Oklahoma State University Athletics
Jacie Hoyt Media Availability Quotes
October 21, 2024 | Cowgirl Basketball
OSU Head Coach Jacie Hoyt
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Opening Statement…
"As always, it's really great to see everyone. November is approaching very, very quickly, so it's that time of the year, but we're excited. We've got a good chunk of practice under our belt now to have a better feel of where we're at. I like where we're at right now, but we still have a really long way to go, so a lot to work on. We've got an exhibition game next week, so that'll be a good test to kind of play against different competition and see where we're at, but overall, right now, we're just trying to get everything in order in terms of figuring out what our lineups are going to be. We've had a little bit of a hard time figuring that out, because we've had some people who have been in and out due to injuries, nothing serious, thankfully, but just a little bit hard to get a consistent flow with things. But I love where we're at with the kids that we've got right now, and we're excited to get this thing going."On the characteristics of the team…
"Definitely their work ethic and their buy-in that's been really clear to us since the summer. I think our staff did an incredible job of getting kids that fit me, that fit our staff, that fit Oklahoma State and what we're about here, and we really sensed that when they got here this summer. So, I think I've said it a couple of times already, but there's just a lot of pride, a lot of pride in getting to represent the Cowgirls, a lot of pride in outworking people, or not even that. It's about other people, but just working as hard as they can. I've never had to coach effort with this group, and that's a really good feeling."On how the team's work ethic shows on the court…
"We get to focus on basketball. I'm not talking about people giving better effort. I'm not talking about people having bad attitudes. I just get to focus on basketball. And because of that, I think that we're further ahead in a lot of areas than what we've been, definitely than what we were last year at this point. So that's been very refreshing."On the difficulty of knowing what kind of team she has with all the turnover from last season…
"Yeah, I mean, I think that's just our new normal, right? Every year you're just kind of restarting. Obviously, I keep all my practice plans, and I can look back and say, Okay, this is what we were doing this time last year or two years ago or three years ago. So you always have that as a gauge, but you have to relearn a whole new roster every year at this point. I think for us, I'm very thankful we kept the core group of kids that we wanted to keep, that was a huge starting point for us to be able to know what we were working with. But it's it is challenging. I'm still learning them, they're still learning me, and unfortunately, I don't think that's going to go away with the portal."On the outlook of the Big 12…
"I think, the best in the country. I mean, top to bottom, my goodness, we've got some really good teams. The teams that were really great last year are, for the most part, returning their whole roster, and then you add in, you know, Arizona, and Utah and I'm leaving a bunch of people out. But the teams that we added are very, very good and competitive as well. So, other than the fact that I know how good the Big 12 is this year. I don't necessarily know playing styles and some of those things with the newer teams, I mean, you don't really get to worry about that. You don't have to worry about that. You're just focused on you and learning your own roster and trying to be the best that you can be."On the front court…
"Well, I think we have a lot of options. Tenin (Magassa) is one of the best shot blockers in the country statistically from last year. So her size immediately has changed things for us. She's been a little bit in and out, so we're trying to get her a little more consistent within practice, but she's an instant game changer. Then Stacie Jones is so different from both Tenin and Praise (Egharevba), she's going to be a little more mobile, and she's going to run the floor. She'll help us play that style that we want to play and get up and down. But we have a lot of versatility, I think we've got a lot of options, and can kind of decide how we want to play on any given night with the main ones that we've got."On benchmarks she's set for the team…
"I think you always kind of have that in the back of your mind, and it never really goes the way you want. You might think that you're pretty good at something, and then you go against someone else and realize that you've got a lot of work to do. And on the flip side, you might be better at some things then what you thought. So, we did a lot of pre-scouting of our own team coming into this season. I've got a really good video coordinator. We have great GA's, we have great people who just did a lot of legwork for us to know what we were inheriting. So, I think we've done a good job of already having a plan in place before they even got here, and then being able to run with that. But like I said, you just don't know at this time of the year, and we're just trying to be good at what we want to do. I don't think we're near as good as what we want to be at that stuff yet. We had a scrimmage over the weekend where we learned a lot about ourselves, and I think it was very eye-opening for us in a really good way that we're going to benefit from. But I know that we have to figure it out pretty quick because we've got a non-conference schedule that's going to challenge us right from the jump."On what she's most curious to see about this team…
"I still haven't really been able to see them at their best because of some of those people who have been out of the lineup. So for example, I've talked a lot about Jayden Wooten since we signed her. She's the most natural point guard that we have, and we brought her here to run the show. She has been out for a couple of weeks now, and that's forced other people to have to play out of position. So, I think I'm just still waiting to see it all come together. Thankfully, we don't have anyone with a season-ending injury, so it's nothing like that. But, it kind of feels like last year, to be honest, just a little bit inconsistent. We don't have a lot of continuity, because people are in and out of the lineup. So, I think that's what I'm most curious about at this point, is just to see when we're at our best, and we have our guys out there, what that's going to looklike."
