Nov. 30, 2010
SAN DIEGO -
Fisher, Thomas News Conference Footage
San Diego State head coach Steve Fisher
Opening statement:
"We've got a hefty task tomorrow with Saint Mary's, a team we know all too well. They're very, very good, expertly coached with the Sweet 16 (appearance) last year and have a lot of guys returning. We're excited to be playing, excited to be playing back home."
On Malcolm Thomas:
"I've said this before, even though he came in celebrated from his days at Crawford High School, then he started at Pepperdine, then San Diego City College ... When he took the court for us a year ago and took the court this year, same person, but not the same player. I said it, and I believe it, and I know it's a fact, there's no better passing big man in the country than Malcolm Thomas. He has learned when double teams occur, how to get the ball to somebody and he is so much for the team that it rubs off on everybody. When your better players are willing to give up the ball and don't care that they get only five shots, but only care about winning ... If you put the film in from last year's Saint Mary's game and throw in a game at the end of last year, start of this year, same person, same number, different player."
On Saint Mary's Rob Jones:
"We tried to recruit him out of high school. I believe he was an All-America football player, but he wanted to be a basketball player. As everyone knows, it's well documented, spent two years at the University of San Diego. ... He's good. He's very comfortable now. He's a hard guard, very athletic, shoots the three, attacks you off the dribble, strong, physical, extremely competitive. He will be someone we didn't see there, but we saw at San Diego and we know how tough he is. We'll be ready for him, but we'll have to be ready for him. He's very, very good."
San Diego State senior forward Malcolm Thomas
On having a large crowd Wednesday:
"It feels great having people wanting to come watch us play. I used to come to games when I was little, when Tony Bland played and when Lorrenzo (Wade) played. It was a decent amount of people, but it's kind of a shock that people want to come watch us play basketball. It feels great."
On the difference of not having to guard former SMC center Omar Samhan:
"It was difficult guarding him for one, but as a team, we're further ahead than where we were last year in terms of competing. Last year, as bigs, we didn't defend as well as we could have, but I feel like we're ready this year."
On dealing with high expectations:
"A lot of my teammates don't really pay attention to whatever anyone is saying about us. Everyone is hungry to just win. I feel like every day in practice is a battle because everybody wants to contribute. Everyone is just hungry.
On SMC's Rob Jones:
"He's one of the most physical players I've ever played against. Every game I've played, he was intense and working hard. To win, we just need to match his intensity and Saint Mary's intensity."