What did Gonzaga say about Texas before its Sweet 16 skirmish?

PORTLAND, Ore. − As the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament gets underway on Friday, No. 1 Texas (32-4) and No. 4 Gonzaga (32-3) will meet in a Sweet 16 showdown at the Moda Center.

Gonzaga players and head coach Lisa Fortier were made available to the media on Thursday afternoon. Here's what that Zags had to say about Texas in their press conference:

Fortier on where Texas ranks among the defenses Gonzaga has faced this season

"I mean, they're pretty good. I don't know exactly where they fall. I do know they're really good at turning teams over. They're really big and very physical. They get after you and pressure.

"A couple years ago I got to sit in the Texas section at the Spokane Arena because I had a friend who was coaching with them. Got to see it up close and personal. They get after it. They're enthusiastic, they're passionate.

"I think it's up there. I think they really know how to guard. They're really well-versed at playing all kinds of different teams. I think they're a good defensive team, for sure."

Fortier on Texas guard and former BYU standout Shaylee Gonzales

"Same challenge, just different jersey, right? She's been a great three-point shooter for her whole time. She's crafty. She's an active defender, really smart player. She gets to the rim.

"I think all of those things are challenging. If you let her play comfortably, I don't think that's an advantage to us. It never has been before at least when we've played her.

"She's the same caliber of player she was there on a bigger stage. She's just doing a really good job. She's always been that smart. She was an MVP maybe her freshman and her sophomore year in our conference.

"She's I think just taken those skills, built some confidence. Maybe had to do a little bit more for her team when she was at BYU than where she is now. I think sometimes that helps players when they don't have the weight of everybody on their shoulders. Right now she is playing with players that she doesn't have to carry all the weight, which makes her a little bit more dangerous in some ways.

"She's a tough player. I got to coach her at USA Basketball for just a minute. She was even tough there. Everywhere I've seen her, she's been a good person and a great player."

Gonzaga guard Brynna Maxwell on what impressed her about Texas

"Yeah, Texas is a very good team. They are very good rebounders. That's their biggest asset is how many rebounds they get a game, how great they are, how physical they are. One of our biggest things is trying to box them out, take it away.

"It's a tall order because they are so good. It's kind of their superpower. But our game plan is just to kind of take away those rebounds."

Maxwell on trying to stop Texas freshman guard Madison Booker

"She's a really good player. To do that as a freshman is really, really cool. Obviously you can't just take her out of the game. She's going to get some baskets. We're going to do our best to limit her the best we can. She is a forward playing a point guard, so we're aware of that. We'll just try and isolate that a little bit."

Gonzaga forward Eliza Hollingsworth on if Texas is similar to any other team the Zags have played

"I don't think we've seen any team like Texas. I think Alabama early in the season is super athletic, super strong. From what they look like on film, they look super athletic, super strong, rebound the ball, play super hard, not a lot of three-point shooting. I'm excited to challenge ourselves against new opponents. I think that's an important way to win throughout this tournament, is you just can't win one way, you have to win multiple ways. I'm excited to see someone new."