The University of Mississippi Athletics

McPhee-McCuin, Yolett

TRANSCRIPT: Women’s Basketball Preseason Press Conference

10/15/2020 | Women's Basketball

OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss women's basketball head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, as well as sophomore Donnetta Johnson and freshman Madison Scott, met with members of the media on Thursday to discuss the first day of official practice and preview the upcoming 2020-21 season.
 
Below is a partial transcript from the press conference.



Coach Yo
 
Opening Statement
"I feel like a kid in a candy store. I didn't sleep last night. I was up all night as if it was my first official practice. Intentionally, I wanted to give the team some time off before we really got going, and I wanted to build that excitement that I had as a player, giving them a break and the anticipation to have them ready for the season. It's obviously different times, unique, but I am excited about my group and just look forward to getting better with them every single day."
 
On freshman Madison Scott
"I didn't think I would get that lucky for her to be able to just come in and break onto the scene, but I can tell you that she is far along as a freshman. I think every freshman coming into the SEC needs an acclimation opportunity, but she's looking great, really playing and practicing at a high level. You can tell that there's an immediate level of talent when she's on the floor. Really excited about her growth and her impact even as a freshman, and she has big goals as well, so you know she really wants to make a mark as a freshman, so we're just helping her along in that aspect."
 
On COVID
"I can't comment on certain things as far as COVID and personnel is concerned, but I can tell you that we have been doing a great job. We have been paying attention to the rules, our athletic trainer Meredith (Pendergast), we call her the COVID police, she's been phenomenal. She drives me nuts, that's why I know she's doing a good job, but our players understand, and they want to have a season, so we've been kind of lucky over here."
 
On expectations
"Well, for the new players that was easy because that's how we got them here. We were able to get them here because they wanted to be different, they wanted to bring their winning attitude. Everybody that we have committed is from a wining high school or college program as a transfer, so that's something that they expect. It's been a transition for the returners, not a bad one. You just don't know what you don't know, and so they have been extremely open, they have embraced their new teammates and the level of competition has risen tremendously. The level of expectation has, and I think as we continue to go throughout the season, and the returners get to really see that it's different, it'll make them more comfortable in going into this new phase of the program which were trying to reach."
 
On her philosophy
I've always been about winning. I think I'm way more demanding this year, but I think I can be that way because you know that I've had two years with the young ladies that are returning, and I've spent a lot of time recruiting the ones that are here, and so we don't have to get to know each other. Everybody understands what the expectation is and the newcomers, we called them the new bloods, they know why they're here, and they know that they're going to be held to that expectation every single day."
 
On the top-ranked recruiting class
"First of all, we're way more athletic. We have more size, so when you walk into our practice, you know we don't have a 5-4 guard playing the three. You know we're 6 foot, 6-1 at that position, and so that's been great for me. Two, their mentality and work ethic. Those first two years, honestly, I felt like I was in survival mode, just trying to get through changing a lot of what I wanted to do with personnel. This is the first year hoping that we stay healthy that we'll be able to see the fans, we'll be able to see the type of basketball that we want to play, more aggressive, 94 feet up-tempo and you'll be able to see that. The third thing is you're going to see a team that's young, but a team that is extremely tough. That's one thing we'll focus on all preseason, is trying to get them to a mental place where they can compete night-in and night-out in the SEC."
 
On who's standing out
"Man, I have a few people. Donnetta Johnson, we've been patiently waiting on her and I mean she has been incredible. She just knows how to score in a multiple amount of ways, and she's taking defense to another level, and that's probably credited to Georgia. They play defense there, so it's not something that was foreign to her, so she came in and really bought into the defensive philosophy right away. Her work ethic, she's really silent, but she's in the gym all the time, and the things she's able to do, I just don't think you can coach all of it.
 
Madison Scott has been, you know the All-American that we thought she would be. She's unique because she's a four-player, so it's not like she's a scoring guard, you know so she will impact the game defensively. She's just so long and takes up a lot of space on the defensive side.
 
I'll tell you this, if the basketball gods really want to bless, me we may get Shakira Austin because Shakira is a pro. She has just really raised the level of everything the team does from the day she stepped on campus. She works extremely hard. One thing I love about her a lot is she's curious, so you'll see her in the point guard workout, she'll sneak in there and want to do everything they're doing."
 
