University of Memphis Athletics
Post-Game Quotes
Jan 20, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 20, 2010
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UTEP Head Coach Tony Barbee
Postgame Quotes
How big is this win, and what does it mean for the big picture of the season?
"This is a big win, obviously, because it is a very good Memphis team, and they have dominated the conference the last four or five years. That in itself makes it a big win, but in terms of my team, I didn't sell it that way. This just happened to be the next game on the schedule. Our goal from the start of the season, one of them, was to win C-USA in the regular season. To do that, you have to take care of your home court and go on the road and steal a couple. Tonight was as good of a night as any to go on the road and steal one."
Talk about the play of Jeremy Williams tonight and the other players that had big games for you.
"Jeremy (Williams) can shoot. He had 18 points and 12 rebounds and was aggressive from the start. That is the Jeremy Williams I thought I recruited. We all know how nice of a kid he is, and that is his personality. I have told him all year to have an alter-ego on the court, and he had that tonight on the court and played huge for us. Everybody played huge for us tonight. Arnett's (Moultrie) tough post move at the end of the game with the three point play gave us a little room down the stretch."
Is UTEP now the team to beat in C-USA this season?
"I think there are a few teams to be reckoned with this year, and hopefully we are one of them. We have to stay consistent. You can't take this win and take two steps back. You have to keep taking steps forward."
Is this your biggest win as coach at UTEP?
"We have had a lot of big wins. Beating Oklahoma was a big win. We have had some nice wins overall, but to beat a team like Memphis that has dominated this league for so long, it is obviously a big win."
How do you think Coach Pastner has done with Memphis?
"Coach Pastner has done a great job. The number one thing you have to do is get your team to play hard. There is no question he has got his team playing hard."
Memphis Coach Josh Pastner
Memphis vs. UTEP
January 20, 2010
On the loss and end of the streak?
"It was a tough loss and the guys took this hard, but you have to give all of the credit to UTEP. They are good. (Derrick) Caracter is a load. Moultrie is a load. This is an SEC-type talent play. They have good guard play. We had some turnovers in key situations. Unfortunately, a couple of those turnovers were by some of our key ball handlers. That's part of the game. Sometimes those things happen."
On reasons for the loss?
"We missed a lot of layups, and again we shot 64 percent from the free throw line. When the game comes down to a possession or two at the end, those things matter. That happens. Still, our young men battled. They left every ounce of energy they had on the floor, and you have to give total credit to UTEP. I'm proud of our guys for competing. They just had some plays go the other way late in the game there."
On five kids from Memphis on UTEP's team?
"Jeremy Williams, a local kid from here in Memphis, went for 18 points and 12 rebounds. He was an X factor for them. He hit a couple of big threes in the second half. Christian Polk hit a couple of big threes for them as well. Culpepper hit some threes and had the big steal there at the end."
Where Memphis goes from here?
"We have to keep working on the little things. There in the second half we had a chance to extend the lead, and didn't do that. We missed some layups. Those are little things that make a big difference. It's a long season. We have to keep our heads up, and work on the things we have to get better at. We'll go from there."
