Dec. 18, 2001
Quotes from San Diego State head basketball coach Steve Fisher:
Q: Does it feel good to return home after two big wins?
"We are in the business where you are measured everyday like taking a quiz. If you get an A you feel pretty good about yourself and if you fail it you are in the depths of despair. We failed a big exam at USD a while back and thought we would never win another game.
"But the beauty of our game is that you have a chance to tip it off pretty quickly and I was really proud of how we were able to respond and come back and get a good Fresno team and go on the road and play a very confident, talented Hawaii team. We managed to hang in and find a way to win. That is a big step up from where we have been in recent history over the last couple of years."
Q: What has been the difference in the last couple of games?
"What we have done the last couple of games is it put ourselves in a position to win. Then we have made plays that have allowed us to win.
"Against Hawaii we hung in. It looked like we were going to be down 20 at the halftime the way the game starting to evolve. We were down 13 and Al Faux made a big three-pointer and then we are down 10. You start to have hope that maybe we can sneak in to half under a double-digit deficit.
"I felt pretty good about how we handled ourselves in that game. I thought our defense in the Hawaii game was the best it had been all year.
"To me Hawaii is a (NCAA) tournament team. That's like playing the best team in the Mountain West on the road and sneaking out a win. We felt good about ourselves but it could all be for not if we didn't hold serve at home Thursday."
Q: What do you know about Eastern Washington?
"I know Ray Giacoletti. He worked my camps as a young coach. He served with Bob Bender at Illinois State, my alma mater. He used to work our camps. He is a good coach and he has done a real good job with that program. I know quite about this team. I know they beat Saint Joseph's in their opener, handily. They were 17 ahead at Gonzaga and got beat in overtime.
"I think the moment we pop in the Gonzaga tape and just let it run, the respect for Eastern Washington will grow commensurate with every basket they make.
"We're like everybody right now. We are a little disjointed right now with final exams, preparing for final exams and those types of things."
Q: Are you happy with the starting lineup you have used the last two games?
"I like the look of our lineup right know. I think Brandon (Smith) has gotten a little bit of a comfort level with what we want him to do - handle the ball without turning it over, defend and penetrate and find somebody if he can't get to the rim.
"I like that feel. We do need to make sure that when somebody comes off the bench they give us some productivity. I think when you look at our lineup all of our scorers are in the starting lineup. I'm not unhappy with what our guys off the bench are doing. I think they fill different major roles in terms of what we hope they can do when they come in.
Q: What impresses you about this Eastern Washington team?
"The thing that impressed me about Eastern Washington is how aggressive they were on defense. They took the fight to the name teams that they played well. They bodied every player that drove the lane. They are forcing more than 20 turnovers a game. They will put heat on you."
Q: What is the status of Tony Bland?
"Tony really sprained his ankle badly in the Hawaii game and I didn't know he would be back the way he went off. But they taped it up and he fought his way through it and I don't think we could have won without him.
"I told him we needed him at practice. He practiced and he tweaked it a little bit yesterday. I need him more in games than I need him in practice. I guess we will wait and see what he looks like today and tomorrow and hopefully we can give him half the practice off. He will have a little time to rest after the game on Thursday before we play again.
"Tony is not a guy who complains or tries to get out of something. When he says he is hurt, he is hurt."
Quotes from Brandon Smith:
Q: How important was it to get a big road win?
"Hawaii was a very hostile environment and for us to get a road win gives us a lot of confidence. I think we have an idea what it takes to win on the road. We were down the whole game and we fought our way back and stole a victory. It definitely helped our confidence and hopefully it gave us a good idea of what it takes to win on the road."
Q: Is it too early to say the team is in a groove?
"We hope so. We feel better as a group with how we are playing. I knew it would take a while for everyone to get into a groove once everyone got back. I think it is coming. We are on the right track."
Q: Where is your game right now compared to when you were at Michigan?
"I think it is a little different. My role here is a lot bigger than it was at Michigan and that is one of the reasons I came here. I wanted to be a leader. I want to be part of the wheel. I want to be part of something special. I think that is everyone's goal on this team. No one wants to stand out above anyone else. We just want to all be a part of something special at San Diego State and we are all starting to realize that as a unit."
Q: How do you keep from being distracted with finals and Duke on the horizon?
"That's what the coaches have been preaching. Eastern Washington is a good team. They were ahead of Gonzaga by 17 points and took them to overtime and a lot of people think they should have won that game. We are not good enough to overlook anyone."
Quotes from Tony Bland:
Q: How important is to win a road game against a quality opponent?
"I think it's a real big confidence booster. We had to overcome a lot of things. They were playing well in the first half and we were sloppy. In previous games on the road like that we would just turn it over but in this game we fought back and showed a lot of character."
Q: Do you feel like the team is coming together?
"I said before I thought our team was gelling. We had two of our key guys back in Brandon (Smith) and Al (Faux) that we didn't have on the previous road trips. We have a real good chemistry going.
Q: How do you feel after winning the last two games?
"I feel this is what everyone expected - winning road games and beating ranked teams. I still feel that we have a long way to go and that we are nowhere near our potential as a team. We are going to work on that and continue to get better."