University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Post-Game Quotesheet
3/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Recap | Box Score | Notes
POST-GAME QUOTESHEET
Pitt at Florida State • Donald L. Tucker Civic Center • Tallahassee, Fla. • March 7, 2015
Florida State 61, Pitt 52
Quoting Pitt Head Coach Jamie Dixon
Opening Statement:
"Congratulations to Florida State. Up there at our place, we outrebounded them by a good margin and today they outrebounded us. We made that clear to our guys that was going to be difference and they won that battle, which in turn lead to them winning the game. I wish we would've shot better. I thought their defense had something to do with that early. Late, I thought we had some good open looks and didn't make them, especially from the start of the half. We're a better team than what we've played in this last week, so we've got to go do something about it come Wednesday so to go prove that. We've come up short; it's been a combination of things. The defense is standing out, as well as today it was some offensive execution as well. Surely we've got to go get ready for the (ACC) Tournament and get ready for Wednesday. I certainly think we're a better team than what we've played here, but these are the results, you are who you are. We've got to go do something about it come Wednesday."
On Pittsburgh's rebounding:
"The rebounding is a thing that stands out to me, though. That was the emphasis. We outrebounded them down at our place, and we didn't do it today. So that thing stands out."
On what Florida State does to be successful:
"Probably the rebounding. I think that's something they're built on, with their size. Their presence inside is something they want to do. I think they want to limit (to) low-percentage shots and make it tough to finish around the basket. I thought they did that today. So when they're rebounding and I think taking care of the ball. The 19 turnovers, we were able to get turnovers early and late, but I don't think we did enough with them in transition after we got the turnovers. We needed enough transition break transition points off those turnovers, (that is something) you need to do."
Quoting Florida State Head Coach Leonard Hamilton
Opening Statement:
"Another ACC game that probably could have gone either way... We knew coming into this game it was going to be a very important game for them, but it was a very important game for us. We had to do some things right in order for us to be successful. Number one: we had to do a much better job rebounding than we did the last time. I thought our guys were committed, at least on the boards. They've been one of the better offensive rebounding teams that we've played, and when we played them last time we thought that might have been the difference in the game. They did such a great job of getting to the offensive boards, and we knew we had to do a much better job defending them because they're one of the most efficient teams in the country, and they have one of the best assist/turnover ratios. So I thought we got some deflections tonight that got us some easy baskets, and I thought our commitment to just trying to defend for the whole 40 seconds on the shot clock, there were several possessions where I thought they came out of the timeout, and they moved the ball, reversed it five or six times, and they got good looks. In the first half, it seemed as though every time they got a good look they knocked it down. I was surprised they only shot 34% in the first half. It's a very good basketball team, typical ACC game. Very hard-fought and extremely competitive. It's kind of the new ACC. Now we get ready to go to the ACC Tournament, and I know it's going to be another clawing, scratching, scratching and clawing type of event that will probably be as competitive as any one we've had in a long time."
On Kiel Turpin:
"I go back so far with Kiel and his family. His father and I were extremely close. I always get emotional when I talk about Kiel because I probably knew him before he was born, if you can believe that. So this was really an effort I thought inspired by him. I thought that last night when we had our team meeting, he asked the players to play for him and his family. Unfortunately, being from where they are, they've been to several games and have not seen Kiel win a basketball game, especially this year. And they all flew in here sometime during the week to be with him for one of his last games, so it meant an awful lot to him. I thought our players were inspired with an elevated focus and effort because they didn't want him to lose a game on his last home game here on senior day. I thought our effort was inspired by two things; our respect for Pittsburg and how well they execute and how they make very few mistakes. And also their love and commitment to their teammate who they have grown to be very fond of. No doubt. No doubt about it. He's had an up and down career with injuries. But he's been a model citizen. He's been a class act. He's very well respected by his teammates. He's a guy that gives all he has all the time. He's one of the good guys, and you know he's going to be successful in whatever he does because of his character, his personality and the effort that he brings. I'm so happy for him and his family."
