UT Women’s Basketball Media Day: Vic Schaefer’s Thoughts

Comments by head coach Vic Schaefer at the University of Texas Women’s Basketball team’s Media Day held on October 26, 2023: 

Opening remarks: 

They’re just focused, one game, one day at a time, trying to get 1% better every day.  And we’ll try, as coaches, keeping them focused one game at a time.  I think when you do that, and you don’t get too far ahead of yourself, that when you can look up in March and realized you a really hot team, special team, and you got a chance to do something in post season. 

On recruiting: 

My staff does such a good job on the personal relationship piece.  We just recruit the same way we’ve always recruited.  We haven’t had to change.  And I think you’ll see that with future classes.  They’re coming here because of the relationships that we build with each family.  Our history, our track record, I think, speaks for itself, in the development piece, how we treat kids, and then the experience that they have.  This needs to be the best four years of their life.   And I think we have lots of players that would say that today.  I think that has a lot to do with why people choose to come here.  And again, now that we’re here at Texas, top 10 education, incredible facilities, a history, a tradition, this facility here that we play in, I think all that plays into it.  It’s a great time to be a Texas, I don’t care what sport you’re in.  It is a great time to be here.  I would not want to be recruiting against us, I can tell you that. 

On Rori Harmon: 

When you’re a great point guard, first thing you’re doing is hunting everybody else’s best shot.  That’s your job.  It’s not your shot that you’re hunting.  You’re hunting everybody else’s best shot, and then your shot… Her (Rori) job is to run our team.  And what I’d like to see her do is cut down on those turnovers…  And when she (Rori) is doing that, taking care of the ball it seems to permeate through our team.  Everybody else kind of does too.  And quite frankly, it gives her a little accountability and credibility when she wants to correct somebody. And I need her to do that.  That’s the job of a point guard, a quarterback. 

On Madison Booker: 

I think what everyone saw the other night (Orange & White scrimmage), Madison Booker is more than comfortable playing point guard.  She has a presence, she communicates… That kid is a player, in every sense of the word.  She understands the game, she’s skilled, and she’s just an ultimate competitor.  She’s different, ya’ll.  She’s got a chance to do some very special things here… Madison Booker can get her own shot, but to a fault, almost, she’ll pass it sometime and turn down a pretty good look, because she’s so unselfish.  She sees the floor extremely well. 

On difference makers: 

I think we have some players that can go make plays when you have to go make a play. It’s always good to have more than one (player like that).  Anytime you have a chance to have two or three difference (maker) players on the floor, most teams don’t have three great defenders.  So now you’re creating problems for people.  And I think that’s where we are. 

On moving to the SEC and embracing the hate: 

I’ve told our players, they won’t do anything harder, or more demanding in their athletic careers, that go through this season.  Being in the last season in the Big 12.  It’s hard enough, playing in the Big 12 with Texas on your chest.  And then to throw in it’s our last season.  Ya’ll have heard me talk about it before, coaches have water thrown on them after they beat us.  You know, it just comes with the territory, it’s what we all sign up for, it’s what I signed up for as a coach, and it’s what our players signed up for.  I like the competitive spirit in our locker room, I really do.  I think they all understand it.  We’ve just put our head down and gone to work.  We’ll let the rest of it take care of itself.  I don’t know that we’re any more motivated.  I don’t know how much more our opponent can get more motivated to play us, to be honest with you.   In my opinion, in every game, that’s the emotion, the next 35 is the game.  Get through the first five minutes, then the next 35 lets just play. 

We’re excited to be a part of the history, here at the University of Texas, whatever that looks like.  We all are honored and appreciate the opportunity, and we wear that every day, and my team understands that.  I am constantly talking to them about the history of our game, the history of this place, the demands that this place requires of us.  And I think our kids are really good about understanding that.