University of Oklahoma Athletics
OU-Texas Tech Postgame Quotes
February 12, 2014 | Men's Basketball
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Head Coach Lon Kruger
Opening comment:
“Well, it was a game in which Tech just physically whipped us in every way, especially in the first half. I thought they did a terrific job of being physical. Our ball-handlers, we weren't strong enough with the ball and turned it over several times. We have to learn from it. They clearly were the better ball club tonight and they deserved the outcome. I liked our guys' effort in the second half. We tried to get back within striking distance, but still. There's a lot to learn from this one. We have got to keep working on that. We have got to keep learning and making progress and understand that every time you line up it's going to be tough.”
On what happened in the first half:
“Again, credit Texas Tech. I thought they were quicker to loose balls. They beat us to balls on the boards. We contributed by turning it over and giving them some easy ones. They set the tone. They got the result they were after and we didn't fight hard enough in the first half. We have to learn from that and try to keep that from happening again.”
On the difference between the Tech team on the floor tonight and the team they beat in Lubbock:
“Well, they totally set the tone tonight. I thought that in Lubbock we were able to do that for the most part. We dictated in a lot of different ways. I thought they dictated tonight. They came in with a high level of confidence and took it right to us from the start. They were attacking us and got us on our heels a little bit. They took advantage of that.”
On if being too reliant on the 3-point shot was a factor:
“Certainly that contributed. No question. Again, when you line up in the Big 12, it is going to be tough. We need to make shots to be at our best. Credit Tech for that. Certainly we contributed, but I think Tech got into it and did things that they wanted to do. Credit their guys for that.”
Sophomore Forward Ryan Spangler
On the team's effort in the first half:
“I didn't think I performed like I usually do. I'll take the blame for that. I wasn't hustling for rebounds like I usually do. I wasn't playing defense or being a leader on defense like I usually do. We are just going to keep getting better and learn from that. I need to be a better leader. This game showed me how much that means to our team and I'll work on that.”
Senior Forward Cameron Clark
On trying to spark the team offensively with his scoring in the first half:
“I was able to knock down a couple of shots, but like Coach said, we didn't come out ready to play. I saw that from the beginning, even in warm-ups. We just have to get back to playing like we were. We can't take games lightly.”
On if he has noticed anything different about the team in games it has struggled in:
“We just have to approach every game like it is our last. Like I said, we didn't come out ready to play and we have to learn from this. Everyone is good in the Big 12 and we have to play hard each and every game.”
Texas Tech Head Coach Tubby Smith
Opening comment:
"I thought the kids earned this one tonight. They really played extremely hard. I was impressed with Oklahoma because they didn't fold. Lon Kruger's teams always go to battle. Even though they were struggling in the first half and not making shots, they started making them in the second half and we knew that was coming. Forcing the turnovers they had in the second half put them back in the game but I have to compliment our guys for not losing their composure and staying focused and staying strong. They got a hard-fought and well-deserved road win for us because they've been far and few between here at Texas Tech. So we're excited to get this one.”
On the number of deflections the team had:
"We had 26 at halftime but we probably ended up with about 30-something because we weren't very effective in the second half. We kind of slowed down and I would say we probably had about 37 to 40.”
On OU not being able to make threes in the first half:
"That's a big part of their attack and their game. We did a good job on Jordan (Woodard) in the first half, limiting and taking away some of their 3's. We did a good job defensively and I thought the key was not so much defensively as much as it was we were aggressive offensively when they extended their defense.”
On winning against Oklahoma on the road:
"Every game is different. It certainly validates and confirms that we're doing things well and doing things the right way. It tells me a lot about these kids' heart and their toughness. We have a lot of veteran players and kids who have been through a lot of adversity. Adversity makes you stronger. They've been bending but they haven't broken. We're impressed with their mental toughness every game. We've pulled out a couple tough wins like at TCU. We didn't play well and we had to find a way to win that game.”
On the team's big men:
"I thought our big guys did OK. Kader Tapsoba started the second half. Dejan Kravic looked like he was really struggling running in the first half. We were having a tough time with Ryan Spangler. That kid's very tough around the basket and right away he got the first offensive rebound. Dejan had some back issues but he came back in the second half and played extremely hard. Even though our big men didn't score that well or shoot that well, they did some good things. The board work by Jaye Crockett and Jordan Tolbert and Kader, I was pretty impressed with.”
Texas Tech Junior Guard Robert Turner
On Texas Tech's defensive energy tonight:
“It was really big. Once we get stops on defense, your adrenaline rushes. Defense makes great offense and that was big for us tonight.”
On their effort when the lead was cut to three:
“We knew that they were going to come out with a lot of energy, they're a very good team. We knew we just had to withstand that run, when they went on a run. So we did a great job of that and we went back on a run a little bit, started trading buckets and finished it out in the end.”
On maintaining their defensive mentality for a full game:
“We have to stay mentally focused and do everything right on defense, stick to our principles and try to reach perfect defense. Coach preaches that every day, just trying to aim for a perfect possession every time on defense. That'll help us win games.”
Texas Tech Senior Forward Jaye Crockett
On their deflections:
“At halftime, that was the main thing he was talking about, defense and those deflections. Every game he wants us to end with about 35 deflections and that'll help us win the game. We had 21 at halftime – dang, 27 at halftime -- and he was pleased with that so we just have to keep doing that going forward.”
On their effort when the lead was cut to three:
“Basketball is just a game of runs so we knew they were going to go on a run, they're a great team and they hit some shots. We knew they had some shooters so we just did our job on defense. We just had to stay mentally tough. Coach got on us and told us to refocus because the game wasn't over.”
On their defensive focus:
“The effort was great. It was an all-around good game, all of the guys contributed tonight. Guys were just getting after it on defense and playing with a lot of energy. With that comes good rebounding and forcing the other team to take bad shots and kind of rush their shots. We just did what we had to do tonight on the boards.”
