Wake Forest Athletics
Post-Game Quotes - Gonzaga 73, Wake Forest 63
1/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 2, 2011
Recap | Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery 
| AP Photo Gallery
Postgame Quotes
Gonzaga 73, Wake Forest 63
January 2, 2011
Wake Forest Head Coach Jeff Bzdelik
Opening Statement...
"I saw a lot of improvement in our basketball team. I saw growth in a positive way, but I thought we came out of the gate in the second half comfortable, like we exhaled, like we thought `Ok, we're in this game.' Well it doesn't work that way and we need to value every possession with great intensity. (There were) a few possessions where we're just not quite strong enough; a couple of possessions where we don't make that extra pass; a couple of possessions where defensively we just got a little soft; a possession or two where a guy doesn't quite block off. It seems like it's just a few of those things, that I could continue with, that just snowball and add up to give you empty possessions where you don't finish the offensive possession or the defensive possession. Against a tournament-tested and veteran team like Gonzaga, with some key players that they have, they've been around in some tough environments and they're just a little wiser and a little stronger and a little more cautious with the ball at times. It made the difference."
On how the game got away from Wake Forest after it cut the lead to four points...
"You take a couple quick shots. We had some opportunities where we just can't hold onto the ball when we had some nice looks. We didn't make timely shots and we have to make that extra pass. At halftime the rebounding edge was even, and in the second half we allowed them to clean up a couple of misses. In a tight ball game, those possessions are huge."
On whether the team needs to score more off of its defense...
"No, we just need to take better shots and move the ball. We get sticky fingers."
