Feb. 28, 2017
SAN DIEGO -
SDSU Men's Basketball News Conference Quotes
Head Coach Steve Fisher
Opening statement:
"The days are dwindling down to a precious few, as the song goes. Tomorrow is a special evening in honoring our seniors. It will be exciting, emotional (and) a little sad to see them here for the last time, but (we'll take) a moment to reflect on what they've meant to this program, from fifth-year players like Matt Shrigley to a fifth-year transfer like Valentine (Izundu). We need to make sure we do what we have done 10 or 11 straight years -- win the game. That is the motive. It will be very nice to see families come and participate in the last home game for this group of really, really important seniors."
On Air Force:
"We play a team that beat us at their place. They have struggled since they beat us. We looked early on that we might score 70-80 points. We had 32 points with four and half (minutes) to go in the half and went on a drought and scored 57 for the game. We'll have to score the ball. Air Force scored 60. That should win for you. We have to come out and guard, guard like we did the first game, maybe a little better, and put the ball in the basket like we did for the first 16 minutes in the first game.
"We were hurt when Malik Pope got hurt with 14:22 to go. Hindsight is always on point. I wish that I would have played (Valentine Izundu) in the first game, DNP ââ'¬" coach's decision, he was not hurt. He will play tomorrow and hopefully he'll be able play effectively for us against all the movement and action Air Force gives you at the defensive end."
On whether there's a disadvantage of not being the No. 1 seed in the Mountain West tournament:
"There's a distinct disadvantage if you play on Wednesday. It makes you have to play four games. If that's what we are, then that's what we are, and we will play like crazy to play four games. If we're a five seed, then you're going to have to win three games, which is what we had to do previously. Your point is well taken. The teams in our league that you would play, especially in the first game, are all good. They're all capable of beating one another. So whether you're the first seed playing the 8/9 winner, or you're a five seed playing the fourth, probably not a tremendous amount of difference. The difference comes in from a fatigue standpoint, preparation standpoint if you can somehow avoid the play-in game. But we might be there. It'll depend on what happens tomorrow and Saturday. But the bottom line is we're capable of going in and winning three or four games, we are. We're not the lone ranger. There are multiple teams that are talking that, multiple teams that will not be at the No. 1 seed that are capable of doing that."
On senior guard D'Erryl Williams:
"I don't want to say that we don't have students who are basketball players. We do. D'Erryl is a rare exception because of his academic load. San Diego State, like many schools now, provides an ample opportunity to take online classes and you can get your schedule where it doesn't conflict with any of your extracurriculars, for us basketball. D'Erryl does not have that luxury. He has classes that he has to take. They are classes that you have to go to, and unfortunately when they're offered, it's during practice time. So you've seen us. First semester this year Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, he had to leave for a 2 o'clock class. So in essence, he couldn't practice three days a week. Now, he has a class until 1 o'clock and doesn't get in for the first part of practice. But we said, you have to do what you're doing. We'll make it work. He's done extra. He's gotten in the gym by himself. He's done all the things you can do to do to stay ready and stay prepared and still perform in the classroom. He's been unwavering in his commitment to himself. He came here for basketball. I don't know that he knew coming in that he'd be going to medical school. He might have, but most people change their minds 10 times. Once he got committed; 'this is what I'm going to do,' I'll be shocked if he doesn't become a doctor as we move forward. Again, it's a focus, it's a concentration, it's a commitment of what you want on the basketball floor. He's providing on the basketball floor and in the classroom. So from that standpoint you're probably right, there's not that many like him in the country, not just here in athletics at San Diego State."
On his approach to the last two games of the regular season given the adversity the team has faced this year:
"We're talking about some of the things you talked about in the question. We're saying you can't take back what has happened, but you can learn from it. You can be determined, and when close games present themselves, which they will, find a way to take a deep breath, know that you are good, be confident you're going to be successful, and make the appropriate play. Like we've done, but not often enough. Like we did at Fresno State, like we did against Nevada. And you have to be able to perform. As we speak, we have three practices (left) in our regular season. We're not going to change the world with what we do on the practice floor. But you've got to have a concentration, belief and a commitment that you're going to do everything you can to be successful. And confidence is paramount. You have to know that you're going to be successful. We at times say close your eyes, play the game, play it successfully. You have to be able to do that. If doubt creeps in, it will show. And it's happened for us at times. Will it change? I sat here eight games ago and said we could go 8-0 or we could go 50-50. And we've pretty much gone 50-50 with a win streak then lose a couple. So looking ahead, I will say the same thing. We could win five or six straight and play in the NCAA tournament. That's what we're going to focus on. But it starts with you taking care of you. And if you do that, you have a chance."
Senior forward Matt Shrigley
On what Senior Night means:
"We've seen all the seniors before us do it. All have been here for at least four years. It's an important moment, just a time to kind of stand there and soak it all in and get ready for the game."
On future plans after the season is over:
Ms "I have no idea. I'm sure there are different opportunities that I can take advantage of, but right now I'm just trying to live in this moment with this practice and kind of take things day by day because Everything's on a day-by-day basis right now with how soon it could all be over."
On pursuing a basketball career after SDSU:
"Of course, that's everyone's dream. So you go out there when you're still young and eager and you try to find your niche and your spot on the team where you can be successful . That's what a lot of guys try to do and there's a lot of opportunity. I think for both of us, why not? We are physically good and we just have to go out there and try."
On reminiscing about his time at SDSU:
"I can't think about my career without thinking about these two (Dakarai Allen and D'Erryl Williams) because they've been here the four years that I've played. We've all been together. The biggest thing that comes to my mind are those three rings that we have, the trip to Hawaii, jet-skiing, doing stuff like that with the guys and just looking back and smiling and enjoying the memories and the good times that we had together."
Senior guard Dakarai Allen
On what Senior Night means:
"I'm just trying to downplay it as another game. But I've been thinking about it a lot honestly. It's one last chance to go out there and perform in front of our fans and hear them go crazy, so we have to make sure the crowd is into it."
On controlling their own destiny for securing the No. 5 seed in the Mountain West tournament and avoiding the play-in game:
"We want to go out and win every game honestly. That our games have meaning still is a big motivational thing for our team. But no matter what the situation is, we're going to play hard and just play like crazy."
On his favorite memory at SDSU:
"Mine was getting that first ring. I never had the opportunity to get a ring in high school, so when I saw that first Mountain West championship ring, it was a great memory."
On future plans after the season is over:
"My plans for the future are to win these next two games and get out of the play-in game."
On pursuing a basketball career after SDSU:
"I just want to feel out my opportunities past San Diego State. If there's a good situation that I can find, I'll keep playing."
On reminiscing about his time at SDSU:
"The biggest thing I'm taking away from San Diego State is our three rings. No one can take those away from us. The trials and tribulations we went through to get those and trying to make a run right now is another memory we're trying to make."
Senior guard D'Erryl Williams
On what Senior Night means:
"For me it's still kind of surreal seeing (Xavier Thames) and all the other seniors before us go up there. It's like, ok, our time's not really going to come, but now it's really here. So I just want to take advantage of it and just go out there and play hard and have some fun with the seniors for one last time."
On his favorite memory at SDSU:
"Mine would probably be the comeback win vs. New Mexico (in 2014). The atmosphere, I've never seen anything like it. Everybody but the people in the arena thought we were going to lose that game, and it was surreal just seeing the whole comeback happen. The energy in that building was never like that before."
On future plans after the season is over:
"My ultimate goal is to go to medical school. But at the time now, I'm just focused on the basketball aspect of everything and I kind of want to finish this out the right way. When we're done with this, I'll be able to sit down and map out the rest of my journey."