Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Basketball Postgame Quotes
11/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Head Coach Dan D'Antoni
Opening Statement:
"I thought this ball game we played a much better brand of basketball. I thought they played hard defensively and did a pretty nice job. I thought this team played really well and shoots really well from three. I thought, overall, that our team took a real step forward....No one likes to lose and we want to win every game, but it is going to be a journey...Even to the last game, it's a journey with this team and they have to learn a couple of things. For one, they need to become a team, as people. That hasn't happened here yet at Marshall. They have to learn to be a team and pull and push for each other. I think we took a little step in that regard from what I saw out there tonight.
"I feel like we took a step forward with our play. In the second half, we were much more efficient offensively. They haven't gotten as used to playing as hard as they played defensively and when you haven't played like that before, you go down offensively and lose your legs as the game progresses. In the second half they were much more at ease with the pace of the game."
On Three Pointers
"Both of these last two teams (Morehead State and Cleveland State) are good three point shooters. I thought we did a good job. It's not what beat us. Last game the three pointers beat us, but that's not what beat us this time."
On Cleveland State's game plan to limit Marshall's three point attempts:
"Coaches say we adjust to this or that, but we shot nine threes in the second half and 10 in the first. We made the ones in the second half and didn't make the one in the first. It's nothing more than that and I thought we didn't make them because we played so hard on defense that the energy went to the offensive end and we were too hyper. We still have three or four times, where our guards need to be a bit better at finding us penetration. There's a lot of effort from Alexa (Nikolic), DB (DeVince Boykins) and Tam (Tamron Manning) to get us where we need to be. (Nikolic) has never faced this kind of competition and the other guys are off the ball guards that we moved to point. It's hard on them. They're learning, but we'll get better as we go through the season. "
On Shawn Smith status:
"It could be awhile (without him). He's got, from what I understand and you might want to double check on this to make sure, a fracture inside his shoulder."
On JP Kambola:
"He played a really good game. He's one of the best shooters we have, but at 6-9 people don't think he should maybe shoot as much. It's hard to tell your third best shooter not to shoot. Not bad for a guy that hasn't played in two years."
Ryan Taylor, Redshirt Sophomore, Forward
On cutting the lead in the second half
"It was energy- defense- and we started to make some shots in the second half, a lot better than we did the first half. I think once we saw the ball go through the net, it got a lot of energy going on defense, to get easier points. I think we shot better and then our defense too."
On being down in the first half
"They would send the help down, and the minute I would catch it, he would jump as high as he could. Once I figured it out in the second half, I found a way to get myself open in a way that he couldn't get back to me and if he did, I could go by him. Coach told me to just keep shooting and they would start falling sooner or later. I made that big one in the second half, but I've got to keep working on it."
On coming out cold
"You have those days. We all kind of looked cold in the gym. There was just a cold air. Other than that, I just think it was one of those days. The first half just wasn't our half, but I think we played well the second half."
On the upcoming schedule
"I just think that it's going to help us in the long run. There are a lot of good teams in conference. Our conference schedule is probably one of the best since I've been here, since I propped. I just think that it will help us out. Having tough games, against tough opponents, in tough conferences will help us out a lot, especially with us being a young team. Playing in those games, being down, and cutting the lead will help us out in the long run with close games in conference."
JP Kambola, Senior, Center
On playing tough teams at home
"The energy of playing at home from the crowd really helps us a lot. We're a young team, so we need help from the crowd and everyone who shows up at the game. To back up on how these games here have helped us, it's a learning lesson on how hard we have to play. A lot of us are new and myself, I didn't play that much in the past. We don't know exactly how hard we have to play a college game and these games have shown us that we have to work hard and can't take any possessions off. I'm just excited about our development. I think that once we start all these upcoming games, we should be ready. Coach just keeps emphasizing to us to play as hard as we can."
On being able to shoot freely
"It's a great feeling. I have to try not to fall in love with the three. I have to figure out how to work the ball in both aspects of my game, the pick and roll and to sometimes shoot the three. Coach gives me a lot of confidence and it seems to have worked I my best interest and with the team too."
