Oklahoma State University Athletics
NCAA Selection Quotes
March 13, 2007 | Cowgirl Basketball
Cowgirl Head Coach Kurt Budke
On making the tournament
“Some of these girls have had some tough times. Going to the NCAA Tournament is very special. It is very special for me as a coach to be a part of this.”
On recruiting
“There is no question this will help in recruiting. I am sure we had a lot of recruits who were watching this tonight. I do not know if they yelled as loud as we did. This lets people across the country know that this program is changing.”
On the emotion
“There will not be very many programs that erupt like that tonight. Most of them knew they were in. I hope next year I am relaxed and just wondering where we are playing. This league is real tough. You cannot take anything for granted. We are going to enjoy this. We are going to give this our best shot and see what happens.”
On the draw
“I know Bowling Green dominated their conference this year. It was a good conference and for them to go through it like they did, I know it is going to be a very tough first-round matchup.”
On the seed
“When I saw a couple of teams earlier that were at 10 and 11, I knew we were in good shape. Riverside, Oral Roberts and Prairie View made it in and we beat them. I think all that stuff adds up. I am very proud of that 10 seed.”
On being one of the first announced
“I was not really ready for that. I was settled in waiting for us to be the last name, then it happened that quick. We were not ready for that.”
On turning the program around
“This is the most special one that I have had. There is no question about that. It was expected at Louisiana Tech. To come in here and have the support of the President and Athletic Director that really want to turn the program around made it easier on us. This is a special day in Oklahoma State women's basketball.”
On the newcomers
“I think of all the hard work and all the new kids that came in here and believed. They came into a program that was 0-16 and they had faith in the coaching staff. They also had faith in they other people we signed. It is very gratifying.”
On more fan support
“We have had a tremendous group of core fans all year long. This is going to help add to that starting next year.”
Senior Forward Destanie Sykes
On advancing to the NCAA Tournament
“I'm so proud of my team and what we have done up to this year, having the biggest turnaround in the country. Seeing our name up on the screen just gave me chills. I am just so happy for my team and that they get to experience this earlier and not have to wait like I did.”
“We are definitely going to try to get some wins. Even if we were to go the NIT, we were planning on winning the whole thing. I know the NCAA Tournament is going to be a hard challenge because that is what everybody works for and the fact that we are playing against Bowling Green. Its going to be tough because they are going to give it their all, but so are we.”
On her feelings when Oklahoma State was announced
“Honestly, I didn't even see it. When everybody stood up, I was just so amazed and shocked that it came up so soon and that we really are going to the tournament. I'm just so happy for our team and where we are standing right now and I really like our chances in the tournament.”
On the turnaround from last year to this year
“I'm just so happy right now that I can't even think straight. I'm really just proud of my team and the way we have responded because we played in some pretty tough games and to bounce back and play against more Big 12 teams head-to-head every night just says a lot about what this team has accomplished.”
“I think we are definitely going to keep our name out there. I don't think we are going to be a one-year wonder. All last week in practice, we turned everything up a notch. It definitely felt like preseason workout. We didn't let up at all and I think that if this program keeps that mentality, next year there will be even more noise in the Big 12 about Oklahoma State.”
On her OSU career
“I always think that you are in a place for a reason and that God has you in a spot for a reason. I knew that he didn't want me to leave for and I think that a lot of that was just so I could contribute. The stuff that I have done on the court and off the court. I feel like I am supposed to be here.”
Freshman Guard Andrea Riley
On counting down the days until the field of 64 was announced
“It seemed like it took forever to get here because since last week I have been circling each day on my calendar until the field was announced today.”
On Oklahoma State getting into the NCAA Tournament
“The only thing on my mind is that Oklahoma State is on its way to the top. It is exciting to make the tournament, but we are going to try and get some wins.”
On the announcement
“I was up front praying that we would not be in the last bracket to be announced because if we were I would have had a heart attack. For us to be in the first bracket announced was a miracle.”
On getting the seniors a chance to play in their first NCAA Tournament
“The seniors mean so much to me because there are great friends and that I love them very much. Ever since we started playing together and even though I am a freshman, I have wanted to help them get to the NCAA Tournament. They (seniors) have been through a lot here in the past few seasons, and I know for them to get the chance to play in the tournament makes them so happy.”
On her main goal as a freshman at Oklahoma State
“I wanted to be the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, but my main goal was to get to the NCAA Tournament. Some had goals of getting into the WNIT, but I always expected to make the NCAA Tournament.”
