Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Men's Basketball Postgame Quotes
11/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Ryan Taylor, redshirt sophomore forward
On differences from the first half to second half:
"Our defensive pressure, both half-court and full-court, sped them up a bit. We were able to make open shots on offense, as well as our free throws, but I think our defense helped us out a lot in the first half."
On committing too many turnovers:
"Turnovers hurt us. We had 14 turnovers in the second half. To be a good team, you can't have that many turnovers in the game, period. I think the turnovers caused us not to get back on offense, because they got fast break points out of it."
Cheikh Sane, senior forward
On offensive lulls in the second half:
"We didn't execute well in the second half. They were quick in transition, and we didn't get back on transition defense. I think we got a bit lazy in the second half."
JP Kambola, senior center
On having the 'hot hand':
"Coach [D'Antoni] emphasizes that we should shoot the ball when we have the opportunity. Today it seemed that in the ones that I made I had a good look at the rim, and that's all I needed. As a team we constantly shoot in every practice, so they're going to fall for us on some nights, and tonight happened to be one of them."
Dan D'Antoni, head coach
Opening Statement
"There were some really good parts, and then there were some parts that weren't so good. We shot the ball well; that is a well-coached team. They're small, but they're a threat because they can shoot and they're quick and they play hard. The parts that we were playing well I was really, really proud. Learning to win every possession the entire game is going to be a learning process. We don't have that swagger yet of a veteran team that's won games and knows how to put them away and just end them. But I liked our response when they cut down the lead, we built it back up."
On the team's performance against the WVU Tech 2-3 zone defense
"We got all the shots we wanted, we just missed them. They're shots that the players who took them, can make them. They do that every day in practice. We had some new faces in the game, but that's no excuse. They have to come in and make them- that's just part of the game and I think they definitely will come in and make them."
On t
he team's improved strength and conditioning"I think it's good. The first game they got winded and they were nervous, but they've settled down some. I feel pretty good about that. It's still a growing process, but when you practice the way we play and play the way we play, if the other team doesn't do that, it will start showing on them in the second half. If we can get our tempo going, it will pay dividends for us. There are many styles to win a basketball game; whatever you choose, you have to be really good at it and impose your style on the other team."
