Georgia Talks All-SEC Honors and Previews SEC Tournament

Below are quotes from head coach Joni Taylor, Jenna Staiti and Que Morrison from Tuesday's media availability.

Earlier today, Coach Taylor was named the 2021 SEC Coach of the Year, while Staiti was named All-SEC and Morrison was named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

Head Coach Joni Taylor
On what it means to receive the honor of SEC Coach of the Year…
"It's humbling. My heart is very full. There are a lot of very good coaches in this league, and to be recognized in that way is a really special thing, because there could have been a lot of other coaches who could have gotten this award. I go from that to thinking about all of the sacrifices that helped make this possible. Then, I think about the wonderful staff I get to work with every day and their commitment to Georgia Basketball, these young ladies, how committed they are and how they strive for excellence every day. They're not perfect, but they try to get it right. None of that is possible, and I wouldn't be sitting here, without all of those things that I just talked about and said. I'm really humbled, my heart is full and I'm a little bit speechless over it all, to be honest."

On the area of emphasis that needs to be fixed heading into the tournament…
"We're fortunate to have a double bye and not play until Friday, but you want to be able to play well, because it's one-and-done. You've got to survive, advance and hope that everybody is locked in and focused. We've been able to stay healthy and hope it continues that way. For us, we want to make sure that, authentically, you're in-sync, and we do a really good job defensively. I think that our girls are experienced in that way and just drowning out the noise again. Today is a special day, for not only us, but a lot of players around the league. You've got to handle what comes with success, but for us it's about being able to continue what we've done all year long ,which is not looking to the left or to the right and listen to the outside noise, but instead stay focused and humbled and remember the goal that we have as a team."

On how she and the coaching staff go about ensuring shooting stays consistent…
"As a coach, there is only so much that you can control. I think, for us, it's making them feel good, putting them in the right position and, once you put them in the right position, they're the ones that are making plays. Fortunately this year, more times than not, we've had people do that. They've really been locked in on terms of what we want to do offensively and defensively. We put them in the right positions, and they put themselves in really good positions, and we've been able to take advantage of that. So, again, the experience and maturity of this team helps a lot. It comes to their focus and what they want to accomplish. At this point, it's going to come down to players making plays, and you're not going to play anyone in the tournament that you haven't already played once, and in some cases twice. Players have to make plays."

On what she would say now in response to the preseason ranking which had UGA ranked ninth…
"The same thing I said in October when it came out— it's not how you start, it's how you finish."

On Que Morrison's evolution as a defensive player/whether that was a predominant skillset she had coming out of high school…
"Absolutely. When she was in high school, we knew it was something that she was very, very capable of doing. She prides herself on playing good defense. If you talked to her mom Tonya she'd tell you defense is what [Que] is all about. [Que] came from a high school program at McEachern and an AAU program Team Elite Pointer, who are very defensively sound. Jordan Isaacs came from that same program, as well as Kayla Hubbard and Javyn Nicholson. They all have a defensive element to them. As a freshman, Que was our second-best defender, with Haley Clark being first, and she studied Haley Clark with a passion and learned a lot from her that one year. Then from the moment Haley left, Que was our primary defender and took the responsibility of guarding the other team's best guard. Sometimes, she did that recovering from an injury, still being injured, still trying to get back from an injury, and pain free. So, what you're seeing now is a healthy Que Morrison at both ends of the floor. This is definitely something we knew that she was capable of, and I think it's also really special [for her] to be the first Georgia player to have been sent this honor since Sherril Baker, and they're extremely close. We had comparisons of the two of them, so it's really nice to see that we weren't off the mark in the recruiting process, because we talk to her like she is Sherril Baker. She has the same tendencies and capabilities that she had defensively here at Georgia. To see that play out is really fun."

