Feb. 10, 2015
Recap | Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery
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GEORGIA TECH HEAD COACH Brian Gregory
Opening statements …
“They took the ball to the basket, they got to the free throw line and got a couple calls there down the stretch. Our defense in the last five minutes wasn’t where it needed to be. They got to the basket, loose balls they came up that loose ball and [Malik] Muller put the ball in there after the drive by [Jalen] Hudson. We had done a good job all game long taking away their corner threes, which is what they shoot a lot of, and we had a defensive breakdown at the end. We left a man in the corner and you can’t do that when you are up two. That was disappointing that we did that.”
On the end of the game …
“We wanted to take the ball to the basket. It’s a tough, bitter pill to swallow. But we wanted the ball in Marcus [Georges-Hunt]’s hands. He’s our go-to guy, that’s who’s going to win the game for us in the end.”
On Georgia Tech’s defense …
“Our defense was awful in the second half. We didn’t guard the dribble well. We took away their three, which was a big part of the game, but they got to the free throw line. They didn’t make a ton of them, but we had some missed coverages.”
On Virginia Tech’s defense …
“We didn’t score in the post very well. Demarco [Cox] got five shots and only made one of them, and Marcus [Georges-Hunt] didn’t shoot the ball well. They changed up their zone and gave us a little problem here and there, but I thought for the most part we got some good looks and didn’t make them. They are a good defensive team, there’s no doubt about it. With 19 offensive rebounds you’ve got to capitalize a little more than that and you’ve got to get to the free throw line more than 19 times.”
VIRGINIA TECH HEAD COACH BUZZ WILLIAMS
On the rebounding numbers …
“I think that that’s how they score best. If you look at their numbers, they are similar to what they did tonight. I think it accentuated that we are the worst rebounding team in the league, but in regards to why they have played so many one-possession games, I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that rebounds keep them in the game and they definitely did tonight.”
On getting the win …
“It feels good, I’m happy for our guys. I think that’s the sixth one-possession game in conference play. Over 50-percent of the time we’ve been in the exact same situation. Not necessarily all of them after being up double-figures, but I’m happy for our kids for sure.”
On the final play …
“We were just trying to isolate certain things they were doing. We were also in the bonus so when we were down ten with four and a half minutes to play, obviously we want the clock to stop and to get to the free throw line. I think Jalen [Hudson] is our best downhill guy when he wants to be. So we had Jalen down hill, if he gets fouled or gets Malik [Müller]’s man in help, pitch it. That shot was the same exact thing, only on the other side of the floor.”
On Müller’s confidence and play …
“I think he’s our best low post defender. I know he doesn’t look like he is, but I think he’s eaten enough powdered doughnuts and Kit Kats that he can bang around down there and feel comfortable doing it. I think in a strange way that has given him confidence. I think that what is perceived, as a disadvantage at times for us, is an advantage. It’s an advantage for us offensively because we utilize him as if he’s a guard and make those big guys run out there and try to guard him. It’s a disadvantage, not specifically Malik but our team, we’re even smaller as it relates to just getting beat on the defensive glass. Since we moved him to the four he has played with a good pace.”
