Nov. 14, 2008
Recap | Box Score | Notes | Game Action
Thoughts on tonight's game:
"Overall, I think it was alright. There is obviously a lot of work to do. Got some things to work out in the offense, and [we have to] rebound better. We came out the first game and got the wrinkles out."
On their great ball movement:
"We're moving the ball, don't be selfish. We don't care who is getting the points. Obviously James had a lot of assists, he was moving the ball. We're looking for each other out there."
On Mississippi Valley State's run at the beginning of the second half:
"I think it just came down to making adjustments during the media timeouts and different timeouts we had. They started throwing some things at us that we had never seen, and it was just about making the adjustments to stop their runs."
Thoughts on tonight's game:
"Right now our minds are really focused on rebounding, and on the fact that we were beat to too many loose balls. Mississippi Valley did a great job of scrapping. In the 2nd half, we actually had more turnovers, 8, than we did afflictions, 6. That is also disturbing from out point of view. They hit us between the eyes to start the second half with 3 straight three-pointers, went on a 9-0 run. They also finished the game on an upswing against us. Two key spurts, the beginning and the end of the second half, that we didn't cover very well. Defensively, we obviously yielded 41 points in the 2nd half and gave up 54 percent field goal percentage, numbers that are most certainly not favorable to us. Suffice it say, we have a lot of work to do. We will continue to roll up our sleeves and try to get better."
On getting comfortable with their lead in the 2nd half:
"I most certainly hope not because no lead is comfortable in college basketball. Not with that three point line, not the way the game is played today. There is no such thing as a comfortable lead. We have all followed sports for way too long to see all the things that happened. We want to play the same way, with focus, intensity, with attention to detail and sharpness regardless of what the score is. We most certainly are in no condition to ever have the luxury of being comfortable."
On the crowd at tonight's game:
"Our students, I tell you what, have been really good. They deserve credit. They have taken a few rib shots over time, but right now, they're doing a good job for us. They were out in full force tonight. I love the fact they're wearing yellow and they're standing. They're even getting a little more creative every game. We have to give our students a high five."
On working to become more of a playmaker this season:
"I guess that's how I always am. I'm a playmaker, I like to give my teammates shots. Try to create for them as much as possible. Today I think I did an ok job of that tonight."
On his chemistry with teammate Ty Abbott:
"Last year, coming in together and being roommates helped a lot. Once all of us get that chemistry together on the offensive and defensive end, you'll see the improvement, Our team will be a lot better."
On his energy level tonight:
"I'm back on the court, playing against other people. I'm starting to pick up my leadership, we're coming together as a team more and more. As I pick up my communication, we become a better team. My energy level has to increase, just the whole game has to step up."