The University of Mississippi Athletics
Post Game Quotes: Memphis
12/3/2016 | Men's Basketball
Ole Miss Head Coach Andy Kennedy
On the win…
"We're growing as a team. The reality was, we've got a lot of guys in a lot of spots who have never been there. It's nice to grow with a win, especially in a rivalry game. It's very important to a lot of Ole Miss people. I wish we would've been a little smoother, but quite frankly, I think we probably needed that. If we can grow from it and learn from it.
On the strong first-half effort…
"I was really pleased with our approach with the last couple of days after the debacle of a first half against Middle Tennessee State. For us to respond over the last two days, hold ourselves accountable, and to come out of the gate with great energy. I thought our focus was locked in. We were moving the ball. We had 13 assists in the first half, which is a usual game for us. Shows we were really moving the ball."
On Memphis' second-half run…
"To Memphis' credit, Tubby Smith is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, we knew they were going to make adjustments. They started really hurting us when we tried to half-court trap them, which was effective in the first half. Made some adjustments, played over the top, and the next thing you know, you look up and you're behind."
On the second-half comeback…
"I thought they guys really responded the way that you would hope. I thought Cullen Neal made good decisions with the ball, really shot the ball well, made a huge three as we were mounting that comeback. Sebastian Saiz was the man, and that's what you want your workhorse to be. He made huge plays. I thought Marcanvis Hymon was terrific down the stretch protecting the rim."
Memphis Head Coach Tubby Smith
On the game…
"I've got to commend Ole Miss. They had a good run there. We were in position to pull away. When you're on the road, you have to play a little smarter. But I loved our effort and our energy and the no-quit attitude that our guys displayed today."
On the late second-half drought…
"We turned it over three out of four times, you're not going to get many looks when you don't get a shot at the basket. We had offensive fouls and fouled a 3-point shooter. Those types of things, you just can't make those types of defensive mistakes. But they made the shots when they had to. They made plays when they had to."
