Oregon State Postgame Quotes
December 15, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 15, 2011
Recap | Final Stats | Notes
Oregon State vs. Howard
December 15, 2011
Gill Coliseum
Corvallis, Ore.
Head Coach Craig Robinson
Opening comment...
"I was really pleased with the way we came out and played defense. We never stopped, even when they came out and got a couple of threes early. Our defense has turned into our identity and that is really fun. That is one thing of note, the second thing of note is that getting into the second half has always been a chore, and to see us be able to come out and jump right on top of them and increase that lead, was really nice."
On having three players with at least 20 points...
"That is like when I go to an NBA game and I am looking up at the stats and I am thinking 'wow it is hard to lose when three players have 20 points or more.' I am sure that I haven't had three guys with 20-points in all my years of coaching, assistant or head coach. I can't even remember playing in a game where three players had 20-points. That was a big deal and I didn't realize it until the very end when I was trying to decide who to take out and when, then I looked up at the scoreboard and thought 'oh my goodness.' That is a good problem to have. If we can have that kind of production, along with the defense that we are playing, that makes a coach sleep easier at night."
On Angus Brandt's performance tonight...
"There was a variable smorgasbord of how he scored tonight. What you guys saw was a culmination of the hard work that he put in during the summer. Every single shot that he took, he worked on this summer. He had the right-jump-hook, the left-sky-hook, the drop-step-and-one type shot, a finishing dunk, three-point shots, step out mid-range shot, I mean every single one of those shots he works on. Angus or Kevin (McShane) are always the first ones out here before the games working on their shots, and I couldn't be happier for him. I really think that the cherry on the top for Angus was playing in that international competition this summer. I think that has given him confidence to use all the tools that he has. We couldn't be happier for him and it couldn't happen to a nicer kid."
On Angus being a nightmare match-up for teams...
"That is why we play him on the wing when they play zone. When you have a guy like Joe Burton, who is already that nightmare match-up, some people put their five-man on them, or their four-man, and then when you have Angus and Devon too, sometimes they put their three-man on them. So between the three of those guys, we can create a lot of match-up problems for a lot of guys. I know you guys see it, but I don't know if you guys digest how he guards smaller guys. Angus and Joe are two of the best bigger guys who close out on guards. I am really proud of how they embraced this man-to-man defense."
On the man-to-man defense transitioning into offensive momentum...
"It has always been our ability to create some offense with our defense, even when we are playing zone. Just to watch the guys weak-side help, the ball pressure, going for loose balls and being able to get some easy things from your defense, it just makes the offense run better because you aren't running it as much. Before we were playing man-to-man, we were running half-court offense 60 to 70 percent of the time. What happens when you have to do it that much, the other team kind of figures out what you are going to do. If you can get out and get a few transition buckets, it really helps your half-court offense."
On the team feeding off the momentum tonight...
"I think that basketball is a momentum game, so anytime you can get it, you want to try and ride it. I am not a surfer, but you know you just wait for your good waves and then you ride it. So if we can find a steal or a blocked shot, we try to convert that and use that to play better defense. It's not a secret, I think a lot of people do that when they are coaching. Basketball is such a psychological game, so when you get some momentum and you can get your momentum and your crowd behind you it is really nice. Having 4,100 people here a week after exams, a week before Christmas and on a Thursday night, I can't remember during the four years I have been here, that we have had that many people here during this time."
Junior guard Jared Cunningham
Comparing the dunk tonight to last year's "Kiss the Sky" slam...
"I think it was pretty good. When I saw the replay on the big screen I was pretty amazed because I did not see the guy right there when I jumped."
On the dunk from the second half...
"That just shows how our team has been going because can come together. When Ahmad sees me and I see Ahmad, that is just what happens."
On Ahmad Starks' and Roberto Nelson's shooting...
"I believe that I have said it in a previous interview, but when you see Ahmad and Roberto, they show you what they can do. In the last two games both Ahmad and Roberto have stepped up, knocking down shots and I have been very proud of them."
On the feeling that the Idaho game was years ago and the team has its swagger back...
"I do not think that our swagger has ever left. We just had an off night when we played Idaho and they played well. We have a different mindset this year and we are going to be ready to come out and play every day."
On having somewhere to go watch the highlights on a TV with cable...
"My teammate Ahmad who lives right above me has cable, so after this I just might go sit on his couch and watch the highlights."
Sophomore guard Ahmad Starks
Discussing the win...
"Tonight's win felt great. To be able to get a rhythm out there, everyone was in a flow tonight and that is what we want. It was a complete team effort by everyone and not just myself shooting threes."
Did you know before the game that you were going to have a great night...
"I was feeling pretty good before the game and I think that first play when Jared got me on the roll was what set the tone for me tonight."
Does winning by 20 points show how dangerous this team can be...
"It makes our team very dangerous. To have those different scoring options out there, we are getting a lot of points of the defense and that is great. Just to have that drive going into Pac-12 games is a great feeling. We still cannot get to a 100 (again), but we will get there."
Junior forward/center Angus Brandt
Talking about 100 points and if the guys enjoy playing in this system...
"Yes it is great, and I think that it is our man-to-man defense that is putting points on the board for the offense. When Jared had that break away alley-oop dunk, you would not have seen that play a couple of years ago and I think it just comes down to the defense and us working together as a team."
On Jared Cunningham's dunk...
"I was thinking the same thing as Ahmad and waiting to see what he will do next (and) if he can do something that is pretty close to last year's dunk. I think that Jared is pretty close."
