Kiana Williams Interview + Top 4 Teams Take Shape

Pac-12 Networks’ Ashley Adamson and Mary Murphy discuss Arizona's Sam Thomas performance this weekend (1:30). Mary shares the story of Washington's Khayla Rooks and why returning to Tucson was extra special for her (3:48). Ash and Mary recap the Bruins overtime win over the Beavers (6:35) and discuss how Oregon State can bounce back after dropping 3 straight games (9:27).  Alaska natives Ruthy Hebard and Alissa Pili's player of the week honors are discussed (14:32) and Mary and Ash talk the reaction Oregon grad transfer Minyon Moore received at USC this weekend (15:49). 

Stanford point guard Kiana Williams joins the show and breaks down the last seconds of her buzzer beater vs Colorado (23:40).  Williams shares the reactions of her coaches and teammates following the wild win (28:16).  Kiana also discusses the impact of having Maya Dodson back playing for the first time this season (31:45).  

Kiana looks ahead to Stanford's upcoming game vs Oregon and shares what she learned after their 32-pt loss to the Ducks earlier this season (33:25). Kiana talks about growing up with 3 older brothers and her tight relationship with her dad (35:35). The junior also discusses playing with Michaela Onyenwere and Mikayla Pivec in the Pan Am games over the summer (45:42) and who she thinks is the most underrated player is in the league (46:43).

Mary and Ash discuss Cal's Cailyn Crocker's crazy weekend on and off the court (51:35) and Mary reveals who she thinks can make a deep NCAA Tournament run other than Oregon (56:47).

(Radio Call Courtesy: Tunein - Voice of Kevin Danna)

Episode Transcript

(00:02):
Yeah, Hello, adduced the podcastof that highest class of women's schools twelve
the rankings if you needed to provenumber snap for lie either do want speaking
the truth of the calm the chaoswill bring into passion and the player of
the year who'll be a crown shapbegin Let's get the cracking. What's happening?
And Mary Murphy Ashley Adam saying yeahwe back again. Yeah you did

(00:26):
at everyone you found the Inside Packtwelve Women's Basketball podcast. Congratulations, Thank
you, whether you're here for thefirst time or the eighteenth time, Welcome
to the podcast. Ashley Adams andMary Murphy are fearless. Producer Colleen Farrell.
How's everybody doing today? Well,I'm good. I think we need
to redo the song because there isno calm, there's only chaos on the

(00:47):
chaos. Yeah all right, didyou hear that calling? We'll put that
on your list for today. Wegot to get that get that recut.
Uh. It's it's been another wildweekend. We're gonna, obviously as we
always do, recap the big stories. We'll been things ahead and give you
some things to watch for this upcomingweekend. Our guest, which I am
super excited about. Shout out toColleen for always booking just the best guest.

(01:07):
Keanu Williams aka Reggie Miller is goingto talk to us about that absolutely
ridiculous finish in Boulder this weekend.But let's start you. So, Mary,
you were in Tucson on Friday forArizona U dub and then you were
in Tempe on Sunday for the Huskiesgame against ASU. I always like hearing,
you know, stories from your traderoad, stories from the road.
Tell me, tell me a goodstory from this weekend. Well, two

(01:30):
things really stuck out for me inthe desert. One was Sam Thomas.
We talked so much about Aery McDonaldand what she does for Arizona and the
crowds, but I am telling you, Sam Thomas on Friday didn't score that
much. She had six points,I think, but six blocks, four
steals, four assists, two rebounds. I mean, she was making plays

(01:53):
that just out of nowhere, blockingshots with her right hand with her left
hand. And then we decide we'regoing to have her be our postgame interview.
And I could see her walking overand she was just shaking her head.
So I took the headset off andwalked up to her, and she
goes and she's smiley, much likeKeana Williams, and she just says,
I've never done this. I've neverdone one of these. And I was

(02:13):
like, how is that even remotelypossible? She goes, I'm so excited.
I've never done this. So shesits down between us and and she
she looks at the camera and she'slike, hey, Las Vegas, because
she's from Vegas, and we weren't. We weren't rolling at that point.
And she sits down and she's justbubbly and happy and excited, and what
a joy just to listen to herand to give her that moment that she's

(02:36):
so richly deserves. And and thenon can I can? I really quick
before I don't want to cut youoff, but I have to jump in
because that from that game. SoAlex Eshelman, who's one of our fabulous
pas here at the network Friday night, I'm working in studio and she comes
into my office with this like kindof you know, crazy look on her
face and she said, did youjust hear what Mary Murphy said on TV?
And I said, well, I'mflipping back between all three games,

(02:57):
like I don't know. Yeah againand she said no. She said,
you know, Ashley Adams said webetter see this Sam Thomas block back in
studio and she said, so Ihave the highlight cup, but but do
you want to see the black?And I said, if Mary Murphy on
the air said that she wants tosee something, that is our job.
We must deliver. She is ourleader, so we obviously she recut the

(03:17):
highlight and Alex by the way,shout out to her. She's awesome.
She's a proud Arizona grad. Andhopefully he's going to take my job one
day. That's the plan. Butanyways, continue on your second thing.
And then Sunday against Washington State eighteenpoints. She hit three, three,
six assists, four steals. So, I mean the point, we know
Arizona's having this incredible season and they'regoing places they've never been, the RPI

(03:38):
in the standings, everything, butoh, Sam Thomas, what a delight
to watch and what just to giveher that moment was was amazing. And
then the second thing that happened wasKayla Rooks plays for Washington six one forward,
point guard, power forward. Herdad, Sean Rooks, played for

(03:59):
lou Dolson at Arizona, and hepassed away very suddenly at forty six in
June of twenty sixteen. So it'sthe second time she's been back to two
sons since her dad had passed away. And it was Valentine's Day. Her
mom and her older and her brotherCameron, who played at cal We're all
there and they decorated her locker andshe went up and we took some pictures
of her up. There's a pictureand a thing about her dad there,

(04:23):
and so it was just just thisreally touching scene and she's waiting for everyone
and everyone gives her a hug asshe's walking off the floor and then she
hits this three and she you couldit was like a moment frozen in time.
Like she kissed her finger and lookedup at heaven and like for that
moment, you're just like with hersaying hi Dad, and you just like

(04:45):
you just melt and go. Youknow, there's just moments that are just
that just stopped time and you go, Kayla just had one of those moments.
And she's got this beautiful tattoo onher right wrist. Her dad used
to write her a lot of notesand in his hand in writing and her
nickname was Laa. This beautiful curseof writing on her wrist in her day
and she just showed it to andyou just so every time she looks at

(05:09):
her risk, she sees her dad. And it was really special. I've
got tears of my eyes just thinkingabout it. And so that and Sam
Thomas, that was my weekend inthe desert, and it was. It
was great, great and happy Valentine'sDay. You know what, Mary,
this is why to me, andwe we joke about it and we laughed
about it a lot. But thatstory that you just told right there is
the epitome of why this podcast mattersto me and I think a lot of

(05:31):
people, because there's so many Whenyou think about all the big storylines that
we talk about and all the thingsthat happened in the games, there's so
much to it. And those arethe type of moments that I think matter
and that people should hear about andwant to hear about. And I'm glad
I asked you that question to startthe podcast. That was that was good
stuff? Yeah, and it was. It was funny. Before Sunday's game,
I asked her if it was okayif we talked about it on the

