Post Game Quotes
2/19/2020 10:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Georgia Tech Head Coach Josh Pastner
Opening Statement…
"I want to give a lot of credit to Wake Forest. I think they're a really good basketball team. They've been snake bitten just like we have they've lost some close games. I think they are way better than their record. I think Danny Manning is one of the best coaches and as good of a coach he is he's an even better person. They got snake bitten by losing (John) Collins early just like we got snake bitten losing (Josh) Okogie. When you're trying to fight, scrap, claw to move your way up if you're not prepared for that that's hard to overcome. I want to give a great shoutout to Danny Manning and his staff and their program. I just think they're a high level program."
Playing on a small rotation…
"James (Banks III) and Moses (Wright) both had 4 fouls, Michael Devoe had 4 fouls, Jordan Usher had 4 fouls. James fouls out and Evan (Cole) came in and did a great job. Evan really stepped up, he was tough, he was tough minded. Jordan Usher was really tough minded late in the game."
On guard play of Michael Devoe and Jose Alvarado…
"To win college basketball games it's all about guard play. Everything is about guard play in college basketball. It's Michael Devoe, Jose Alvarado and Bubba Parham. If 2 of the 3 play exceptionally well we have a chance to win. If all 3 play well we have a great chance to win. If 1 of the 3 play well or none of the three play well just count it a loss. You don't need to attend the game, you don't need to write an article. It's going to be an automatic L. It's a guards game, it's not the X's & O's its all the Jimmys and Joes. Today the Jimmys and Joes made plays and put the ball in the basket."
Wake Forest Head Coach Danny Manning
Opening Statement:
" I thought tonight we got off to a stagnant, slow start offensive. Didn't do a good job of finishing the half. I thought we did a good job in terms of getting some early fouls on them and then we didn't continue to press the issue and get into the bonus. For a while there, we had them at five fouls and then we got a couple more on them, so we got to the bonus but not as quick as we would like. I thought that Devoe and Alvarado controlled the game. Those guys did a terrific job of beating us off the bounce. We have to do a better job of standing in front of the basketball. There was stretch there where those guys made plays, so we have to do better job of who's on the court, who we are guarding, being in strong help, and making teams shoot shots over us. They got to the free-throw line a lot. Some of those were when we played the foul game down the stretch. Take a couple of those away and they are still there a lot."
Is the loss more frustrating with everything going on with the festivities and having Tim Duncan in the building...
"They are all the same to me. Doesn't matter who's in the building. You don't like it. It's not a pleasant feeling. It's not the feeling that you want. On the flip side of that, all the former players that made it back, being there for Coach Odom, seeing their former teammates was fun to see. We had a chance to have dinner with them last night. That's been beautiful. Hopefully those guys will continue to want to be a part of and support us like we know they do from afar, being able to come back. But sometimes life happens. Very fortunate for Tim to get back with his schedule. He made a huge commitment to being here for Coach Odom like the other guys did too, so we're always thankful for that. Chance for the former players to show their love for Wake was really nice. Wish we could have just played a lot better and got a win. That would have been perfect."
What clicked for Jahcobi tonight...
"Jahcobi is starting to figure out. I thought tonight there was a stretch where our freshmen were our best players on the court. Ish is known as a shooter. They ran him off the line and he did a good job of putting the ball on the deck and finishing at the rim. I thought Jahcobi a couple of games ago was our leading assist guy. Tonight he did a great job of getting into the paint. He led us in assists again tonight. He's starting to figure it out. Odi was good in my eyes too, just in terms of the effort he brings and his presence he has inside. I thought all of our freshmen have taken steps on improving this season and especially during ACC play."
Senior Brandon Childress
On tonight's play...
It's terrible; I played terrible, six turnovers as a leader and point guard is unacceptable. It's not gonna cut it. I have to be better, I will be better, just have to go back to the drawing board and continue to go from there.
On how they could improve...
Being solid in the little things; staying down, the shot fakes, obviously taking care of the ball is one of them. We just have to communicate more on offense and defensively as well. Everything else would be better, the better we communicate, the better we will be and the more efficient we will be as well.
On losing on such a historic night...
It's definitely disappointing when you have the greatest power forward to ever play the game sitting in the front court. All the alumni who were here from the '94-'95 team as well. I wish the outcome was different, but I feel like we didn't come out ready to play tonight. That's my fault and it showed up on the stat sheet. I take the bullet for this, I take the L and this is my fault. I have to do better. We have to make a change if we want any type of postseason success.
Freshman Jahobi Neath
On progressing as a freshman and beyond...
Just continuing to grow and getting comfortable, keep working. All it is is just staying in the gym, working hard and taking care of your body. The results will come, god willing. But, I mean, I just care about winning honestly. Good game, bad game, it doesn't matter to me. I just want to win and see my teammates happy and enjoy the win but unfortunately we took the L tonight.
On the up-and-down season...
I'd say it's more of a mental aspect, just with what the focus is on. At times we tend to focus on individual stats and attaining numbers, keeping averages and stuff like that. We focus more on the offensive side of the court at times, instead of focusing on our defense. We all know that defense wins games and championships. I feel like if we were to lock in defensively, study our scout more, focus on what guys are going to do and train our minds to be locked in on the defensive side and know that the offense would come. We'd probably have a better result.
