University of Oklahoma Athletics
Postgame Quotes
February 19, 2008 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 19, 2008
Oklahoma Head Coach Jeff Capel
Opening comment:
"I've never been a part of something like that. First of all I want to thank our crowd. Our crowd was phenomenal, especially there down the stretch when it was 92-91 and they were at the free throw line. It was louder in here than I've ever it heard since I've been here. We were very fortunate, lucky, whatever you want to call it. As good as it feels to be on this end, I hate it for the kids from Baylor because they played their hearts out and played really well. But we'll take it, and we feel very fortunate to get this win. We had guys who made plays. You have to put yourself in a position to allow yourself to be a little bit lucky. We were in that position, and guys made plays of for us. It feels better than being on the other side."
On being disappointed starting in the second half:
"I was disappointed with how we started the second half. We were up 10 at halftime and we told our guys they were going to make a run. They cut it very quickly. Still with about three minutes to go it was an eight-point game, and they went to four guards. We couldn't guard them and they were scoring in less than 10 seconds. They were exchanging two for three, we were going to the free throw line and we were throwing inside. But they were coming back and getting threes.
"Then at the start of overtime we didn't get stops and we couldn't score. We got down very quickly and when I called a timeout I told our guys `Listen, we've been in this position before. This is like West Virginia, just how the overtime started there. In order to win this game we have to start getting stops. If we don't get stops we have no chance of winning. We can't exchange with them, and we have to get stops.' We were fortunate to get a couple of stops. Austin (Johnson) made a huge 3, then (Tony) Crocker scored two huge 3's and the last one was the four-point play. We found a way to win and that's what it comes down to. We found a way to win."
On realizing the importance of every game from now on:
"One of the things we told our guys after Colorado was for them to understand how important every game is from here on out and getting them to understand that we can control our destiny. It's a good place to be in when you can control it. When you can control it you need to make sure you can come out and do that. I thought we did that in spurts today. We didn't do it collectively for 45 minutes. We've gotten very fortunate two games in a row. We still have a lot of room to play better, and I think we will play better. This was a huge win for us. It was a huge game for us. Our guys knew that. But just like Texas Tech was, just like this weekend will be big, just like teams we play next week will be big.
"The thing I try to get our guys to understand is every game is big. Every game is important because we play. If you have pride in something you do and your name is associated with it then it should be important to you. The quicker our guys can understand that, and I think they're starting to - and that's not just for basketball that's for life - that's how you become a successful person. That's how teams become successful."
Oklahoma Sophomore Guard Tony Crocker
On the last offensive sequence:
"Time was running down and we needed to get up a quick shot because we were down four. We wanted to tie the game and needed to get a shot and a foul. We got it up and made a 3 and were able to tie it up."
On the win:
"This feels good to win like this, but it's scary. I would rather not win like this. A win is a win not matter how you get it, just as long as you get it done."
On the 4-point play:
"I was really just trying to get the shot up. He got in the way and I had to hold it for a little bit and then shoot. It happened to go down. Praise God, he was there with us today."
Oklahoma Freshman Forward Blake Griffin
On overtime:
"I have no idea how we pulled that out. People stepped up and made big shots down the stretch. Obviously, (Tony) Crocker's 3 was huge. We came out and didn't play hard at first and got down. We dug ourselves a hole and then got right back out of it. I can't really describe it, it was crazy."
On the second half:
"Coach told us flat out that we came out soft. We weren't playing hard and they wanted it more than we did in the second half. That's why they came back. We never should have given them the opportunity to be that close. We need to learn to put two halves of basketball together and play the whole game."
On the victory:
"This is huge because it puts us ahead of Baylor in the standings and we are finally above .500 in conference play. And it gives us some momentum going into the Texas game."
Baylor Head Coach Scott Drew
Opening comment:
"We have been in a couple of close games this year. I am very proud of the effort of our team. We have had two heartbreakers and a lot of teams could fold from here on out. I think we are going to get on a roll. I am really proud of our team. I think we are going to bond from this and I think we are going to grow from this."
On the second-half defensive adjustments on Oklahoma's Blake Griffin:
"We just tried to be more aware of him. I think our guards did a good job of pressuring their guards to make it hard to pass it into Blake (Griffin)."
On the team's success on offense in the second half:
"I think some of that comes from defense. We got some stops in the second half. Again, it was a great game. I just don't like being on the other side of the win/loss column at the end."
On his thoughts of Tony Crocker's four-point play:
"I am anxious to see the replay to see exactly what happened. I want to see if it was a foul or if we should have switched. I thought we had good defense. Let's give (Tony) Crocker a lot of credit. He made a heck of a shot. He double-pumped and drained a 3 with the game on the line. Oklahoma hit their last three (3-pointers) in a row, so they made the plays down the stretch to win the game. I am proud of our players because we left it all out on the floor, and that is all you can ask for as a coach."
On playing Blake Griffin tonight and Kansas State's Michael Beasley on Saturday:
"The good thing is Blake Griffin helps you prepare for Michael Beasley. There is a reason both of them are lottery picks. They are good and do a good job of making their teams better, which is what makes them so special. They are not guys that just do it themselves. They make everyone else better, which is a sign of a great player."
Baylor Junior Guard Curtis Jerrells
On his disappointment in the loss:
"Any loss is very difficult. Being on the road, it would have been nice to come away with the win. We have to go back home this weekend and get one there."
On the offensive strategy down one point on the final possession:
"We were only down one, so we were trying to get a layup or get fouled. There was no need to shoot a 3 only being down one."
Baylor Sophomore Guard Tweety Carter
On the game:
"It is always difficult to get a win on the road. We had to fight back, and we did. CJ (Curtis Jerrells) made a big shot to send it into overtime. We just didn't come out with it. We had the lead and sometimes you just have to clamp down on defense a little better. We have to go back home and prepare for Kansas State."
