Feb. 13, 2011
Recap | Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery
Arizona State coach Herb Sendek
On overall thoughts on the game: One thing about Arizona is that they have great balance and any number of their guys can hurt you because it is not unusual to have five of their guys in double figures and to some extent we were able to limit Derreck compared to the first game because he had thirty one now he was down to eleven, but they hurt us with the three ball a little bit more when in the first game they were four for twelve when tonight they were nine for twenty two and obviously Kyle Fogg was terrific making six of them finishing with a game high twenty six points.
On overall play of Arizona: They did a good job spacing the floor and moving the ball and once again with (Derreck) Williams in the middle he commands a lot of attention, but they did a good job off the dribble, they did a good job spacing and they made their shots.
On Arizona's defense: They just do a great job of protecting the paint because they have good athletes, their strong, and physical, they play good gap defense and they do not give you a lot at the basket. I thought in the first half we had some opportunities with did not convert on and once again given the margin and their excellence on defense they do not give you a lot of wiggle room to capitalize and when we go down ten I just thought we had a couple of opportunities that if we are going to be in a better position on in a game like this we need to convert better.
On the final seven minutes of the game: Throughout the half the different looks we received we just need to convert and when we are converting those a little bit of a higher rate we are going to be in a better position, but they are a outstanding defensive team
Arizona State G Jamelle McMillian
On the start of the game: We had energy early, we were able to get into our stuff, dropped screening early, but you need to have carry over and we have to put two halves together. They did a great job adjusting, they started following really tight running the soft shots and we were not getting the same looks in the second half so you have to credit them.
On play of Kyle Fogg: It was a completely different ballgame when the first game was all in the paint while tonight was they took care of business from the three point line, but we tried to keep it tight by keeping the ball in the paint, but they did a good job getting to the lane of the bounce and forcing two guys to help and when you have to do that you have a guy six for nine from three.
On poor shooting performance and Arizona's defense: It was a little bit of both. We had some looks at normally Ty (Abbott) and Rick (Kuksiks) knock down and we have seen them do it a million times and they couldn't find it today and we had some point blank shots at the rim as far as our inside game and I think a lot of that was because of their defense and they do a great job of helping and play above the rim altering shots so I believe it was a little bit of both.
Arizona State G Trent Lockett
On defending Derrick Williams: It was one of our keys coming into the game and he hurt us last game and we wanted to limit his touches in the paint, but I think he did a great job distributing tonight because when he caught it, it brought two defenders then he made the right pass.
On his overall performance: They do a great job of protecting the paint and some of those my rhythm was just a little off and when I get to the basket I need to finish it and it was a little frustrating tonight.
Arizona coach Sean Miller
Opening Statement: Well I think we're all very excited about the win, it's such a hard place to get a win at. You know we respect Arizona State a great deal, you know there is no team that has gone through more adversity, or fighting with injuries than they have. It can really take a toll on a team, and you can kind of sense they have been through a lot.We knew coming down that we would have to play well to win, and I give Kyle Fogg a lot of credit, he's done everything that I have asked and our staff has asked of him. He's become such a good defender, it was great to see him have a big night from three, because he has worked hard all week to make that happen.
On (Kyle) Fogg's hot streak: Derrick Williams always deserves credit and part of the credit he deserves is when teams really try to collapse on him, sometimes his presence alone can open up some shots for his teammates. But it's up to them to make them and Kyle (Fogg) did take advantage of those.
On anticipating collapse on Derrick Williams and others being open: Yeah, and we could've done a better job to maybe getting the ball to Derrick (Williams). Yeah Derrick (Williams) didn't have one of his best games, especially just defensively. Five fouls in one half is not a good thing, and I don't mean that in a negative light towards anyone other than Derrick (Williams.) We have to keep getting him to concentrate and play hard so he stays out of foul trouble, but he's been a rock solid great player for us and it's really nice to see some of his teammates step up.
Arizona G Kyle Fogg
On how it felt to get this win: It felt great, you know, just felt like I shot better. I've been in the gym all week, it felt good to have a week you know off to just practice hard and get in the gym every night and I did that and I felt good out there today.
On can you remember the last time you've felt like that: Nope, tonight it felt good you know. I'm just going to keep practicing hard and hopefully I can step up and help our team get the win next game too.
On was this game your most satisfying game in an Arizona Uniform: Yeah, definitely one of the top ones. Especially going out there and playing good in your rival's gym, it feels very good.
Arizona F Derrick Williams
On how it felt to have defense collapse on him: Anytime you're in a zone you know they had to collapse on me a lot so I had to look for my team mates tonight and that's what I did. Luckily (Kyle) Fogg got a lot of great shots tonight.
On how it felt to play a rivalry game: Yeah it always does, anytime you play ASU it's a rivalry, they might be in last place but that doesn't mean anything especially when it's a rivalry. So we had to come out and play hard, and that's what we did tonight.
On being aware of PAC 10 standings: Yeah, we have to focus on that a little bit but we just wanted to get the win tonight and just stay in first place and let everybody.