On leadership:
"We really spent a lot of time on just growing in multiple ways, from having guest speakers to having talks amongst each other to just little projects that we've been working on, and I really see it paying off every single day that we're together. As far as the leadership is concerned, all over the place it's kind of been surprising to me to see Shakira be as vocal as she's been. The girls really lean on her. We know they believe in her. She's proven to the program and she's not shy to give her opinion on things. She's gonna be fun to coach in a good way. And then Mimi has been there. She's been great with her leadership, and Donnetta leads by what she shows. She's our hardest worker by far, she just brings it every single day, so I'm really excited about seeing other people stepping in that role. I kind of try to let it organically grow and give people a space and opportunity to step into that role if that's what they want."
 
On sports influence in society
"I just think that's sports in general. That's why I can't believe that people try to box athletes and coaches in. Where we have so much influence on an everyday basis. This offseason gave me a chance to really understand how important it is to teach our players to exercise who they are and use their platform. I just remember as a college athlete no one ever talked to us about voting. No one ever talked to us about what was going on. And I'm sure at that point we had something that was going on that some type of social unrest. It's not like this is something new, this has been going on. And so, I'm just really excited that I have allowed our players to use their voice, use their platform, educate, we've learned so much about voting, what that means, the judicial system, the branches. And then, I think the most powerful the most memorable thing I've done as a coach was going down to Jackson at the capital with the rest of the colleagues in the state and being a part of changing something that symbolized so much hate, and being a part of that, changing our flag. There were so many people that have fought for centuries, for decades, trying to get that change. The fact that we were able to be the icing on the cake, that means the world to me. And the fact that my players had the chance to witness that, I know that that will empower them to use their platform when they get their opportunity."
 
On possibility of changing the 'spread the floor' style of offense
"No, we're coming with that. That's our money, that's how we're gonna eat. If we can be in games with that with the personnel that I had last year, then I'd be a fool to change it. Obviously, I have players that can do different things. So, it was very simple. This year you will see different sets and packages that will allow the rest of the pieces that we have to show what they can. I don't feel we had an inside game last year. We'll have an inside game this year. With Andeija Puckett and Iyanla Kitchens. And then small ball, with Caitlin McGee playing down there. Yes, we will be downhill, we will space the floor, we will make it simple. But then you'll see we're gonna put Donnetta in situations and Madi (Scott) in situations where they can be their best. I'm really looking forward to playing different combinations and packages so that they can show what they are capable of doing."
 
On Andeija Puckett and Iyanla Kitchens
"With Andeija Puckett, that's our transfer that sat-out from Cincinnati. She's like a black hole, when it goes in it's going up. People just need to be ready to go, she ain't passing that thing out. She's gonna get touches and she finishes really well around the basket. Iyanla last year was the best rated screener. I know people don't look at that, but she was so productive with setting screens last year. If she can do that with the type of players we have coming off of it this year, with Tiya Douglas shooting the way she's shooting, and Donnetta, and Snudda, that's gonna help us a lot. Offensively, she's gotten better. But we don't have the expectations that we have for A.P. (Puckett) to be that dominant presence down there and score. We have her more being that bruiser, that physical player that can clear some space out for us. We have two different looks and then we have small ball where Caitlin and Sarah will play down there and be able to give us some Miami Heat offense that we're excited about.
 
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Donnetta Johnson
 
On decision to transfer to Ole Miss from Georgia
"Honestly, I never thought I would be in Mississippi. It's where I need to be in my opinion. I feel as if Coach Yo and her staff had presented these things that worked in my favor such as my style of play and what I can accomplish here at the University of Mississippi as being a student rather than being just an athlete. All of those things tied into my decision in coming in here."
 
On the team's improvement
"It's a complete 180. I'm excited about this team. This team is fun. This team is competitive. This team has grit. We're excited. We enjoy playing with each other. We enjoy being with each other off the floor, which is essential in playing with each other on the floor. We work hard. Only time will tell, but we are definitely going to be prepared when that time comes. We're excited for this season."
 
On what was missing last season
"It was rough. It was the competitive spirit. We have it now. Last year we didn't have any grit. We didn't have toughness. This year we have all of it, and then above."
 
