KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee head coach Holly Warlick and senior guard/forward Meme Jackson met with the media on Monday ahead of the No. 9 Lady Vols’ home game against No. 8 Stanford on Tuesday. Tip is slated for 6:02 p.m. ET and will be aired on the SEC Network.
Tennessee enters the match-up with a perfect 8-0 record after defeating No. 12 Texas on the road, 88-82, on Dec. 9. Stanford (7-1) comes to Knoxville on the heels of upsetting (then) No. 3/4 Baylor at home on Saturday, 68-63.
This marks the 36th meeting between these schools. Tennessee, which won last season in Maples Pavilion, 83-71, leads the all-time series with Stanford, 25-10. UT has won two straight in the series and three of the past four meetings, giving Warlick a 3-3 record against Hall of Famer Tara VanDerveer.
With the early start time on Tuesday night, Thompson-Boling Arena gates will be opening at 5 p.m. ET.
Head Coach Holly Warlick
On the difference in the Stanford team this year compared to last year:
“They are more mature and playing really well together. It is a different offense they are running, so it is different. They are playing really well right now.”
On what Stanford has changed offensively:
“They’re spreading the floor out more, playing every position. They can score; (they play) solid defense. They are getting good play from their point guard. (Kiana) Williams is playing really well and leading her team. They are just different and better in each position because they are older.”
On what this game means for the team:
“It is another really tough opponent for us. I assume they’ll be top 10 after their win over Baylor. They played Baylor really strong and really well. It is just a big game for both of us. It is big for us because it is good to be back home and playing Stanford. Stanford is always a huge game for us.”
On how much confidence (Meme) Jackson has after scoring a career-high 33 points against Texas:
“I think that she should be confident. She has been in the gym and had one of the best scoring games she has had at Tennessee (against Texas). She has that ability. Meme has just matured in her thinking process. She is a lot more positive with herself, but that is because she has put time in. The only way you can get confidence is by putting time in, and Meme has put the work in.”
On whether she wants Jackson to look for more shots:
“Absolutely. I think she got the opportunity to shoot the basketball (against Texas), and she did. I don’t think she hunts for shots, but I think when the game is like that and it comes to her. I think Meme has a great shot, and if she’s open I want her to take it. I don’t want her to take bad shots just to get her numbers up, but just create like she did.”
On whether Westbrook scoring is good for Jackson:
“Absolutely. It helps our inside. Against Texas, we didn’t have an inside presence so much as going to them because (Cheridene) Green was so much smaller than their big kids. I think it helps when Westbrook is scoring or when (Rennia) Davis is scoring; it takes a lot off of Meme and the rest of them.”
On what the difference has been for Westbrook in the last four games:
“She is leading her team. She is taking great shots for her. She is letting off. She is not forcing the ball, so I just think she is a little more comfortable in what she’s doing.”
On what she said to Westbrook during the offseason:
“I just wanted her to get in the gym. Just get in the gym and work on her game. She and I watched turnovers form last year and (discussed) how to correct them. I think she has matured and is more confident in what she is doing. She has always been solid with her knowledge of the game. She is just going to continue to get better.”
On how big these next four games will be and what they’ll work on before SEC play:
“We’ve got to reel in our turnovers a little bit. We are turning the ball over too many times for us. Continue to get our defense solid, and we have to do that tomorrow. Move the ball and make the defense have to move and not take quick shots. Those kind of things. The next four games will be huge leading into the SEC. If we can just go in strong to the start of SEC conference play, it will be huge for us.”
On whether Kushkituah can play and how much has she been able to practice:
“She is good to go. She has been gradually coming back in the last five days. I am not sure if she is full speed yet, but it is just a comfort level for her.”
On the turnaround on free throws for Westbrook:
“Just getting in the gym. It is just shooting and getting in the gym. And reps, reps and reps. It just gives her confidence. She has gotten in the gym and shot. When you see them go in and make them, she gets more confidence, and she is confident stepping up onto the line.”
Senior Guard/Forward Meme Jackson
On these next games being big for momentum heading into SEC play:
“They are big. Stanford just beat the No. 3 team, so they are coming in with a lot of confidence. That would be a big win for us.”
On what they are looking out for against Stanford:
“They do a lot of screen action. They do a lot of split screens, so we are going to have to guard the pops and flares. We have to get physical with them and try to break up their offense.”
On her extra work she has been putting in:
“Just getting in extra work is building my confidence. Me and Dean (Lockwood) are in the gym about an hour before or after practice. That is helping me build my confidence, and my teammates know that I’m building confidence so they are giving me great looks.”
On her game mentality:
“Just playing hard, giving it all I’ve got and not leaving a game with regrets.”
On her play style:
“A lot of times I settle for threes. The Texas game helped me realize I can use my ball skills and get to the rim more than I have been doing.”
On her style of play:
“I’m still defensive minded. I know that I need to be aggressive on the offensive end, so if I need to take it to the bucket or shoot a three, that’s what I’m going to do.”
On Evina Westbrook:
“Evina has been a great leader for us, and she has been really aggressive. That’s what a point guard is supposed to do. If we need a bucket, she will get a bucket, and if we need to pass, she’s going to pass. She has been playing really good, and that’s what we need from her.”
On Evina’s leadership qualities:
“She has been vocal and she has led by example. She has taken over these last couple of games, and that’s what we need her to do.”
On Evina’s scoring opening up her game:
“That’s with everyone. If our post players are scoring and sucking the defense in, that is going to give us open looks when they kick it out. It all relates.”
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