QUOTES: NC State's Press Conference

NC State's Wes Moore, Akela Maize, and Chelsea Nelson met with the media to discuss tonight's Sweet Sixteen matchup against No. 1 seed Mississippi State.

NC State Head Coach Wes Moore

Opening Statement...
We're obviously excited about being here, excited about being in Kansas City. Our head football coach Dave Doeren is from here. I spent a few summers here. I had an older sister that lived in Blue Springs. Used to go see the Royals, Mayberry and Lou Piniella.

We're excited about the challenge ahead of us. Mississippi State a great team, year ago made an awesome run and this year only one defeat. So we know we got our hands full but, again, we're excited about the opportunity.

Coach, I was at your last game last year. Can't see another team that could have been more devastated because it looked like you had it until the last second. Were you fueled this year by what happened last year?
The thing is, we have kind of a whole new team, almost, in the sense that we lost four starters that were four of our top-five scorers. These kids obviously most of 'em were here and on the team but they didn't play quite as a significant role as they are this year.

But you're right. I grew up in Texas and that was a devastating loss down there. Again, it's a new year and new opportunity and we've moved on.

Coach, Coach Schaefer was talking about all the things he likes about your program but he says you guys are similar teams. Is that what you think?
I don't know about that. That's a great complement if he's comparing us with them. Obviously they have so many weapons, and of course Vic Schaefer, his calling card is his defense and they're going to get after you and try to take you out of your stuff that you want to run.

So we have, this year, really hung our hat on defense and rebounding. We haven't always been beautifully esthetic offensive team, but I'm proud of how our kids have kind of bought in to trying to take away another team's strength and trying to control the boards and when you do those things, I also was in the coaching shadow of Pat Summitt, and she says offense sells ticket, defense wins games, rebounding wins championships, and I firmly agree with that. I'm proud of how our team has bought into those priorities.

With Kayla, she had the injury, what would have been her freshman season and last year playing behind Miah, this year she blossomed, it seemed like and talk about her counterpart, Morgan William and how that match-up will be because I think they're both good point guards.
You're right. I'm proud of her, made herself a threat from the three-point line and when you can do that, when you can knock down the shot enough to make 'em come out and guard you as quick as she is it opens up a lot of things not just for herself and for her teammates.

Morgan William stirs the drink for Mississippi State. She creates a lot for her teammates, almost a 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, so we've got to keep her guarded and not let her set the table for everybody else.

Wes, the MSU players and Coach Schaefer talked about how their prior experience in these stages was going to help them this weekend. I know you all are going for your Elite Eight trip in almost 20 years. What do you tell them about how you're doing it?
We haven't changed a thing. It's been, hey, we've been playing well the last couple of months, we were picked 10th in the ACC. We started out 1-3. It's a tough league, we rattled off seven in a row. I think we've won 14 out of our last 17 games and that's all we've talked about this postseason is keep doing what we're doing. Nothing is different, nothing's changed, play defense, rebound. We've got to do a better job of taking care of the ball. That's our focus so we don't worry about all the other stuff.

Coach, obviously Louisville, you beat Florida State, can you talk about how they hang in a moment like this against those teams?
I think you hope that the league -- again, the ACC has had great year, No. 1 RPI league in the country, obviously Notre Dame and Louisville, both number one seeds so we've played some really good teams and Mississippi State is obviously a really good team. I think we just have to, you know, remind ourselves that we've seen this and, again, try to keep everything routine, do what we do and hopefully, play well, shoot the ball well and have a shot at it.

Wes, you were talking about rebounding earlier, you're third in the country in rebounding rate, you're getting 65% of your opponent's misses, obviously Chelsea has a big part in that and Akela. What do you think is the key to that and how does that translate against a team that has Teaira McCowan?
Good point, kind of a game changer. Chelsea and Akela are both athletic and they go get it. They do a pretty good job and we usually do rebounding drills or two every day and that's a point of emphasis.

I always say that even on a bad night if we limit the other team to a one shot of possession we're going to have a chance. I think a testament to that is going into the regular end of the season we do not have a loss to a top-50 team outside the RPI so we have taken care of business and done those things on a consistent basis.