(05:54):
podcast, because you don't want toembarrass or just bring something to somebody's attention
that they don't want. She goesknow that that's cool, and she was
cool with us showing the picture,and she just wants to share her dad
and what he meant and the people. Lute Olsen just loved her dad,
and he was doing player development forthe Philadelphia seventy six ers and he had
just interviewed for a job with theKnicks, and this tragedy happened to their

(06:16):
family, and she's just carrying onthe legacy. Is very special moment.
That's amazing and a special moment certainlyfor her and her family as well.
Being back in Tucson. All Right, Well, we obviously have a ton
to get to. We mentioned thatKeana Williams is going to join us in
a few minutes here, but letlet's dive into what we saw last night
in Pauli. Oregon State and UCLA. I mean, two teams desperate for

(06:40):
a win, both coming off toughlosses on Friday. Bruins got you know,
drilled by Oregon and the Beeves gotupset at usc This was an entertaining
game. I mean, I feltlike Oregon State had it early they were
up fourteen and then the Bruins justkind of turned it out in the third
quarter and end up pulling it out. No, Tea, We'll start with
UCLA. What did that wins signifyto you for Corey closes team, Well,

(07:01):
it was similar to the Stanford winat Maple's, and that is that
they can overcome adversity. They hada really not very good first half.
I mean, they just didn't playthat well. I mean even the ESPN
crew was kind of writing them off, like, oh they're terrible, and
we're like, I don't even knowwhy they're ranked in And then they got
back to who they are and thatis defensive pressure. They knocked down some

(07:24):
big threes, their bench came upbig, and they just you know,
Lindsay got Lee boys used to say, you gotta do you really well,
and in the second half they didthemselves. They did what Bruins do in
a in a big time way andit was a huge win for them and
just another crushing setback for Oregon State. Yeah yeah, I mean, so

(07:45):
let's talk about the Beaves in justone second. But Chris Osborne, she
had a career night she's got theswagger that is like she does not play
like a freshman a lot of times. That ball fake in the corner in
the fourth quarter, that just fakedout everybody. And she had that knocked
down that three, I thought wasamazing. And yeah, so Ucla now
eleven and two. They bounced backfrom that devastating win against the Ducks.

(08:05):
And now you look at go ahead. Well, you're talking about Osbourne as
a freshman, came from Winward HighSchool, played for Vanessa Nigard, who
played for Tara Jordan, Canada.That's her high school, so you know
she comes prepared to play at thecollege level. And what she's been for
much of this year is a defensivestopper in high school, an unstoppable score.

(08:28):
So she's been able to take thisnew role and accept it. But
when you need offense, in thatthird quarter, when it was like we
gotta get going, nine points byOsbourne three or three from the floor,
hit two threes and it just likepropelled her team. Took all this pressure
off Japristine. And then guess what, all of a sudden, Japris starts
making shots. What happens, thefloor starts spreading, what happens. Baul

(08:50):
gets inside to Onion wedding and thingsstart going well. Horve At one of
my favorite stories inside makes that hugeshot, you know, I think Jeffer
and comes off the bench, hugemomentum shift for that team. And Corey
sent out some some big time propsto her in the locker room, just
saying and thanks for your selfishness andas a bench player, what's your job.

(09:11):
Always be ready. You might getcalled, you might sit there and
wait and not get a call.She got called, She delivered. It
was a huge performance. It wasno doubt a huge win for UCLA.
That would have been a you know, a real big bummer if they'd gotten
swept after all the momentum that theyhad. And then you look at on
the other side that the team thatdid get swept this weekend, and that
was the Beaves, you know,swept on the road by the LA Schools

(09:31):
for the second time in three seasons. That was their third straight loss.
They're sitting there now, I couldn'tbelieve the seven and seven in conference play,
which you know, you don't see. It's it's been a while since
since eleven twelve was the last timethey had that many conference. Correct.
You know when Mick pivot fell itout in overtime, you kind of felt
like you knew where this thing wasgoing. But what what do you make

(09:52):
of the Beaves right now? Andkind of where do they go from here?
Because guess what, they get togo to Maple's on Friday night and
play Stanford, So it doesn't getany easier. Yeah, I think they're
trying to sort of reconfigure what theydo. Pivoc has is playing more of
the power forward the four, justout of need because of the injury to
Kennedy Brown, and of course theirnumbers have shrunk. Uh. You know,
they haven't had Taya Corsdale all year. I thought they played at times

(10:16):
very very well. Uh Simmons cameoff the bench and gave them big minutes.
I'm sure they're going to continue tolean on her uh Morris as well
off the off the bench in thepost. But this is a team that
you know, three point shooting hasgot has got to go. You know,
Leah Goodman uh didn't score in thatballgame, played thirty two minutes.
You've got to get points from fromAliah. She's just that important. Pop.

(10:39):
Maddie Washington was solid, but youknow they're they're terrific in the back
court. They're gonna lean on Pivoc. They've got to stay out of foul
trouble because they got to stay onthe bench, on the floor. But
at the same time, I don'tthink anybody looks forward to play in Oregon
State because you know it's gonna betough, and you know they're due and
you know it's going to happen.So it's going to be a great weekend
in the Bay. Yeah, it'sgoing to be interesting, There's no doubt

(11:01):
about it. And if, bythe way, if you feel like there
are more overtime games this year,you're not wrong. Greg roz our Crack
researcher, looked this up for us. So what was the stat married overtime's
overtime games total last year? Ithink there were eleven all of last season,
and already fifteen and eight in Pactwelve play. And it feels like
everyone you know we've had in Washingtonjust themselves have had four overtime games this

(11:28):
year. Just that's how close theirseason is to tip in a different direction.
I think Stanfords has had two overtimegames, So it just feels like
every weekend. You know, it'slike a producer in the you know,
that's like your worst nightmare. It'slike, oh no, we're going to
overtime. And but it just clutchplay down the stretch across the board in

(11:50):
this conference and on any given night, you better have your you know,
your play set up that you're gonnarun because you're gonna need them. Yeah.
No, it's uh, it's beenfun to watch. Another reason why
this has just been such a specialspecial season in the PAC twelve. Obviously,
the other big storyline that we gotto talk about is Oregon and they
just keep on winning um twelve straightvictories after sweeping the LA Schools on the

(12:13):
road and you know, as aninteresting kind of unfortunate storyline that developed Sunday
at Galen And we'll get there ina minute, but first, just let's
double back on that big win atPauli And you know, Ruthie Hebert fan
club members please stand up. I'mstanding. I'm standing, Colleen standing,
Ari's standing, Mary standing player Playerof the week. Ruthie Hebert. Do

(12:35):
we take her for granted? Colleenat pose this question, and I think
it's it's a great, great questionshe's this is the first time player of
the week, right call what's yeah? The first time this year, which
seemed bananas um and second time inher career, which I thought was also
bananas I don't know, Mary,what do you think? Well? I

(12:56):
just think we do. You haveSabrina on your team and saw too,
Sobbily and Aaron Bully and over theyears might take Cazorla and now Mignon Moore.
Just there's there. She's surrounded bygreatness. But is she in her
own way, just one of thebest players in the country. You better
believe it. And it's why Oregonis so tough to beat. You know,

(13:16):
They've got three right now, threeplayers that could step on the court
and play in the w NBA inRuthie, Sabrina, in Satu so uh.
But when you score twenty six pointsaverage over a weekend, almost fourteen
rebounds. She shot seventy two percentfrom the floor, I mean, Ruthy
Hibbert in LA twenty three of thirtytwo. I mean, she's she's so

