Oklahoma State University Athletics
Postgame Quotes vs Iowa State
January 30, 2013 | Cowboy Basketball
Jan. 30, 2013
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Postgame Quotes
Oklahoma State vs Iowa State
Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013
OSU head coach Travis Ford
On the team willing themselves to a victory
"That's what we did. We figured out how to win — that's about it. I'm very proud of our guys. That says a lot about our team, how we won. To just hang in there, keep a positive attitude and keep fighting when it seemed like a night where we played a great team who played great. We left them open a lot, but they made every shot. Every time we made a mistake, they made us pay for it. I told our guys to appreciate and enjoy the win. They deserved it."
On the zone defense disrupting Iowa State's rhythm
"There's no question the zone really helped us quite a bit. It slowed down the pace, made them pass the ball around a little bit and stopped all their movement. Their movement was giving us problems. We didn't allow any second shots in the second half — they didn't get an offensive rebound in the second half, which I thought was huge."
On the second half
"We had some really nice steals at crucial times in the second half and made big shots at crucial times. We took the lead, and then they went back up. I don't know how many times the lead changed in the second half. I loved this crowd. The students were great — unbelievable. Just a great win. Honestly, it's a little foggy how it all happened for me, because all I see right now is them making threes. Our guys played hard and played well late."
On the game plan for the final possession
"We knew we wanted to get the last shot. That was the big thing, making sure we got the last shot. I told them to get to the rim. If you get there, and they help, you can kick it out — I don't have a problem with that — but don't settle for an outside shot. Let's get to the rim. We ran a play that had a sort of double screen where you set a screen, Marcus (Smart) goes one way and then we get him again, quickly. It got him to the hole. I put Phil Forte on that same side so Iowa State wouldn't help off. If they did, Smart would have kicked it to him. It worked out."
OSU freshman guard Marcus Smart
On the final shot
“The play was actually designed for Markel (Brown) to go back door because we knew they were going to be up playing up. But they with two double screens and Coach Ford said get to the basket if it's there, and that's kind of what happened. My defender let up on me and I took it and made a tough shot. It was a big shot for my team. Most of the time, I don't think those shots are going in, but at that time and moment I had a feeling that I couldn't miss. When I was going to the basket, I knew it was going in.”
On the half-court shot
“I actually practice it every day. Right when we walk into the gym, I just throw up the shot, so my first shot of the day is from half court. I probably make it about every other practice. I didn't really expect it to go in. I was trying to draw a foul and I released it and it just went in.”
On Iowa State making it hard to make a run
“They're a great shooting team. At the time it was a heartbreaker because we couldn't breathe. We were right there, but every time we'd try to get over the hump, they'd pull us right back down. This team has been through a lot of adversity and that's when that experience comes in. It helps you become stronger and you just fight through it and that's what we did tonight.”
On Phil Forte's steal towards the end of the game
“A lot of people look at Phil's size. It's not about his size. He's a competitor and that play was the biggest of the game. He just ripped the ball from the guy who was about a good six or seven inches taller than him. That strength just came in and he's a competitor and he took the ball and made a good decision. He definitely deserves a seat up here.”
OSU sophomore guard Le'Bryan Nash
On his play
“My teammates gave me the ball in good situations. I did a lot of scoring in the first half. In the second half, they started double teaming me so I just started looking for my teammates. Markel (Brown) hit a great shot from the corner when I kicked it out to him and then I dumped it off to Michael (Cobbins) for a dunk. It was great. I love playing up tempo and going for the fast break. But, we gave up too many shots to them. They knocked down a lot of threes and we knew they were going to do that because Iowa State is a great shooting team. “
On situational drills in practice
“It just gives us confidence. Every practice we go through situation drills and these games are where that comes in. We did great. I felt that the play we ran was going to work because we had the momentum on our side and the crowd was on our side. Marcus (Smart) took a good shot and I feel like we can be a team to mess with in the Big 12. We just have to stay together.”
