Wake Forest Postgame Quotes
12/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Recap | Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery
Texas Head Coach Rick Barnes...
"I didn't like our defense, but at the same time, they have an outstanding team. Chris Paul puts so much pressure on you. I thought I saw some good things in our play and we found out a lot about ourselves this afternoon. I think where the game got away from us was on the five consecutive possessions where we didn't go inside at all. We cannot just settle for threes every time, you have to penetrate to the inside."
On the last Wake Forest in-bounding play, did you intend for Eric Williams to get it?
"Yes, that was our plan, we wanted Williams to get the ball. We actually ended up appreciating that one."
On the zone?
"We must continue to work inside and outside. We talked the entire game about being aggressive from start to finish and again, we cannot go five trips without going inside."
On Texas' last possession?
"We wanted P.J. Tucker to take it to the basket, that was the idea. When he didn't, I could have called a time out, I told the guys I would take the wrap on that one, but it was not that possession that lost the game. Again, we cannot go five possessions without penetrating inside, and that is really where we lost this one."
On P.J. Tucker?
"He's so competitive, he's continued to work hard and this has not been easy for him to adjust from playing on the inside to the outside. He's had his ups and downs but he's worked hard and I like the way he responds to the big games, he plays to the level of the competition."
Before Wake went into the zone, were you poised and ready to extend the lead?
"We should have extended the lead in the zone. When I watch the tape later, I'm going to have a hard time telling the guys they shouldn't have taken certain shots. We thought we could make fatigue a factor and at halftime I told them that the team that guards the best in the second half will win. Chris Paul puts so much pressure on you and Eric Williams is very strong. They lead an outstanding offensive team and those two will score. We can and will defend better than we did today, but I take nothing away from Wake Forest's great offensive efforts today."
Wake Forest head coach Skip Prosser...
"I thought we really beat a very good Texas team. We didn't guard them as well as we would have liked to, but they are very hard to guard. They are strong inside, there guards are very quick shooting the ball. Gibson looked like Allen Iverson for a stretch in the second half. It has been a tough two weeks with finals and then three games. Again, I am real, real proud of our players. To get down four or five points in the second half and then have the where-with- all to hold off a nationally ranked team like Texas is great. We are very happy to get out of here with a win. There are definitely things we need to get better a t, but it is nice to be on the winning end.
What brought about the change to zone in the second half?
"What do you think? Because nothing else was working. We thought they still might score on the zone, but it would take longer. I would rather not have done it, but right now we are still not Roger Clemens. We are still a little bit of a junk ball pitcher. We used three or four different defensives today. I thought that was really important because there were three or four possessions where they did not score. We were not an offensive juggernaut on our possessions at that time, but held them at bay which allowed us to get back and grab the lead.
On Chris Paul?
"I am not the sharpness knife in the drawer, but the point guards job is to have his team win the game. We do not win every game, and I never said we would, but he is like a quarterback in football. We have played 10 games, four against nationally ranked teams, and he has won nine of them. I never felt like he was struggling."
How Wake Forest handled the physicality of Texas?
"When you play a national schedule, it behooves you to play a number of different styles. The Temple style is different than the style we faced today with Texas. Your ability or inability to adapt to that to those different styles is something that can serve you well in March. While some might question the sanity of the coach that put the schedule together, including my wife on a daily basis, I am hoping that it prepares us for the ACC."
"We are ok with physical. I think we have enough big guys. I have a lot of respect for Rick and this was part of a triad of games along with Cinci. That was the reason I said yes, cause I wanted to challenge our guys against the physicality of those teams.
On the enjoyment of today's game?
"Absolutely, it was a sellout, national TV and nationally ranked team. It would have been much more enjoying for Texas had that last shot gone in for them. Again, I think that is why they came to Wake Forest."
"My point was that every day was not going to be hearts and flowers. Because of the expectations I do not want this season to be without joy for our kids. I said it once and I do not want to be redundant, but I want them to enjoy the season not endure it. We need to remind ourselves of that as well as coaches. You want to enjoy your players not endure them."
On the team's character in a game like this?
"I think that is does help. We could play a different schedule. You and I know that there are teams that have not even worn their dark jerseys yet. I am hoping this prepares us. We made some really, really smart plays down the stretch. If you do not put yourself in the crucible against a team like Texas, then you are never going to find out what you could have or should have done."
Wake Forest senior forward Jamal Levy
"One of the things the coaches have been working on with me since I first came here was my free throws and follow through. It is totally different shooting free throws in a game than at practice, and especially at the end of the game when the score is close. The pressure is unbelievable with the fans in the background and knowing that there are people watching you on television. That all runs through my mind, but today the coaches told me to just concentrate and remember to follow through, and I stepped up to the line and relaxes and made both."
"Texas is a very good and physical team. A win like this at hope really helps improve our team mentally. I feel a win like this builds character and shows that we are a good team because we beat another great basketball program (Texas) today."
Wake Forest sophomore guard Chris Paul
"We do have heart and come ready to play forty minutes every game, if not we wouldn't win a game at this caliber. The schedule shows us different aspects of the game and playing at venues like Illinois, the Garden, and `The Pit' (New Mexico State) helps build character and overcome adversity"
"After a win or lose, it is all about the people in the locker room. We love the fans and it is a lot of fun to play and feed off the crowd, but we have grown to learn that being there for each other is the most important aspect of this game. It shows a lot about our team to win a big game today after losing at Illinois. It shows we care for each other and have a lot of heart and character."
Wake Forest junior forward Trent Strickland
"The plan for today's game was to put pressure on them and set the tone from the beginning of the game. We brought a lot of intensity to the game today and the first play to me was great for us as players and for the fans. We play for both. That play describes the energy and intensity we bring to college basketball. We have passion and love for the game."
"Texas is a tough and physical team which we learned last year so we knew we had to come out stronger and more intense than them, which we did."