Postgame Quotes

Feb. 26, 2002

OKLAHOMA 89, IOWA STATE 75
Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2002
Norman, Okla. - Lloyd Noble Center

Oklahoma Head Coach Kelvin Sampson

On the game and Senior Night:
"We had a lot of good looks in the first half but we didn't make some shots or the score would have been higher. You get kind of concerned on Senior Night because emotions are running high. These players invested so much in each other and in this program for so long and then all of a sudden you look around and their careers are ending. You just hope that your players will stay focused on the game and not get too caught up in the emotions. I thought we did a better job in the second half both offensively and defensively."

On Oklahoma's all-conference candidates:
"Last year, we didn't have one player make the Big 12 first team and this year I think we have two legitimate candidates. Aaron McGhee is first-team material. He's had a double-double in almost all of our conference games. Hollis Price is also very deserving. This team is 13-3 in one of the toughest leagues in the country and we have two kids who have had unbelievable years and I just hope they get rewarded for what they've done."

On OU's seniors starting the game:
I was contemplating calling a timeout right after the start of the game but I asked myself 'why call timeout?' I decided to let them play. Cano was playing good defense and Richard came up with a great rebound. I thought that they played harder than some of the guys that came off the bench."

Senior Guard Michael Cano
"This is a night that I will never forget. I can feel all the emotions running through me, but it's hard to put them into words. It means so much to me that I've gotten to be a part of this team and I will always cherish every second that I was part of this team. Every time I heard the fans chant my name, it was just most special feeling in the world. I'll never forget tonight or my time as a Sooner."

Senior Guard Richard Ainooson
"Wow, what an emotional night. I wish I could stay here and play another 18 or 20 years, but the four years I had here were just the most special time ever. Michael Cano and I went through so much in our four years here and I can't even describe everything that I'm feeling right now. I'm really glad we got a win tonight and it's a great accomplishment for us to have gone undefeated at home this season. My shot was something I won't ever forget. I just had a feeling that Cano and I would both score tonight."

Senior Forward Aaron McGhee
"This was a very special night. It's a credit to our program that we came out and finished the season undefeated at home. It's very rewarding to have gotten the applause and attention that we did tonight. I'll always remember my last game here and I'll always remember Richard's amazing shot. We're going to keep working hard and bringing home wins."

Senior Forward Daryan Selvy
"Throughout the game tonight, I kept thinking that it might be my last rebound or my last bucket. I kept thinking about tonight being my last game here and I'm so glad we were able to win and finish the season like this. I'll always remember tonight and I'm just glad my family was here to share this with me."

Iowa State Quotes

Iowa State Head Coach Larry Eustachy

On Oklahoma:
"I think they're as well-coached as any team in the country. They're doing well with a lot of new guys, and Kelvin is doing a great job with them."

On OU's offense:
"We guarded them hard tonight and they still scored 89 points."

On Aaron McGhee:
"I don't watch a lot of college basketball, but everyone seems to be talking about Sam Clancy from USC being a top draft pick. Well, I think Aaron McGhee is better than him. He has improved so much from last year and has come a long way. That guy is just a pro."

On Jake Sullivan:
"Tonight we kind of locked into Jake Sullivan and took some shots away from the other guys."

Sophomore Guard Shane Power

On Oklahoma:
"We scored 75 points against the No. 5 team in the country tonight. We played tough defense but we had a few lapses in the second half and gave up some points."

On Aaron McGhee:
"He was unstoppable there for a while. He was hitting really tough, contested shots."

On game as a learning experience:
"We're not into moral victories, but this was a positive game for us. It just shows you we have potential."

Sophomore Guard Jake Sullivan

On the game:
"I missed some shots in the first half and played tentative. I told myself at halftime to just come out and play my game. I had a good second half and wasn't scared to play."

On Oklahoma:
"Hats off to Oklahoma. They played a great game tonight. We know we can play with them but they were the better team tonight."

On playing on the road:
"You have to play at a different level when you're on the road, you have to play that much better."

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