Ohio State big Rebeka Mikulasikova breaks down Nebraska's big man duo and how her mentality has helped her grow.
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00:00 >> Thank you.
00:02 Hi Whitney.
00:03 You're playing Alexa Markowski tomorrow night.
00:06 It's been a long line now game for
00:07 you're playing these other really dominant bigs.
00:10 Like what do you feel about the matchup and playing against her for now third time?
00:14 >> I think she's a great player.
00:15 She can play inside, she can play outside as well.
00:18 Like she's a great shooter.
00:19 So I think just like coach said, like getting ready for the next game,
00:24 just making sure we scout her well and just prepare for inside and outside game.
00:29 >> And they're also a really deep team.
00:30 They have 10 players who play at least 10 minutes a game.
00:33 Like, how does that change anything for you all?
00:36 >> I think we are also a very deep team.
00:40 So I think we're both very dangerous offensively.
00:43 So like I said, just getting ready for them, just scouting every single player.
00:49 Like they're all really good.
00:50 >> And then, sorry.
00:52 Last question, last year you all hit number two in the country and
00:56 then had a rough spell against like Iowa and Indiana.
00:59 Dude, this year you hit the number two ranking again.
01:01 Is it easier this season to kind of tune it out after last year?
01:06 >> Yeah, I think we're not trying to think about that.
01:08 Just like I said, prepare for the next game and
01:13 the most important game is the next one.
01:15 So just not focusing on numbers.
01:17 >> Thank you.
01:18 >> Rebecca, start calling.
01:19 >> How much more confident are you defensively right now?
01:22 It seems like you're really kind of settling in.
01:24 Do you feel more confident defensively in the post?
01:27 >> I think that's something I've worked on a lot during offseason.
01:32 And just having this trust and like from my teammates and
01:35 from coaches that helps a lot so I feel more confident.
01:38 >> Rebecca, it seems like you're so much more confident,
01:42 especially with your three now.
01:43 What has changed from last season, especially last couple months to now?
01:46 >> I think just working on my mental, just mentality.
01:53 And just to not get in my head so much if things don't go my way.
01:57 So that helped a lot.
01:59 >> Rebecca, kind of off that, JC mentioned that you've grown so
02:03 much both physically and mentally over the course of the last year.
02:06 What was kind of the focus for you this offseason that you think has helped
02:09 paying off a year in a row?
02:11 >> Like I said, just changing my mentality, knowing that my teammates trust me and
02:16 see the progress and the work I put in, that means so much.
02:20 And I think I just try to take that into the games and
02:23 translate that into play better.
02:25 >> For you, you played a long, nice string of really good post players.
02:31 UCLA, you had another game where you went a little down to post.
02:34 What did you learn from that game that's helping you now in the back of the seat?
02:38 >> Yeah, UCLA game was very important to me, just seeing how great their post is.
02:43 And everywhere, Big Ten has great post players.
02:48 Just like I said, working on my confidence that I can guard them,
02:52 I can defend them, even though they're really good.
02:54 So that helped into the next games as well.
02:57 >> How much fun is it for you to bring them out when you're on offense,
03:01 to bring them out from the post and know, okay, I've got this now?
03:04 >> I think that's where I'm the most comfortable in, just shooting.
03:08 I love it.
03:09 I think that's a great thing to do, to play inside and
03:13 out cuz the defender never know what you're gonna do next.
03:16 So I like that.
03:18 >> With the defense, I guess how much of that confidence you have there comes from
03:22 this team overall, I guess, being a little stronger on the defensive end,
03:26 especially in the half court with bringing Celeste Taylor in and
03:29 everybody just kinda having another game.
03:31 >> I feel like we're a really good team when it comes to being aggressive and
03:35 defend players.
03:35 So I feel like I had to step up and help them, especially in the post area.
03:39 So it's great to know we have other four people on the court that will play defense.
03:43 >> You mentioned you feel very comfortable on the three.
03:48 To have somebody like Cody, who maybe not your height, very physical in the post as
03:52 well, it seems like the pick and pop with you two is really dangerous.
03:55 How have you seen that develop?
03:59 >> I love playing with Cody.
04:00 I feel like she's really great inside game, even driving and
04:03 getting all these people to double team you, triple team you.
04:06 So I feel like stepping out and her passing me the ball and
04:11 other way around, passing her ball is a great thing.
04:14 I love playing with her.
04:15 I think she's a great player.
04:16 >> Are you ready?
04:19 >> Thank you.