Jan. 23, 2010
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SAN DIEGO -
Brigham Young-San Diego State Postgame Quotes in PDF Format
San Diego State Head Coach Steve Fisher
(postgame interview with AM 600 KOGO)
On how Brigham Young played:
"They are a very good team and they make every open shot. Even when you guard them, they make closely contested shots. They did both of those tonight."
On SDSU's defense:
"We had stretches where we were very good, but we had a killer stretch in the second half when we were up, 50-45. Then (BYU) went on a 15-0 run. Our thought was to just make a stop so we could get a chance out of the flow. We lost some marks a couple of times, we drove in and battled for the ball and they ran out on us. We weren't able to cover open shooters. We gave them too many easy baskets and that was the game. This was a game of runs. We were playing well and then they went on that 15-0 run. We couldn't make a stop and we needed just one. That being said, we battled back and were within one with 53 seconds to go, but (Jimmer) Fredette scored on that drive to the rim."
On Jimmer Fredette:
"He truly is one of the best. He knows how to create opportunities for himself - he wiggles, he twists, he finds gaps, he can step back and make shots and he can shoot it on you when you are guarding him. He's very, very good."
(postgame press conference in the Mezzanine level)
General comments:
"Just not quite enough tonight. We had chances down the end, even with 30 seconds left, to make a stop and we couldn't do it. BYU is a good team and (Jimmer) Fredette is a great player.
"We tried a variety of things. There were guarding the shot, but they were also guarding the passing lanes. We had a harder time (in the second half) getting the ball inside. We have a good team, they have a better team.
"We are going to come out on Monday and start getting ready to win the next one.
"We moved the ball around and explored. We made a few (three-pointers), but we didn't make enough."
San Diego State Junior Guard D.J. Gay
On if Jimmer Fredette was sick:
"It didn't look like he lost a step. He came out here with 33 points; that doesn't sound sick to me at all. Impressive."
On if BYU is the best team that the Aztecs have faced this season:
"That's the best "team" team. They play well as a team; they all know each other. It looks like they have been playing with each other all their lives out there. They know each other well and I would say thats the best "team" team (that we've played this season)."
On what San Diego State does going forward:
"Our long-term goal is just to win our next game. This was a hard fought game and it could have gone either way. We feel that we are still in the race, we just have to win from here on out. We just have to play."
San Diego State Freshman Forward Kawhi Leonard
On the atmosphere in Viejas Arena :
"The fans, they came out in all black; a blackout game. They inspired us and gave us energy in the beginning. They helped us through the whole fight; coming back in the first half and gaining the lead in the second half."
Brigham Young Head Coach Dave Rose
On the game:
"The guys were really focused. We made some good adjustments. Chris Miles made a difference for us tonight. Chris was so big. He didn't end up with double figure rebounds, but he used his body, and caused a lot of loose balls for our guards."
On the difference in the second half:
"I think defensively is how we got through it. They got a little bit of a lead, and we weren't scoring very well, but it's at a time of the game where you've got to be mentally tough and realize one stop at a time, and then we hit a couple of shots and got a big enough lead to withstand their run."
Brigham Young Junior Guard Jimmer Fredette
On the win:
"We knew this was a good team. We're very fortunate to come in here and get a win. Not a lot of teams are going to do that in our league. You need to play to the best of your ability here because they are a very good team. I had a lot of good looks early, and that got me going a little bit. They're a team of runs. We made a run early, but we knew they would make a run, because they get energy from the crowd, They start making shots, get some offensive rebounds. We just had to weather the storm when they started making a run. Then we made a run of our own, they came back, but that's the way it's going to be. You have to be up for the challenge. It was an exciting game."
On still not being 100 percent:
"My energy level is still a little bit low. I get tired a little bit quicker. Some of the movements may not be quite as quick as normal, but I'm feeling much better now. It's just about the energy and getting back into game shape."
On his basket in the final minute:
"It's on adrenaline then. It's nothing to do with fatigue (having played 38 minutes), it's one of the last possessions of the game, and you need to go get a basket because there going to come back and they're a very good scoring team. We needed a basket, and I was able to get by my guy, throw it up with the left hand and luckily it went in.
"I really wanted to take the last shot. I like taking the last shot, put the ball in my hands."
On the win:
"It's huge. Now we have a big game on Wednesday. In order to get to that we needed to win tonight. A loss tonight and you never know what's going to happen down at the Pit. Now we at least got one of the wins. Hopefully we can go 2-0."