Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Basketball Postgame Quotes
11/16/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Dan D'Antoni, head coach
On game overall:
"I thought we came out a little flat. That's something that a team that hasn't been put together for a very long time and hasn't proven itself winning wise for a long time will do. It's a good learning tool. I think we regrouped a bit from early on."
On defensive play:
"The defense was adequate. It's hard to guard that team because they're very active. They play very hard and get into you defensively, taking a lot of chances. We're going to have to do some work and make sure we improve on being attacked."
"I thought Aleksa (Nikolic) did a good job defensively tonight. We are very active inside and put a lot of pressure. Cheikh (Sane) was everywhere too and that's good to see, that we can be so active defensively."
On regrouping for second half.
"We ran Ryan Taylor underneath their two guards to start the second half and got a few quick baskets that way. We felt like they were jumping at us and we weren't doing a great job with that because we hadn't really seen it before. We got Ryan back in the middle and got some easy shots. We let down at the end and gave them eight points at the end and that's not something I was happy with. We try to teach that every play is important and to max out every play, but it's a learning process.
On rebounding:
"If you don't rebound you have to shoot 100 percent on the other end of the floor. It's just a matter of if you want to be a grind team that closes things in, or an open team that is all about movement. We're not structured to be a grind team, but we want to be an open team that is also good at rebounding. Obviously, we care very much about rebounding, it's just a different style."
On brother Mike D'Antoni being in attendance:
"Mike was up in the stands. I'm sure he's got a lot to tell me when I come out, but I won't listen to any of it. I'll ask him how L.A. is. I'm happy for him. If he's happy, I'm happy."
Shawn Smith, senior forward
On defense limiting Savannah State to under 50 points
"I say just being as one unit and talking to each other. Last game, we got to know everybody's strengths."
Ryan Taylor, redshirt sophomore forward
On communication on defense
"We have a big emphasis on talking on the court, no matter how loud the gym is or how quiet the gym is. We do a lot of down-ball screens, and sometimes our guards forget, but it is up to the bigs to call it out. [Coach D'Antoni] wants to create our defense and make the defense create offense for us, which is easier. Then in the half-court offense, once we see the bucket open on fast breaks we are not timid to shoot the ball. He has a big emphasis on defense."
On freedom of offense
"I enjoy it a lot. I get more happy if one of my teammates makes a shot off of my pass or even if I pass it to an open man, and he passes it to another open man, and he shoots, I am happy with that. Last year I was kind of a one dimensional player and [Coach D'Antoni] gives me the freedom to show my full game and full potential. I have a lot of fun with this offense."
Jay Johnson, junior forward
On defense
"[Coach D'Antoni] wants us to play together. The defense has to be on a string this year. Everybody has got to talk. Everybody has got to have everybody's back."
On defense keeping the point gap
"The fact that the defense was there, it opened up our style of play which is transition buckets. That is get the ball out, get it up and go."
