University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Post-Game Quotesheet
3/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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POST-GAME QUOTESHEET
Miami at Pitt • Petersen Events Center • Pittsburgh, Pa. • March 4, 2015
Miami 67, Pitt 63
Quoting Pitt Head Coach Jamie Dixon
Opening Statement:
"There was a quiet locker room obviously, two times in a row. Two disappointing losses with a home loss you can't have. We never quite got control of the game. Defensively, we are just not where we need to be. We have been stressing it, working on it and trying to get better. We had some good performances. We had some good efforts. Guys are working hard, continuing to battle. We are going to do the same thing tomorrow getting ready for Florida State. Obviously we would have been better off to win this game and the last game, but what we can do now is get ready for Florida State. We can point to different things. We have to win the rebounding and we didn't. We have to defend better and shoot more free throws than our opponents. All of those things we talk about, we certainly didn't do them. That is why it's disappointing. We keep trying to get better and we have, but it is not the level where we need to be or where we've shown in the past. We have to get to work tomorrow and prepare for Florida State on Saturday."
On defensive inconsistencies:
"I wouldn't call the defense inconsistent. It is about guys that are going to make shots where you are going to be solid. We are trying to get better. We have improved and that is definite but it wasn't good enough here tonight. We outshot them with 46 percent. The rebounding is a problem. We cannot give up 13 offensive rebounds."
On being outscored at the free throw line by ten points:
"That is disappointing. We have to get to the line more. It is something we've always done in the past but we are not doing that in the last couple games. Those are things we have to work on with playing better defense, attacking more offensively and finishing better. I think it does come back to our defense and allowing deep penetration is part of it on the defensive end."
On moving on to Florida State:
"It is going to be as tough as we make it. We have to find a way. We have a history of tough losses and coming back and I hope that would have carried over coming into this game. It wasn't like we didn't show up. We had a lead up to six in the first half but we still were never playing well enough to get a bigger lead and put ourselves in a better position. It is what we've been known for, responding to a disappointment. Now we have two in a row and have to go play on the road to a team we already beat this year. It is another challenge and I thought to some degree we came out to a level but didn't get it done."
On Michael Young's performance:
"I thought he was pretty good offensively. He made some mid-range jump shots but he had some really nice passes that made us harder to guard because we were playing inside out. He had some penetration and was finding some guys and that was big for us, offensively. We are just coming up short. Our offense isn't perfect but we are doing some good things. Defensively, we have to improve as well. He did some very good things and made all four of his free throws which were big for us. He is back to shooting free throws well and that is a good thing."
On playing Florida State again:
"We played them a while back. We have got to figure it out. They are big and athletic with a lot of ball screens, similar to what we saw tonight. We have to get ready to guard that again. I thought that we did a pretty good job in that area. The penetration came out from the flat out drives at the end. We will look at it and try to get better as we go forward here."
Quoting Pitt guard Cameron Wright
On having a hard time getting stops:
"They were able to get to the free throw line. A lot of points in the second half was from the free throw line and they made them."
On what's next:
"We're not hanging our heads. It's going to be tough to sleep tonight, but once midnight comes we have to focus on Florida State. We need to come here tomorrow and get better and correct some things. There's no way we could lose at Florida State."
On looking back at the past five years:
"Overall, I'm grateful of the opportunity to play here. I've had a terrific coaching staff and teammates. I wouldn't have done it any other way. I'll be a Pitt Panther for life."
On his legacy:
"I just want people to see me for who I am. I want them to know that I'm a humble person. I'm a team-first type of guy. I just hope that when I leave here that I've had a positive effect on others' lives."
Quoting Pitt forward Michael Young
On tough loss:
"Very tough man, we knew we had to make these last two games to make to the tournament, this was our best chance and we let another one go. We're trying to be playing at the end of the season not watching teams and sitting at home. I feel like we still have a chance we just have to win games, keep playing hard but it's a tough pill to swallow."
