Jan. 3, 2011
SAN DIEGO - Fisher | Gay, Leonard, Rahon
San Diego State head coach Steve Fisher
Opening statement:
"We're ready to get started in league play. Everybody knows our first trip is to TCU, followed by Utah. Most people don't know that TCU is 7-1 at home, its average margin of victory (at home) is about 20 points a game. They beat a good USC team in their building, badly, they beat Texas Tech. So this a good team we're playing (in TCU).
"So we're ready to get started. This league is very, very good, as is every league. We are anxiously waiting to see how we will perform on our first road trip."
On playing a road-heavy schedule during the first half of league play:
"You wind up playing eight at home and eight on the road. If we win, I'll be glad we played the schedule we did. If we lose, I'll be carping about I wished we hadn't played quite so many early road games. It's the schedule we've got. We'll be prepared to play. People don't understand how hard it is to play on the road."
On James Rahon:
"His job is multi-faceted. He's not just a shooter and a scorer. He's does a bit of everything. James has improved his defense immeasurably. He has always been a scorer. If you go back and look at some of the games where he's come in and hit a three, consecutive threes or back-to-back threes to break games open, it's more than one. So he's been a wonderful addition to our team. We're fortunate to have him and I know he will get better as our conference season goes on also."
On playing on the road:
"We all say the same thing and I think it's accurate. The league you're in is the toughest league in America because it's the league you're in. And every road game is doubly difficult. It's not just our league. But speaking of our league, very few, very few leagues have the logistic problems with how they're going to get there like when they go on the road, that we do, and that impacts how you play no matter what you say. I never ever, ever talk about altitude, and we're going to fly to Denver and bus two hours and hopefully the pass will be open to get to Laramie and all of that. You don't dwell on that, but it's a fact of life of what you have to deal with in our league. But that's everywhere, but I do know the crowds we're going to see in most buildings on the road, will rival any in the country, as good as or better than any in the country. I think records at home are indicative of why that happens."
San Diego State guard D.J. Gay
On going into the MWC season with a high national rank and an undefeated record:
"It's definitely a confidence booster to go into conference with no losses. The team is pretty excited about going into league with the record we have. But league is 0-0 and we know as a team, we know we have to perform and it's a different season of its own."
On the TCU game:
"We've been talking a lot about TCU. They're a very good team. They have some big wins. This isn't going to be an easy game. They have two very good guard that we're going to have to try and contain. I don't think the crowd is going to play a big element to our energy because we know it's a game we have to win. It's a very good team that is very capable of doing well in this league."
On if the national ranking is a distraction:
"I think it's been a confidence boost for this team. To be the first to do something like this is great. It's something we feed off of. We know we don't want to lose that ranking or to lose in general. We have to go out and perform and go out and win and do whatever it takes."
San Diego State forward Kawhi Leonard
On if this season is different with the high national ranking:
"It's a little different. We have the target on our back now like New Mexico was last year when they were a high-ranked team. We're excited and it's another season, we're starting 0-0 again. We just have to go out each game in this next half of the season and play our hardest."
On if being nationally ranked has its downside:
"Not at all to me. It's all good and positive. People are talking about us now and we're not on the other side of the stick trying to get to talked about and seen. People know we're a good team and now everybody is seeing and know what we're doing this year. We're not paying attention to the number that is in front of our name. We're just focusing on our group as a whole and trying to get better each game."
San Diego State guard James Rahon
On what teammates have told him about travel in the MWC:
"They basically have told me it's a grind - the elevation, the differences in places. It's just going to be more of a grind. We're going to be tired off the plane rides and all of that. I'm ready for it and I think we're all going to be fine."
On having four of the first six MWC games on the road:
"We just look at every game the same whether it's on the road or at home. On the road, it's definitely going to be a little tougher with the all the fans going against you. It's just another game and we're going to take each game one at a time."