University of Oklahoma Athletics
Postgame Quotes
January 03, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 3, 2011
Head Coach Jeff Capel
Opening comment:
“Well I'm glad to be sitting here with the win, but not pleased with how we played. I'm glad to get a win. Now in saying that, I thought we did some good things in spurts -- the last 10 minutes of the second half I think we scored 34 points. When we extended the lead in the first half to 27-12, we were in control of the game. I thought we did some good things during that time. The stats, in my mind, aren't really indicative of our defense. They didn't shoot a great percentage but I don't think it was because of our defense. I just think they missed shots. We really have to get back to playing solid defense like we were before Christmas. This is two games in a row where I wasn't pleased with some of the things we did defensively.
“Andrew (Fitzgerald) has to understand how important he is to us. He's got to play without fouling. In the past two games he's gotten cheap fouls -- and they were fouls. He's got to do a better job there. We've got to do a better job containing dribble penetration. Throughout the first half we were just throwing the ball all over the place, we were so careless with the basketball. In the second half we were a little bit better; I think we only had four turnovers in the second half. Again, with our non-conference schedule, to finish 8-6 after being 3-5 and having those five straight games away from home, I'm pleased with some of the things that we've done. We know we have a lot of work to do to get ready for Saturday against a good (Texas) A&M team, and really every team in the league. But we look forward to the challenge.”
On his team's shooting percentage:
“You know what, to shoot 65 percent in the first half and to hold them to -- I think they were 37.5 (percent) -- and to only be up five, that's like last game. We shot 76 percent in the first half and we were only up seven in that game. It comes down to us getting stops throughout a game, not just getting stops in spurts. Having the mindset and having some pride where that becomes our identity; not just scoring or getting shots. We've worked on it in practice. We're going to continue to work on it. We've done it well in stretches and we'll do it well again.”
On going into conference play:
“I'm excited. Obviously we know it's a challenge, but it feels good to have won five out of six and to do it different ways. We know our league is very tough and it starts out tough for us against a top-20 team in Texas A&M. We have to protect our home, play with urgency. We have to get back to doing all the little things. This team has done some good things so far this season, and we just (have to) go out there and compete our behinds off for 40 minutes every game.”
Senior Guard Cade Davis
On his role against Maryland Eastern Shore:
“I do what I am supposed to do and that is whatever it is for that night. Coach was really on us about rebounding because they are a really good offensive rebounding team. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
On creating defensive stops:
“We were just turning the ball over with unforced turnovers and just throwing it all over the place. We kind of got away from playing defense and we knew if we buckled back down and do the things that we did in the first half, that we could build that lead back up.”
On moving into Big 12 play on Saturday:
“Coach is always talking about, not to discredit any team we have played, but we are not getting ready for Maryland Eastern Shore or Central Arkansas and things like that. The post players they have and the post players that we are going to see in conference play are a lot bigger and physical and things like that. We know we have to step our game up more going into conference play and just make sure all the things are right. You just have to have more of a sense of urgency, especially going into next part of the season.”
On the progress of them team:
“I think that we are a lot better than what we started out showing. We have gotten better as a team. Individually, everyone has more confidence in themselves. We did some good things leading up to Big 12 play. We have to know that we cannot be satisfied with what we have and what we have got because it is a whole new level of play once we go into conference. We just have to stay humble and hungry. That is what Coach Capel is always saying and those are two things we really have to stay focused on.”
Sophomore Guard Steven Pledger
On the value of shot selection:
“We definitely worked on that a lot over the break, to value your shots that you take. If I take about seven shots, I should make about four or five of them. I try to be efficient in every way possible.”
On moving into Big 12 play on Saturday:
“Just like Cade said, we are not getting ready for Maryland Eastern Shore. We are getting ready for Baylor and Texas and all those guys. We just have to buckle down and play hard on defense.”