On Rylee Langerman playing in a different role this year…
"The neat thing about Riley is, I feel like she's one of those players. It's really not about position for her. She just is so blue-collar for us. You know, she's that, that hustle player. She's got all heart, all hustle, and so it doesn't really matter where you put Riley, she's gonna Riley. Riley's gonna Riley. She's gonna do what she does no matter what. She even is coming back from a very serious injury that she sustained throughout last year, and we're still working her back. But that's the great thing with Riley, is that she never waivers and how hard she's going to play or compete. So, I know our team is going to benefit greatly when she's back 100%."On how crucial Jadyn Wooten is to this team…
"It's crucial, not just because of allowing us to push the ball at the pace we want, but for example, Anna Gret (Asi) is one of the best shooters in a conference, and if she has to bring the ball up the floor, you're taking her away from that, and being able to focus just more on spacing the floor and catching and shooting. Last year, we had that going on with Stailee (Heard). Stailee had to run point for us a little bit. We've got Alexia Smith, who is one of the best defenders, I think, that I've coached in a long time. She transferred to us from Virginia, and right now she's even had to take on that point guard role a little bit more, so we don't get to see her at her best defensively. So, Jadyn will take a lot of stress and pressure off of everyone else, and it's not necessarily about her allowing us to do what we want. But it's about her making other people around her better."On if she's worried about Jadyn feeling pressured by high expectations…
"Not worried at all. That's what Jadyn wants. That's who Jadyn is. She's been that her whole life. So we're not worried about that. We understand growing pains will come with that. We understand that we're gonna have to be patient and there will be a learning curve. But in terms of wanting that role, that's what Jadyn came here for."On her takeaways from the WNBA Finals…
"Women's basketball is booming. If you're not watching women's basketball right now, there's something wrong with you, because that final series was as competitive from start to finish, all five games that I've ever witnessed in any sport, any series anywhere. It's amazing, the level of skill and talent and just everything that comes with it right now is at an all-time high. I said this a few weeks ago, but the trajectory of women's basketball right now, there's nothing like it in any sport out there right now, and so I hope that our fans will continue to understand that. I hope that people in this community and people in this region will understand that, and support women's basketball and show up and invest in it. I hope that our school understands that and they invest in it, because look at what can happen when you invest. I mean, that was a sell-out crowd. How many sell-out crowds were there this year in the WNBA a lot more often than not? So, I just think, when you invest in it and people show up, they see all the amazing things that can come from it. And the first thing I said about this team is they work hard, so you're not going to be disappointed in our work ethic when you show up. And I think that a lot of people can really if they give it the opportunity, will really appreciate it."On the growth of women's basketball…
"It's just completely transformed everything. Gosh, you turn on the TV and you see all these little girls and little boys and grown men wearing jerseys of these players like it's amazing, and that's why I just go back to if and when you invest. I think that the WNBA has proven that people will show up, support and will follow. Caitlin Clark, I think transformed everything at the collegiate level, and now we've just seen that all leak into the WNBA, and not just Caitlin, but a lot of the players. I think she did lead the charge. But it's just really incredible. I've got a baby girl on the way, and I can't imagine bringing her into this world at a time, at a better time than right now for where women's basketball is, and women's athletes are in terms of just starting to finally get the respect and the viewership that they deserve."On how to capture the energy women's basketball has and bring it to Stillwater…
"I think we can be better. I think that as a university and getting the fans to understand the product that we have, getting them actually to come to games, pushing them, giving them a great experience when they come. Obviously, that's on us, on the court, but also just our in-game experiences and things of that sort. Because I think when you come you're gonna like what you see, and it's a product that's easy to want to buy. It's a product that's easy to want to support. So, I think we just have to do what the WNBA did. And, you know, I mean, get it on TV, get it in front of people. And then when you do that, I think people will follow and buy into that."Â
Players Mentioned
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