Oklahoma State University Athletics
Postgame Quotes
December 01, 2010 | Cowboy Basketball
Dec. 1, 2010
Recap |
Final Stats |
Photo Gallery 
Oklahoma State Cowboy Basketball
Postgame Quotes vs Central Arkansas
Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010
Oklahoma State Head Coach Travis Ford
On playing four games in a week
"Yesterday in the first 20 minutes of practice, we were just winded. It's tough when you play three games in a four-day span and the day off, you really don't practice. Games can actually get you out of shape a little bit. We were just a little bit winded; that trip took a lot out of us."
On Central Arkansas
"You have to give Central Arkansas a lot of credit. They played very hard and did some things to disrupt our offense a little bit."
On the positives and negatives of the game
"We did things we needed to do in order to win the game. We rebounded the ball, we made some shots when we needed to make them, but not taking care of the ball is putting so much pressure on our basketball team right now. We have to figure it out; we have to start taking care of the basketball better. Guys have to make better decisions and we need to do a better job of getting guys in spots. Turnovers are just really holding our team back right now."
"Our defense is giving us a chance to be successful right now but our offense is what is making it so close."
Senior Forward Marshall Moses
On holding Central Arkansas to 34 percent shooting
"I think we played pretty decent defense, but we made a lot of mistakes defensively too. Guys got by us and got to the basket and we didn't handle some screens that we should have, but overall I think we played pretty good defense to hold them to 34 percent shooting."
On Central Arkansas being able to keep the game close
"I give them all the credit, they played hard and are a good team, but we didn't play very well tonight. We found a way to win, but the way that we played tonight was unacceptable."
On Keiton Page's free-throw ability
"When we are in the bonus it is just time for the team to know to get the ball to Keiton because he has the best chance at making the free throws. I don't think he missed one tonight."
On the team's performance...
"I think that Jean-Paul (Olukemi) played really well and Keiton made his free throws down the stretch. I played alright and I missed a couple of shots that I usually make, that I should have made, and that I will make in the future. Jean-Paul put us on his back, and it shows with his 17 points."
Sophomore guard/forward Jean-Paul Olukemi
On the team's performance
"There was just a lack of energy. We didn't come out with the energy that we were supposed to come out with, no killer instinct to just put the team away early. We were probably thinking this team was going to be easy, and credit to them, they played hard, we just didn't come out and focus, and we let them hang around."
On if fatigue was part of the problem in OSU's performance
"I don't want to make excuses. We should just come out and give it all we've got until we can't give it anymore, but I would have to say some of the traveling may have contributed to that."
Central Arkansas Head Coach Corliss Williamson
On the game
“I was very proud of team's effort; coming in here; fighting; trying to figure out a way to get a win, but you've got to tip your hat off to Oklahoma State. They're a very tough team. Coach Ford really has them prepared to play basketball the right way. For our kids, our focus at the end of the game is something we have to work on. Hopefully the lessons we learn here against Oklahoma State will prepare us for the future in our conference play. I do want to tip my hat off to Coach Ford. He's done a great job with this team preparing them to win games and it's going to be exciting to watch them throughout the year.”
On Oklahoma State's free throw shooting
“That was one of the things we didn't want to do. We didn't want to put, especially Page on the line – shooting 87 percent. He was 10-10 from the free throw line in the second half. We kind of got away from moving our feet on defense. We started reaching a little more in the second half and as a result of that they able to get to the free throw line. Also they were killing us on the offensive boards, so anytime you get rebounds inside guys tend to foul. I think that's what happened with us.”
On why they shot poorly
“It was their defense, definitely. They got up and really pressured our guards in the half court and made it difficult for us to get in our sets. I think guys, early on we were a little tentative and kind of soft woth the basketball. We didn't really triple threat and we weren't strong when we had it. That's something we tried to address at halftime. I think we played a little better in the second half, but Coach Ford has that team ready to play good solid defense. It's really exciting to watch them.”
