Exclusive: OU women's basketball coach talks focus and hype for March Madness

OU Women's Basketball Coach Jennie Baranczyk sat down with News 9 to give an exclusive look into the state and mindset of her team ahead of Saturday's game against Florida Gulf Coast Eagles.

With March Madness in everyone's minds, the Sooners will host the FGCU Eagles at the Lloyd Noble Center at 1:30 p.m. for an exciting start to their tournament journey. Baranczyk said she's super excited that they get to start in Norman.

"The team is really excited, and honestly, how about our first year in the SEC conference?" Baranczyk said. "You talk about playing at such an incredibly high level, and I just love the way that this team is really, you know, developed some resiliency and grit skills along the way."

Former mentors have been talking about the impact Baranczyk has had in her career and the team's potential for the tournament itself under her leadership. Iowa Hawkeyes women's team coach Jan Jensen used to coach Baranczyk when she was in college and had this to say:

"She's one of the most competitive kids to ever coach, one of the best ever players, right? She's considered one of the young up-and-comers for sure, so certainly proud of her."

Sooner Nation also shares the love for Baranczyk's daughter, who was seen at last year's tournament cheering on the team and having close conversations with her mother during games. The coach said her kids are so invested in the team as well as in the program which ties the family together.

"I think it relates to people that are like me, that are just showing up every day, and you're giving everything that you have to your job, to your family, and you kind of have everything in alignment. Our families are such a significant part," she said.

Her last message to the Sooner faithful was to always remember how lucky we are to be in Oklahoma. With the world being so chaotic, they need everybody to be a part of March Madness. "Being in the SEC conference, there's so much national attention on the University of Oklahoma, so this isn't just about a basketball game. This isn't just a glimpse of what our program is doing. This is a glimpse in terms of our entire university and our entire state," Baranczyk said. "I promise you, we're going to give every single thing that we have for you, and we hope that you get to do this with us."