St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: St. John's vs Monmouth
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella, redshirt senior guard Kadaja Bailey and senior guard Unique Drake spoke to the media after a convincing 78-39 win over Monmouth on Monday
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella
Opening statement…
“I thought the first quarter set the tone for the whole game. We took them out of what they wanted to do. I felt that we were in the right place based upon how we practiced and our scrimmages. I was really pleased with how we did today. I thought we played really well offensively, especially early. Both of these players sitting next to me [Kadaja Bailey and Rayven Peeples] had great games. [I’m] really pleased with our ability to be on the glass [and] how we turned them over for points. I thought it was a full 40 minutes. It’s a great start, and we have a lot more to work on and get better. It’s a nice way to start the year.”
On the team’s defensive play…
“I didn’t know what to expect [going in]. I had a feeling that we had been doing a good job just by how we’ve been playing. I wasn’t sure how we’d be [defensively]. In the first game, you don’t know a lot of things about who you’re playing and what they’re going to run. Our team is different. [We have] a tremendous amount of depth to wear teams down. I thought everybody did a really good job of finding people. Did I think we’d be able to do that with a two-point quarter to start the game? No, but I thought it set the tone, obviously, for the game. Some of the points we gave were our own mistakes. If we clean those up, we feel even better. I think we have a chance to be a much better defensive team than we’ve been.”
On Kadaja Bailey’s play…
“Kadaja’s had an incredible journey as kid being a camper here. She’s been different. Sometimes it takes players a little longer to get to that point than other, but she has more [room] to grow. I thought she played really smart today. She played with a high IQ in how she attacked and set things up for us. Defensively, she was very good. If she gets boards like she did today, that changes our team.”
On what point guard Mimi Reid brings to the roster…
“I think Mimi is a warrior. I think she competes at the highest level you can as a player. She has a lot of miles on her too. She’s given us stability and flexibility in a lot of areas. I think she is kicking herself a little bit because she could have had six more points, but she does a really good job of finding people. I think her and everybody that we brought in have really transcended a lot of our players that were here in the abiity to compete because of their mentality. Mimi’s been a great part of that since she’s gotten here. [She’s] an impressive individual. We’re gonna need her to be very good for us just like the rest of our roster. Mimi is certainly a great leader, and all of the things you see are what she is.
Redshirt senior guard Kadaja Bailey
On how she felt being back on the floor…
“I [went] out there and played my role on the basketball court. [My] teammates got me involved. I was staying focused.”
On the difference between last year’s team and this year’s team…
“Honestly, I don’t feel like anything changed. We’re still a family. We are playing faster [and] with more pace.”
On the team’s impressive defensive effort…
“That’s what we’ve been working on in practice. That’s what we’ve focused on: [staying] down and stay in front of the ball.”
Senior guard Unique Drake
On her role on this year’s team…
“I feel like it gives us an advantage that we have two or three people who can bring the ball up. It gives our team an advantage as a whole.”
Opening statement…
“I thought the first quarter set the tone for the whole game. We took them out of what they wanted to do. I felt that we were in the right place based upon how we practiced and our scrimmages. I was really pleased with how we did today. I thought we played really well offensively, especially early. Both of these players sitting next to me [Kadaja Bailey and Rayven Peeples] had great games. [I’m] really pleased with our ability to be on the glass [and] how we turned them over for points. I thought it was a full 40 minutes. It’s a great start, and we have a lot more to work on and get better. It’s a nice way to start the year.”
On the team’s defensive play…
“I didn’t know what to expect [going in]. I had a feeling that we had been doing a good job just by how we’ve been playing. I wasn’t sure how we’d be [defensively]. In the first game, you don’t know a lot of things about who you’re playing and what they’re going to run. Our team is different. [We have] a tremendous amount of depth to wear teams down. I thought everybody did a really good job of finding people. Did I think we’d be able to do that with a two-point quarter to start the game? No, but I thought it set the tone, obviously, for the game. Some of the points we gave were our own mistakes. If we clean those up, we feel even better. I think we have a chance to be a much better defensive team than we’ve been.”
On Kadaja Bailey’s play…
“Kadaja’s had an incredible journey as kid being a camper here. She’s been different. Sometimes it takes players a little longer to get to that point than other, but she has more [room] to grow. I thought she played really smart today. She played with a high IQ in how she attacked and set things up for us. Defensively, she was very good. If she gets boards like she did today, that changes our team.”
On what point guard Mimi Reid brings to the roster…
“I think Mimi is a warrior. I think she competes at the highest level you can as a player. She has a lot of miles on her too. She’s given us stability and flexibility in a lot of areas. I think she is kicking herself a little bit because she could have had six more points, but she does a really good job of finding people. I think her and everybody that we brought in have really transcended a lot of our players that were here in the abiity to compete because of their mentality. Mimi’s been a great part of that since she’s gotten here. [She’s] an impressive individual. We’re gonna need her to be very good for us just like the rest of our roster. Mimi is certainly a great leader, and all of the things you see are what she is.
Redshirt senior guard Kadaja Bailey
On how she felt being back on the floor…
“I [went] out there and played my role on the basketball court. [My] teammates got me involved. I was staying focused.”
On the difference between last year’s team and this year’s team…
“Honestly, I don’t feel like anything changed. We’re still a family. We are playing faster [and] with more pace.”
On the team’s impressive defensive effort…
“That’s what we’ve been working on in practice. That’s what we’ve focused on: [staying] down and stay in front of the ball.”
Senior guard Unique Drake
On her role on this year’s team…
“I feel like it gives us an advantage that we have two or three people who can bring the ball up. It gives our team an advantage as a whole.”