University of Memphis Athletics
Memphis Basketball Postgame Quotes
Jan 09, 2005 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 9, 2005
Memphis Head Coach John Calipari
"We went right after them. We played the way we're trying to get our team to play. These guys are really competing. It was a good solid effort and a good win and that's what we have to do. Hopefully, this ridiculous schedule has prepared us for our league and to win games in this league."
"On the year, we are holding people to about 38 percent shooting (on defense). That's got to be in the top 10 in the country. We're playing and we're holding teams down. Defense is not our problem. What happened in the second half -- us shooting 26 percent -- has been our problem. That's because we held onto the ball instead of making extra passes, making hard cuts, and getting open. We backed up our intensity."
"(Sean) Banks did great. In the second half, it looked like he got tired and that's why I took him out. He was just tired but he tried. The first half may have been as well as he has played all year. He came out and he was terrific. I thought there were a couple of times in the second half where he just needed to shoot the ball but that's ok."
Southern Miss Head Coach Larry Eustachy
"This was as disappointed as I have ever been with a team at halftime. I only know one way, and that is to compete and coach hard. I was direct at halftime and tried to pick the five toughest guys at halftime to get out there and compete."
"I was worried about just competing. I told the team a year ago this would have been a 40-point loss. We made some progress tonight despite a loss. We did not quit, which is a start, because I will not tolerate it and I will not have it."
"I thought we battled and responded well in the second half. We held Memphis under 20 points in the second half. I thought we played harder than Memphis (in the second half), but dug too big of a hole to have any chance."
