Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Men's Basketball Postgame Quotes
11/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dan D'Antoni, head coach
On the team's performance:
"We scored 112 points but I do think that we can shoot better. We need to get better defensively and have to limit our turnovers. I thought we were a little slow at first and some of that credit goes to Bluefield State. They shot the ball well in the first half. One major aspect that we must work on is our free throw shooting. We only shot 58 percent from the line tonight and that must improve. We played well but there is some work to be done."
On James Kelly:
"James played very well. He has the ability in this system to play inside and outside. We think that James is much more talented than his stats have shown."
Ryan Taylor, junior forward
On building from last season and what has changed:
"Camaraderie, coming together early. We have a tough schedule, our first two games are away and we struggled away last year. And I personally, just keep playing the way I'm playing and try to shoot it better from the outside. Also try to shoot it better from the free throw line, I think that's going to be a big thing we work on in practice tomorrow. I mean you definitely have to take the accolades with it being pre-season, but I don't let it get to my head, I don't try to get cocky or anything like that, I try to stay level-headed through anything."
On what allowed Bluefield State to stick around in the first half and first part of the second:
"They shot at 41 percent from the free throw line first half and I think that helped them stick around with us and then the second half it was just I guess getting our second legs up under us. Other than that, I feel like we handled it well. We wanted everybody to play and everybody played, I think we will be a very deep team this year."
Austin Loop, junior guard
On getting open to shoot:
"Yeah it was definitely a big change going from the end of last season to tonight even though it was an exhibition game but I may get some of those looks Sunday. I think when we head down to Tennessee I won't be getting as many looks as I did tonight but I'm definitely trying to take advantage and take all the open shots I can get."
On getting support from other players:
"Last year at times we struggled to shoot from the outside, so having guys like that and even guys we don't even have playing right now, like Ryan was saying, the depth we have is great."
James Kelly, senior forward
On playing for the first time in a year, after sitting out 2014-15 as a transfer:
"It felt really good. I was excited before the game and it felt really good playing with my team."
On the team having confidence in him:
"It feels good. It feels like they have my back through anything, and I have their back through anything too."
