Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Basketball Postgame Quotes
2/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Head Coach Dan D'Antoni
Opening Statement
"North Texas played extremely hard. They are very athletic and well coached. They gave us all we wanted. It was good because we needed that. It helps us grow. It was a fun game. I was into it and the crowd was into it. That's what it is all about. Those are the kind of games you love to play, love to compete in."
On the differences in previous games to now
" I have no idea. You develop as teams when you experience certain things. I would like to say I gave a 'Rocky speech' or had this 'great thing' come over me, but it's not that. You can put your kid up and try to make him walk, but he isn't going to walk until he's ready to walk. No matter what you try to do, you can do all you want, until they are ready, it won't happen. They are good kids. They work hard. They try to win together and they evolve. I told them at the very first of the year, 'you have to make me a good coach.' That is more important than me trying to make you a good player. It is a player's game. All a coach does is give them the perimeters to play a good game. In the end, they have got to do it, and right now they are making me a better coach than I was three weeks ago."
On continuing to win
"I don't think we are ready to let go. We have got to get going, we've won four of five. I am proud of them, don't get me wrong, I am going to enjoy the heck out of this win, but I am not satisfied. We have got to keep pushing."
Ryan Taylor, RS-Sophomore, Forward
On staying focused
"My teammates say 'calm down and keep your head.' We know we are at home and that we have a home crowd with us. That is honestly about it. We knew we wanted to get this win coming out. When we got into the gym today everyone was focused. We knew emotions were going to run high just because we were trying to get back to back wins."
On the crowd
"I believe this was the loudest crowd of the year, or maybe UTEP-with the first conference win. Our home crowd has been great. We are glad that they come out and watch us play. They watch us play every game win or lose. Coach was telling us Thursday that we have the third best attendance and we aren't even at the top of conference USA so that's great. I think without our home crowd, we wouldn't be winning so many games.I feel like away teams might look at our record and think to take it easy but this is a hostile environment for an away team to try to get a win. Road wins don't come easy on conference, but with our crowd the way it is, I know more people will come see us and get even more hostile. It can be very hard to win here."
Jay Johnson, Junior, Forward
Difference between previous games and now
" We have matured as a team and learned to trust each other. At the beginning of the season we were a new team with a new coach and now everyone is getting the system. We are putting all of the pieces together."
On the crowd
" We are actually giving this basketball community life again. Like when I first got here, the attendance record was horrible but now the Cam is almost full again. We need to keep it like that."
JP Kambola, Senior, Center
On difference in previous games to now
" I would say that everyone is contributing to the game. You can check the stat sheet. Everyone is contributing to the game. If we got that going on for us, that is what helps us in the long run."