(13:37):
neck like, she just doesn't whenshe misses, You're like, oh God,
she missed. It mean, it'slike a surprise. Yeah, she's
just so's she have the best handsthat you've ever seen in the past.
You know, in the past,I don't know, five to seven years
in the conference. I think it'shard to say she's got the best hands
when you play with my Tay,Sabrina and now Mignon, who has one

(14:01):
of the best assists to turnover.I mean, I think she's got twenty
turnovers on the whole season. Whenyou play with those kind of players,
they never give you the ball somewherewhere you can't do something with it.
It's not like, you know,you're just like playing with some like you're
playing with me, and I'm justsaying, hey, good luck, Ruthie,
go go get that thing. Youknow, they're they're given it to
her every time, leading her whereshe should go. And I think she's

(14:24):
got sensational hands, but it takestwo to tango, and their tango is
great. That's a good point.Okay. So the other thing that we
were all pretty excited about is thatso Ruthie's pactual Player of the Week,
and then Alissa Peely, the USCStar is your pactual Freshman of the Week.
And the people who are the mostexcited for this is the Great State
of Alaska. Ruthie is obviously fromFairbanks. Alyssa is from Anchorage. I

(14:48):
don't know that Alaska is known asa recruiting hotbed until now. Maybe well
wake up, everybody, Alaska isthe place to be. One of these
days, we are going to havea lissapeally on this podcast. I mean,
her mom grew up in Barrow,which is like by the North Pole.
We cannot I cannot wait to hearher stories. I talked to her
a little bit about like ice fish, like all the crazy things she's done

(15:11):
in her life. So that's goingto be a blast. But I guess
they you know, they had ahug, an Alaska hug after the game.
But how amazing is that player ofthe week and freshman of the week
and they're both from Alaska, theyboth played on the same AAU team and
Alyssa peale freshman of the year.I mean, I am letting that let's
roll. I think three out ofthe last five weeks it's been her and

(15:33):
you know she's getting the ball,you know you have to stop her,
and she's just been unstoppable. She'sa she's she's a start in a post
and she's a guard which wants butshe just go do whatever you want to
do. She's a lot a lotof fun. Oh man, I love
that. Um okay. So theother storyline that I that I alluded to
that came out of that Oregon USCgame on Sunday, Um, let's I

(15:54):
just want to spend a little bitof time on this, so that the
ducks when Aaron Bowley went off,I think she had like seven three,
which was when bullies getting buckets.Yeah. But the story that you know
kind of dominated this game certainly afterthe game, unfortunately, was the was
the reaction or reception that Minion Moorereceived in her return to Galen. So
for some context, I think mostpeople know this, but Minion's a grad

(16:15):
transfer from USC. She used herfinal year of eligibility to go play for
Kelly Graves and from what I understand, had Mark Track's complete blessing to go
try and win a naddy. Um. You know, before the game,
Minion pass posted on her Instagram thatthat she was excited and blessed to be
able to play at her alma mater. One time. She goes out as
five points eleven assists, three rewards. But in his postgame interview and if

(16:37):
you haven't watched it. It's allover Twitter. Kelly was very upset with
the way that that USC fans treatedMignon. He talked about how they were
channing Trader, which you know obviouslyis not not cool, and if you
watch the interviews, he's visibly angry. Said it was classless, and Minion,
when she was asked about it afterwards, said it was kind of inappropriate.
So I I have a little contextI want to add, but just

(16:57):
i'd love to get your thoughts andkind of how this thing went down.
I understand both sides of this.I think anyone who goes to football games
and goes to basketball games and listensto what bands chant and say, you
know, it's no surprise that theywould come up with something, you know,
curtain of distraction. They come upwith stuff and you're like, well

(17:18):
that distruct you know, I don'tknow. But it's just the thing that
I find interesting is that Minyon Moorehas something that the band doesn't, and
that is a degree from USC.So good luck guys, everyone in the
band. I hope you go getyourself your degree because now she's in a
graduate program. And I talked toAnn Marie Anderson who worked the game,

(17:38):
and her comments said she was walkinginto practice and I was talking to Mark
Track, and Mark Track's comments were, I just love Minyon More. I'm
so happy for her. She wasgreat for us. Mignon's comments. Walks
into the practice drym she had justrun into coach Track and Anne Marie says.
Her comment is, I just loveMark Track. He's such a good

(17:59):
man. And I think that that'swhat I take away from this weekend is
she left USC with a degree fromUSC with the blessing of Mark Track.
Go go chase your dream. Gogo see if you can get a national
championship with someone you played au ballwith. And I'll expand the conversation.
Jetavia Tapley transfers out of USC graduate. She's another one the band doesn't have

(18:21):
a degree. She does. Shegoes to ASU and she's pursuing a dream
with Charlie Turner Thorne in the SunDevils. Same comments. Charlie calls Mark
Track, what do you think ofJatavia? The communication? There's great respect.
Mark Track to me, is thestory here? Yeah, because he's
the one that gave his blessings,He's the one that he didn't bad mouth

(18:41):
anybody he was like, nope,this is a good move for you.
This good move for you, coach, that's a good move for your program.
And where is he right now?He starts owing five and they've been
five and three since. With allthese young young players and some transfers that
have brought in, Mark Track's gothis thing on track. The players that
left are having a great time andhelping their teams. This is a win

(19:03):
win a graduate transfer situation that onlywould have worked with a coach and a
man like Mark Track. And solike Yaya, Mark Track. Sorry the
band said that. Sorry, youknow it hurt Mignon's feelings, But Mignon
is having a heck of a yearand having a great time and I hope
it's just a blip on the radar. Well, and you make the point

(19:23):
that. And I talked to NateKruger, the SID because and we're working
on getting some other stuff set up, and I just said, what,
you know, what was your takeon all that? And he said that
I think Minyon initially thought that itwas the you know, student section and
the and the fans. And hesaid, actually when she came in and
was introduced, she got a reallynice, warm applause, everything never everyone
was cheering for And it wasn't untilshe stepped to the free throw line the

(19:44):
first time, and it was theband and not you know, the general
fans and the students. So Ithink that there is a differentiation there,
not that it makes it okay orwhatever, but it is. It's sports,
and people say stuff and heckling isthat's never going to go away.
So I, you know, hatsoff for for the Ducks being able to
go in and win that game.It wasn't certainly easy and it's going to
be interesting to see sort of,you know, what ends up with us

(20:07):
the rest of the way, becauseI'll tell you what, no one wants
to play them in Vegas. Iknow that for a fact. So Oregon
they're able to, you know,sweep the LA schools on the road for
the third straight year, and they'rereally right on schedule for the third straight
regular season conference title. They gota one game lead in the standings head
into the Bay Area road trip,and obviously the biggest game left on their
calendar and the regular season is BigMonday at Stanford. We're about to have

(20:29):
keyon, so we're gonna get intoall that with her. But first,
Mary, your thoughts on this game. If I'm a Stanford fan listening at
home, why should I believe thatthis game will end any differently than their
first meeting? And Eugene, Well, I think that the key will probably
talk about this is that the freshmanhad a little baptism there. The crowd
was amazing. They had a sellout, and I think they were down six

(20:52):
at half. Stanford came out ofthe locker room. They went on a
seven oh run and then you know, it's like the door shut and it
was over and they and Sabrina thirtyseven points in that ball game. She
had a double double. She theyjust rolled it up. And think about
Stanford is they learned their lessons.But that's not the only game for Oregon.

