TULSA POSTGAME QUOTES VS. TULANE
2/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
TULSA HEAD COACH Frank Haith
Opening Statement
"Obviously it was a really good win for us. I thought our execution of offense was really good. I thought our defense was really good all night even though (Louis) Dabney had `one of those games'. We knew he was very capable but I thought that, for the most part, we were where we needed to be defensively. It's a great win for us against a team that I have a lot of respect for. They have three guys who can really shoot the ball. I'm just really proud of how our guys competed and how we were able to get ourselves in a position to win the game."
On the two big runs, at the end of the first half and in the second half
"I think our defense was good all night. We needed to get stops. They scored early on us; it was kind of nip and tuck there. But once we got clean rebounds and we were able to get out in transition and get some separation, I thought our offense flowed better in the half court. We have been a team that's grown. I think our defense has gotten better and better all year. We had those two games where I think we had some slippage. So we allowed ourselves to get back to practice and work on the little things and get our guys understanding why we are good. When we won these games, what did we do good? Who are we? It allowed us to be able to do that over the last couple of weeks."
On the way TU protected the rim
"That's our whole thing. Paint production and not letting people get in the paint -- playing without fouling, playing vertical, our post guys doing their work early, putting their chest on people. On defense you want to play with your chest, your back, your hips. You don't play with your hands. That's how you get fouls called on you. We still have some guys lose their mind with that a little bit. But all in all that's an area we've really grown. Defensively we close really fast. We have good team speed, good team quickness. Even if there is a hiccup in our execution, defensively, we can still make a play because of our quickness and our speed."
Is Brandon a big reason for the strong paint production?
"I think Brandon does a great job of protecting the paint. I think Brandon is very vocal. He's probably our best communicator on the defensive end. So he really helps in that regard. D'Andre is playing great D too. That's something he's really grown in. He's went into that spell where he's gotten into foul trouble a little bit more, but the fact that he is trying to take charges, but he's getting a couple of those block calls, that's what we want him to do. He's doing what we need him to do defensively too."
On playing three of the toughest teams in the league in the final three games
"We just have to lace them up and play. We go on the road and play Memphis. A team that we already played earlier in the year and had some success against. But I think they are playing their best basketball right now. So we have to tremendous effort to have success in their building. That's the only game our team is focused on right now."
How much fun are you having right now?
"I love doing what I do. That's why I do what I love. I love our kids. They're fun, they're easy to coach. We have a lot more games to play. We still got stuff to do."
On how well the team rotates on defense and being where they need to be
"I think it takes time. Their scheme and stuff is different. Not to take anything away from what they did last time. Everything is different. I think the guys are getting better at understanding what we want to do. The thing that's really good about it is, that these guys played `D' last year too. They understood how important it was to play defense. Danny did a great job with that to win games. Give him a lot of credit for that. These guys understand how important it is to do that."
On being locked in to tonight's game and not looking past Tulane
"We have a lot of respect for Tulane. Tulane has four road wins. They won at Cincinnati, they won at Memphis, they are a very capable team. They went right down to the wire at UConn. Our attention was already grasped because we understood that Tulane is a very capable team for what they have already done. You don't win four road games against those type of teams if you're not a good team."
Do you think you've done enough to earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament?
"Well you still have to work. All of that stuff will work itself out. There is nothing we can do on focusing on that. We just have to take care of business. We control our own destiny."
What's Memphis doing well right now?
"I haven't watched them. I know Austin is back and he's a key guy for them. He's been playing lights out. I think he is a terrific player. I love his game. I don't know exactly all that they're doing. I know that they are playing better by looking at the scores and how they are competing. I know a lot of that has to do with him being back in the lineup."
TULSA JUNIOR GUARD James Woodard
On the change in Tulsa's play after he hit a three pointer to move the score to 23-22 in favor of the Golden Hurricane
"I think our rhythm started to change. Our defense started to clamp down and we started to get out in transition. We started to get a rhythm from ever body on the team. Just seeing the ball go through the net; It kind of sparked something."
On the team's experience playing together and how it influences their defense
"Today we had to be at our best at defense because they had three outstanding guards: Dabney, Starks, and Hook. We knew that if all three of them could get off it then would be a tough game, but our communication has increased and that's a big deal for us. I feel like that's the main reason our defense has gotten better."
On his feelings toward the upcoming games
"It starts in practice. We have to continue to get better and continue to communicate, especially on defense. We'll just go from there, taking it one game at a time.
On if the team can tell that Tulsa's smothering defense is getting to the opponents
"Man, we just play defense. We just play until we get the ball. We just stay disciplined. We play by our rules and expectations on defense."
TULSA JUNIOR GUARD Rashad Ray
On how seeing a teammate get hot influences his play
"I just get excited and try to get him the ball more. I like to see all my teammates make shots, especially when I'm getting assists."
On the team getting `in the zone' defensively
"That's where we hang our hat is on the defensive end. Our defense needs to be working for our offense so we can run fast and play at our tempo."
On his excitement for the final three games of the regular season
"I'm very excited. We still have time to get better in these last three games. It starts in practice. Doing the same thing by communicating and by competing with each other. So, I'm very excited.
TULANE HEAD COACH Ed Conroy
Opening Statement
"I credit Tulsa. They are an outstanding basketball team, great speed. I thought we did a good job early on, it was 22-20 I believe. Then toward the end of the first half we lost our discipline, as far as floor balance and things like that. We let them get out there and get their transition going. I thought we managed the end of the half well with a 2-1 opportunity there, but then we came out the second half I thought our defense was just nonexistent. It is certainly not the standard, but Tulsa has the ability to make you pay for those mistakes, and they certainly did."
On what makes Tulsa's defense so good
"They have great quickness and speed. They have played together now for a while so they are cohesive. They communicate well and they cover things up. The difference right now, in the two games I've seen with them, is what they are doing on the boards as well. They are physical enough up front and good with clearing the rebounds. Early on in the second half I thought we narrowed the gap by getting on the boards some, but unless you put all of your numbers toward the boards you are going to have a hard time rebounding against them. But if you do that you are going to give up some transition points, which is not what you want."
On Tulsa being an NCAA Tournament team
"I think they are. I think they are deserving of it. I know that they didn't get the start they wanted to in the non-conference, but with a coaching change, I think it's understandable if you look behind it a little bit. Obviously, the way they are playing now, they are worthy of being in the tournament."
On why this game was so difficult for Tulane
"I have been proud of our guys, we have been very consistent on the road. We have four road wins, and another we were on the line to win with no time on the clock, so it could be five road wins. Then we had a close loss at UConn. I think we have had two bad halves. One of them was the first half at Temple, and the other was the second half here tonight. It was really poor as far as our defense goes and I thought we didn't give ourselves a chance. I liked where we were at halftime. And I loved the way we executed the last minute, getting a three and then another look at one. We went 2-1 and I think we had a little momentum because of that. I'm just disappointed in the way we came out the second half."
