Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest-VCU Postgame Quotes
11/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 16, 2010
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POSTGAME QUOTES
VCU 90, Wake Forest 69
November 16, 2010
Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum - Winston-Salem, NC
Wake Forest Head Coach Jeff Bzdelik
On how VCU's press defense affected the team...
"We worked against pressure, their full-court pressure, for the last couple of days. We weren't very strong with the basketball. We didn't cut to where we were supposed to cut. We made poor decisions. Instead of being able to attack with proper spacing, they got us on our heels and the result was that it was the difference in the ball game."
On how the depleted roster has affected the team's ability to practice...
"Yes, in practice we can simulate it, but it is almost a shock in the game because you don't simulate that kind of pressure. You can't. To break pressure, you need to be ball-strong. You need to catch it in an area where they can't get you on your heels. You need to have somebody behind the ball, you need to have somebody on the strong side, somebody in the middle, and somebody down on the weak side. You need to adjust those positions when you get the ball in different regions. Why we didn't do those things, you can ask the players, because I'm not sure."
On how C.J. Harris's play at point guard affected the game...
"We started breaking down in other areas of the game. Going under on screens, we did that at least six or seven times from what I can remember. Plain and simple, in the second half, our lack of discipline over 40 minutes is why we have the score that we have. We had a good segment for a good portion of the game where we played really good basketball. Then we had a segment where we played really poor basketball. You can't do that at this level against anyone."
On the team's level of leadership...
"C.J. is playing his heart out. In fairness to him, we're asking him to do something that he's never done before. This is a team game. We all have to play our part. Myself as a coach, everybody on this team, we all have to be better. We will be. We just have to get back to work."
VCU Head Coach Shaka Smart
Opening statement...
"I was really, really happy with the way our guys responded tonight. Obviously, led by these two gentlemen to my right (Joey Rodriguez and Jamie Skeen). I couldn't be happier for Jamie to come back to Wake, play as well as he did and get the win. It's not easy to do what he did tonight and I'm really, really proud of him. I think he showed a lot of maturity and toughness. Joey continues to lead our ball club and that's why we're 3-0. I thought the press really had a cumulative effect and we were able to wear them down a little bit, turn them over and convert some of those turnovers into baskets."
On VCU's run in the second half...
"Our team has done a good job this year of turning turnovers into points and that's exactly what we did in that stretch. I think there was a timeout around 13 minutes or so and we were not playing well. I think it was right after we gave up a layup on an out of bounds play. We weren't really ready to go. Everyone came into the timeout and we got after the guys a little bit. Joey told the guys to just calm down and relax. From there, we did and we played our best basketball."
On the team's press and the number of deflections in the game...
"We keep track of the number of deflections, but I haven't seen the stats from the end of the game. Usually over 30 deflections is pretty good. I would say we were up over that tonight. That's how we play. We press every game. We've got three or four different presses that we use. It comes down to these guys really wanting to get after it and get out there and play with energy for 94 feet. If you ask them, I think it's a fun style of play."
On Darius Theus...
"He was terrific. I think he's really grown up in the last year. It helps him when he's out there with Joey because you have two point guards on the floor. He played really well on the defensive end like he usually does, but he also had four assists and no turnovers, which is a real steadying force. When he's in there with Joey, it allows Joey to get off the ball a little more and put the ball in the basket, which he did."
