Nov. 26, 2013
Recap | Final Stats | GT Photo Gallery
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GEORGIA TECH HEAD COACH Brian Gregory
Opening Statement
We’ve really emphasized guarding the basketball better, and getting the ball inside and moving the ball on offense and I thought the first 26, 27, 28 minutes we did a really good job in those three areas. I thought our guys came out and competed on every play, and I thought that was important. We shared the ball, moved the ball and did a lot of good things. As a coach, you’re never happy with the last 8-9 minutes with not being as sharp, but at the same time, we put some guys in some difficult situations – out of position – and different things like that. Give them (MVSU) credit, they played hard the whole game, and give us credit because I thought we played pretty well. Hopefully we’ll be able to study the film, move on and get ready for a heckuva challenge over the next 4-5 days.
On Tech’s interior defensive play
We did a good job. The point of pick-up and pressure on the ball was much better than it has been. Those three guards – Marshall, McDonald and Pryor – they have good quickness as you saw there at the end. We did a good job of pressuring at the right point and keeping them in front, but also getting the gap help, and the help they need. Our big guys did a good job of not extending outside the rim area where we’ve been picking up some fouls on that.
On the play of Robert Carter Jr.
Robert (Carter) was a monster. He did an unbelievable job on the defensive glass – he got almost every rebound. I told him to try and get 20 today, and he probably would have if he played more than 21 minutes. But 15 rebounds in 21 minutes is a workman’s effort. That’s the blue-collar grit that we need, and Daniel (Miller) gets 12. They get 27 rebounds in 40 minutes of play, that’s pretty good.
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE COACH CHICO POTTS
Overall impression of the game:
“It was a game of two halves. The first half was the worst I’ve seen my guys play. I told them at halftime, `I don’t know who you are’. I don’t know that team that was out there the first half. That never happened. We were just throwing up shots, not playing with a sense of urgency, we just came out lethargic. Second half was a totally different game. Second half, they looked like my ball club. We got hammered in offensive rebounds. We aren’t going into anybody’s club and beat them when you rebound that bad. You have got to have some post presence defensively. We’ve just got to play better defensively, that’s what it boils down to.”
Playing this game against Georgia Tech’s strong post play:
“We knew it was going to take us playing great post interior defense early. They’re a two-headed monster from the interior. In the first half, I didn’t see that happen. We beat them in the second half, but when you dig yourself that kind of a hole, it’s almost impossible to come out on top, especially on the road.”
Positives to take from this game:
“We had a very nonchalant first half, second half we dominated. Same thing happened against Ole Miss. I guess I’m going to have to get my guys treat warm-ups like it’s the first half. So that we can come out with that same intensity, same grit and drive as we do in the second half. Maybe the scores will be a little bit better. I just felt like we had an opportunity coming in, at least put up a better fight than we did.”
On impressions on future matchup between Ole Miss and Georgia Tech:
“Well, one thing Ole Miss is going to do, they’ve got Marshall Henderson and he will definitely shoot the three, early and often. There’s not a shot that he takes that he don’t like. That’s the type of team that they have. The post presence tonight? That was pretty good. I think you have one ball club that’s strong on the perimeter in Ole Miss, versus a team on the interior in Georgia Tech. I think it’s going to be a pretty good matchup and I think it’s going to be a pretty exciting game to watch.
