Feb. 14, 2009
– GEORGIA TECH HEAD COACH Paul Hewitt
Remarks on the game….
“A lot of those easy baskets we missed in the first half seemed to take the energy out of us defensively. We chart deflections, and early on we were off to a great start forcing some turnovers and getting some nice baskets but didn’t cash in. When they [N.C. State] corrected themselves, they went on a bit of a run. To start the second half, we got it back to three points twice, but then had some untimely turnovers and some untimely missed shots. Unfortunately, that’s been the story of our season. I’m not sure if theres anything else we can do other than come back Monday and get back to practice.”
On making it a close game and they letting it get away…
“We didn’t defend the way we normally defend. They hit some easy three-pointers early and then started going inside. When I look at the game and where it got away, it was with those easy opportunities we had early on. Going on a breakaway and then throwing the ball out of bounds, and then missing some of those easy baskets, it really just deflated us. We have to be more resilient than that and fight through it, and we did. We cut the lead down to three, but we just had a rash of turnovers and that really broke our back.”
On the Perimeter scoring of Zach Peacock and Lewis Clinch early in the game…
“They [Zach and Lewis] really did a nice job. I think they were four-of-nine from behind the line in the first half and down eleven, but in the end its all about the scoreboard and right now the scoreboard is not reading for us.”
On how to get ready for the game against Wake…
“We will look at the tape. I think there are things we can gain out of this. Maybe we address the confidence factor because some of the baskets that we missed could just be a confidence issue in terms of knocking them down. We have to go out and play Wednesday night and that’s it. They aren’t going to call off the game and we don’t want them to call off the game. We are just going to go out there and play with the same level of effort that we have seen all season except for maybe a half or two here and there.”
On the tremendous three-point shooting of N.C. State…
“I just thought they shot it really well today. There were a couple of times we left guys open that we weren’t suppose to leave, but in all they still have to make the shot. They shot it well today so you give them credit.”
NC STATE HEAD COACH SIDNEY LOWE
Opening Comment:
“I thought that we played a very good, solid basketball game against a team that was pressing most of the ballgame. We just had guys that stepped up and made plays for us. Some guys scored points, some guys had rebounds for us. Ben McCauley probably had one of the best 0-for-1 ball games that I’ve ever seen. Just based on what he did for us – getting open for the ball – we used him to get open, he was our main receiver, and then getting it to the point guard. I thought that all of our guys did a great job.”
On winning on the road
“Anytime you can win on the road in our conference is big. It’s a big deal, and to come in here and play this team that is so energetic, pressing and trapping. To come in here and keep our composure the way that we did after they made their run is a great accomplishment for our team.”
On developing momentum
“I would hope (that we are developing momentum.) That’s two, but I’d like to have some momentum at about four. The last two ball games, actually in the last three, we have played well. But as I said, to go on the road and win, in this environment and against a team that is pressing, this is a big win for us.”
On Tracy Smith
“Tracy has been solid. He is in there banging on those boards, and he had 10 rebounds tonight. He’s in there finishing for us, giving us an inside presence, and he did a great job, defensively, especially on the ball screens where he really got out there and showed. When the guard penetrated, he was there just being in front of the guard where he couldn’t get to the basket. He did a great job, but I thought that all of our bigs did a great job.”
On being able to exploit mismatches on Tech’s switching
“We know that their defense is predicated on that, that they are going to do some switching, and we wanted to try to keep advantage of it. We wanted to try to keep our poise. They didn’t make it easy when they would switch in front and then come from the weak side, but our guys did a nice job of being patient and waiting until we found the right matchup or the right open man, and then we made shots. 61 percent shooting – that’s incredible. But yeah, we knew that they would switch. And we wanted to keep our patience, keep our poise, and see if we could find the open guy.”