OSU junior guard Markel Brown
On defending Iowa State
“They're very difficult to guard. They've got a five-man line-up where everybody can shoot threes. Even the big man can step up and shoot threes. That's kind of why Phil (Jurick) wasn't in the game a lot. We had to put Mike (Cobbins) in and move LB (Le'Bryan Nash) to the four. They're very difficult to guard. They run a lot of good plays to get open shots and if they get them, they make them.”
On his play
“First half, I started off slow. I wasn't doing the things I was supposed to do to help my team. We came in at halftime and Marcus (Smart) told me that he needed my help and I can't let the team down. I went out and I still wasn't shooting well, but I grabbed some important rebounds and found some open spots and it worked out.”
On having fun playing with his teammates
“It's a lot of fun playing with (Marcus) Smart and LB (Le'Bryan Nash). Smart coming out there and taking control of the game at any moment, whether it's scoring or dishing the ball. He also gets great rebounds. Just things that he does that puts us in a great position. Even when someone's not having a good night, someone can step up and tonight it was LB, Phil (Forte) and Smart, and that's what we need from this team.”
On the return of Brian Williams
“He's going to make a very big impact on this team. As far as defense and scoring, we can always use extra defense on this team. Coming out there, we can use his intensity and we can have a mis-matched team with him. We can play him at the four and the three and we can move LB to the four and the three. We can do a lot of things with this team, kind of like Iowa State.”
“He'd been practicing on and off and he's been looking good. His wrist looks good and he's ready to go. He's been looking forward to this for a long time.”
ISU head coach Fred Hoiberg
On the officiating at the end of the game
"I really don't know. I'm going to have to go back and watch it again. It's hard to describe. I thought our effort was terrific tonight. The turnovers hurt us, obviously. I can't talk about the end of the game right now, though."
On his defensive scheme on OSU's final possession and Marcus Smart
"I thought Will (Clyburn) stayed in front, but the kid made a hell of a play. He's a big-time player. I think he's one of the best players in the country. He's a winner. He makes big plays when it matters most. He does everything for them, from getting assists to making shots. That kid is a stud."
On the connection between Marcus Smart and Phil Forte
"They obviously have a great connection with each other. Forte had a big breakout game last time out, so he's been playing well and shooting the ball well. You can tell Smart really looks for him in transition. They are both two very good players."
On losing 18 in a row at Gallagher-Iba Arena
"It's been three tough ones since I've been here. We lost in overtime, last year's ending didn't turn out well, and then Smart ended it tonight. It's a tough place to play. OSU has a very talented roster. I thought we battled them all game and made enough plays to win, but we just didn't come out on top."
ISU senior guard Chris Babb
On the loss
"We put ourselves in a bad situation. On the road, you can't leave it up to the refs. We let them go on a run there toward the last couple of minutes. If we had gotten some stops there, we'd be walking out of here with a win. You just can't leave it up to the refs. I thought we played very hard. We executed for the most part, but if we had gotten a couple more stops here and there, we wouldn't have been in that position."
On what the officials told him about the Le'Bryan Nash foul towards the end of the game
"They said that since the ball wasn't in my possession, it was like an offensive foul, so you don't shoot free throws. I guess we can't leave it up to the officials, especially on the road. But, what can you do? We'll come back ready for Saturday."
ISU senior guard Tyrus McGee
On the loss
"It's tough to play on the road. We had a whole lot of different possessions that we had trouble with. There were a whole lot of crazy calls that we had to deal with, but the refs were calling them, so you've got to deal with it."
On whether the team thought Chris Babb was shooting free throws on the late foul
"We all thought that he was shooting them, then the refs said it was an offensive foul. Things like that, you have to expect. It's tough to win these road games."
On his late shot after stepping out of bounds
"Yeah, I kind of had a good shot, but when I got that ball, they were right there. There was no room for me to dribble, so I had to put up the shot."