On what it means to Taylor to see Morrison thrive given the number of injuries she has suffered throughout her collegiate career…
"It's fulfilling because she plays so hard and sacrifices her body so much. Her body has been through so much, you sometimes have to fight off the thoughts of, 'Man can her body continue to take this?' It's nothing that I ever spoke out loud, but I would be lying if I didn't say, 'That injury is difficult, I don't know if she is going to, not come back, but come back at the same level in terms of how much effort and energy and physicality she puts into the game.' She has been able to do that, it's a testament to her, our training staff, doctors and just the heart and love she has for the game. For me it's fulfilling and satisfying. Just a really proud moment."

On whether her team has risen to the expectations she and her staff had for them defensively…
"Very much so. We were disappointed last year in some of our defensive percentages and how they turned out. They weren't bad, we were still tops in the league and in the country in some areas but we felt that we were not as good defensively in certain spots. Defending the 3-point line, paint touches, allowing people to get to the free throw line. With the core group that we had coming back, and then being very detailed and intentional about honing in on fixing those areas, I thought we had a chance to be really good defensively. Plus, we were bigger. We were adding size to our roster at all positions, guards and forwards. So, I knew that that would be really advantageous for us as well. So we are exactly where we would thought we would be from a defensive standpoint."

On how impactful earning SEC Coach of the Year is to her given that her peers voted on it…
"Again, it's extremely humbling any time you get recognized by your peers. It's a very humbling thing, because there are a lot of really good coaches in this league and a lot of coaches that could have gotten this award today. To me, sitting here, I'm still shocked, I'm in awe. My heart is full. Again, I think about the program in its entirety and what it means for everyone. I don't sit here without the people who are with me every day, players and staff included. So, it's just a proud moment."

On what the SEC honors will mean for her players in the future…
"This league is tough, and it is special. You are going to see names in this league for a long time playing in the professional level. When you can get recognized by coaches in this league who have deemed you to be the best in whatever category that is— All-SEC, Defensive Player of the Year, All-Freshman— it is a special thing, because that is a hard thing to do. I'm happy for them. I'm happy for Jenna [Staiti] and Que [Morrison] to go out that way. Happy for Sarah Ashlee [Barker], and I hope it's a sign for things to come. I think there are other players on our team that could have easily gotten recognized as well. I think, if you were to ask them, those were team awards, because they wouldn't have been able to get those without their teammates. So, I know they're proud, but they're just happy for everybody."

On the importance of being locked in defensively from the moment Georgia tips off…
"It's extremely important. I think, again, any time you play a team from this league it's tough, challenging and physically draining, and when you think about the tournament and the excitement of playing in Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., sometimes it takes a while for that first shot to get through the hole. While that is happening, you have to be really anchored down defensively. I think that's what we really pride ourselves on. I think we'll be sound in that area, and it's what normally sets the tone for us anyways. I'm excited for the tournament."

On how much motivation her team finds in the success it has had all season…
"We are proud of where we are, but you rest when you're done, not in the middle. We still have a lot of basketball to play, and you want to be playing your best basketball during tournament time and heading into the post-season. We've done a good job of controlling things in terms of putting ourselves into a position, and we want to continue to do that this weekend. We know it's going to be tough, and it's not going to be easy, but I think we'll be locked in and focused and play as long as we can and, for us, hopefully Sunday that means playing for a championship and then also playing well as we go into the NCAA tournament in a few weeks."

On how confident her team is in its ability to win it all…
"They believe that they are capable. I think they are capable for sure. If you go into a game thinking you're not going to win it, you might as well not get off the bus. We definitely believe that we can play into Sunday, but that's this league any given night. Anyone can win a game, that's been proven all year long. Again, it's not going to be easy. We're going to have to be locked in from day one, day two and day three. We're going to have to fight and put ourselves in the right position and eliminate mistakes. I know this team is confident and believes they can get to Sunday and win."

