Jan. 17, 2012
SAN DIEGO -
COACH FISHER | STUDENT ATHLETES
San Diego State Head Coach Steve Fisher
Opening Statement:
"One behind us, 13 to go. But we can't be thinking about the one that's behind us and we talked on that on Monday. We did not practice Sunday. All our focus (on Monday) was on what we didn't do in the Saturday game that we could have and should have done better that cost us and what we have to do as we go to an arena that is every bit as hard to win in as ours, The Pit, to play a surging 13-game in a row (winner in the) New Mexico Lobos, who go 10 deep. We know what the job description is and we won't have 12,414 to get us through the rough patches. We're going to have to do that on our own. It will be interesting to see how we perform in somebody else's building. It's been a long time since we've done that. I know we'll play hard. We're going to have to play really good basketball."
On whether not playing a road game in so long affects the team:
"I don't think it has any impact. We didn't forget how to get on an airplane and fly some place. We've gone to some hard places to play. We didn't get it done at Baylor in Waco (but) we did in Tucson (against Arizona). I don't think that in itself will have any impact on what happens in the game on Wednesday (against New Mexico)."
On why playing in The Pit is so difficult:
"It starts with the players, they have a very talented, deep squad. (New Mexico head coach) Steve Alford has done a very good job. Then you go to their crowd. There will be over 15,000 people there. So that's the home court advantage. Everybody has one, some have a huge advantage, we think we're one of them. New Mexico feels they're one of them. That being said, you don't have to go back too far and see an Aztec victory in The Pit. We've had some success in The Pit. I told that to our team, `There are a lot of you that can draw on the experience of having gone in there and won as recent as last year.'"
On Tim Shelton's new Aztec Motto music video:
"I think it's sensational. I never look at the scoreboard, but Tim asked if we could have a little preview for the team before it aired. I was as excited as our players were. If he doesn't make it in another venue, he'll give Ice Cube and some of these guys a run for their money."
"It's like anything else. You can't relate to it, but your father could. When I was a kid, I loved Elvis Pressley and Johnny Cash. You can't tell me that Johnny Cash's `A Boy Named Sue' was not a rap video song that he made. So go back and listen to it. It's no different now, you just can't understand the words that they say. It's no different than it was 20-30-40-50 years ago."
On whether he's surprised that New Mexico isn't nationally ranked:
"I am surprised that New Mexico is not ranked. You don't use that as incentive to play better, but I'm sure they've talked about it. `We should be and we will be if we win one more.' They've won 13 in a row and they've got, I believe, the same record as we do and they've beaten some good people."
On wishing he could bring D.J. Gay with the team to The Pit:
"I sure wish that I could bring D.J. Gay back with us. He set the tone for us in The Pit and elsewhere, but in particular in The Pit with how he played, important baskets he made and the feeling that you had when he had the ball in those situations. I know the Lobos are glad he's not there and we sure wish we could bring him home from Slovenia to play with us for a game."
On how well the team played against UNLV after playing Chicago State:
"Of all the teams I've ever been a part of, none have played harder than this team. None have practiced harder than this team. I threw Chicago State out with the bath water. That was the one game when we got outfought, outcoached and outcompeted. I saw all the reasons, after the fact, why it happened and it started with me. This has been a wonderful group to be a part of and they prepare and they prepare hard. It's everybody doing their part and they challenge one another, they put pressure on one another to make sure they're paying attention and doing what they need to do so we can be good."
Senior Forward Tim Shelton
On what it's like to play at New Mexico:
"It's definitely an atmosphere that would rival our home atmosphere. It's a very difficult place to play in and we've been fortunate to play there. Their crowd definitely takes them to another level as well. It's going to be a challenge. They have a good team as well."
On the talent of New Mexico being equal to UNLV:
"It most definitely is. I mean, look at their record as well, they're 15-2. You look at the people they have and the personnel on the coaching staff. They're a very well put together team and they're definitely going to end up coming out on the top of our conference."
On his knees:
"I am an old man, so I get what I get and take what I can take. I'm having a lot of fun out here right now so I'm just going to keep going. If there's any pain, I just push through it and do what I need to do to be able to play."
On his advice to teammates about playing at New Mexico:
"Just from a mental standpoint, we're going to have to make sure that we're alert due to the gravity of what their stadium is like. We're going to have to be very attentive and make sure that we're on point with our focus and our game plan."
Junior Guard Chase Tapley
On his advice to teammates about playing at New Mexico:
"From my two experiences in playing there, it's probably the loudest atmosphere that I've played in. Their fans are always into the game just like our fans. It's just a great environment to play in. The fans are really on top of you just screaming and yelling. I remember freshman year, D.J. (Gay) was at the free-throw line and my body was shaking with how loud it was in that gym. It's just a good atmosphere and they're really the only team of their city. So everybody's coming to the game. It should be exciting."