Nov. 28, 2009
Recap | Final Stats | Notes
SAN DIEGO -
SDSU-NAU Postgame Quotes in PDF Format
San Diego State Head Coach Steve Fisher
Opening Statement:
"I told our squad after the game that sometimes in a lopsided victory you don't have as quite as good a feeling as the fans do with the things you see. But today I thought we probably did as good a job as we've done all season playing halfcourt defense. We did not give (NAU) dribble drives and we helped better (defensively). They didn't make many shots, but I thought we contested a vast majority of them and did not give them anything close. I believe that's progress, but we have lots of work to do and a long way to go. I thought we ran the floor with more purpose on offense. Most people don't see that, but I did. We did a better job of how we ran, where we ran and who ran.
"It was good to get the win in the fashion that we did. It will take that and then some for Wednesday (at USD). We need to turn the page tomorrow and get ourselves ready for a very, very good team that is playing as well as anybody we have played. (USD head coach) Bill Grier has done a terrific job with that ballclub."
On Malcolm Thomas' game:
"Their biggest player, (Shane) Johannsen, didn't play. That being said, I thought Malcolm was active and ran the floor with more purpose today than he has been. Part of that is on me, though. Malcolm is a guy who is capable of getting into cracks and rebounding the way he did. He was 10-for-11, had a lot of easy shots and made them. We have to keep him playing with that type of energy and activity."
On the play of Chase Tapley:
"Chase is as willing a young freshmen as we've had in my 11 years here. I love Chase. He's a yes sir, no sir, no excuses, looks you in the eyes guy who accepts his responsibility. Maybe even more than he needs to. I believe he will be somebody that our fans will grow to love and he will progress as a basketball player over his career. He's got to get better, but he is what you hope to have in your young player. You're seeing some good shots from him and he's going to be someone who will be better in February, which is important."
San Diego State Junior Malcolm Thomas:
On what he was more impressed with, his shooting or his rebounding:: "I'd say the six offensive rebounds. I love to rebound."
On the easy looks underneath the basket:
"It wasn't easy at all. (NAU) made it hard to get the ball, rebound or do anything. They have some good players.
"When they double-teamed, we were able to cut and throw it up high to one of our wings. We also finished almost everything today."
On holding Northern Arizona to 41 points despite the short week to prepare:
"The Pacific loss (on Wednesday) was a rude awakening for us. We thought we were playing better, but they came out and just smashed us. We had a good practice and it showed in the game today. We watched a lot of film on the (Pacific) game. We didn't get back in transition defense, we didn't help each other and we just didn't run. Defense was the main key for us today."
On playing San Diego on Wednesday:
"We're very excited. I haven't played against USD in a long time. I'll be ready. We're just going to practice hard because they're a good team and that's a tough place to play. We'll have to prepare for them."