Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso speaks to the media on Feb. 13, 2024.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 Coach if you don't mind starting us off by chatting a little bit about what you saw this
00:06 past weekend.
00:07 I asked the team today to rank our performance 1-10.
00:16 I had a lot of 4's, I had a lot of 5's, and I had a few 6's.
00:21 And we just beat two top 10 teams with that level of performance.
00:27 That's something to look at and go hey.
00:30 They were not happy but they competed and that's what's important to me.
00:36 So it's a good start, absolutely a good start.
00:40 And to me I would say we were probably at a 5 plus.
00:45 So we had a really good practice today because they want to get better each weekend.
00:51 So I was pleased with it even when we weren't.
00:54 We don't want to be at our best yet, definitely not.
00:57 So it was good wins, it was a good weekend.
01:01 Patty could you talk a little bit about what you liked most out of Kelly and then I'm wondering
01:07 just if you can kind of give us an idea as she's worked with Jen what they've tried to
01:12 focus on and really build up with her.
01:17 I felt her really confident and one thing that we have talked about as a team is we
01:23 can win without any one of you.
01:25 Take any of you away, we're still going to win.
01:27 So you don't have to be the big hero.
01:29 You don't have to pitch the perfect game.
01:31 You don't have to hit a home run, over swing.
01:34 You don't have to be that bad athlete.
01:37 And I think some of them resignated to that.
01:40 I think Kelly was really starting to hit stride towards the end of January.
01:46 So I was really excited to see her up against someone else.
01:50 She was cool and calm and money.
01:54 It was really enjoyable to watch.
01:57 I think Jen and Kelly kind of started from ground zero.
02:03 Kelly hadn't really looked at numbers, didn't look at a lot of video.
02:07 So there was a lot of exploring, a lot of learning.
02:11 I think Kelly has learned a lot from Jen Rocha and it's really starting to stick and it's
02:17 really starting to show in her pitches.
02:20 She was really sharp and she was very, I just felt her very confident.
02:27 And I can't say that she's been extremely overconfident while she's been here.
02:32 Because she has to keep facing that lineup.
02:36 So I think they were all relieved to see somebody else.
02:38 >> Was it video of herself or video of hitters or combination of both?
02:42 >> Both.
02:43 >> Okay.
02:44 >> Combination of both.
02:45 >> Gotcha.
02:46 >> You referred to Cassidy last week as a power hitter.
02:49 She really impressed.
02:50 I know we saw that with the grand slam.
02:53 But it seemed like she also had some timely hits too.
02:55 Just from her, what did you see from her last week?
02:59 And how important is that maybe for her confidence to hit the way she did?
03:03 >> She is a really mature hitter for her age.
03:06 And I can hear her talk at practice.
03:08 And she's talking with the seniors and she's talking their language.
03:11 So it's pretty cool to hear that.
03:15 She's got a good feel for the ball.
03:16 Her swing is really, really pretty swing.
03:19 She can cover the plate really well.
03:21 There are times when she'll get a little outside of the zone.
03:25 But I didn't feel nerves from her.
03:28 I think she was very timely offensively.
03:33 She played really, really well enough to be named one of the all tournament team members.
03:39 So I'm really proud of her.
03:43 >> Patty, you said last week about Riley Ludwell.
03:46 And that was one swing.
03:47 She might be able to change something.
03:48 We saw that happen, obviously.
03:49 Just what is it about her that gives you so much confidence?
03:58 >> She kind of doesn't know what she doesn't know.
04:02 And I know she's a senior, but she doesn't know what she doesn't know.
04:05 Do you know what I'm talking about?
04:08 Sometimes when athletes know a lot, they just start letting their mind tick.
04:16 She just gets up there.
04:18 And it was a big moment.
04:19 And she was kind of surprised that we called on her.
04:22 And I looked at her eyes.
04:23 I'm like, oh, no.
04:24 Oh, no.
04:25 Because they were like me.
04:26 And she grabs that.
04:29 And she starts to hyperventilate a little bit.
04:31 So JT walked over and we were trying to get her to get her breathing down.
04:37 She just wanted to attack really early in the count.
04:40 And she's got good long levers.
04:42 She covers the plate really well.
04:45 A powerful swing.
04:48 Even if she swings hard and even mishits it, it's still going to find a place.
04:52 That was really such a cool moment for her first at bat as a sooner.
04:58 She'll never forget.
04:59 >> Jams and then Chapman.
05:00 >> Patty, can you explain the obstruction rule, please?
05:01 >> No, I cannot.
05:02 >> I think you know.
05:03 >> I don't either.
05:04 So I really -- >> I'm not trying to get you into trouble.
05:05 >> No, I know.
05:06 I can't.
05:07 As soon as I saw Kenzie Hansen go down on the news, I thought this is going to be called.
05:21 And there are ways that like the rule can be explained in another way where you'll say
05:27 that that's not the issue.
05:28 It's going out to evolve.
05:30 But it happened pretty immediately.
05:33 And there are no cameras out there.
05:35 And it was like a dead issue.
05:37 I could not do anything about it.
05:39 So it's almost like umpires see it.
05:41 They see it early.
05:42 They want to call it immediately without letting it register sometimes.
05:47 And it's -- the rule has changed.
05:49 So I think we're all getting used to what this should look like still.
05:52 >> Would you like to see it changed some more?
05:55 >> Yes, I would.
05:56 >> What are you running into this weekend, this schedule that you're playing?
06:02 >> Some good teams.
06:03 I mean, Central Arkansas was a tournament team last year.
