Vic Schaefer on 2023 / 24 Season

Vic Schaefer, head coach for the University of Texas women’s basketball, spoke with the media on the upcoming 2023 / 24 basketball season.  These are some of his key comments from the press conference: 

“This is a different group.  They’ve been diligent in the gym, all summer.  Working extremely hard.” 

“At the end of the day, you have a gym full of people, and they’re here on their own.” 

“This summer’s probably been the best summer I’ve had as a coach in a long, long time, if ever.  And certainly, the best summer we’ve had here at Texas.” 

“I’m excited about this team.  I think we’ve added some important people and positions and pieces that are going to better.  We’re a veteran team.” 

“That’s what we decided last night at the table sitting at the Forever Texas.  I  think our team said it’s the “last ride”, the “last ride” in the Big 12.” 

“I’ve always said that if you come see us play once, it’ll be a problem for you, because you won’t want to miss another.” 

Q: How much of a motivating factor was that lost to Louisville?  “I think they need to be reminded of.  It’s not okay,  and so we’ve got be better.  I know winning the Conference Championship, they won 26 games, that’s a lot.  There’re probably 320 teams in Division 1 that would love to say they won 26 games and a conference championship.  At Texas it’s more.  There’s more that we feel we need to accomplish.  So that’s what we’re striving for.” 

Q: Why is the tradition of showing up to the first day of class with his athletes so important?  “Couple reasons.  It’s a special day.  There’s only one first day, if you’re a freshman.  You’re never going to have that first day again.  Go to the other end of the spectrum, grandma, Shaylee, it’s her last first day.  She’s a sixth-year senior, and it’s her last first day of college.  It’s just a unique and special time.  I always take that picture and post it, but I also send it to their parents, they might put it in a scrapbook.  They weren’t here to share that, or be a part of that, but if we can give that to them in some small way, and they can make a photo and post it and put it in a scrapbook. And the other piece, I just want them to know that we care about them in so many different ways, other than just basketball.  And in the back of their mind, they know that coach knows were my class is now.  I better be on time and be here.  It’s a fun day for me.  I enjoy seeing their faces.  I enjoy taking the pictures at the doorway with their professors in the background.” 

“The game’s real fair.  The game doesn’t cheat you.  You get out of the game what you put into it.  If only you’re in here when we asking you to be in here, that’s not it, that’s not enough.” 

“This group has embraced what it takes to be Championship caliber team.” 

“I certainly believe I have a top 25 basketball team.  A team that has four starters back, and some players that played some value minutes, that are back, that’ll be better.   And the addition of Booker and Gisella, and even Abbie, makes us better.  Again, a healthy Taylor, that doesn’t miss 11 games.” 

“I can’t help but be excited about what our season looks like.” 

“Certainly, you look at our old Southwest Conference opponents, that’s been ingrained for generations.  You come out of the womb hating Texas, if you’re not a Longhorn.  You know, that’s fine.  It means you’re on their mind.  It means you’ve done something right.” 

“We always get everybody’s best shot.  Ya’ll heard me say this, you’re going to get their best two days of practice, their best pre-game meal, their best shoot-around, your best walk-through, it just comes with the territory.  It’s what we signed up for. “