(21:15):
You know, Sabrina starts Friday atCow, which is basically home.
You know, she got down toOregon State, Oregon and Cow. Lindsay
Gottlieb was sure she was coming.And you know, we've talked about this,
the legend of Sabrina. Where didthis thing start? It started at
Cal her freshman year. Oregon wasowned three in conference and they scored I

(21:37):
think it was eight points in thelast whatever seconds culminating and Anne Marie had
the call on this too. Ballgets inbounded to Sabrina, takes three dribbles
and lets it fly. Basket goesin and I remember looking at my phone,
I forget where I was. Waslike Sabrina. Justin was like here
we go. I was working thatnight, and I remember it so well,
and I had forgotten that until youbrought it up, which is why

(22:00):
I'm so glad that you're on thispodcast. And it's not just me,
but that is. I mean,it's going to be special, special for
some Brinday to go back. Imean, cal obviously, you know,
it's a much different story than whenshe came in her freshman year. But
she's, you know, grew upin Walnut Creek. She's gonna have a
ton of family there. And thenthe last time she's playing this Bay Area
road swing in her college career,and let's be honest, this might be
the last time Sabrina is home untillike Christmas. Yeah. I mean you

(22:23):
start with this weekend and then youroll to the tournament, and then you
roll to the NCAA Tournament and thenthe w NBA Draft and then all the
awards I'm sure she's going to betraveling around the country. Then the w
NBA season starts, and maybe she'llget a break during the Olympic, you
know, during the Olympic break.But she's I mean, she she needs
to go visit her room and likehave a Kumbaya like in Walnut Creek,

(22:45):
Pleasant Hill, because this is gonnabe it. Yeah. Well, the
good news is that they I meangood news and matters. But they do
get a little bit longer in theBay Area because they play Friday and then
I say, they're there on withStanford on on Big Monday. So that
is, you know, a coupleof big games to be watching for and
and you So let's let's talk aboutStanford a little bit. They sweep their
Mountain road trip this weekend. Itwas not without some drama. I'm about

(23:06):
to We're about to welcome Kean on, but just you're real quick your thoughts
on on what happened this weekend inBoulder that ending, well, do you
believe in miracles? I mean Ifelt like it was the L Michael's call,
like really, what and again,you're you're doing we're all off doing
these games other places and your phonejust starts blowing up. It's going to

(23:26):
overtime. You know, Key again, you just you just can't. You
just look down and go, ohmy god again again Keiana again. So
for those who may have missed it, uh, we are good friend,
Kevin Dana was calling it um ontune in and we're just gonna before we
welcome Key and revisit those final fewseconds in Boulder on Sunday. Bounced into

(23:49):
Lexei hole out for Keiana three totime the game. Dad, It's good,
Kiana Williams. That's a time atsixty six. Coloradods does not have
a time out. In Hollingshod almostcalled one five seconds left, Hollingshod hounded
three seconds stalling by team. He'sone up at door. That's gone,

(24:11):
that's gone, it's gone, Kiddrows. Oh my, Kiana Williams,
that's just won the game for theCardinal. Kevin Dana, hats off to
you, my friend. Um okay, that's what we call big time.
Everybody six points in fourteen seconds,including that game winner at the buzzer.

(24:34):
Keana Williams, the star in Boulderfor Stanford, joining us now. So
happy to have you on the podcast, Key h how many times I guess
I'm gonna start with this. Howmany times have you either heard that call
or watch that those last fourteen secondsof that game? Um, within the
last twenty four hours, I'd sayat least twenty times. I love I
love Kevin. His energy is justgreat. And UM, initially, when

(24:56):
we're in an airport, I wasjust talking to him, like, you
know, trying to ask him like, how how did he do it?
You know, it was just sogreat and energetic. I'm like, I
love that. Did you have ananswer it? How did he say?
He said, you did all thehard work. Yeah, that's basically what
he said. He said, youmade an incredible play, and UM,
I just he just excuse me,he just um got energy from my great

(25:18):
play. So it was just Iguess it was vice versa, you know
it was. It was just awesome. Congratulations. Uh, you know,
a career day for you, twentynine point seven triples. But just can
you walk Mary and I through thosethose final fourteen seconds just from your point
of view how they played out?Well, I'll go, I'll go before
that, Um, when we werein a following situation and UM, initially

(25:41):
we uh, thank god they missedfreaked those, but when they missed one
of them and they got the rebound, I was Internally I was, you
know, freaking out, but onthe outside, I wasn't trying to show
it, you know, trying toremain level headed, you know, being
a point guard, that's your job, just because if you panicked, then
if the captain's panicking, and theentire teams in the parting. So thank

(26:03):
god they missed those freak though.And then Tara caused the time out and
she drew a setup for me,so I just I knew I had to
knock it down, She asked,confidencing in me. My teammates have confidence
in me, and shout out toa Stella for you know, she hadn't
played all games. She checks inand makes a great pass for Alexei.
Alexey makes the past to me andknots that's a really really big screen and

(26:26):
thank god I knocked it down.And uh, Tara was talking in the
huddle that if we had made theshot, to make sure that we didn't
foul because the play was four three, we wanted to tire so make sure
that everyone knew that we didn't needto foul, and just sprent back and
wait till the final hord and goesand I don't think they were on the
same page at on the Colorado team. And we just kept playing, and
she threw the ball away and whenI when I grabbed it, I looked

(26:49):
at I immediately looked at the shotclock and the game clock, and I
saw it was, you know,almost to zero. So I took one
final bounce and gave it a chance, and now we're here. It just
happened so fast. A couple ofthings on the shot that tide tide things.
I thought the past from Lexei wasamazing. I mean, she's like

(27:11):
flying out of bounds. You caughtthat thing in rhythm and let it fly.
I mean the timing on that wasexceptional. We practiced, we practiced
that play at the end of practiceevery single day. Um, I'll run
it and there would be vice versas. Sometimes I run it for Alexei.
Sometimes we run it for Hannah Jump. But it's hard called it for me,

(27:32):
and I know I had to knockit down and second your reaction after
you made that three. I meannormally there are timeouts called, right,
I mean, you're and there's timeto celebrate, relax, but immediately the
camera goes to your face and youare like searching for where to go right,
Like where do I need to goto make a play? Was that
what was going on in your head? Absolutely, the game wasn't over.

(27:53):
Um, yeah, we I tiedit, but still we're still like,
I think it was five seconds left, so can't let them, you know,
in abound the ball and go godown and score a layup. So
that's what we had talked about inthe huddle, like if we had made
the shot, to find our matchupand try to get a stop. And
then third, when you made theshot, you just sort of stood there.

