Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest vs. Miami - Postgame Quotes
2/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 9, 2011
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Wake Forest Head Coach Jeff Bzdelik
On the team's effort throughout the game...
"I told my basketball team that I'm so proud of them for the way they have continued to get better and to compete. Over the last few days, the light has really gone on. Since Monday, they've done a great job of being focused, of being energized, and of rallying around each other. They competed their tails off tonight. We did all the right things, but we just came up short. Even that last play was executed exactly the way we drew it up, and we had a shot go in and then out. We shot 59 percent in the second half, and we had more assists than turnovers. We did a lot of wonderful things tonight that we can build on. At one time, I saw four freshmen and a sophomore out there, so I'm just extremely proud of them."
On Miami's ability to score during eight of their last ten possessions...
"Well obviously we need to continue to work on our defense. Miami started the game off well, and then we settled down, but they shot 44 percent in the second half. They were able to get to the free throw line and make their free throws, and we went to the free throw line more than they did in the second half, but we missed five and they didn't miss any. There's the difference in a lot of ways."
Miami Head Coach Frank Haith
Opening Statement...
"Obviously, it was a great win for us. We've been in so many of these ballgames, so it's just amazing to me. Going back to Boston College, we've really had seven games in a row that have come down to the last possession. Our guys just stayed with it. We weren't on our game tonight, and defensively, we were not very good. Give some credit to Wake Forest and their execution, but we were not aggressive when we needed to be, and I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that our guys got in foul trouble. I thought we were really passive on the defensive end, but we found a way and I told our guys that there's no such thing as an ugly win. I'd rather have an ugly win than a good-looking loss, so I'm proud of our guys for sticking with it and coming up with a W(in)."
On the play of center Reggie Johnson...
"He was outstanding. Reggie's going to be one of the better big players in this league. He's got great hands, he makes free throws, and he's just got to continue to grow as a player. He's young in the game, and I think that's the thing that we sometimes fail to realize. He's still developing. His best basketball is ahead of him."
On the play of guard Durand Scott, particularly in the second half...
"He was really good. He shot the ball very well, took some good shots, and he had some poise. Tonight, he came back and had a nice game."
On the importance of the win...
"We need road wins. If you want to try to make the postseason, you've got to protect your home court and steal some road games. There's no doubt that this is a huge win for us."
On Miami going 16-16 from the free throw line in the second half...
"I'll take that. We're a good free throw-shooting team, and there are times when we haven't shot the ball well from the free throw line. We're just not getting to the line enough, but I think tonight we got there and we were able to make them. We had the right guys getting there, too."
Miami Center Reggie Johnson
On the two free throws he nailed with four seconds remaining...
"I was just knocking them down. Coach told us before the game that the game would come down to free throws, so I just blocked everything out and knocked two down. It was the same routine."
On this being a homecoming game...
"It's not really the game, but it's really actually getting a road win. That was what was most important to me. This is special, and in my hometown. My family and friends are here. The team stayed together when things were going down south, but we found a way to get it."
On his friendship with fellow Winston-Salem native C.J. Harris...
"C.J. is one of my best friends, and I told him to keep his head up. Obviously it's a tough season for him, but I told him to keep fighting."
