Arizona State Men’s Basketball Head Coach Bobby Hurley
Opening Statement...
“As you might imagine, just a lot of euphoria. That was a heck of a game. I’ve been involved in playing Arizona for a number of years now, this is just an epic game. Just get the quality of the game. This is very high level, very well played and we're a very good defensive team and that’s the best we could do. So a lot of credit to them. They’re a really good program; one of the top teams in the country. So to come out here and do what we did today was pretty special.”
If this game was a season-defining win...
“I hope people are watching to see the level of the game. That's what the postseason is about. They want teams that could perform like that on a national stage. And I think you saw two teams that you know, should be in the postseason.”
On where this game ranks as a player and a coach...
“It's hard to share that exactly. I've had games under three second games as an amateur and you know Cambridge is amazing. He did this in the first half against UCLA. It's so easy to him now.”
On thoughts as Desmond Cambridge Jr. let go of the ball with time expiring...
“It reminded me of the dark side of the ¾ court shot last year that we had go against us in that UC Riverside game … but you just never know with those shots.”
On first half performance...
“Statistically they were a very impressive first half team in terms of scoring and their differential. They go at teams right away. So we didn't want a replay of our first matchup where we had to fight back from that deficit.”
On the resilience of ASU after Devan Cambridge fouled out...
“Yeah, we knew that. I said ‘I don't know who it's going to be but a couple of you guys are going to be in foul trouble and we got to deal with it’ and it just happened to be him but he fought Tubelis most of the day but Devan has been such a good leader. He plays so hard. He's a winner and the brothers have been terrific to our program”
On not being able to fold down double-digits in the second half...
“I’ve been in a lot of games like this. We've beaten really good teams in close games so we have a something to fall back on and even though we're down eight, down six, we still wanted to make a play to get it to one possession and put some pressure on them late. But to their credit, they made the plays. We had a good look at the other end didn't go down and they made a free throw maybe one more answer and maybe if they had the ball one more time it would’ve been a different result.”
On the message to the team before the game...
“We’ve been through a lot as a team but we had some really good wins early in the season and hit a tough patch in the middle and we came full circle back to being a big underdog. Some people jumping ship on us and not thinking that we're that team but we are that team. And the guys came out with it tonight and we're excited for the rest of the way. Iif you could go toe to toe with a team like Arizona on their home floor this late in the season and they were in the hunt for the number one seed in the conference championship depending on what happens the rest of the way with UCLA. They have a lot to play for.”
On how to ride the momentum of this win for the rest of the season...
“We're gonna enjoy it today and we got good preparation coming into this. I felt like we were poised to play well based on how we were practicing but just have to get back to doing that again and the road doesn't get any easier the rest of the way. But I've said this in the press before, if you're going to be playing in postseason you got to beat teams like this so they're going to be in your way so that's how we approach it.”
On thoughts of playing with Arizona’s pace...
“I would say the one thing that I didn't like – if you could look at any negatives – there was a key play where we missed a free throw and Tubelis outran us and he got a three-point play. That shouldn't happen but otherwise I trusted my guys if we have some good transition looks, then I'm fine with it. ”
Arizona State Men’s Basketball Guard Desmond Cambridge Jr.
On how he feels...
“”I still don’t know how to feel. That was definitely the craziest experience, the best game I have ever been apart of. It literally hasn’t even set in yet.”
On how it felt after he released the ¾ court heave to win the game...
“”If I’m being completely honest, I make those all the time. But, that shot, I did not think it was going in. I just wanted it to be a nice miss and have everyone go “ooo.” When it went in, I could literally only scream.”
On the secrets behind hitting these half-court heaves...
“”I’ve been a shooter my whole career, I’m just going to shoot the ball. My teammates, we shoot halfcourt shots all the time. We were doing that yesterday, just like a friendly competition with the team. I guess it paid off.”
On what it does for the team’s confidence moving forward...