Teaira McCowan, you're right. She is so strong and she is able to ride you under some and at 6-7 if she rides you under a little bit she is able to reach over you and get the rebound. We're not only going to have to box out but deliver a blow on her and not let her should have us under because she is one of the best offensive rebounders I've seen.

You were talking about being tenth in the league before the season started and you talked about how many seniors you lost. At what point during the season did you think that you had a shot to be in your seat right now?
 You know, again, that's a good question. I don't know. I think I've believed all along we could be better than what we started out and where people picked us. I think there might have been confusion.

Maybe they thought that was a national poll they were voting on. I'm not sure. Even my athletic director, she is probably going to get tired of me telling this story, but when I had my meeting before the season and she asked me my goals and expectations. After I shared those with her she said, wow, that's pretty ambitious, isn't it?

And there was a couple of times this year I walked down the end of the bench during the game and said, "You might have been right." But this team battles. We were down 26-1 to Louisville and with three minutes left in the game we were down 4 and had the ball.

So, again, they're not going to quit. They're going to be there, keep competing, and that's what I'm really proud of in regards to this team.

Akela Maize And Chelsea Nelson

Welcome to Kansas City, guys and congratulations on your season so far. Talk about how good of a rebounding team you guys are. When you look at the stats you're one of the best especially in defensive rebounding in the country in the top three and you two have been leading the way. Talk about how you've been so successful with that?
AKELA MAIZE: I think we're so successful because we have so much athleticism on our team and we use our athleticism to the fullest potential and push each other in practice, we do rebounding drills back-to-back and we're on the floor going after each other and we have to cut the drill because it's on to the next person.

We really do focus on rebounding. We take a lot of pride in it and talk about it every day and how rebounding wins games. That's something that we really value.

CHELSEA NELSON: Even with the guards Coach always challenges them to go into the paint. Even if they go there, maybe the ball will fall their way and a lot of the times, you know, Akela or Kaila will get a hand on the ball if we can get a tip they can go and grab it. That's a really big thing that we focus on as a team, everybody going to the paint and rebounding.

I was at your last game last year. It was heartbreaking for you guys, I remember. Were you fueled this season by how close you were last year?
CHELSEA NELSON: I'm sorry?

Were you motivated? Fuelled by what happened last year, being a second away from advancing?
CHELSEA NELSON: We were really motivated because Texas is a really great program, a great team and we really did feel like we had that game and we came to play it was a great game. So coming into this year we knew we wanted to go further in the tournament, and also in the ACC tournament and also here in the NCAA we knew we could. I think this year we have a really good defensive team that helps when we play a really good opponent. So, yeah, we're so motivated.

AKELA MAIZE: Like Chelsea said, the motivation is always there. Coach, at the beginning of the season he talked about how we were a rebound away of winning that game. So we go into these games with the rebounding mentality as we mentioned earlier and with a defensive intensity that, you know, this could be the final game. But if not, then this could be the game to get us to the next level. So we think of it as that way.

You guys have five starters that average 9 to 13 points. What's that like knowing they have the confidence they can score?
AKELA MAIZE: It feels great. Any given night somebody can step up and score 20 points, things like that. So there is not a lot of pressure on anybody to try and force shots, things like that. We can let the game come to us, either on the defensive end getting steals, you know, or offensively something is working for one particular player we can keep going to that player. Teams have a hard time shutting all of us down. That I think is our upside.

Talk about Kaila's growth as a point guard this year after playing behind Miah last year. How have you watched her grow. How she has been able to direct the offense for you guys?
AKELA MAIZE: I'm proud of Kaila this year especially like you said, playing behind Miah last year, I think she learned a lot from Miah and she brought that into this year along the with the confidence, going to the gym, working on her craft, things like that. She has been a leader on the court as well, so I'm proud of Kaila.

CHELSEA NELSON: A lot of teams know Kaila is extremely quick and that's the first thing people do is sag on Kaila and even in practice we would sag on Kaila and she would never shoot it. We were like you need to be able to add that to your game and we gave her confidence and even if she missed we were like keep shooting and she doesn't second guess her shot at all now. I think confidence is really key, a lot of times that's why it goes in. Her being able to direct our offense and having confidence in us. It's awesome to see her grow and continue to grow.