On inability to play consistent defense:
"We just have to get better, that's all it is. Mental toughness, I believe in this team, I feel like we have it in us. We've showed that we can play defense throughout the game. This our second game where I feel like we've played good on both ends of the court for majority of the game and at the end of the game kind of let up but we can get it done, we just have to finish the game out."
On Miami's Urgency:
"We were both 8-8 fighting for the same spot trying to get into the tournament. We were both fighting for our lives these last few games. I think we both came out with the same mindset, same intensity, and same intent. We're finishing the regular season out trying to get as many wins."
On Miami's post player Tinye Jekir
"I've been playing big guys all years so it's nothing personal with whoever I go against. I just want to go out and play hard for my team."
On learning from last year:
"Yes, last year I played a lot and learned a lot being a freshman and this year I have a different role than last year. I'm still learning, I've learned a lot as far as conference play. Like you said a team can come out any given night a team can come out and beat you no matter what their record is or what their place is in the ACC. Moving on in the future were going to keep improving we got a lot of good young guys and we want to keep improving and getting better."
Quoting Miami Head Coach Jim Larranaga
Opening Statement:
"First of all, I would like to thank my assistant coaches; I thought they did a great job preparing this team for the environment we were going to be playing in, for the kind of offense and defense we were going to need to play. I thought our players responded well to the preparation, they never got discouraged; their spirits were high at practice and today at half time. It was a very well-played game. I think Pittsburgh is a great team, people can say what they want, but to me Pittsburgh is a great team, they have had some terrific wins, they are in a great conference and Jamie (Dixon) and his staff have done a great job with the team. I am very happy with the win, we needed a good road victory, we still have some work to do but this certainly helps. Our team is focused and determined to keep playing well. We played today without Angel Rodriguez, our second leading scorer and our leader in assists and steals. But I thought Manu Lecomte and Ja'Quan Newton did a great job running the team."
On Sheldon McClellan's injury status:
"Yesterday was the first time I heard about his injury. He spent a very long time stretching and missed the first half of practice. As soon as he got into the first drill I stopped him and pulled him off the court. He spent the rest of practice getting treatment, he didn't do anything yesterday. Today at the shoot around he did just a little bit, but today in the game he played 38 minutes, scored 20 points. He is a very efficient player, and when it continued in the second half he really delivered.
On his team's offensive approach:
"Players tend to think that moves have to be dribble moves, and dribble about 13 times before going to the basket. So we showed them a highlight tape of Dr. J and Kevin Durant and I asked them how many dribbles it took to score at the rim, and it was one. One straight line drive, don't fake because they will call a travel. The move is speed and quickness by the guy who is guarding you. You are faster moving forward then he is moving sideways."
On his team's defense:
"We try never to foul. Do not foul a shooter; do not foul driving to the basket. We rely heavily on our team defense to keep players off the foul line. We certainly did not want to foul James Robinson because he is a 90% free throw shooter and Pitt does a great job, so that was a focus. Getting to the foul line has been a focus all year long, some nights you do it better than others and tonight we did and we made the free throws."
Quoting Miami guard Sheldon McClellan
On the difference in his second half after a slow start:
"Just staying aggressive, staying confident. Early in the year, I think I would have stopped being aggressive because of the shots I missed early in the game, but I knew I had to make plays for my team down the stretch."
On how big this game was for them:
"It was very important. It was a do or die game and that is how we entered the contest. It was a great, confident win for us going into the next game and the ACC tournament. We laid everything on the line. My groin was hurting I wasn't going to play at first but I told my team I had to play through it because of the situation we are in. Everyone gave it all they had."
On his decision if he would play with the groin injury:
"It was during pre-game shoot around. I went through the offense, got a little sweat going and it felt fine. Then, I got back to the hotel and it tightened up again. They did a good job of getting it stretched and putting the heating pad on it. It was hurting throughout the game but I just focused on the game."
Quoting Miami forward Davon Reed
On getting to the foul line and the basket:
"All week we have been working on straight line driving. Coach has been emphasizing that we make too many dribble moves to get to the basket. Today we focused on that and we were able to get to the foul line."
