cuz we need her out.
06:15 - Thanks, man. - Thanks.