(28:14):
You didn't jump up and down.I mean, you could do a
documentary on the reactions of everybody onyour sideline, like who tackled you,
who ran? Who jumped up anddown? I thought, seriously, Tar
was gonna dislocate her right arm theway she I don't know if you've seen
her, she kind of swings herarm around and just like Karate chopped the
air. What was that whole crazytumble around like in celebration. I just

(28:37):
couldn't believe that I made it,And like I think I turned and left
at LEXI right when the ball wentin and everyone who got excited. I'm
like, wow, if this reallyjust happened like it was, it happened
so fast, I couldn't even,you know, really processed. I think
I was just kind of in shock. But yeah, it's all the coaches
where they were so hyped and stuff. And one thing I hadn't known was

(29:00):
Tara's mom, Rita. She hadnever I don't think she's ever witnessed her
losing person. So shout out toshout out to Mama vende Vera. I
think her, her spirits and herpresence there also had something to do with
that shot so key. After thegame, I texted Tar and said,
did you have to take your momto the hospital because like you know,
who knows and she goes No.I almost had to take myself to the

(29:22):
hospital. It was hilarious. Yeah, Tara, she she's funny. I
love her. And this was agreat, great call by Kate, Um,
great called by Tara, and justa total team effort from top to
bottom. Um. So I'm justexcited that we came out on top.
What did what did Kate pay andand Tara and the coaching staff say to
you after the game? Oh,they were just saying, big shot key

(29:47):
and I can't even remember everything.We're just happening so fast. But um,
Tara had stayed. Tara stayed inColorado with her to stay with her
mom, and I just I wastalking to her mom before we got on
the bus and she was just sayingshe just gave me a hug and started
crying. I'm like, oh,don't cry. And we took a picture

(30:07):
with each other. But yeah,the coaches, everyone was just excited and
happy for me. I was justhappy we won and still in shocked,
but it was just a it wasa great moment. Rita Vanderveer, by
the way, and we talked abouther a fair amount last year and we
actually got to go do an OurStories feature on on Rita's relationship with her
mom m in a game that alsothe bus gave you guys a little bit
of trouble last year, if Irecall in Boulder as well, and Rita

(30:30):
is a huge, huge, avidsupporter of the Colorado Buffalo's sports, like
all of them. She goes tofootball games, she goes about and she
says she cheers for them every singleday except for obviously when they're playing Tara,
so that must have just been suchan amazing moment, you know,
the Buffs. It's interesting because they'vethey've come really close to beating you guys

(30:51):
in both of those games this year. What is it about them that that
kind of makes them a tough matchup? Obviously they're giving you everything they can
every time they play you guys,But what is it that makes these games
so close and dramatic Because it wasthat overtime when back in January at Maples,
I think they execute their gameplay,their game plan. Well, we
had a tough time guarding their afew of their bigs and they made some

(31:12):
some huge shots um in both thosegames, and I just think on our
side, we just didn't stop playing. You know, we were down by
by two was like one point somethingseconds left here, and we executed our
play there. And then we weredown in Colorado and we were we executed
our play there. So just Ithink that just goes to show don't don't

(31:32):
stop playing to the game is actuallyover, to the final horn goes off.
So just crediting to my teammates foryou know, sticking together and it
wasn't looking pretty, but we stucktogether and we found a way key.
One of the real positive things outof the weekend was the return of Maya
Dotson. She played twenty four minutesand scored thirteen points over the weekend,
had five rebounds. To tell mepersonally and for the team, what does

(31:56):
what does Maya mean? Do youguys? Maya she's We've missed her so
much. My roommate. Shout outto my roommate. And I was actually
her birthday Sunday, So I hadafter I made the shot and we had
got up from the dog pot,told a happy birthday. But oh,
I'm sorry, I said, you'rea good friend. That's a night birthday

(32:17):
present. Yeah, it was untraditionaland uh you know, but you know,
but her know, her return tothe court, man, it was
just it was just great. Uh, we've missed her so much. Um.
I think the freshman just need,like, you know, another person
they could you know, look lookup and watch, you know, sometimes

(32:37):
like in practice sometimes when ares tellingthem things that they have to be out
there because you know, talk minehas been out and um nods out there.
But I think having two post playersthat they could you know, maybe
watching and learn from is really huge. So her return to the court was
huge. We we've missed her somuch, and we're gonna need her this

(32:57):
weekend. You know, Oregan hasa really good big and uh you know,
um or say has a really goodbig. So we're gonna need her
to you know, try to getback into her rhythm and you know,
just back like she's never left.Hopefully they have a couple of good,
really big, good players. Ruthiehee Bird Player of the Week. Um,
Sabrina seems to play her best againstyou guys. Um, I know

(33:19):
that game is second on the listthat's on Big Monday. What makes Oregan
so tough for you guys? Andand Sabrina in particular, they just have
they have scores one through five.You know. Um, the pick and
roll as one of the um oneof the toughest things to guard in basketball.
Every team does it, and Ifeel like Oregan does it the best.
So they just have really offensive weaponseverywhere. You know, you can't

(33:44):
really leave one person to go guardanother one because you'd leave that person.
They're gonna make the wide open shots. So and Sabrina, she's a really
good player. She leaves that teamreally well. And I think, um,
when we went to Oregon, Idon't think our I don't think our
mindset was you know, ready forthat atmosphere. We knew what we're gonna

(34:06):
it was gonna be loud. ButI think you know, when they went
on the run and how loud itgot, I think the crowd really got
to especially our young players. Andsomething I don't think I did really well
was you know, keeping the teamtogether. Um, so that was a
really big learning experience. And umI'm glad we went through that so early.
You know, planning that environment.It was a great basketball environment.
But as a team, Um,I think you know, in late in

(34:28):
the third quarter, when things weren'tgoing our way, that's when the skate
would say that the train, thetrain will spell off. But it was
like, you guys learned from thatpretty quickly because then you went to Corvallas,
if I recall, and the kindof was the same thing. They
got out to this lead, andyou guys were a lot more calm and
kept your boys and we're able tocome back. You know, I just
one more thing about the Ducks,Like, I know, you're supposed to

(34:50):
move on from the game and learnlesson and move on, but how much
time have you you spent thinking aboutthat game because you guys don't lose all
that often, and when you do, you definitely don't lose by thirty mm
oh, I think about that gamea lot. Um, I wouldn't say
a lot, but you know,it's it's a constant reminder, you know,
just to play hard, and especiallywhen you're playing against the teams such
as Organ you know, they havethe ability to to go on a ten

(35:12):
o run like nothing because they're threepoint shooting and they have an inside and
outside a game which is which isone of the best in the country.
So um, no, not todwell on it, but you know,
to you know, look in themirror, looking the river of your mirror
every now and then and be remindedof how how that felt and not wanting
to have that selling again and thankfulthat we have another opportunity to play them.

(35:35):
You know, Kia, when Iwatch you, you have this kind
of toughness and an ability to notget rattled that you know feels unique and
really critical for someone who's a pointguard and the floor general. Um,
you know, and then I findout that they have three older brothers,
and of course that that makes senseto me, Like you have to be
poised, tough and not get rattledif you got three older brothers. So
tell me what it was like foryou growing up in Texas, the youngest,

(35:55):
being the only girl. Your dadis said that you're the best athlete
family, hands down. It istrue. I think that is Uh.
You know, no, my mythree older brothers, I love them to
death. Growing up. You know, it was fun. They roughed me
up. I'd roughed them up.One of my favorite memories, you know,
it's play fighting with one of mybrothers and just wrestling with him and

(36:17):
you know, thinking that I'm allbig and bad and strong, and I
know he was just going with it. But um, initially, my my
dad got me in basketball because myoldest brother had played basketball. So you
know, I was in a gym. I'm like, you know, as
a as a baby, as atoddler, and I remember telling him one
day that I want to go playbasketball, and he had told me,

(36:39):
no, girls don't play basketball.You don't you don't know what she's talking
about. So um, you know, I stayed persistent and kept asking him
and then he finally bought me abasketball goal or one Christmas, and I
just remember one of my favorite memoriesof us going out there and him throwing
the ball at me really hard.I ran aside to my mom and was
crying. And the next day hethrew at me really hard again and I