Akela first, Chelsea second, you guys were picked tenth by the coaches in the preseason poll and you lost a bunch of seniors last year. At what point in the season did you guys believe you could be sitting here today as a Sweet 16 team?
AKELA MAIZE: In the very beginning of the season me and Chelsea set that the out to be our goal for this year. We believed the whole season that we could be sitting in this spot that we're in right now. There was never any doubt in our minds that we couldn't or weren't capable of being a team that, you know, we had with the strength that we have in each player on the team this year.

CHELSEA NELSON: Yeah, even though we did lose those four seniors, a lot of people were coming up to us and saying, we think you guys have a better team this year than last year; and I'm like, oh wow, that's a lot of confidence! We have so much athleticism this year and just like the new players coming in, Kiara and everyone developing their game. That's really helped us.

Guys, first off, congratulations, I'm proud of you and what you've been able to do for the team. No career is smooth from freshman through your senior year. You both have faced your share of adversity, Chelsea with the loss of your mom. Akela to me you are one of the most improved players in the country over the last couple of years. When you think about the adversity you faced, what you have accomplished and how you've grown since the first day you set foot on NC State's campus, explain what that has been like for both of you?
CHELSEA NELSON: Crazy, seeing from my freshman year within the team how each year we've accomplished bigger and better things. My freshman and sophomore year we didn't make it to the NCAA Tournament. I never knew what that felt like so I really kinda didn't care. My junior year when we made it and lost and just that feeling it was crazy and I knew we had to come back and through all the adversity, the support I've had from my family and friends and NC State community and them always pushing me and wanting to get better and not giving up and we're at the Sweet 16.

AKELA MAIZE: Like you said, we have faced a lot of adversity, me, with my freshman year, especially with injuries throughout my career has really been a step back for me. Seeing where we are now it's incredible. Each day I thank God for giving me this opportunity to play this game and to allow me to grow, not just as a basketball player but as a woman through everything that I've been through.

So, yeah, it's just a great experience and to see Chelsea grow from her freshman year, you know, it was great watching her and being beside her through it all.
CHELSEA NELSON: I want to thank God, too. I'm sorry. I wanted to say that.

Chelsea, just from hearing Coach Moore speak today he seems like a guy who is energetic and passionate. What type of a coach is he?
CHELSEA NELSON: Oh, man! (Chuckles.) I think it's crazy. I mean when people see him in the game they're like, oh, gosh, he is tough! He is tough, but everybody is like does he always yell? I'm like, yeah, he does. But Coach Moore is awesome and he's extremely understanding and he's been there for me through my freshman year and it's weird, I've known him since I've been in high school. He's been at the ACC. He's awesome and extremely caring and loves to win and hates to lose. That will rub off on us. We really do try to make him proud and just try to do what he says so he doesn't stress out and so his hair doesn't turn gray or go bald. He told me by my senior year he would be bald from how much he used to yell at me. He's not!

AKELA MAIZE: I know that Coach Moore loves us dearly. He says that often. You have to look past the yelling and the screaming and the red color that shows up on his face and listen to what he's saying because he's trying to help us every time he helps us. Whether it's defensive intensity or whatever, it's going to make us better not just for NC State but for the future. I appreciate Coach a lot.

To win tomorrow, Akela, your biggest challenge will be to what?
AKELA MAIZE: To keep No. 15 off of the boards. She is a very well-coached young lady and she is very good on the boards. That's going to be my biggest task.

So you mentioned not making the tournament two years ago and last season being devastated by the loss. Have you heard a lot of messages from those players, from those two teams before this game here in Kansas City or prior to the tournament?
CHELSEA NELSON: We hear from Carlee Schumacher, Miah Spencer, Ashley Williams, Dom, the seniors. They're like Final Four bound. We know it! We believe in y'all. They have seen us play and they're excited for us. They have confidence in us. Giving us messages every day. So, yeah, we do.