On what has led her team to this moment…
"There are a few things. I think number one, it's our experience [and] our senior leadership. I think it's the love that they have for each other, the chemistry we have when we play. We're playing for each other. I think it's the chip on their shoulder from how we finished last year, not getting to finish last year, but not finishing pretty well and didn't get recognized this fall in terms of where we were positioned. I think there were a lot of things, but the bigger 'why' is they are playing for each other, because if you're playing for yourself, or you're playing for recognition, or you're playing for something else, eventually when those things happen, then what are you playing for? Their 'why' has always been playing for each other and putting Georgia basketball in a position of success and to leave a legacy. That's what drives them and motivates them and has a lot to do with why we've been so successful."

On the player(s) who stepped up…
"I think they all have in different way. One of the things that we've challenged this group with over the past few years was their leadership voice. I think they have all been great leadership examples on the floor, but with Stephanie Paul graduating and before that Haley Clark graduating, those were two really strong leaders. This group didn't have to lead until last year and this year and they struggled with that from a verbal standpoint. They all this summer, in different way, took on that responsibility. So it honestly has been more of a group effort than I would say one person just sticking out. What you see on game days is Gabby [Connally], she's very vocal, she's very vocal in practice, she's the first one that comes to mind. As a point guard, you take that on a little bit sooner than some other players but I think Jenna [Staiti] has found her voice. I think Maya [Caldwell] has found her voice, Que [Morrison] found her voice, so I think they all complement each other really well in that way."

#14 Jenna Staiti | Redshirt-Senior | Center
On the expectations she has for the SEC Tournament…
"We just want to take it one game at a time and do what we do. The goal is to get a trophy, get a ring, and I think to do that we just have to take it one game at a time and focus. If we do that, I think we will be good."

On how much the ups and downs of last season/not playing in the SEC Tournament fueled Georgia and played a role in the team's success this season…
"It didn't look good, but I'm glad we went through it because we know what it shouldn't look like, and now we have the expectations of how to do things the right way and know what looks right and what works for us. Going through that [last season] and knowing what we had to build off of going into this year helped us and made us strong."

On Georgia being the No. 4 seed and how being the "underdog" in the tournament affects the team's mindset…
"I think it puts us in the advantage. I don't see us as the underdog. We know what to do, what know what to take care of, we know how to play, so I think it puts us in a really good position."

#23 Que Morrison | Senior | Guard
On what it means to her to receive SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, especially given the number of injuries she has suffered throughout the years, and how much confidence that honor gives her heading into the SEC Tournament…
"It's an honor, of course. I'm very blessed and honored. I'm just a very humble person, so it fills me with excitement. I feel like I put in the work to get the award, and having my teammates there to help me get there has been amazing. It feels great being able to have that achievement. It's been a rough battle with injuries, so being able to be healthy this year and knowing that I'm doing everything I can to stay healthy, it just goes to show that treatment is so important and that anything is possible; just don't give up."

On a personal example with Coach Joni Taylor that contributes to why she was honored as the SEC Coach of the Year award…
"Honestly, there's not just one example that describes why she should have gotten that award. I actually sent her a text on Sunday after the game. I would like to read that text. I didn't even know she was going to get that award. It was just me honoring my coach and just being grateful for her. I'm sorry if this is unprofessional, but I just have to read this. I was watching a film for class and I say, 'Hey, I'm talking about you in this paper I have due tonight on this documentary. In the film, the Liverpool Fútbol Team hires a new coach, and he brings in a bunch of new, talented players. The managing director is quoted saying We don't build something to win today. We build something to keep winning. That I feel is something you have built. I'm happy to have you as my coach to lead the way and show how it is done.' That just goes to show you she has had the plan, she made the plan and now it's going into action for her. This year, we've been able to have a lot of achievements, and it just feels great."

On when she realized the potential of Georgia women's basketball since arriving as a freshman…
"There wasn't necessarily a point where I realized we'd be really great. I just knew that we would grow and develop into the players that we are and the ones performing out there on the court today. Everything in life takes growth, and we've been able to grow and mature on and off the court."

Georgia Talks All-SEC Honors and Previews SEC Tournament

Players Mentioned

Jordan Cole

Que Morrison

Javyn Nicholson

Stephanie Paul

Jenna Staiti