>> The team was picked to finished 13th in the conference in the preseason poll.

You proved a lot of those doubters wrong and I know the job isn't done.

It's far from over.

But what does it say about the team that they were able to exceed those expectations?

>> Never listen to the noise.

We never thought about what we were ranked by people.

And we certainly-- the results are what they are, so we have to be cognizant of the fact that we are ranked 7th going into the tournament because that's what we earned.

And sometimes we don't have success, but every single time we win and we learn.

>> Speaking of wins, you had a big one over Clemson on breast cancer awareness day.

Play for Kay day.

It was one of those that everybody knew going in, it would be back and forth, two great teams, opportunity for the squad.

You came away with the win.

What did it take?

>> Defense.

Strategic defense from my coaching staff and the players to have the discipline to listen and have some really great offensives protection production from a few of our student athletes, one in particular, Sophie Burrows.

>> Asolutley, 19 points, 16 rebounds, monster performance for so far necessity that game.

What did it mean for you to see her produce for you in that way?

>> She locked eyes in pregame talk and it was weird because usually when I look back at my team and I look in their eyes, they kind of dart their eyes over a little bit.

She never wavered.

We took some outlandish shots and then all of a sudden, out of nowhere came Sophie, out of nowhere, a layup and it all had to do with Sophie.

If it wasn't her involvement and communicating about what the next thought process of the team, that kind of leadership, you must follow because it's just the only thing to do.

It's not just-- she threw herself so much into that game that you almost felt guilty if you took an extra breath because you were tired, including the coaching staff.

Really great seeing her play like that.

>> After that game against Clemson, you traveled to Raleigh to play a really good NC State team.

You fell short in that one.

What was your analysis of that one?

>> We started off really, really well, 14-13.

I went to my bench.

The bench didn't do as well as they needed to do.

And that's not typical for our team.

We really don't have a starting team.

I always say we have one team, but they got out there.

I thought they were a little nervous.

And by the time I get my starters back in, it was now a 15-point lead by them and the lead was too much.

And we had to take the L.

>> Back-to-back big-time tough road tests from NC State to South Bend Notre Dame.

The other team you hung in there, you stayed in there and stayed with them start to finish.

They pulled away with the 10-point win.

>> I helped us lose that game.

My emotions and my passion for the game is maybe too much for others to handle outside of my locker room.

And I thought that some calls were questionable due to the fact that I was emotional.

That really hurt.

But also what hurt was we didn't take our normal shots.

And we went back to that later on.

Fourth quarter comes.

We are down by one.

We had a situation where it could be a 1-2 point game.

Honestly the best team won.

>> Lessons learned over the course of the season.

Not just for players.

Coaches and staff have them, too, right?

>> Yes, sir.

>> Uche Izoje broke your freshman rebounding record.

I don't think Uche knows that yet.

Are you going to let her know?

>> I don't think it's important that she knows that because I have to get over my feelings first.

No, I was teasing her.

Records are made to be broken.

And it's up for us to set the standard so high that others have to really reach and stretch to earn that record next.

And I know that in order for you to break records that I set, you really are going to put some muster into what you do because I really gave it all I had and Uche is an example of what can come if you give it all you have every day.

>> Absolutely.

Go from the rookies to the seniors.

Senior day against Boston College over this past weekend.

I had the honor of calling your game.

One of the great moments.

You had the curtain call.

You brought all the seniors out.

There were some tears.

Maybe some tears.

I had to look for the kleenex next to me seeing all the emotion from your whole squad.

How close is this team and what does that moment show?

>> You can't make it up.

You can't say this is a close team and they just be it.

They have to do the work.

And they have to want it.

They have to buy in.

They have to understand the dynamics it takes and you have to be mad and not speak for a couple of days.

You got to go through the process.

And we saw big girl go out there saw her out there and her family is in Nigeria and I didn't know who was going walk her out.

The entire team was behind her.

Even the seniors who came out before her went back to give her the love that she needed.

And it says, you know what?

These young ladies are going to be okay because they got somebody who is going to support them for the rest of their lives.

Their sisterhood is going to be unmatched for years to come.

And for that, to be a witness of that, to be a part of that, is really the blessing that I asked for.

And if we win, we win.

I want to win.

I'm a ferocious winner but I wanted to learn some lessons and I wanted these young people to know that what they do matters.

If nobody else shows up, your 14 sisters are right here for you and this crazy lady here.