“”It was a really big confidence booster, was what we needed. We knew that we were going to have to play every possession, that no matter what they were going to keep coming for us and we had to come back strong. Beating a team like that, in the way that we did, you can’t even put into words how much that helps us and everyone in the locker room for down the stretch and other big games left.
On the mindset going down 10 in the second half...
“”That’s the thing I was just touching on. Staying resilient, poised. Being able to stand up when they knock you down. We grew so much here. We didn’t have Austin Nunez, so that was for him too.
On the last look in the half court after the timeout...
“”With DJ’s shot, I thought it was good. I thought we had a chance to get a rebound. At the end of the day, you live and die with your shot makers and creators. Coach has given us a lot of freedom and confidence. He’s built that into us. It was on us to figure out with that freedom how to not exploit it all the time and find better shots for the offense. Sometimes, you give it to your guys and trust them.”
On the message to Arizona’s student section before the game...
“”Really, I used to really talk to the crowd a lot. Playing a team ike this, you can’t give that kind of energy to other things that aren’t about the game. I just appreciated that they were here, even if they’re going against us, I just love the atmosphere today. It was the greatest atmosphere of my life in college.”
On hearing the crowd go silent after it went in...
“”When I go to reply that moment, that’s going to be the best moment of my life. I can’t wait to hear.
On proving the doubters wrong...
“”The mindset that we have built up is keep playing until that buzzer sounds. Put some respect on it, cause we are going to make some noise in the Pac-12 tournament and make it to the NCAA tournament.”
Arizona State Men’s Basketball Guard DJ Horne:
On where it ranks on best games he’s ever played in...
“By far the best one in my career. That’s for sure.”
On if he thought the shot looked good...
“I’ve seen him make shots like that before so I knew it was going in”
On the resiliency of the team...
“It definitely gives us a lot of confidence, especially with these next two tough games on our schedule. To do it against a team like Arizona, especially with our backs up against the wall as far as where we are in our season. I think this is good for us and give us motivation.”
Opening Statement...
“As you might imagine, just a lot of euphoria. That was a heck of a game. I’ve been involved in playing Arizona for a number of years now, this is just an epic game. Just get the quality of the game. This is very high level, very well played and we're a very good defensive team and that’s the best we could do. So a lot of credit to them. They’re a really good program; one of the top teams in the country. So to come out here and do what we did today was pretty special.”
If this game was a season-defining win...
“I hope people are watching to see the level of the game. That's what the postseason is about. They want teams that could perform like that on a national stage. And I think you saw two teams that you know, should be in the postseason.”
On where this game ranks as a player and a coach...
“It's hard to share that exactly. I've had games under three second games as an amateur and you know Cambridge is amazing. He did this in the first half against UCLA. It's so easy to him now.”
On thoughts as Desmond Cambridge Jr. let go of the ball with time expiring...
“It reminded me of the dark side of the ¾ court shot last year that we had go against us in that UC Riverside game … but you just never know with those shots.”
On first half performance...
“Statistically they were a very impressive first half team in terms of scoring and their differential. They go at teams right away. So we didn't want a replay of our first matchup where we had to fight back from that deficit.”
On the resilience of ASU after Devan Cambridge fouled out...
“Yeah, we knew that. I said ‘I don't know who it's going to be but a couple of you guys are going to be in foul trouble and we got to deal with it’ and it just happened to be him but he fought Tubelis most of the day but Devan has been such a good leader. He plays so hard. He's a winner and the brothers have been terrific to our program”
On not being able to fold down double-digits in the second half...
“I’ve been in a lot of games like this. We've beaten really good teams in close games so we have a something to fall back on and even though we're down eight, down six, we still wanted to make a play to get it to one possession and put some pressure on them late. But to their credit, they made the plays. We had a good look at the other end didn't go down and they made a free throw maybe one more answer and maybe if they had the ball one more time it would’ve been a different result.”
