Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State Postgame Quotes vs. North Texas
November 24, 2001 | Cowboy Basketball
Nov. 24, 2001
OSU Coach Eddie Sutton
"That's about the way we played in Las Vegas. We played in spurts. When we play well, we're a good team. I liked that first few minutes of the second half. You can't play any better than that. You have to give them some credit in the first half. They had some big shots. Our defense wasn't as active as it needs to be, but they hit some big shots."
"The only disappointing things the first half were our inability to hit free throws and the number of easy shots we missed underneath. We could have had a sizable lead. I was proud of the way they responded to a do-better talk at half time. They came out and really played well."
"It was encouraging that some of our other players had good games when some of the stars really didn't have a good game offensively like Maurice (Baker) and Fred (J?nz?n). I thought Fred showed the signs of fatigue more than anyone on the court. Andre (Williams) played better, and Cheyne (Gadson) continues to get better. Victor (Williams) hung in there well. I thought Aaron (Hill) played better. He just didn't get the shots. The shots he took were good."
"The one guy that I thought really spearheaded the energy that we needed was Melvin (Sanders). He really got it going with his great defensive effort forcing some turnovers. Our goal is always to get a team to shoot less than 40 percent, and we almost got that. Another goal is to force a team into a lot of turnovers, and they had 23, so that was probably the biggest factor in the game."
On the fatigue factor
"I'm not sure a college team has ever played that many games in such a short period of time. I know we never have. I've never heard of a team playing that many games, and I wouldn't want to do that again. I thought tonight the guys didn't really show it (fatigue) a lot there in the second half when we broke the game open. I'm sure they'll sleep well tonight, I know I will."
OSU Forward Melvin Sanders
On the slow start
"I really don't understand it. It seems like we have to have Coach (Sutton) challenge us before we doing anything. It was just like in Las Vegas when we were playing Siena. We were down by one but ended up winning by 21. I can't really explain it."
On other players stepping up beside Jonzen and Baker
"I know on any given night that Vic (Williams) or I can step up. Victor played an overall good game and Cheyne Gadson played a good game. Ivan played a good game. We played alright without Mo (Baker) and Fred (Jonzen).
OSU Forward Ivan McFarlin
On playing sluggish at times
"Some games we just get sluggish and relax. We don't want to run through the passes, we just get flat. Coach (Sutton) gets on us and challenges us during timeouts and halftime. He tells us that we need to work harder. So in the second half we turn it on."
On playing six games in nine days
"Six games in nine days is hard, but you're doing the same thing in high school and in AAU ball. I'm ready for the challenge. I can't tell my coach that I am tired in some games because he is going to need me some nights. I just want to go out there and work hard every night."
OSU Guard Victor Williams
On the game
"That is what we have been doing all year. We have to be a two-half ballclub. Sometimes Coach (Sutton) has to get on us real hard about coming out flat like we have been."
On the guard play
"Our guard play is very important. We have to come out and hit shots and play well. We really have to get our big guys playing well though."
OSU Forward Andre Williams
On the game
"We needed to come out and get on them early but we didn't. Luckily, we came out in the second half and played like we should. Coming from Las Vegas we couldn't ride our emotions and have a let down."
On the depth
"Our depth this year is unbelievable. We have 10-12 players that can play every night. Each game somebody has stepped up to play. In Vegas, Antoine (Broxsie) had a good game, Vic (Williams) had a good game. We are really deep this year and it will hopefully help us as we get further into the year."
North Texas Head Coach Johnny Jones
On first half
"We came out and matched their level of intensity the first half. We were able to execute our offense. I thought the first four to six minutes of the second half that we weren't patient. We turned the ball over and Oklahoma State does an excellent job of creating fast break opportunities. Very seldom do they not score and fast break opportunities and I thought that was the turning point of the game."
On improving since last year
"I thought our guys gave a great effort. We are a different basketball team than we were last year. Fortunately right now, we are a pretty healthy basketball team. We got a couple of new recruits in and I think the guys really compliment each other."
On OSU basketball team
"I think they are very good. They are a complete basketball team. I think they have great bench and their starters are excellent. They also have great shooters. They are a great rebounding team and very competitive. "
North Texas Guard Chris Davis
On holding Baker and Williams
"We knew they had more weapons, and a well balanced team. Baker and Williams are good players that are very mature, but we just come out here to play hard and whatever happens at the end of the game is what we have to accept."
On momentum in the second half
"They got after us, especially with our young team. After those first five or six minutes, we hung with them tight and didn't let them get more of a lead on us. We just had a let down at the beginning of the half, but that is something we can fix.
