Postgame Quotes

Nov. 18, 2012

PUERTO RICO TIP-OFF

POST-GAME QUOTES

Game 12 – North Carolina State vs. Oklahoma State

Mark Gottfried, Head Coach, North Carolina State

“You gotta give Oklahoma State credit. I thought they played pretty well. That was as poor a performance as we have had in a long time. I'm not sure we did a lot of things well. We came out casual and, like in a prize fight, they took it to us.

“We had the ball around the rim to start the game and came up empty a number of trips. We got ourselves in a hole right from the start. Foul trouble hurt us but we didn't do many things right tonight at all. I think we are a lot better basketball team than we played tonight but it is what it is. Again, Oklahoma State deserves a lot of credit. We got down and we didn't handle adversity as well as we have.

“It's my job to make sure we are ready to play. Tonight, we weren't ready to play. It's disappointing. We were playing for the championship of this tournament and came out very casual to start the game. I didn't like that at all. We didn't seem to make shots. We struggled to make baskets.”

Rodney Purvis, guard, NC State

“We have to look at ourselves in the mirror and train ourselves to be ready mentally. We have to come out and have a better start. But that won't happen anymore. This can happen any night. We have a bulls eye on our back. We have to prepare ourselves physically and mentally for every game and come out here and play.”

Travis Ford, Head Coach, Oklahoma State

“I thought we played against three teams in this tournament that will be in the NCAA Tournament in Akron, Tennessee and NC State. The way we started the game was the difference. We played with a high level of intensity, playing above the rim and taking them out the areas where they like to score. NC State might have the most potent offense we will see all year. Their top six guys can score in so many different ways. NC State is one of the top teams in America and we competed with them in every aspect.

“Marcus (Smart) just got hot and got into a rhythm. He can do so many different things on the court to help us win. And LeBryan Nash played with such a flow throughout the tournament and it was just fun to watch. They did so many different things well. We are at our best when LeBryan is getting to the foul line.

“Coming to Puerto Rico, this was first class all the way. From the facilities, to the way they treat you. When ESPN puts on a tournament, it is done the right way.”

Marcus Smart, guard, Oklahoma State

“You could tell when we first scored, they didn't have a feeling of intensity by the looks on their faces. They have a lot of great players. And we just knew we were gonna have to come out, be ready and play hard. I could feel it. I could sense I was hot and my teammates got me the ball and it got us going.”

Oklahoma State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Marcus Smart

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