Kyra Elzy said Friday her team has to help Rhyne Howard if it wants to beat Princeton. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky’s women made a historic march through the Southeastern Conference Tournament to earn a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament and open play Saturday afternoon in Bloomington, Ind., against Princeton. Did seeing John Calipari’s team lose 85-79 to No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s Thursday night impact the UK women?
“We’re definitely devastated about it, like we wanted them to win,” UK forward Dre Edwards said Friday at her team’s press conference in Bloomington. “We’ve got to focus on ourselves. We’re here to win. So that’s what we’re focused on. We’re locked in, and we’re ready.
“What she said. Both of us can’t lose in the first round,” UK All-American Rhyne Howard said. “So we got to hold it down.”
Both players are hoping some UK fans who came to Indianapolis — or were planning to do so today — might just end up in Bloomington instead to watch them play.
“Who else are they going to cheer for besides us? Why not come down and cheer for us? We have yet to let y’all down,” Howard said.
“Yeah, we’re expecting a big crowd. Hopefully, they come through. I think they will though,” Edwards said.
The UK women were in their hotel rooms when the men played and lost to Saint Peter’s.
“We were texting in our group chat. Did you see that? Wow, this is crazy,” Howard said.
Kentucky women’s coach Kyra Elzy, who has her team on a 10-game winning streak, noted that “one game does not define you” and expects Calipari and his team to bounce back next season.
“As far as a coaching tool, they watched the game. They’re basketball players and March Madness, you know, 40 minutes, you have to bring your best,” Elzy said. “You can’t take anyone lightly.
“The teaching tool is you have to be focused and prepared for 40 minutes because everyone is bringing their best. No one’s going to give you anything. You have to earn it.”
Elzy knows it will take a “team effort” for her team to advance. Oscar Tshiebwe had 30 points and 16 rebounds against Saint Peters but Calipari’s team lost. Elzy understands UK needs more than a big performance from Howard today.
“Obviously, Rhyne Howard is an integral part of what we do. She is the best player in the country for a reason, but she cannot do everything by herself. So I think Dre takes a lot of pressure off her,” Elzy said.
“When we can score inside-out, Jazmine Massengill has really stepped up. She is the coach on the floor. She’s leading us out offensively, getting us in the correct spots, but also the intensity in what she brings. But you can just go down the list.
“Robyn Benton has hit big shot after big shot, and then do not leave out my fearless freshman Jada Walker, what she has been able to do for this team. So it takes a team effort.”
