Feb. 8, 2011
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Complete No. 6 SDSU-Utah Postgame Quotes in PDF Format
San Diego State Head Coach Steve Fisher
(From postgame AM 600 KOGO interview)
Opening statement:
"We were sensational the first half in every point of our game. We guarded hard, had only two first-half turnovers, did not give them anything easy, gave up zero three-pointers in the first half, and played really hard, smart basketball.
On freshman Jamaal Franklin:
"He is going to make something happen when he's out there. Lately, he's been good. He plays like his hair is on fire and he can't put it out any other way than playing harder. Our players respect the way he plays and he is a really good athlete. He's learning how to be a really good basketball player."
On the play of the bench:
"Everybody loves it when everyone comes out to play. They deserve the opportunity and I thought they did a really nice job for us tonight. Being two men down, we did a really good job in the early stages when it was a close game."
(From postgame press conference on the Mezzanine Level)
Opening Statement:
"We were really good in the first half at both ends of the floor. It dictated the pace. Our pressure gave them problems. We had two first half turnovers and we played a game in the fashion that would get us a 27-point lead. I'm very pleased with how we competed. We got good play off the bench. Jamaal Franklin, stat-wise, gives you high energy. Brian Carlwell did great off the bench. Those were the two that gave us significant minutes when it was still a game. It was a nice win for the Aztecs. Our crowd was sensational. I heard that we broke the all-time attendance record tonight with three to go; that makes us feel good. So we need to enjoy tonight and start getting ready for (UNLV) tomorrow. It was a good team victory."
On the first half:
"This was really good. We dictated the flow, had run-outs, dunks, made three-pointers and were very good. A lot of it was created by our defense. You can't play that way all the time, but we are good enough to have stretches like we did our first half."
On the depth of the bench:
"It's nice that you can get guys that work extremely hard and don't get to play on gameday and get minutes. They appreciate it. I like how our starters, the guys who get to play 30 minutes, responded and cheered. We've got a good team; underline team. They are supportive of one another and that will win for you."
On keeping the success through the second half:
"We talked about winning the second half. We said, `Don't play the scoreboard, play'. We have all seen big leads evaporate quickly, and we wanted to make sure we didn't allow that to happen."
On the upcoming game at UNLV:
"Vegas is very good. We had a knock-down, dragout with them at our place and their team can score. They have a very good team and it will be a hard-fought game. We need to make sure we're ready to play. I'm hoping to have one or both of our injured guys back, but I don't know if that will happen or not. We need all of our bodies able to play."
San Diego State Senior Center Brian Carlwell
On showing so much emotion on the court during the game:
"I was just so happy, because we came out with so much energy. We got the fans more into it. Coach always tells us before the game, `You know the student section is going to cheer but let's get these old people out of their seats; let's get them cheering.' So we went out there and it was just the energy; I couldn't contain it. I couldn't keep it in."
On the difference between coming out to a fast start against Utah and a slow start vs. TCU:
"We try to go out there and come out with so much energy, you know? Things just happen--fortunately for us they don't happen a lot. That's one thing that we have always tried to preach to each other, the coaches try to preach to us, just to go out there and get off to a fast start because if we go out and we put the pressure on people, especially here in this environment, a lot of (opponents) get down. They get down on themselves, they get down on each other. We want to try to make people quit. So we just get out there and we just run. We were able to do that today and we had a lot of success doing it."
San Diego State Senior Guard D.J. Gay
On the Aztecs' fast start:
"We wanted to come out aggressive. We are missing Chase (Tapley) and we are missing Tim (Shelton.) Watching film we knew that we would have the ability to run on this team, and that's the most fun thing about basketball; just getting out there and running and having fun. As a team, we wanted to get that aggressive start and push the tempo as fast as we could, under control of course. But that was the key thing."
On if the close TCU win affected the team's mindset going into the game against Utah:
"It was definitely a discussion; we weren't going to let that happen again. Definitely not two games in a row. Everybody has been talking about how we came out against TCU--coaches, fans and the media. So we heard it and we knew there had to be something different. Utah, they are a very good team and they like to run as well, so there is no way we could come out with low energy and get a win like we did."
San Diego State Freshman Guard Jamaal Franklin
On how he was able to take advantage of his opportunity with Chase Tapley out with an injury:
"I tried to take advantage of it (because) I'm getting a lot of playing time. But, I still can't fill the shoes of Chase (Tapley). Chase has done a lot for the program."
Utah Head Coach Jim Boylen
On the game:
"I thought they (San Diego State) were awesome. You have to give them credit. They punched us in the mouth to start the game and we didn't respond. Points off turnovers hurt us early. We got in the hole and we didn't respond very well. You have to give them credit for that. We never could quite get settled down. They kept bringing it at us, bringing it at us. We can't give up 50 points in the paint and 23 points off turnovers on the road. We all know that. You have to give them credit. I thought this was as good of a team we've played since I've been here."
On SDSU:
"They're a very good team, but that doesn't mean we can get off to that bad of a start. You want to give them credit, but I think we had a lot to do with it, too. We just looked a little scared. We have to go back and go to work and try to figure it out."
On the SDSU atmosphere:
"We got off to such a bad start. Guys got tentative and a little reluctant. I thought we reacted to the crowd. (There were) five guys that have never been here before. I think as poorly as we played, you have to give them some credit for that. I dont want to take away from what they did."
On the next game against BYU:
"We have a big game Saturday. Back into the fire, but they have a good team here. Steve Fisher has built a heck of a program."
On SDSU in the NCAA Tournament:
"I think they're a Final Four team. If they can solidify their back up point guard, I think they're a Final Four team."
On calling the final timeout:
"I have to coach my team. It's a teachable moment. I have to take ever advantage of that."
Utah Junior Wing Will Clyburn
On the game tonight:
"They came out and punched us in the mouth, but we didn't respond. We came out soft and when you're playing a good team, you really can't come out like that."
On the atmosphere:
"It was a great atmosphere, probably one of the best that I have been in. All of the fans were into the game, but we didn't show up."
On the message from head coach Jim Boylen at halftime:
"He told us that they came out, punched us in the mouth, and we didn't respond. He told us to not quit, keep fighting, and try to win this half. That was the biggest thing he was trying to say, just don't quit, get into the game, and finish strong."
On the tempo in the second half:
"We came out, and we were all hungry in the second half. We didn't want to be embarrassed so we came out even harder. We tried to get back into the game, but like I said, we buried ourselves in a hole so it was too late."