On the message to the team before the game...
“We’ve been through a lot as a team but we had some really good wins early in the season and hit a tough patch in the middle and we came full circle back to being a big underdog. Some people jumping ship on us and not thinking that we're that team but we are that team. And the guys came out with it tonight and we're excited for the rest of the way. Iif you could go toe to toe with a team like Arizona on their home floor this late in the season and they were in the hunt for the number one seed in the conference championship depending on what happens the rest of the way with UCLA. They have a lot to play for.”
On how to ride the momentum of this win for the rest of the season...
“We're gonna enjoy it today and we got good preparation coming into this. I felt like we were poised to play well based on how we were practicing but just have to get back to doing that again and the road doesn't get any easier the rest of the way. But I've said this in the press before, if you're going to be playing in postseason you got to beat teams like this so they're going to be in your way so that's how we approach it.”
On thoughts of playing with Arizona’s pace...
“I would say the one thing that I didn't like – if you could look at any negatives – there was a key play where we missed a free throw and Tubelis outran us and he got a three-point play. That shouldn't happen but otherwise I trusted my guys if we have some good transition looks, then I'm fine with it. ”
Arizona State Men’s Basketball Guard Desmond Cambridge Jr.
On how he feels...
“”I still don’t know how to feel. That was definitely the craziest experience, the best game I have ever been apart of. It literally hasn’t even set in yet.”
On how it felt after he released the ¾ court heave to win the game...
“”If I’m being completely honest, I make those all the time. But, that shot, I did not think it was going in. I just wanted it to be a nice miss and have everyone go “ooo.” When it went in, I could literally only scream.”
On the secrets behind hitting these half-court heaves...
“”I’ve been a shooter my whole career, I’m just going to shoot the ball. My teammates, we shoot halfcourt shots all the time. We were doing that yesterday, just like a friendly competition with the team. I guess it paid off.”
On what it does for the team’s confidence moving forward...
“”It was a really big confidence booster, was what we needed. We knew that we were going to have to play every possession, that no matter what they were going to keep coming for us and we had to come back strong. Beating a team like that, in the way that we did, you can’t even put into words how much that helps us and everyone in the locker room for down the stretch and other big games left.
On the mindset going down 10 in the second half...
“”That’s the thing I was just touching on. Staying resilient, poised. Being able to stand up when they knock you down. We grew so much here. We didn’t have Austin Nunez, so that was for him too.
On the last look in the half court after the timeout...
“”With DJ’s shot, I thought it was good. I thought we had a chance to get a rebound. At the end of the day, you live and die with your shot makers and creators. Coach has given us a lot of freedom and confidence. He’s built that into us. It was on us to figure out with that freedom how to not exploit it all the time and find better shots for the offense. Sometimes, you give it to your guys and trust them.”
On the message to Arizona’s student section before the game...
“”Really, I used to really talk to the crowd a lot. Playing a team ike this, you can’t give that kind of energy to other things that aren’t about the game. I just appreciated that they were here, even if they’re going against us, I just love the atmosphere today. It was the greatest atmosphere of my life in college.”
On hearing the crowd go silent after it went in...
“”When I go to reply that moment, that’s going to be the best moment of my life. I can’t wait to hear.
On proving the doubters wrong...
“”The mindset that we have built up is keep playing until that buzzer sounds. Put some respect on it, cause we are going to make some noise in the Pac-12 tournament and make it to the NCAA tournament.”
Arizona State Men’s Basketball Guard DJ Horne:
On where it ranks on best games he’s ever played in...
“By far the best one in my career. That’s for sure.”
On if he thought the shot looked good...
“I’ve seen him make shots like that before so I knew it was going in”
On the resiliency of the team...
“It definitely gives us a lot of confidence, especially with these next two tough games on our schedule. To do it against a team like Arizona, especially with our backs up against the wall as far as where we are in our season. I think this is good for us and give us motivation.”