Everything Southern Cal head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said after loss to South Carolina

Southern Cal head women’s basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb spoke to the media following the team’s 69-52 loss to South Carolina on Saturday. Here’s everything she had to say.

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Opening statement

“Appreciate the sponsors and Lea (Miller-Tooley) and Mallory (Shurtz) and their team (at Complete Sports Management) for putting on an incredible event. It was a great vibe; it was a great atmosphere, games we want to be part of. No doubt, they did their part to have it live up to that.

“We want these kinds of games to teach us where we need to be and where we need to get to. Credit South Carolina for doing what they do really well. Obviously, they destroyed us on the boards. They’re good in transition, and they’re really good defensively.

“I saw some things for our team I really liked. I thought we had some fight, some things to build on. Obviously, we’re not yet where we need to be, but I think this game will really help us get there in an expedited fashion. Excited about what’s next for us, but disappointed with the fact that we couldn’t hold on and be a little bit more competitive down the stretch tonight.”

Can you talk about how South Carolina’s length and athleticism affected your gameplay?

“I mean, it’s one thing to talk about it. It’s one thing to see it on film, and it’s another thing to experience it. They do have a lot of length, especially in the interior. We talked about the fact that, when they collapse, the sprays might be out to shooters. We had a rough time shooting the ball — which, obviously, let it stay collapsed more and more. I thought, at times, we had some good reads with our guards getting to the rim and making a play and kicking it. And then, other times, the length bothered us.

“I told our team in there, 52 points is not going to win us a lot of games. We’d like to, if we had to, win a rock fight 52-51. But I know that we’re capable of scoring against any kind of team. And again, we wouldn’t know that if we’re blowing someone out by 40. So, I’d rather get it handed to us tonight, even though it doesn’t feel good, and understand what we’re capable of doing and getting there eventually.”

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Is this the type of pace that you would prefer the team play, or would you like an up-tempo style?

“I mean, I don’t think the pace was the issue; I don’t think we tried to play it slow. I think we went 1-for-14 from three and had trouble finishing at the rim. So, yeah, I’d love to score in the 80s every night. Like, we want to play fast. When we have to execute in the half-court, we want to be able to do that, too.

“I think this is a team that can run and create some mismatches for people. And I don’t think it was pace. I think it was a lack of ability to put the ball in the basket. So, yeah, we want to be faster. Like I said, South Carolina, I think, having played them, will help us get faster and be able to get more run-outs and play in transition. And, when our threes start dropping, that’ll obviously help the production, as well.”

Early in the season, how do you measure where your identity is?

“Well, we have the hardest schedule in the country, I think, by a lot of different metrics. While, in some ways, that can be difficult because you’re under duress so much, I think it’s actually the best way to figure out your identity if you want to be good, if you ultimately want to reach close to your potential. So, I think it’s easier to figure out how to get really good when we’re challenged.

“We learned a lot of things about ourselves against NC State. I think we’ll learn, hopefully, equally, if not more, tonight about what we can be really good at, what we need to get a lot better at. But it is a process. We have everyone doing something new on our team — from (Kennedy Smith), who played a ton of minutes last year but is doing new things this year; to Kara (Dunn), who’s been an all-conference player but is doing new things with us; to Jazzy (Davidson), who’s brand new to college basketball across the board.

“So, I think our collective upside is high. But you got to stay together and figure it out when you don’t win a game — the same way that you do when you feel good and you win a game.”

What makes Joyce Edwards a different challenge at the four position compared to NC State’s Khamil Pierre, who you did really nice job against last weekend?

“They’re both really good players, obviously. I’ll just talk about Joyce, right? Just, in general, her length. She’s really lengthy. So, even if you feel like you’ve contained the possession, she’s still a little slithery and can get over the top. I think the pace that South Carolina plays at lets her get out in transition a little bit.

“They’re both really, really good. But, I would say, just the motor piece is a big part of what Joyce brings to the table. And she’s excellent.”

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