Memphis vs. Houston Postgame Quotes

Jan 23, 2014 | Men's Basketball

Jan. 23, 2014

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No. 23/22 Memphis (14-4, 4-2) 82, Houston (11-8, 3-3) 59
Jan. 23, 2014
Memphis, Tenn. (FedExForum)

  Josh Pastner, Memphis Head Coach

Opening Statement:

Houston is a very good team. I love James Dickey (Houston Head Coach). I have nothing but the upmost respect for him and his team. I was very proud of our team’s energy, and they way we started the game tonight. Two of our guys, whom I believe can be our X-factor players, are Shaq Goodwin and Joe Jackson. Both of them had such great energy, and it starts with them. Chris Crawford started the game with excellent pace, and he was able to get us going early. He got in a little foul trouble, but his pace was fantastic.

I thought Geron Johnson made some big plays for us, and Michael Dixon Jr. gave us great minutes off the bench. Dixon Jr. came up with some big shots with some big three’s in the second half. David Pellom had some great charges, and Austin Nichols as well. Nichols had some great plays defensively, which set up our offense on the other end. Kuran Iverson and Nick King gave us good minutes towards the end as well. Everyone contributed in this game, and I just loved the energy.

I love the fact that we had 20 assists on 33 made field goals. Our turnovers still need to see some improvement, but overall, a good win for the Tigers. When you lose at home, or any loss, it kills you inside. A win, on the other hand, is like no other for our team and me. There is no better feeling than the thrill of victory.

On the team’s preparation leading into today’s game:

We did not work on any offense all week leading up to today’s game. After the LeMoyne-Owen game, all we worked on was defense. We went back to the basics of defense. Practice every day consisted of a little over an hour worth of defense and then a couple minutes of shooting. For the first time, I only focused on defense before a game. It was effective today, and we will see how it goes in the games to come. Since I have been here, we have been a very good half-court defensive team. This is the first year that we are not so effective. We have to get back to that in order to make a run towards the end of the season. If we can, I see great success in our team.

  David Pellom, Memphis graduate student forward

On tonight’s game:

Our energy won us the game out there tonight. They way we started and controlled the game set up the pace for the whole game. We played as a team and everyone was on the same page. Our game plan was to get it into the post but also to take away the three point shot because we knew they could shoot. I thought we were very effective in getting the ball down to the post as well.

  Michael Dixon Jr., Memphis senior guard

On tonight’s game:

I think Joe (Jackson) as well as Shaq (Goodwin) gave us great energy out there on the court. They are so active every possession and it affects the whole team. Shaq, with the start that he did have, got the whole team going and we went from there. Our game plan is to play inside then out. We have guys who can shoot the ball outside but we have to get paint touches first then we can work the ball around.    

  James Dickey, Houston head coach

Thoughts on tonight’s game:

They’re a very tough team, mentally and physically. That’s something that we need to improve on the road. It shows up in defense, discipline and then execution. We showed some life in the transition game, but did not do so consistently. We gave up way to many easy baskets early on, especially with [Shaq] Goodwin.

On his team’s three-point shooting:

They’ve got a good defense, but I thought we were just too impatient. You can’t just shoot your way in, you’ve got to execute. Good offense comes from execution, whether it’s from transition or in the half court game.

On playing the Tigers in Memphis:

We tried to emphasize that to our players for the last three days. We knew we were going to have to be at a high level from the start, because they were going to be. To win on the road, you have to get lots of stops. We got some, but that’s something we have to work on.