(37:00):
caught it. So just you know, just toughness from my dad, from
my brothers, um and yeah itwas. It was fun growing up with
three other brothers. You know,from some funny stories. But isn't it
remarkable Ego from a dad who saysgirls don't play basketball to a dad who
starts an AAU team in San Antonio. I mean that that education and that

(37:22):
like, all right, we're doingthis and then he jumps in you know,
full board. That's pretty that's prettycool. Yeah. Yeah, it
is a shout out to my dad. What's your relationship was? I'm like
with him like now, because Iimagine, you know, I think that
the dad daughter relationship can be reallyspecial, especially when it comes to sports.
And obviously, you know, yougrew up the game was something that

(37:43):
connected you guys in a really specialway. What I mean, it must
be pretty amazing for him to bewatching what you're doing right now at Stanford.
Yeah, my dad, he's mymy he's my biggest fan in my
biggest critique. Um, you know, he's he's telling me. He tells
me when I play well. Healso tells me something that I could work
on, even when I know,even in the Colorado game, he told
me something that I could have didbetter. Um. But you know,

(38:04):
his support is is just um.You know, you can't put into words.
He sacrificed so much for me,for me to be here, and
he was the first person to putthe ball in my hands. So I'm
just thankful for that, thankful forhis support, thank for my mom also,
and our relationship now that I'm hereat Stanford, I think it's gotten
stronger because you know, we're Idon't see him every day, but I

(38:27):
still talk to him every day.I'll call him or he calls me,
and you know, it was justjust checking on how how my day went.
And I think my favorite, ourfavorite conversations are when we don't even
talk about basketball, you know,we just talk about life. And I
just asked him how how's everyone inthe family doing, and he's asking me
how classes are going and stuff.So, but our relationship is really strong

(38:50):
because of basketball. But I thinkhe knows that I enjoy the conversation when
we don't talk about basketball time.You know another family that's important too,
from San Antonio where the call Well, Yeah, say JAZZI and their dad.
And I thought about that when Isaw you matching up with Jesse when
you're playing USC. Just share withus what what that family and what they

(39:10):
mean to you throughout the years.Oh yeah, coach Coach Ray Ray calledwall
Man, I don't think if ourdads had met, I don't think I'd
be here at Stanford. He's justhe reminds me of my dad. You
know, he's Uh, he's forhis daughters. Uh. And when I
say his daughters, not just he'snot just Jazi and would say just the
finest family. He's for um,all those players. He works extremely hardy,

(39:35):
he has so many connections and Um, like I said, I just
don't think that if our if ourdad's met, I don't think i'd be
here. Um. He's opened somany doors for me and not just for
me, just for players before me. And UM. I talked to him
every now and then when I can, or he'll text me and stuff.
But I love love Coach Ray,love miss Alba, I love the Callwell
family. Um, they're they've doneso much for me and they're they're a

(40:00):
huge reason why I'm here. UM, so shout out to coach. Right.
You talk about, you know,some of the doors that got opened,
and obviously a lot of things,um, that you had to do
right to be able to play basketballat Stanford University and to get in to
Stanford University. Walk me through.What do you remember about when you found
out that you got accepted and thatTara wanted you to come play for I

(40:22):
was actually um in a calculus classin high school. UM My, I
don't know if I'm going to getin trouble for this, but my phone
had rang in class and I thoughtit was it was it was Tara,
So you know, I stopped,asked my teacher if I got to the
restroom, and I went in thehallway and answered it. And she had
told me that I got accepted,and I just I kind of like froze.

(40:45):
Um. I didn't know what tosay. Uh, I was just
you know, excited. UM.I had so many emotions running because I
knew I want to come here,so UM I had After I had got
accepted, we set up the visitand stuff, and when I came on
my visit. That just sealed thedeal. Stan was just a great place.

(41:06):
The weather's great. You can't reallyask for a better academics, and
then you know, the historic basketballwomen's basketball program that year was just there
were just so many signs of sayingwhy not say yes? You know?
Um, so yeah, going backto when I knew I got accepted.
Yeah, I was actually in amath class and she called me and she
told me to get the good news, and felt like I had won a

(41:28):
lottery. US coach Kemp would sayso and like, hold it together because
you were in the bathroom, noton the phone, obviously according to your
teacher, I'm sure. Yeah,yeah, when I had when I had
came so for that class, weum, it was extended because we had
to, you know, go tolunch and stuff. So, um,
I came back and I didn't reallysay anything. Then we went to lunch,

(41:51):
and then I had came back andtold my teacher son seemed like I
found out at lunch. But yeah, my teacher, she was excited for
me. Some of my my closestfriend lear in that class. They're excited
for me, and actually a fewof them text me recently about you know,
the shot. So they still it'scrazy, they still keep up with
me and supporting me from where theyare. And yeah, that was another

(42:13):
great That was another great stelling.Oll Key. I know you were excited
to get into Stanford, but Iknow how much the staff and Tar in
particular, we're excited that that yougot in and that you decided to come.
Because even early on she used toshe just would rave about you from
with respect to how happy you areand that you're a ray of sunshine whenever
you walk into an office or walkinto the gym. And I mean the

(42:37):
highest compliment she could give, Shesaid, Mary, she's just like Chenney.
She's just like Chenney. She justmakes every day better. Where does
that come from? I mean,I see you in a gym and you'll
wave from halfway across the gym andsay hi. And there's just not many
student athletes that do that. Wheredoes just that inner sunshine come from?

(42:59):
Um? I mean I think itcomes from my parents, you know,
Um, just you know we werea happy family. Um. I think
my mom described me as a happybaby, not always smiling and laughing and
stuff. Um, and I don'tthink I try not to have too many
bad days. Um, and evenwhen I do have bad days, I
try not to let that affect thatpeople around me. So just you know,

(43:20):
being here at Stanford that you know, the sun's always shining, I
think that plays a huge role inmy mood. But no, no,
in a serious note, Um,I just I'm just I live a blessed
life. There's not too many thingsthat you know, that are going wrong
for me. So I feel likeif if I can make someone else's day,
I'll try to do that, whetherthat's a smile or asking them how
they're doing, or you know,even giving them a hug or something.

