Feb. 17, 2011
SAN DIEGO - Head Coach Steve Fisher
Opening Statement:
"We are excited, yet we know there's a lot to be done before the season ends. We're finding different ways to bring closure to victories. This game with New Mexico is what I thought it would be; it was intense on both sides. It had a tournament feel to it with the physicality and non-give on either side. When it looked as if we had a chance to get and hold a lead, New Mexico willed their way back in. That's the nature of what we're going to see from here on out. We have to be prepared. We now travel to Air Force where too many people will be saying `We've got to get ready for BYU.' This game here was hard if you go back and look. They will play with a pace that's atypical and we must be ready for that. When they shoot the ball, they can beat anybody. The way they run their offense, they make shots. We just have to contest the best we can and make sure we make it difficult for their better shooters, so they don't have wide-open looks. We've got work to do as we prepare for Air Force."
On the freedom that the team has:
"We do give our players freedom, and they respect and appreciate that. Yet in practice we teach the discipline that it takes at both ends of the floor to use that freedom the right way. With freedom comes responsibility to make good decisions. I believe we still do. We're not just running the ball, throwing the ball six rows up into the bleachers, or doing crazy things. We lead the Mountain West in field-goal defense overall which is under 40 percent, and we lead in three-point field goal defense, which we were bad at last year. We've got discipline in how we guard, what we do on offense, and sometimes it may not look like that because we get the dunks and run-outs. Our players work and know what they have to do to be successful."
On the advantage of having played Air Force already this season:
"Yes, it's better that we've played them once unless our kids just remember that we won. In practice we'll watch cuts of how we guarded, what hurt us, who was at fault, and why things happened. It will be a good teaching tool having played them once."
On Malcolm Thomas' lack of media attention:
"If people watched us play last night, Malcolm would be on the front burner. He had 22 points, a few blocks and rebounds, and played spectacular at both ends. When Malcolm feels good about himself, and he is confident, he can play very effectively and he had that last night. He went through a stretch where he shot it almost thinking he was going to miss, and you can't do that. Our players and our coaches know the value that Malcolm brings to this team. He is a very good basketball player."
On the return of Chase Tapley and Tim Shelton from injury:
"Tim got limited minutes because his foot started to bother him. I thought when he was in there he did a good job once again. He took a charge and saved a basket. He gives you all the things you win with. I thought Chase did a nice job. He got tired, but we needed him. I thought both of them did a good job for us and we needed them desperately to win last night's game."
On the team appearing tired facing New Mexico:
"Whether it was physical fatigue or mental fatigue, we had it last night. Once again, Chase has a reason; he missed a week of everything. Now coming back, you don't automatically get your endurance. But the guys that played a lot of minutes, they were fatigued. When you have a lead and you see it starts to evaporate, that adds to the stress level and could be draining, and maybe that was a little bit of it. When you make baskets, everything in the world looks better."
Senior Guard D.J. Gay
On appearing tired while facing New Mexico Wednesday night:
"I don't think we were tired right off the bat, but I think as the game went on, some of us fatigued more than others. I was one of those people that finally felt those heavy minutes getting to me."
On breaking his no-turnover streak:
"They joked about it a little bit, but I'm human; it's going to happen."
On the anticipation of the game against BYU next weekend:
"They (the fans) know they have to be patient just like we do. Everybody's anxious. The whole city is anxious for Jimmer Fredette. We have Air Force first, and for the BYU game to mean as much as everyone wants to make it out to be we can't add a loss before. First comes first is Air Force."
On Air Force:
"It'll definitely be a change from the last few games. The way they run their offense- if they get an offensive rebound with 10 seconds on the shot clock, they're going to run it again for another 25 seconds. We have to be prepared to not be in a rush and not hurry. We have to not be over-anxious, and be able to defend for that amount of time and secure as many rebounds as we can."
Junior Forward Tim Shelton
On coming back from his injury:
"I was excited to test it out yesterday to see what I could do. I took a charge, feeling a little bit of pain, but it's getting better. It started hurting a little bit after the game, but it feels better today."
On the upcoming game at Air Force:
"We understand that Air Force is a threat. It's an away game and we know how talented they are. We understand that anybody in our league can beat anybody. Our crowd can feel the excitement, and feel confident in us. They want BYU, but we want Air Force. We have to go over there and get that one first."