06:11 Lamar is a program on the rise.
06:14 McNeese, if you all remember, had one of the most exciting super regionals.
06:19 They were almost at the World Series.
06:22 They -- looking at their numbers, they have over 148 stolen bases last year, which is
06:28 unheard of.
06:30 So it's going to be fast and furious.
06:31 It's going to be a lot of short game slapping, runners in motion.
06:34 Our defense is going to have to be on point.
06:38 So they had a good weekend this last weekend.
06:41 I think they lost to Cal Berkeley in their first game.
06:45 But they're a very solid team.
06:49 >> You talk a lot about Riley Boone kind of being under-talked about in a way.
06:54 Seems like -- I was talking with JT earlier.
06:55 It seems like her bunt that just dies has gotten somehow better this offseason.
07:01 Where else have you seen her continued development from where she was last year, which was a
07:04 huge part of the lineup?
07:07 >> She's got a lot of weapons.
07:08 And I think people think she's a short game, like a slapper.
07:12 So people play her in a little bit.
07:14 And that's one thing that I love about her, is she can mix you up a little bit and make
07:19 you feel like she's going to do something and then change.
07:22 She did such a great job going opposite.
07:25 She's a smart hitter.
07:27 She's a really smart hitter.
07:28 She knows the game very well.
07:30 She kind of knows what we need.
07:33 And some of these guys this weekend, they were over-swinging big.
07:36 They were trying to hit home runs.
07:39 They were swinging at pitches out of the zone.
07:42 Riley Boone was in lockdown mode.
07:44 I felt her the whole weekend just in the moment, not trying to do anything more than she needed
07:50 to do.
07:51 And she easily could have been an MVP of that weekend as well.
07:56 >> Eli and the neighbor.
07:58 You were excited about Cassidy on your way to Mexico, and she impressed.
08:03 We all saw the hitting.
08:04 But whether it was this weekend or in the lead up, in the offseason, what are the other
08:08 pieces that have impressed you with her in being so ready so soon?
08:12 >> Maturity, I think.
08:15 The ability to ask upperclassmen and listen to upperclassmen versus, I'm afraid, I don't
08:25 want to show, I don't know.
08:27 She's really honest.
08:28 She will be our future captain.
08:30 It's very clear to me.
08:31 And I've even said it to her.
08:32 She's like, yeah, yeah, I know.
08:33 I'm like, okay, let's do that then.
08:34 So it's just a different style that's unlike freshmen.
08:41 She's not scared of anything.
08:42 And that shows.
08:43 >> Yeah, Patty, you touched on it with the obstruction rule, but I wanted to ask, what
08:52 stood out to you about the new rules that have been in place this year, especially not
08:57 only that one, but the timing and the communication devices?
09:00 >> I think the communication devices work pretty well.
09:06 They do speed up the game until yours doesn't work.
09:10 And then the umpire is like, ball.
09:13 What are we supposed to do if it doesn't work?
09:16 The timing rules, I think people probably watching really like it, but it's pressure.
09:23 It's stressful.
09:24 Our hitters like to get themselves comfortable.
09:28 And so we felt pressed in our first game without question.
09:32 And that game against Duke was a lot closer than what people thought.
09:37 They're a very good team, and we could feel a little bit of pressure of trying to get
09:42 in the box and me deliver the signal.
09:44 And everything has to work really well.
09:46 So at practice, you're seeing a 20-second clock every day on that scoreboard.
09:52 So we could work on it.
09:53 I need them to understand that just because you're so-and-so doesn't mean they're not
09:58 going to come in.
09:59 They're waiting.
10:00 They're counting it down.
10:02 I wish that coaches could have this electronic or some kind of something where we could just
10:09 cover our mouth and tell you what you're doing, and away we go.
10:13 You want to pick up more time, we could really do it that way.
10:17 So yeah, it's a little bit of a challenge.
10:20 You can feel the energy a little bit different, like press, like pushed a little bit.
10:26 I didn't like that, but we're going to have to live with it.
10:31 >> More Mason than Jenny.
10:32 Patty, you talked about Kelly, but how would you assess Nicole and the rest of the pitching
10:36 staff after the first weekend?
10:37 >> Yeah, really good.
10:38 I think our game against, I believe it was Duke, Nicole, no, Irvine Valley.
10:46 No, not Irvine Valley.
10:47 They don't have softball.
10:48 >> Utah.
10:49 >> Utah Valley.
10:50 >> Utah Valley.
10:51 >> Put you in the way back machine.
10:52 >> Isn't that a junior college?
10:53 I do refer back to my junior college days at random times, like right now when you're
10:57 all asking me these questions.
10:58 >> There's somebody in California going, "Woohoo!"
10:59 We just got mentioned.
11:00 >> Okay, pitchers.
11:01 Nicole started well, and then, I think it was a little bit of a challenge.
11:02 I think she was a little bit of a slow starter.
11:03 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
11:04 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
11:05 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
11:06 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
11:07 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
11:08 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
11:09 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
11:10 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
11:32 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:00 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:01 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:02 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:03 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:04 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:05 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:06 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:07 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:08 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:09 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:10 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:11 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:12 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:13 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:14 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:15 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:16 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:17 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:18 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
12:42 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:03 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:31 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:32 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:33 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:34 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:35 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:36 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:37 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:38 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:39 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:40 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:41 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:42 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:43 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:44 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:45 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:46 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:47 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:48 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
13:49 She was a little bit of a slow starter.
14:13 She was a little bit of a slow starter.