Dec. 12, 2009
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SAN DIEGO -
SDSU-Arizona Postgame Quotes in PDF Format
San Diego State head coach Steve Fisher
On the game:
"Tonight, we were the better team - no question about that. From start to finish, we competed hard and we made it difficult for them to get easy looks, even when it looked like they would get easy baskets. We had people swatting it away, digging it away and knocking it away. That's what wins for you. You win by being able to guard better than your opponent. In the first half, I think we had over 13 more shots than they did with 10 or 12 offensive rebounds. I think Kawhi (Leonard) had all of his offensive rebounds in the first half. It was a really good team victory."
On the team's defensive play:
"Kelvin (Davis) dug two balls out just by playing in the gaps defensively. D.J. (Gay), when they had a for sure basket with a two on one, not only got the deflection, but an interception that led to a basket going the other way. Those are things that you win with - it's effort, it's doing what you work on in practice. I liked what we saw and our kids liked what they saw."
On Tyrone Shelley:
"I like Tyrone's toughness. Sometimes he gambles a bit too much, but I like the way he will not back down from anybody. That wins for you. He made a play in the second half on what they call their Florida clear play, where they were going to lob it inside, but he came from the weak side and got an interception. Things that win for you, we did tonight."
On SDSU's turnovers:
"With four or five minutes to go in the first half, we had three or four turnovers and then we wound up with eight at the half and 19 for the game. It's some guys trying to make plays too quickly, trying to do things that they are not in a position to do in a game. You have to slow our pace down a little. We cannot have 19 turnovers and expect to win this conference. That will be something we work at and grow and get better at."
On D.J. Gay's defensive work on Nic Wise:
"I think D.J. did a wonderful job chasing [Wise], but he got a lot of help too. When Billy (White) ran those high-ball screens and Malcolm (Thomas) and Tim Shelton and Brian Carwell did a nice job of not allowing him to turn the corner and drive between the lane lines. We made it hard for them to score the way they wanted to score. (Arizona will) have days when they make more open shots, when they make more three's and when they play better, but we didn't allow them to get on a run by making shots they wanted to."
San Diego State Junior Guard D.J. Gay
On SDSU's win over Arizona:
"It's something that me being here, I haven't done. Coach (Fisher) said that the last time we won was in 2004, or something like that. Any time you beat a Pac-10 school it's big; it's a resume win no matter how many points you win by. It's a great win for our team and a great win for the program."
On the defensive intensity and forcing 13 turnovers in the first half:
"That's something that we've been talking about since day one, and I think we have come so far since Saint Mary's on our defense. I think we are a much better defensive team then we were our first game. We wanted to speed them up and take them out of their comfort zone and I think we did."
On if the crowd affects the team's play positively:
"Extremely. We can all say that we appreciate them so much. When in doubt they're our energy, they're our source. We love them and I know they love us, so they definitely don't go unnoticed."
San Diego State Freshman Forward Kawhi Leonard
On how it felt playing in a big home game:
"I was very excited. The fans got me all riled up, it was crazy."
Arizona head coach Sean Miller
On San Diego State:
"San Diego State is a big, physical, athletic, deep team. We didn't have a lot of success rebounding against their guys. Tonight was their night. They dominated the offensive glass. For a while there, I almost was hoping they would make some shots so they wouldn't get second (attempts)."
On the play of San Diego State:
"From the opening tip to the final buzzer, they were the stronger, more physical, more ferocious, tougher and taller team. They had 10 steals and 10 blocks, and they out-rebounded us by 13. I think they are very talented in those areas."
On San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard:
"He has to be one of the best rebounders in college basketball, certainly for a young player. He has a very bright future. He adds an element to their team that is really special and it's very difficult to keep him away from keeping him from getting second shots."