(43:44):
I think that's that's an important traitto have, is you know, having
a positive impact on the people aroundyou. I think it's one of the
most important traits that anyone can have. And I love that that outlook that
you have. Um, you know, we talk about playing it at Stanford
and being able to attend just aworld class university year around so many incredible

(44:04):
people who are you know, changingthe world in a lot of ways.
Your Science, Technology and Society major, Can you just give me an idea
of what your your typical day islike, like walk walk me through life
a day in the life of Key. So, um, Monday, Wednesday,
I have two classes. Um Uin on Thursdays. Tuesday Thursdays I

(44:25):
only have one or Tuesday to haveone class. Thursdays, I have two
classes. So um we practice threethirty to six thirty every Monday through Thursday.
Tuesday to Thursday, I'd say,so I have class before practice,
Um you know, go get treatment. UM you know, try to try
to make sure I stay on topof that. So I'll take you through

(44:46):
a typical Wednesday. I wake up, go to breakfast, UM, go
get treatment. Then I'll have aeleven thirty class. After that class,
I'll I'll get lunch, and thenI'll have a one thirty class, and
then after that class we have practice. And UM, I love Wednesdays because
I do yoga on Wedn's excuse me, I do yoga Wednesday nights and I

(45:08):
think that's uh, that's like oneof my busiest days is no the yoga
after practice, So I'm up fromi'd say ten thirty two to like eight
you know, doing stuff. Andthen after yoga, try to make sure
I go get some homework done.Even if I don't have homework, try
to get ahead in any way thatI can. But um, the yoga

(45:28):
yoga instructor here, she's great anduh I look forward to Wednesday Wednesday nights
with her. Well on Monday nightlast night, did you watch UCLA Oregon
State? I did? I did? That was a that was a great
game. Now you played over withthe Michaela's MICHAELA. Iyan what day and
MICHAELA pivoc this summer on the panam Um, what's what's it like watching

(45:49):
people and playing against people that you'vegotten to know on that kind of a
level. Um, oh that justyou know, it gives you a different
perspective of them. I you know, you see people on the scouter reporting
you viewed them as an enemy,but not in a bad way, but
you know you want to beat them. But you know, getting to know
both the Michaelis over the summer itwas great. They're they're both great people,

(46:10):
great basketball players, but even betterpeople. And um, I'd say
they were. There were two ofthe people that I, um that I
bonded with the most because of ouryou know, Pac twelve connection. And
you know, just before that,you wouldn't have known that because you know,
you see them on the scoutter reporting. You know you want to stop
what they do really well. So, um, you know that was great.

(46:30):
That was a great experience and I'mthankful that, you know, we
all three of us got to representthe PAC twelve. You know, can
we sit here every week on thepodcast and kind of break down some some
different storylines and players and all therest. But I always love getting the
perspective of someone who's actually going againstyou know, these teams, and I
think we we can sometimes get caughtup in the big time and the big

(46:52):
name players. Can you can yougive me not not someone on your team,
but would you be able to namelike maybe one of the more underrated
players in the PAC twelve. Youthink I'd say, I'd say McDonald uh
at Arizona, Um, I'd sayshe's she's extremely underrated. She actually played
really well at the tryouts for thePandemic A team. Um, but you

(47:14):
know she's she's having a great year. She's leading her Arizona team. Um.
There, they've played their playing reallywell. And no, it's gonna
be tough end in our end,in our Pact twelve play at at the
Arizona That's gonna be a tough roadtrip, but I'm excited for it.
But yeah, just off the topof my head, I have to say
McDonald for sure, fair enough.Yeah, I saw her this weekend.
She she's just like a video game. She just presses a button, off

(47:37):
she goes. Speaking of video games, I did see that that the Fast
and Furious movie series is at thetop of your list for entertainment. Is
that true? That that is true? You know I love action movies.
Um. You know that's one thingI don't like, you know, going
to a movie and just having towait, you know, thirty minutes to
an hour for action to happen.And you know it's a Fast and Furious,

(47:59):
it just happen. You don't haveto wait. Yeah, that's so,
what's your um, what's your favoritein the series? Oh, it's
it's hard to say. Um.I think the last one was pretty emotional
because you know, obviously Paul Walkerhe had died and really didn't get to
finish the movie. Um, I'dsay that one, the last one.

(48:21):
I think that's the seventh one.I can't remember. I haven't seen it
in a while, but you know, just the emotional aspect of it.
But they still found a way toyou know, make it a great movie.
I'm gonna go with my my husband. Is just the reason I ask
you questions because my husband is obsessedwith these movies, Like he would have
me watched the one every single nightif it was up to him. And
he sounds fun. Yeah, it'sreally fun marriage. He loves five like

(48:46):
he just thinks anything anybody he doesn'tthink the Fast five is the one.
He's he's he's worried. Ever seenone? Well, now I know what
we're gonna do in Vegas, Marioncan't wait off. My last question for
you, kid, is is texjust the greatest state? Um? I
hate to break it to you,but yes, Texas. Um. I

(49:09):
think you know this is because thefact that I was born there. Um.
I think that's that played a smallrole in it. But not on
a serious note. Um, youknow, it's just home. Texas is
home. San Antonio's home, andthat's where most of my family is.
Um. Because where am I Youknow where I grew up at in Um.
I'm thankful for my family here inCalifornia. But I'm a little biased.

(49:31):
I'm still a Texas girl at heart. You're allowed to be biased,
that's fair and I'd agree. I'dsay that Texas has an Argument is one
of the best states because it producedKeanna Williams. So I've been with you
on that. Uh, You've beenawesome. We really appreciate your time.
We know what what your schedules like. Congratulations on just hell of a win
in Boulder and the season that you'rehaving. It has been awesome to watch

(49:53):
and we can't wait to be withyou very soon in Vegas and also Friday
night it Clock against Organs Stand onthe Pactrol Network. Looking forward to that
one. Keanna Williams, thanks somuch for happening on the podcast, and
we wish nothing but the best goingforward, no problem. Thank you.
Always love catching up with Keana Williams. She is awesome. You're right like

(50:14):
that inner sunshine. And I justgot to say, Mary, I'm watching
your face as she's talking about howeveryone used to say that, you know,
their family is just such this happyfamily, and you were you were
kind of having a reaction. Itdid. It made sex like, no
one would ever describe my family aslike got those murphies, they're so happy,
Like what would our neighbors say aboutus? They'd say, oh,

(50:36):
shut the windows just shut your windows. Oh my god, that was because
you grew up in Chicago. Wellthat was probably right. If you had
been in if the Murphies were inTexas, maybe it would be different.
Oh my god. We'll never know. We'll never know. Not no one
ever used the word family so happyagain. I think we need to This

(50:57):
is another minder that maybe we shouldstart another podcast that dives into some family
dynamic two of us and following youto I think I think we um that
might be therapeutic for for us,but maybe not for this podcast. All
right, so let's let's wrap thisthing up because we've we've gone too kid,
gone too long. Can we givea shout out to the Bears second
conference win of the season at Utahand Mary again for some context. You

(51:22):
know, we're talking to Key andshe's talking about what what her day looks
like as a student athlete. AndI always like to try and remind people
that these are college students with aton on their plate. Kyl and Crocker
tell me, just give us,give the viewers at home that may not
know a little bit of insight intoher weekends. Okay, so she's never
started a game, comes off thebench doing a really solid job for Cow.

(51:43):
Cow's playing at at Colorado on Friday. She really wants to get into
the house business school has a businessexam on Friday that the prop is just
not gonna let her reschedule. She'sgot a game on Friday in the mountains
in Boulder, so she has tostay behind. She takes the exam Friday
morning, flies to Denver by herself, lands at four fifteen. Now you

(52:06):
can imagine the stress because how manydelays do we get? I mean all
the time? The Denver Yeah,and that Denver Port Friday, it's holiday
weekend skiing people. So she arrivesat the arena forty minutes before tip So
plays. They don't win. Bustback. Saturday's her nineteenth birthday, so

(52:29):
you fly to Salt Lake City,you know, happy birthday. Finds out
she's going to be starting her firstgame of her career because of injuries.
She's going to step into the startinglineup Sunday. She starts against Utah Cal
wins eighty eight seventy four, finisheswith a career high twenty four points,
twenty points in the second half,placed thirty seven minutes, goes eight of
ten from the floor, hits acouple of threes, eight of nine from

