Oregon State Post-Game Quotes
February 04, 2012 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 4, 2012
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Oregon State 76, Utah 58
February 4, 2012
Jon M. Huntsman Center
Salt Lake City, Utah
Head Coach Craig Robinson
On getting the road victory...
"We really needed to have a road win because it's hard to get them in this conference. We had a couple of close losses that we have to make up for so we can't afford to lose games that are winnable. When you get a lead like we had and let it get cut to eight, we had to make sure we kept the pressure on them. Its' really important to get a win on the road."
On responding when Utah cut the lead to eight in the second half...
"We responded with stops first and then converted them. That's something we haven't been able to do on the road so it was really nice to see the guys execute the game plan fully on the road. We typically do it at home but we had trouble doing it on the road so it was real nice to see those guys did it on the road."
On the Beavers' intensity in the game...
"Historically, defense has been the best part of our game. This year, because we have been so prolific on the offensive end, our defense has gotten a little bit less attention and less focus. So it's excellent to see these guys play and be able to switch in and out of defenses the way they are supposed to and force the other team into turnovers. That's how you get good."
On scoring points off all of the turnovers...
"We really pay attention to points off turnovers. That's a stat that we want to try to optimize every single game. That way we don't have to rely on our half court offense so much."
On the play of Jared Cunningham...
"Jared has evolved into one of the best players in the league, if not the best player in the league. I say `if not' because of what he does for us. When he first came to us, he wasn't a pro. I think that kid is going to be a pro at some point. In a league like this, you have to have one or two of those guys to be at the top of this league. He is incredibly important to us. I can't say enough about how important he is to us. The thing that gets sort of lost in the translation is the fact that he is a great defender. Not just a defender. He is the leading scorer (in the Pac-12) who loves to defend."
On winning four of the past five games, including two of the last three road games...
"It's really important that we get better on the road. It's a real good feeling because this is unchartered territory for us. It's important for us to win every game we play, but getting road wins this year is tough for everybody. To pick up two road wins, especially with the couple of close losses we had, is a very good feeling."
On the play of Joe Burton...
"As well as Jared played, Joe was the most valuable player for this game. He had a couple of miscues right at the beginning of the game but after that it was like he was trying to make up for that for the rest of the game and just carried us in all aspects of the game - rebounding, scoring, defense, assists."
On the play of Kevin McShane...
"Kevin came in and was very productive and he was great on defense."
Junior forward Joe Burton
On the overall game he played...
"My game comes from the team and my team helped me get where I was and my stat line looks good because of the team. I'm just grateful to be on the team with all of them and they helped me out. It's probably the best stat line I've had, except in high school when I had the quadruple-double, but this is my best in college."
