Coppin State vs. Oregon Quotes
11/15/14 | Men's Basketball
Dana Altman, Oregon Head Coach
On the team's effort in the first game of the season…
“We didn't start off very well defensively, they threw in a lot of three's there early and they weren't very well contested, so I was disappointed with the way we started the game. After that, I thought our defensive intensity picked up and I thought we moved the ball pretty well. Guys made some plays, but I thought there were still some more plays to be made.”
On the progression of this new team…
“It was a step. Obviously we're going to play really good teams here in the next ten days, so we need to take a step and I thought we took a little one tonight and we'll have to take a bigger one Monday night against Detroit.”
On Casey Benson…
“Casey has had three solid outings. He really came in and gave us good minutes, moved the ball well. As I said, he had three assists, no turnovers. He hit a couple nice threes, left one short, otherwise he shot the heck out of the ball.”
“He's all about the team and he's making good plays. He's going to play a big role for us, there's no doubt about it.”
On Joseph Young…
“That was a great game. His parents flew in today to see him play, so I'm sure that got him going.”
“I thought he got off to a great start, hit some threes, and then the eight assists, one turnover is really good. He pushed the ball up the floor, gave it up, and really made some good plays.”
Joseph Young, Guard, #3
On his performance…
“I feel great, but it's a team thing. It's not about me. I feel like I just had to play for my team to get up that intensity.”
On team chemistry…
“It all starts with off the court. Team chemistry. We cook pork chops, get together and talk to each other about the type of intensity we need to bring tomorrow to the game. We all come together. We are all brothers and just have to keep working.”
On the passing game opening up…
“Guys are diving in on me so there are a lot of guys open. Making that extra play and coach says, 'making the smart play'. That is more of my game this year, making the smart plays in that point guard and shooting guard position.”
On his leadership…
“No one said leadership was easy. It is not an easy task. I do get frustrated sometimes but I do not let it hinder me. I stay positive, keep a smile on my face and try to come in with a positive intensity.”
Michael Grant, Coppin State Head Coach
On falling behind early...
“I thought we started off the game with a lot of energy, and then it really kind of hurt us from the 11:30 mark (in the first half) or somewhere around there, all to the way to 1:30, we didn't score. We had some good looks, they just didn't fall.”
On Oregon...
“They are going to be a good team, they really pushed it more than we did. I thought that we were the type of team that can really get up and down the floor and play fast, but just by looking at it (stat sheet), they had a lot more fast-break points than we did. They really got up and down the floor and scored the basketball.”
On the season ahead...
“We just have to get better, we got a long season with a 29-game schedule – that's only one behind us – so we got 28 more games to go and this is a learning experience for this team. They have to continue to try to learn me, and I have to try to learn them (the team).”
