"I have to grow in some areas," Close said ahead of the No. 5 Bruins' soldout game against No. 1 South Carolina. "I have to be able to put this team in different and better situations, given what I've learned about them." This reflects her commitment to evolving as a coach and making strategic improvements based on her team's experiences.
Close has seen a lot in her 14 years leading the UCLA women's basketball program, but the main thing she's noticed that's different about her team this season is its confidence. With center Lauren Betts's remarkable scoring and rebounding, this confidence is palpable, indicating a pivotal evolution in the team's performance.
Betts mentioned, "I've been double teamed and tripled teamed all my life, so it's not something I'm not used to. I think with this team especially, the amount of shooters we have, it just relieves all my pressure and makes my job 10 times easier." This underscores how teamwork enhances individual performance.
Close has been challenging her team during practice all week, demanding high pressure defense to help prepare them for the physicality of Sunday's game. This denotes her focus on improving the team's capability to handle tougher competition as they advance in the season.
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