LSU HEAD COACH SUE GUNTER QUOTES — Feb. 11, 2003
On winning two games on the road against ranked opponents and getting prepared to play Thursday
“You have to turn around and think what Alabama must be thinking right now because I think we are their fifth or sixth ranked team in a row. Let me just say this to sum it up: if Alabama were in any other conference than the SEC their record would not be what it is right now, point being they are a good basketball team. On any give night any team can beat another one in the SEC and I think that is no exception with Alabama. Their record is not great but when you look at what they are capable of doing, like we have not played a team yet this year that shoots the three like they do and when they get on a roll they just get unconscious with it. We go to their place last year in a game we needed to win desperately and they hit 12 out of 18 threes against us. I think for us it goes back to what we have been talking about and that is maintaining our focus, keeping our poise and intensity. We need to realize at this point we are playing for two different things. They have nothing to lose and I expect Jamilah (Johns) to have a good game because she was with us for two years. She transferred to Alabama and has really been a fine player for them over the two years so you know she will be pumped. Rick (Moody) does a good job coaching and so it is just one of those games where we have to erase everything else and stay focused on what our goal and objective is. It is another SEC game and we are coming off of a tough run and we have some aches and pains and are a little gimpy and hopefully we will be better by Thursday. It is just another huge game for us.”
On the injury situation
“I expect Ayisha (Smith) and Seimone (Augustus) to work tomorrow. Seimone probably could have worked today but we felt it was better for her to stay off of it today and continue to rehab, she and Ayisha both but they will work tomorrow and be ready to go by Thursday. It is not serious but there is no sense of urgency to rush it today because we have tomorrow to work and then the shoot around on Thursday.”