Oklahoma Postgame Quotes

Dec. 5, 2007

Oklahoma Head Coach Jeff Capel

Opening comment:
"I thought our first half was as good as we've been in a half of basketball all year. I thought we executed, we got out and ran. I thought our defense was tremendous and we had Tulsa back on their heels. The second half, I don't think we played as well, I thought we had some slippage. One of the things we're trying to get better with is when we have a big lead like that at halftime, which we've had the last two games, is to continue to focus and play.

"I think you have to give Tulsa credit for that because they continued to fight. It's a very proud program and Doug (Wojcik) has done a great job and will continue to do a great job. We're pleased with the win. I thought we did some good things today, and (we have) a quick turnaround for an early afternoon game on Saturday."

On the team getting out in transition more often:
"I thought one of the things we did a really good job on was the transition. That's something we talked to our team about and have really tried to stress the past couple of days. Everyone talks about how they want to run, but sometimes you have guys who want to pace themselves because they don't want to get tired running. Running makes you get tired, especially when you're running hard. I thought we did a good job of that, we were able to get some easy baskets."

On understanding the feel of a game:
"As a coach, I may come into the game with `this is want I want to do,' but the game may not go like that. I try to coach on feel, just like when I played. So it's just kind of about feeling how the game is going. Understanding how the game is going requires you to think a little bit. I think our guys are getting a little better at that."

On Blake Griffin's development:
"When we got him here and started working with him, I was a little surprised at how advanced he is. When he drills, he has a great jump hook with either hand. (He has) a great turnaround jump shot, which you saw tonight. He has to learn how to become more comfortable with doing that against teams. This year against Memphis, they paid him the ultimate compliment by double-teaming him. They triple-teamed him. That's a sign of respect, but also, for an 18-year-old kid, it's frustrating. He's learning. That's the thing we all have to remember - he's 18."

Sophomore Guard Tony Crocker

On tonight's game:
"We have been talking, as a team, about how we need to play 40 minutes of basketball and finish games and play hard the entire time. That's what we have been focusing on and it has been working lately."

On the team's play since TCU:
"That's when we really said `we need to pick this up and play the whole game and finish the whole game.' And since then we have been playing better."

On what he's been working on that has allowed him to score a lot lately:
"When I catch the ball, not to dribble it and let things happen and wait and see what other guys are doing. If they are not open, I can look for a spot to go to. If not, let things happen and be more patient."

Junior Guard Austin Johnson

On Tony Crocker's hot shooting:
"With Tony (Crocker) shooting the way he is right now it is a big help for us. Coach always talks about how he wants to play inside-out so I am just going to go by what coach says. He thinks that if we get it down to Blake (Griffin), Longar (Longar), Keith (Clark) or Taylor (Griffin) that the opponent will double down or it will get us open a lot on the perimeter. We're still going to play the way we're playing but if we can get Tony an open shot then we're going to get it for him so he can take it."

On the gray uniforms:
"I like them a lot, I think they look nice. I liked wearing them tonight for the first time."

Tulsa Head Coach Doug Wojcik

Opening comment:
"It was obviously a tough night to sit there and watch that, particularly in the first half. Let's give Oklahoma a lot of credit. Tony Crocker is shooting the basketball very, very well. I don't think they were doing that early in the season. It makes a big difference because you look at Blake (Griffin) and Longar Longar and you think they are dominating the game. They are, but they get 29 points. The difference with Oklahoma is they are scoring from the perimeter. Looking at their combined totals coming into the game, we were willing to give up that 35 points to those two (Griffin and Longar). I give them a lot of credit. They had great movement, good depth and they played well."

On his team's struggles:
"We didn't play particularly well. We had good shots in the first five minutes of the game, and that is what we wanted. The last 15 minutes of the first half seemed about three hours. I am proud of our team the way we came back in the second half and really shot it well. They went zone a couple of times and I thought we really handled it well. We have to build on that and have to move forward. This is life and we have to grow up."

On Tulsa guard Ben Uzoh not getting many shot attempts in the first half:
"They (Oklahoma) did a good job on him. Keep in mind, I put him at the one position and that probably took a little bit away from him. I was just trying to find a combination. We have played five of six games pretty much away from home to start the season. I should have scheduled a little bit better than that. We are 2-4 and have five straight at home. We have to get through finals and we look to get better."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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