Feb. 22, 2009
– GEORGIA TECH HEAD COACH Paul Hewitt
On the first half:
“We did a good job finishing plays. Lewis started out shooting the ball well and continued to shoot the ball well…I think when it got to 11 or 12, we had a three or four shots around the basket that we rushed a little bit instead of gathering ourselves. They took advantage of that. I think they came down and scored on eight or nine straight possessions. It took something out of our defense when we missed those easy shots, just didn’t have the same energy level defensively. Then we got it back together and tied it at the half.”
On defending Clemson:
“One of our goals was to hold them to six threes. They made 12, and they outshot us on the free throw line by two. That was difference in the game. So the goals that we set — 15 or less turnovers — I don’t think the pressure bothered us at all. I thought our turnovers came after having a very smooth start and excuting against the press to gain that big lead. It was just some miscues in the halfcourt.”
On failing to convert around the basket:
“I think that’s where the lead went. We had some easy opportunities. That happens. You can’t just put your head down. You have to come back and get stops. That’s where we’re disappointed as a staff and as a team. We didn’t get those stops after those opportunities.”
On team’s effort:
“I think we’ve been playing hard all year. Last couple of games, our effort was uneven, but I thought our effort was good again today.”
On Lawal’s second half:
“He had something going on (not feeling well) before the game. He didn’t look good. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s got something. He didn’t have his normal energy level. When we ran that first play, we knew they were going to trap that ball-screen, and I was trying get him off early. We figured they’d trap, we’d throw out of it, and he’d have that matchup with Rivers down there. That’s a shot he makes nine out of ten times. He wasn’t himself today. Obviously he’s a much better player than he showed today.”
On Clinch:
“We had that stretch. After we got the lead, I thought our bigs stopped screening as well. We made an emphasis in the locker room really trying to make contact with that guy. [Clinch] got the separation he needed, and he made shots.”
CLEMSON HEAD COACH OLIVER PURNELL
Opening statement
“This league, every night is just a fight. I was very pleased with the way that our guys hung in there. I didn’t feel like we came out real sharp at the beginning. It wasn’t quite as bad as against Virginia, but I just didn’t feel like we were energized like we were the other night. As a coach, sometimes I have to understand that it is on the road. But at the same time, we really ratcheted it up after the 10 or 12 minute mark. We really played with a lot of energy from then on. Then we started making some shots. Obviously [Lewis] Clinch got hot, too.
“Andre Young gave us a big lift with really steady point guard play, and he gives you four threes to boot. I thought he was really, really good. My hat goes off to T.O. (Terrence Ogelsby) – he was in there with the flu today, and he kind of hung in there and gave us a couple of jump shots. Trevor Booker and K.C. (Rivers) have been the guys for us all year long. They played big for us when we had to have it. That’s what you have to have in the stretch run of the conference race – your really good players have to step up for you. I thought both of those guys did so in a timely manner.
“Our pressure turned them over a little bit, and I thought it had an effect on the game. We did some different things in the second half – full court and half court – and I thought other than Clinch it did a good job of taking them out of their game and what they wanted to do. It really bothered their point guard. I’m just really pleased to get out of here with another tough road ACC win.”
On responding to Georgia Tech’s shots by hitting shots of your own
“Obviously that’s good. We were really into the game at that point. We were playing with a certain confidence. We were executing fairly well. We got the ball to Booker an awful lot, and we were getting it out of there when they doubled across.”
On Clemson’s three point shooting
“First half, Potter was big. Then in the second half, Andre Young was big. Most of the time it’s T.O. and K.C., but the three-point shot is a big part of what we do. It makes us explosive. Potter got us right back in it. Andre Young stretched it for us. You’ve seen that with our team all year long. We have the ability to get right back into a game, or break a game open with the three point shot.”
On North Carolina losing yesterday and Clemson’s chances in the ACC race
“We really talked about it last week, obviously not well enough before the Virginia game. We still have a shot of finishing first, but we have to take care of our business. When that happened yesterday, we talked to our team last night. We are in the stretch run, and they are sitting right there in front of us. We can see them plainly. But the bottom line is that you still have to take care of your business.”
On Clemson’s slow start
“It’s kind of been a characteristic of our team, to get off to a little bit a slow start then warm into it and win. I guess the positive thing is that our guys don’t get rattled. I’ve seen five or six times when we have gotten off to good starts, and I’d like to see that more often. I’ve seen that act probably 10 times where we have started off slow, warmed into it, then won – at least four or five times on the road.
