Jan. 5, 2008
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SAN DIEGO -
San Diego State-TCU Postgame Quotes in PDF Format
San Diego State Head Coach Steve Fisher
Opening Comments:
"We had a terrific first half. You are going to win most of the time when you can hold a team to 4-for-26 (from the field in the first half). We were almost, but not quite, a 180 in the second half. Our concentration wasn't good. We gave them easy opportunities and then we gave them open three-pointers. They made a close game out of what in our opinion didn't have to be a close game. That being said, the bottom line is to find a way to win. I am pleased with the win. If we want to compete for the league championship we have to play more than 20 minutes. We played 20 of our best minutes this year so even know I am complaining, I like our team and how we prepare to play. We need to be able to fight through when the opponent makes a couple of baskets."
On SDSU's hot start:
"I was very pleased with the way we came out in the first half. Unfortunately, we weren't able to keep that mental pressure up in the second half. The way the game is played these days, no lead is a safe lead. We're going to have to play 40 minutes each and every night to do well in this league. I did love the way we got out of the gate, but if we want to win, we'll have to hold serve in the second half."
On TCU's athleticism:
"(TCU) was a very aggressive rebounding team and we knew that coming (into the game). I thought Kyle  (Spain) and Lorrenzo (Wade) did a great job of rebounding for us on the wing. We did a good job of limiting (TCU) to many one-shot possessions. The fewer chances we allow the better chance we'll have to win."
On the Aztecs' upcoming game against Northern Colorado with New Mexico to follow:
"We're going to prepare for this game like we would prepare for any other game. We'll think about New Mexico, but I think our guys will do a good job of not looking past (Northern Colorado)."
On SDSU's play from point guards D.J. Gay and Matt Thomas:
"I thought I was too hard on D.J. (Gay) tonight. He made a couple of atypical plays, forget that he is a freshman. I thought Matt Thomas played well and gave us a strong presence out there. We'll watch tape and see what we need to work on. We'll have to get better at protecting the ball, being stronger with our passes and make our passes more crisp."
Junior forward Lorrenzo Wade
On the Aztecs' defensive efforts in the first half:
"Coming in to this game, we focused on trying to keep teams under 40 percent shooting. We had a stretch during the season where we allowed teams to shoot over 50 percent in six straight halves. It is very difficult to win basketball games when you allow teams to make shots like that. My teammates did a great job of coming out tonight and keeping up the intensity throughout the first half. We did a good job of helping the helper and because of that we held (TCU) under 20 percent in the first half. We went into halftime with a good lead."
On TCU's pressure defense:
They were putting heavy pressure on us. We will have to get used to seeing things like that with teams like TCU, New Mexico, Wyoming, UNLV and other teams in this conference. They did a great job in the second half of not letting the first half affect them. They came out still fighting and didn't give up, so I commend them for that. From here on out, we just have to focus on coming out in the second half and getting the job done."
Junior center Ryan Amoroso
On allowing TCU to come back in the second half:
"It almost seems to be a recurring problem for us. We get out to a good start defensively and kind of slide in the second half. Our whole thought at that point was to come together as a unit and continue to attack. I think sometimes when teams get a big lead they get a little tentative on the offensive end. We just needed to be strong with the ball, not turn the ball over and keep communicating."
On playing without starting guard Richie Williams:
"It is always tough going in to conference without your starting point guard. For D.J. and Matt to step up like they did in the first conference game, it is a good sign for us."
Freshman point guard D.J. Gay
On starting in his first conference game:
"In the beginning of the game I was a little bit nervous, but Coach Fisher told me to play with confidence and be aggressive, so that is exactly what I did. Toward the end of the game I made a couple mistakes and that is something that I will have to learn from. There is no excuse for that, but I will just have to get better."
TCU Head Coach Neil Dougherty
On TCU's play in the first half:
"I'd be lying if I could explain what happened in the first half. We didn't look like anything we've been playing. I'm not sure what it was. You have to give credit to San Diego State. They had us broken for a little bit. It got to the point that we actually missed our lay-ups in the first half. When you can't get your normal shots in and miss four lay-ups, that makes things dramatically worse than it would have been. I think that's how the first half went but we kept playing hard. I told the guys we are a couple of runs away from getting back into the game."
On TCU having trouble scoring:
"We had a lot of good chances, specifically Kevin (Langford). He had three drives and shots that kind of rimmed around and popped out. (Alvardo Parker) had some that went in and out. We couldn't get any help in making a basket. I thought we settled down in the second half and started to play the way we were capable of playing. We were getting to the rim, the spaces were there, the timing was there and we were making shots. If we would have played the way the first half the way we played the second half I would have been a lot happier."