On her role as a leader
"I can't be out here doing whatever and I have younger players that look up to me. Our team is young. This team needs leadership so I'm definitely stepping in that role. I'm getting better each day. I'm learning (for) each player how to make it easier for them. I'm looking to be that presence that sets the example and sets the standard for the program."
 
On team identity
"Fun. Togetherness. Sisterhood. All-out and being tough through anything. Whether that's a player going out with an injury, having out sister's back, being vocal even though you are not vocal on the floor when the leaders are slacking. Just holding each other accountable. I think the fans will have a fun presentation this year."
 
On Coach Yo from last year to this year
"No difference, she's a workhorse. No different. She works day-in and day-out. She does her best to make sure that we are being who we say we want to be. She holds us to that standard, she holds us accountable to that. She nurtures us day-in and day-out. And she works hard. There's nothing you can't love about this lady."
 
On Her Game Now
"I'm comfortable. I'm where I'm supposed to be. I'm in a position where I'm able to produce how I want to produce."
 
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Madison Scott
 
On Her Transition to College
"It's definitely been an adjustment, and a big adjustment for me going to the SEC. Playing high school out here is very competitive. Everybody's mindset is different. They don't accept anything less than your best here. So, it's definitely been an adjustment, but it's been great having my sisters with me, my teammates. They've been amazing. The way that they have brought me into this and nurtured me on the way has been amazing. Without them it would have been a lot tougher than it has been. I know that I had a bad practice day there and I had a good practice day there, when I do something wrong right there, they're there to encourage me and pump me up as well. So, I know I can always count on them as well as the coaching staff. It's been great, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way."
 
On why she chose Ole Miss
"Coach Yo was just different. She is different. Coach Yo is simply phenomenal. The way that she talks to me. What she expects from me. She keeps it real with me. She always tells me truth, she's always honest. She believed in me. Throughout the process, I came around a lot of coaches and they were great as well, but it was different with Coach Yo. I felt it was genuine. I felt that this was somebody who truly believed in me and didn't think that my dreams were too far-fetched or that I couldn't get there, get to where I wanted to be. Every day, if I don't do what I'm supposed to do Coach Yo is there telling me 'You said you wanted this. You said you wanna do this.' She holds me accountable, and without her I wouldn't be doing what I'm supposed to do in a way. She makes sure that I'm on track to my goals. I remember when I came on my visit and I just had the visit with all the coaches. It was my player development meeting and the way she broke down my four years here was incredible. There are goals for me. Where I will be as a junior, where I'll be as a sophomore. What I'm supposed to be working on each year. That's the best presentation I had at any of my visits. I actually saw myself here. I felt that I had that gut feeling that this was the place for me. I ended up shedding a couple tears because I really felt that this was the place for me. At that particular point in time, after going to player development and just building a relationship with Coach Yo and the rest of the coaching staff and my teammates, I knew that this was the place for me."
 
On being viewed as a program changer
"I definitely feel some weight of that, but again I have my teammates. They are here to help. I know that (is) my job. I know I have to come in and just contribute any way I can any given night. I know that I'm doing so and my teammates will be doing the same thing. I know that this situation is different. It's gonna be uncomfortable for me coming in. I know it's gonna be an adjustment for me. I realize now and I understand that. But again, I know what I have to do. My teammates know what we have to do. We all have a common goal, we all wanna win. And we all are going to do anything in our power to get there together. The whole time together. Especially through any adversity, overcome any obstacles. We're in this together."
 
On turning around the program
"I think that we're very hungry, and a hungry team's a scary team. I think that we will do just about anything to be successful, to be great, and again, that's why I came here. I'm around people who literally will not accept anything less than me being great. You want to surround yourself with people who are great and who have that mindset. So, I feel like this year with this team, I guess I wasn't here last year but I knew a lot of players on the team. But this year, this team, our mentality after practice we're huddled up, we're talking we're texting in the group chat, we're really alert, and we are really focused on our goal, we all have tunnel vision. Again, it's not gonna be easy, but we are willing to do anything. We are putting in the work. Today's the first official day of practice. We're really gonna do everything in our power to give our best self each and every day."
 
Follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissWBB, Facebook at Ole Miss WBB and on Instagram at Ole MissWBB. You can also follow head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin on Twitter at @YolettMcCuin
 
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