(52:51):
the free throw line, six rebounds, five assists, one steal, Boom
goes the dynamite. Are you kiddingme? Happy birthday to her? Oh
my god. Scharman gets her secondone is like here we go, and
that is you know, I thinkthat the point that has been made is
the one thing about when you're strugglingis that you are going to tinker with

(53:12):
lineups and you are going to getsome other people some some opportunities, and
obviously you got to be ready whenyou're when your number gets called. And
it seemed like despite the fact thather business professor did not want her to
well pick that road trip shout out. Though I can appreciate that. I
appreciate that. We think all thetime that these athletes get all of this,
you know, special dispensation to missall this class and all these tests.
But no, they they gotta showup, They gotta do the work

(53:34):
just like everybody else. But fortyminutes before a game, that stresses me
out just thinking about it. Um, Okay, so we're gonna hit on
Vegas in one second, but rightnow, let's uh, let's put a
bow on this thing with our favoritesegments. And now from Murphy's Law,

(53:55):
there's only one possibility. It's notover till Keyana says it is. That's
today's Murphy's Law or Sabrina or RileyRichardson, because when you need something good
at the end of a ball game, these are folks that deliver. You
know, was sitting we did thegame at Ashue and just down from us
was their athletic director, Ray Andersonand their head football coach, Herm Edwards,

(54:19):
and they were sitting with our colleagues, Jill Savage, and I'm getting
all these texts from Jill. Hermsays this, and Herms says Riley's doing.
And Riley had essentially helped her teamwin the game on Friday with two
threes and hitting some big free throws. And we know this is what Riley
does. Yeah, and we've toldthe story about Sabrina. How many game
winners has she done in her career. It's not over till Sabrina or Keyana

(54:43):
or Riley Richards Richardson says it is. And what's just as an afterthought.
Herm Edwards is the football coach ata PAC twelfth school at Arizona State and
he is sitting courtside with his hatpulled down over his head, and we
had a couple shots of him youwould have thought he was coaching the game.
And he's just in it and likegot that that herm Edwards focused thing

(55:06):
going on. And how cool isthat? Charlie has talked about the supports
that I mean, it is,it is legit, it is real,
and it's they got a cool thinggoing over to as Randerson hats off to
him. But the magic of playersthat know the time and situation, the
confidence a year ago Riley Richardson,Charlie looks at the huddle and says,
who wants to take this shot atUtah and raises her hands, give it

(55:28):
to me, and you're like,oh my god, this is like a
coach's dream. Sabrina ended the gamewherever, just chase her around, find
her because Sabrina's gonna win the ballgame for you. It ain't over,
so Riley, Sabrina or Keana saysit is. And Riley, by the
way, became the all time assistleader. She did for ASU this weekend
and she's just she's does she representkind of the prototypical Charlie player. She's

(55:51):
done so much for them. She'sa great defensive player, she's had to
be the point guard one, thegreat assistant. Turnover ratios almost three to
one in her career and now thisyear more of a score when they have
can slide some other folks over.To the point, she's just her dad
was a football player. She justgoes out there and does her job.
And you know, in the postgameinterview, you know told her the comments

(56:13):
from the football coach and she justwent, wow, that's cool. He's
a legends just like oh Man.And she's so understated. It just like
that's what I love about her.Um, Okay, the good news is
guess what what we got our firstviewer question. I don't know if that's
good or sad. Well, ifit's students, remains to be seen.

(56:34):
Whether that's good or said maybe alittle bit of both. Most things are
Um, do you want to hearit? Of course, I'm on the
edge of my scene. Okay,it's from at I'm your guy. Oh
well, now I'm concerned and andthe question is other than Oregon, who
is best set up to make adeep run in the NCAA Tournament Stanford.
I think getting my adults in backis huge. Ucla playing with comp I

(57:00):
can't narrow it down. Arizona,My goodness, they're coming on. Nobody
wants to play a sue in OregonState. I mean, it's all good.
Let's roll. I am a guy, I am, I am,
I'm add I'm your guy. Well, if I'm gonna pin you down and
you got to pick one of those, lord, I'll say Stanford, Stanford.
Yeah. And my dad said,how big of a deal is it

(57:22):
that she's back. I think it'sbig why experience. She's gonna start rounding
back into shape. Confidence. It'sgoing to help the young post players Ashton
Prectel, fran belieb just you know, be on the floor with her,
takes to load of pressure off NaughtiaFingle that you know, I can't make
one stupid foul. There's a littlemore margin for air. And I think

(57:43):
it'll help Tara be calmer and bea nicer Tara, A nicer Tara.
Hopefully her shoulder isn't still Oh mygod, I thought she was going to
And if you haven't seen that,people go look online. It's everywhere that
it was the top play on twelvebest. It was a top play on
Sports Center and it was Tara almostthrowing her are out at the end of
Keana Williams making that game winner atthe buzzer. Okay, So we are

(58:06):
what sixteen days away from the firstround of the Pac twelve of Basketball tournament
in Las Vegas, which is justamazing to me. Oregon, Stanford,
Ucla, and Arizona all mathematically alivefor the number one seed right now,
and there's a bunch of scenarios andGreg in research again, I want to
just give him a shout out becausehe broke it all down for us,
and there's a lot of things,basically the moral stories, a lot of
things can happen, so much ofit is going to come down to that

(58:28):
Stanford Oregon game, I think,and determining the number one overall seeds certainly.
But a reminder, if you haven'tbooked your flights, just do it.
Just come hang out with us inMandalay Bay. Packed Ash twelve dot
com slash tickets is where you canget your tickets, and that's the first
best option. The second best option, if you can't take the time off
work, is to just download thepack twelve now app and tell your boss

(58:50):
that you've got some meetings and thatyou need to have the door closed for
that entire week of March fifth withOda dude on your phone, on your
iPad, whatever it take device.We've got the PacTel Network's gonna have ten
of the eleven games and it isgonna be just an absolute blast. And
we talk again about the importance ofthe four seeds. So a good time
to remind everybody than the eighteen yearhistory the Pactual Tournament, only once has

(59:12):
a seed outside of the top fourplayed in the championship game, and that
was Cynthia Cooper's USC squad in twentysixteen and still the only team that's won
four games in four days. Itwas an amazing run. That was incredible.
That would happen again twenty sixteen.Yeah, if if there's a if
there's a year that it feels likethat could certainly happen. It definitely is
um All right, where are youthis weekend? Mary? You got on

(59:34):
Friday? I am doing Oregon atCow. Yes, Oregon at Cow is
gonna be a big one. Sabrina'sreturn Scus by the way, this is
I'm gonna I'm gonna wait for thenext podcast because we've already gone way too
long. But I had a phenomenalconversation with Daniel Scus, Sabrina's dad last
week again for a story that we'redoing, and he gave me so much

(59:55):
goodna. I talked to him forlike forty five minutes. He's he's phenomenal,
and he said he wanted to comeon the podcast. So we're going
to figure out a way to getat some point, Daniel Nesku is going
to be on the podcast. He'sfrom Romania. He's phenomenal. Okay,
thank you to our listeners. Thankyou for rating, reviewing, and subscribing.
Please send us your question. Thankyou too. I am your guy.

(01:00:15):
We appreciate that. We want morequestions. They can be basketball or
non basketball related. They can befor Mary, Colleen, me, whatever,
Colleen. Are we missing anything?No, you guys nailed it.
I think we're good. Okay withthat, we say goodbye, are good
to Keanu Williams and we'll see younext week on the pod. Enjoy your lives.