Oklahoma State University Athletics
Postgame Quotes vs Kansas
February 20, 2013 | Cowboy Basketball
Feb. 20, 2013
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Postgame Quotes
Oklahoma State vs Kansas
Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013
OSU head coach Travis Ford
Opening statement
"A very hard fought game. I was proud of our kids, they played really hard. Obviously, we've been in this situation a lot and we made some plays down the stretch that in the past and we didn't make near as many shots. It was a very hard-fought game. Both teams played hard. I have no complaints. They made the last shot."
On foul trouble hindering the offense or defense more
"Probably offensively, for the fact that Marcus Smart can create a little better. Our team is so used to having the ball in his hands. Definitely offensively, because Michael Cobbins can score some points and get some nice put backs at the rim."
On the overtime performance
"Foul shooting was probably a difference in overtime. Every time I turned around, they were on the foul line. We didn't make ours and they did. I think they only made one field goal in overtime total. We had a couple opportunities and didn't make them. Give Kansas credit. They played a really good game defensively."
On what he told the team after the game
"Keep your head up, it's one game. They played hard. We've made a lot of plays in this situation, we've had our share. Give Kansas credit, it's bad that somebody had to lose, but we have to move on. It's one game, can't sulk about it, we have to move on, it's a part of sports and a part of life, it's not always going to be perfect."
On Michael Cobbins' performance
"He played really well. He played good defense, protected the rim for us, blocked shots, got rebounds and scored as well. I thought he really competed, Michael has played some really good basketball."
OSU junior guard Markel Brown
On locking down Ben McLemore
"It was a major factor in the scouting report, and he's one of the main guys we focused on. He's a top-five prospect. He's a very good ball player. I went out there and did it with the help of my teammates. Brian Williams came off the bench and helped me out. Sometimes I got screened, and other guys like (Le'Bryan Nash) stepped up and helped me. It was a team effort out there."
On losing such a tough game
"It's really tough, but we can't dwell on it. We've got to move on. It's the Big 12. It was a long game, so we have to get our rest for Saturday."
OSU freshman guard Marcus Smart
On if this was the most physical game he's played
"No, not really. I've played in more physical games. I like it because that's the kind of game I play. I'm a very physical person, but that game wasn't really as physical as I expected it to be."
On having to sit out for the final few plays after fouling out
"It was very difficult. I felt like I let my teammates down. I wish I was out there to savor that moment with them, help them out, and contribute in the way that I usually do, but unfortunately it didn't work out that way this time."
OSU sophomore forward Michael Cobbins
On having to sit out for the final few plays after fouling out
"It was definitely frustrating. I felt like I let my team down. If we were in there, there could have been some different plays that could have went the other way for us, and we could have come out with a win."
Kansas head coach Bill Self
On Naadir Tharpe's game-winner
"Tonight, he couldn't get the ball in the basket. He has actually improved his floater shot, but the one shot he made, if I'm not mistaken, was a hard, twisting layup. He's a really good shooter but hadn't shot it great. We didn't really have any offense, though. Neither team had any offense. He certainly made a huge play there late. Biggest play of his life, I'm sure."
On winning on the road in the Big 12
"It's a huge win for conference implications. I really thought that Oklahoma State had the best path. I'm not saying we couldn't have won it, but we now still have the toughest road of anybody. We're still in the game, though. This was huge today. Oklahoma State is terrific. They've got a terrific team, they're coached great and the crowd was great. I still have good memories from being here when this place was rocking. It was definitely rocking tonight. We couldn't communicate and we couldn't hear. Our guys played timid the first half, but at least we guarded. In the second half, we played a little better. We just kind of hung on. It was a hard-fought game."
On Travis Releford drawing Marcus Smart's fifth foul and making big plays
"He made a ton of huge plays. Travis wasn't plugged in at all in the first half. I was really on him at halftime. He attacked the rim in the second half, and did a much better job. He did a great job defensively on whoever he was guarding. He and Jeff (Withey) were by far our best performers tonight."
Kansas sophomore guard Naadir Tharpe
On the game-winning shot
"Basically, coach called "flat" and I knew I had to make a play. I missed a couple of easy shots earlier in the game and my teammates just really helped me out."
Were you discouraged after missing those shots
"I was definitely disappointed in myself. I let (Phil) Forte make that shot and tie the game also, but my teammates and coaches still had faith in me. I knew I had to man up and just think about the next play."
Kansas senior guard Travis Releford
On Tharpe's game winner
"It was big, and like he said, we all have confidence in him. With Elijah (Johnson) out, he had to make a play and he did, that's why we came here to play."
On the revenge factor
"It played a little bit of a factor, but our main goal is to just win the Big 12. We knew we weren't going to go undefeated but unfortunately, they beat us at home earlier."
