Kelsey speaks with media at Monday press conference
December 20, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2011
Watch Kelsey's press conference 
MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin head coach Bobbie Kelsey previews this week's game against Green Bay and looks ahead to Big Ten play at this week's press conference.
Archived video of the media session is available through the link above, and a complete transcript of Kelsey’s remarks can be found below.
Bobbie Kelsey: We have had a much needed break, we’re in the finals, with the school work academically and the kids are balancing the finals they have with practice and weights and all the other things they have to do. So we’re looking forward to the game on Friday.
QUESTION #1: There are certain things that you’ve been trying to hammer home that obviously you’ve learned from early in the season. Have you had a little more time to do so or is it kind of difficult, like you mentioned, juggling that practice versus finals?
KELSEY: No, finals is easier, a little easier because you know the set times. It’s not like class all day, and then they have to come in at a set time. We can adjust practice around how many people have finals. So it’s good because the other ones can get shots up and work on things that they need to work on. Just that break is nice, just not having games back to back or in two or three days a piece. That’s the nice thing about the finals week.
QUESTION #2: I know with finals, that’s what they’re concentrating on, but do you sit down with the players individually and kind of go through things, not only individually, but as a team, what more you are looking for from them?
KELSEY: This week, I’ve watched video with each one of them individually myself. Sometimes you have the assistants watch, but it’s kind of different when I watch with them. They recognize some things in the video, just for learning purposes, not necessarily you didn’t do this or didn’t do that, but just what you can do better.
And when they see it on film, again, it makes it a little bit more real to them because the video does not lie. But this week we’ll watch a little bit more of other teams doing well against our opponents. It gives them confidence to know that they can do it as well, and the things it’s going to take to win these individual games.
QUESTION #3: This is your first year as a head coach. Do you have to kind of evaluate yourself as well from these first few games? A little more time, and say, what are some things I can do differently or better or whatever the case may be?
KELSEY: Oh, yeah, I’m always evaluating myself. I didn’t quite understand it last year and the years subsequent to last year because I was an assistant, but now I know how Tara felt and all the different ones I worked for. It’s not easy when you have to make the final decision. And we’re always, I’m always critiquing myself to see where I can help them to play better and also the strategies and schemes during the games, did we stay in this too long, did we not adjust? That’s my job and our job as coaches is to get, to make those adjustments throughout the game and at half-time. So we’re always doing that.
QUESTION #4: Are you in contact a lot with Tara and asking her for advice?
KELSEY: Not right now because she has her own worries with her team, but she’s someone I do think about what would she do in this situation sometimes, and try to adjust or if I was having that situation at Stanford, what did we do there to make it a little bit different or to adjust to the situation. So I think we’ve done that pretty well. I mean, we were down by nine against Drake and fought back in that game and made some adjustments.
You’re always trying to think what can you do different or better to help ourselves and not hurt ourselves. So we are constantly doing that whether it’s during the game or on our off days or even before practices meeting as a staff and those different things like that.
QUESTION #5: In a follow-up to that, do you get feedback from the players as well as to what you and your staff can do to improve?
KELSEY: Well, they probably think it more than they say it. We do ask them if they see something, tell us. You know, they’re playing, we’re not. It’s different when you sit on the bench. Even when you’re a coach, it’s a lot different. The players, when they’re sitting out, it’s like do you all see what we’re seeing? I guess sometimes they nod their head just to agree, but I think sometimes they do see, like wow, that is bad or that is good.
And then I always tell them, try not to go out and duplicate the same mistakes or do the same thing well. But I think the injured players see it more than anybody because they really are sitting and watching. But I told them, we don’t need six coaches, five coaches, you get healthy and play.
QUESTION #6: Forgive me for stirring the pot, but there were some interesting things said after you were hired here, and the Green Bay coach was also up for the job as well. Are you additionally motivated, do you think your players will be additionally motivated to play Green Bay on Friday?
KELSEY: That’s for the players, they get motivated. It’s like a parent. If somebody says something about your mom, you’re going to get pretty upset about that. So, not that they knew me coming in, but whoever the coach that was picked for the job, you want to go out make that person look good, not only for them, but for yourself or your school.
So I don’t really get into that. It is what it is. The media writes what they feel like will sell their papers and things of that nature. So, whatever was said, I haven’t even read it. I don’t even know what was said. People just tell me what was said. But I don’t get into that. Players play, coaches coach, and, but for the players, I’m sure it’s a little extra motivation.
QUESTION #7: Green Bay has obviously been a pretty good team for the past few years and starts a tough stretch for you guys. How important is this first game and, obviously being your last non-conference game before you dive into Big Ten play?
KELSEY: Well, it’s important just because it’s a great team that’s done well historically. They’ve taken care of their business, gotten to the NCAA tournament, have beaten some pretty good teams along the way. They’re ranked, I mean, they have everything on their side as far as the press clippings and whatnot. But you know, that’s why you still play the game. If you go by that, then, you know, you can pretty much put a W in their column if you just go by what’s in the stats and what’s on paper.
But our kids, like I said, they’re not going to back down from anyone. We’re going to play, and hopefully, well. We want to play well for ourselves and for our fans, and that we know we can. You’re always playing against yourself. You know, the other team is going to do their stuff, you know. They’re going to run their plays, they’re going to shoot the ball, they’re going to rebound. It’s just who does it better and who does it longer and who makes that play at the end or gets that rebound or that box-out. That’s what it really comes down to.
Of course, you don’t want to dig a hole like we have in the past. You got to give yourself a chance in the game. You don’t want to dig a hole, but obviously, if you play well enough to keep it even and tied up and close, then you’re giving yourself an opportunity. It could go either way.
QUESTION #8: And with some time in between games, have you had a chance to maybe look a little bit more at the Big Ten, because obviously, that’s starting too? And if you have a good idea of what you think the Big Ten season is going to bring your club, because it looks like it’s a pretty daunting conference.
KELSEY: It’s tough. The upper half of the league is ranked. Beating people by these scores that I haven’t seen, but again, you got to look at who they’re playing and where, it’s a lot of factors that go into what these teams’ records are right now. I’m not trying to put anybody down, but you know, it all depends on who you’re playing and when and where.
So we’re going to take it game by game. I try not to look too far ahead. Obviously, you want to prepare the kids for the things they’re going to see as far as, if you’re going, if a certain team presses, then you have to work on your press. You can’t wait for the day before the game to work on the press. So we’re working on being pressured all the time because I think teams are going to pressure us. If they watch any tape, when we get pressured, it’s a little bit more difficult for us.
But we’re working on it every day. We’ve cut down our turnovers quite a bit. That’s a testament to the kids and really taking care of the ball, understanding the importance and value in the basketball. And, you know, we just have to execute better and score. You know, scores win. If you watched that Baylor/Connecticut game last night, Connecticut was in it because they hit shots. Now Baylor pulled it out, but it wasn’t by much. So you know, you have to hit shots. You got to put the ball in the basket.
