The University of Mississippi Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Sam Houston State
12/13/2017 | Men's Basketball
Head Coach Andy Kennedy
On Bruce Stevens…
"Bruce (Stevens) is a really good back-to-the-basket player. I think there are certain things that you see and you say 'okay that's going to work tonight because that's against a team we are better than, but is that going to work against a better team, which we haven't beaten yet?' I think what Bruce does translates. He is big and he's quick and he creates space with his body, making tough angle shots. Offensively, at the block, I think what he does translates, and we are trying to establish a low post presence and he's our best option. But on the defensive side, he has got to get better. If he can get better defensively, I think our team can take that next step. We have enough guards. I am not really pleased with any of them, but we have enough where we can shuffle them around. We need a constant presence inside. It is KG (Marcanvis Hymon) defensively and it is Bruce offensively, but this isn't football. You have to be able to play both ends. Bruce needs to get better defensively."
Main takeaway from tonight…
"We won. It has been a long time since we won. We had spurts. It should have been a 20-point game at the half. We took our foot off the pedal and they battled back. We are not playing with a sense of urgency. They are hearing it every day, but they have to believe it and buy in."
On Dominik Olejniczak's performance…
"I would have loved to have played him more because I thought his minutes were good, but defensively they were super small. They got back in the game by attacking Dom three straight times, and then we got Bruce on him and they attacked Bruce. That's why we had to go small."
On having assistant coach Rahim Lockhart back…
"It was great. His heath has improved dramatically. We were just waiting for what the doctors told us. He is going to be a big addition. It was great for him to be back."
