Tulsa Postgame Quotes vs. UAB
1/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2014
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TULSA HEAD COACH Danny Manning
Opening statement
"UAB is a team that came in here without the record that they would like, and they came out and dominated us on the glass. They played big boy ball in terms of rebounding the ball. That is one of the areas that we feel contributed to us losing the game. Give them credit. They went after the ball. Frazier got going in the second half and made some tough shots like is known to do. Rucker got into the paint, reverse pivoted, made the buckets, and shot the ball at a high clip. The backboard, to me, was an issue. We didn't rebound or box out throughout the course of the game."
On momentum swings during conference play
"There is not one team in this league that can not be beaten. You can beat any team and any team can beat you. As you look at the standings, and things start to shake out, that will be even more noticeable. The hard part is knowing that you only play each game one time. Now, if we're tied with UAB down the stretch, they have the upper hand. That is probably going to be the toughest part. You have to get your guys to understand that you're playing every game like it is an elimination game. That should be the mentality."
On opportunities missed late in the game
"We came out in the second half and got good shots, but we didn't make shots. We got to the bucket, but we missed layups. We got the looks that we wanted, but we have to do a better job of getting them to go down. You have to give UAB credit. When you miss shots that you normally make, they're there and contesting everything. We have to give them credit for that. Look at the stat sheet and see the rebounding total, we have to do a better job with that and make sure that if we can't get the ball, neither can the other team."
On UAB's turnaround
"We knew that they were needing a spark going into the game. They have a nonconference win against North Carolina. That is probably the marque win for our conference during nonconference play. They got off to a slow start in conference play, but we knew that they were a capable team. We had a good book on them, but we didn't rebound the ball at the clip that we needed to in order to win the game."
On the mindset at the end of the game
"You just want to take what the defense gives you, but you don't want to settle. That is the mindset. You want to take it to the rim and make them foul you or get a rhythm shot. The goal is to attack over and over."
TULSA GUARD Rashad Ray
On energy in the second half
"I think we were lackadaisical out there. I think we should have had the energy from the beginning of the second half. I try to tell my team in every game `In the second half, come out like it's the last four minutes; like we're playing down. Play with a lot of energy'. I just thought we didn't have it today. Give credit to UAB."
On his thoughts about the direction the team is going
"I think we're just going to keep grinding in practice....keep going after each other and making each other better as a team and as individuals. We're going to try to get back next Saturday and get the win."
On a technical foul called on him for taunting
"I guess he thought I was taunting that other player, but really I was looking over to the bench; telling my team that we have there and win this game. I guess he took it wrong."
TULSA FORWARD Brandon Swannegan
On where the team goes from here
"It's going to be a tough week as usual. After every game, regardless of whether we win or lose we always come out in practice and play hard. We've got to get better. That's what coach (Manning) says all the time. `Win or Lose. Win or Lose', we've just got to get better."
UAB HEAD COACH JEROD HAASE
Opening Statement
"Well, it feels great after that win and in this profession there is a lot of stress so for me personally it was certainly a great relief, but we played a very good team. They played an unbelievable non-conference schedule and it has prepared them for our league very well. They're off to a great start, they have really great backcourt, into their bench, and Danny does a great job coaching them so we knew we had a great challenge today. I thought our guys were fantastic with their energy, with their effort on defense and in the second half we started executing better so I was really proud of our effort."
On whether this is a "turnaround game" for UAB
"The bottom line is, we need to continue to get better but we have a chance to do some nice things. We are a good team right now that has a chance to be better but we have shown also that we can be average. If we get the buy in from the guys and the excitement from the guys that we had today and maintain that throughout the season, I am an optimist, so yes I think that may be the case."
On rebounds
"With our team, we have talked a lot about identity throughout the year, and our identity has been a tough-nosed team that is a very good rebounding team. We have good rebounders at every position and it is what has kept us in games and what has helped us win a lot of games this year is our ability to rebound. I think there are only a couple teams that have out-rebounded us this year, but that has been a staple. I am also hoping our identity evolves and we are more of a tough nosed team defensively.
