Dec. 18, 2013
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HEAD COACH Ray Harper
On tonight's game:
"That's a really good basketball team. They come in here 9-1 for a reason. I think if you watch them as they go through the course of the season, they're going to win a lot more games. There were times where we were good. We moved the ball. Anytime you start making shots, it's something that we have talked about. I think we got some guys that will make shots, and I think we got some guys that will take big shots. But for the most part, we were too careless with the basketball against their pressure. We have to pass fake and be stronger with the ball. I thought we did not rebound at all in the first half. They had 25 points and eight of those off of offensive rebounds and six off of free throws. Defensively in the first half, we were terrific. A little lazy second half, didn't stay as disciplined. Probably our most complete game to date."
On defensive game plan with 20 seconds to go:
"We were just going to switch everything. When we made the two free throws, we were not going to foul with six seconds. I just did not feel comfortable fouling. I thought our kids did a terrific job."
On Trency Jackson and Chris Harrison-Docks:
"I thought they, like everyone, have to do a better job taking care of the basketball. It's game two for them. I have had guys who have sat out a year and began playing at Christmas. It is difficult. It doesn't happen overnight. It usually takes two or three games. All the emotion, the crowd, it's just different. They're coming along quicker than I anticipated. I didn't think they'd be this good this quick. I'm glad they're on our side."
On scoring diversity:
"I think we have more weapons. The thing that we've talked about is what (Chris Harrison-Docks and Trency Jackson) bring to the table is two guys that can create shots for other people. We were missing that a little bit. There are going to be times where the shot clock winds down and at that point, you have to have guys that will go make plays. Trency (Jackson) and Chris (Harrison-Docks) can go make plays for themselves and for somebody else."
On shooting free throws well:
"It was the difference in the game. Go up and there and don't make a couple of those one-and-ones, and we're sitting up here talking about a different outcome. They shot them well, we shot them well. It was a grind-it-out basketball game which we knew it would be, but give our kids credit. They grinded, they stuck together and they deserved to win this game."
On improving from Louisville, to today, to Murray State:
"We have to be more consistent for 40 minutes. We have to learn how to sustain that same effort every possession. I think our offensive efficiency is getting better, but we still have a lot of areas we need to improve. We need to rebound better. I don't know if there's an area of the game that we can't work on daily."
REDSHIRT-SENIOR GUARD Caden Dickerson
On this game being the biggest win of the season, so far:
"There was a total team contribution. Everybody was playing their role. We took what the defense gave us, and we played hard on defense, too. So it was a good team win."
On Murray State:
"It's a great rivalry. It's an in-state battle. It's two great programs, and we're just looking forward to a great game and another home game."
REDSHIRT-JUNIOR GUARD Trency Jackson
On the play with 20 seconds left, up three, and Southern Miss' ball:
"We wanted to buy in as a team. Get a stop for 20 seconds, we do it every day at practice. Coach (Harper) kept reminding us that we do it at practice and we needed to be vocal. When you're vocal on the defensive end, it puts a lot of pressure on the offensive end and you know where you need to be on defense. That's all we were trying to do, was be vocal."
On how he feels about his play after two games:
"I'm feeling great. I've been practicing, but I've been practicing all year. I knew I was going to have to get adjusted to the game. I give all the credit to my teammates. They put me in a position where I came in and they welcomed me with open arms. We're playing as a team."
On what was going through his mind while shooting two free throws in the last seconds of the game:
"Step up, don't think about the free throw. Sink it. You can't think about it, if you think about it you're going to miss it."
