The University of Mississippi Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Alabama
1/23/2018 | Men's Basketball
Alabama Head Coach Avery Johnson
Opening statement...
"I just want to congratulate Coach Kennedy and his team. They came out and they were ready to paly. We have been getting off to good starts the last couple of games, but we got off to a slow start tonight, especially defensively. They made some 3s on us, they made some on-time and on-target passes. Our defense wasn't very good, but give them credit. They have been a hot team at home during SEC play. You have to play more than a 14 or 16-minute stretch to have success on the road in any building in the SEC. It was a great learning lesson for our team. We have a lot to learn. They fight hard and have done a good job of bouncing back after some disappointing losses, but tonight wasn't just about our lack of production. Tonight was about a hungry team in Ole Miss coming out ready to play and trying to impose their will on us. When we came back a couple times, they still had another gear to go to that we just didn't have."
On what Ole Miss did differently to come back...
"They put more pressure on us and we turned the ball over. We just didn't do a good job of getting organized, we didn't have great shot selection, we didn't move the ball and we didn't make their defense work. They took control of the first half and went into the locker room with momentum and a 10-point lead."
On Collin Sexton returning from injury...
"It is tough for anyone to come back, especially a freshman. You miss a couple games in conference play and guys got their rhythm, especially on the other team. I thought there were some spots there where his rhythm wasn't there. He will get it back. He is a very important member of our team."
Ole Miss Head Coach Andy Kennedy
Opening statement...
"I thought our approach out of the gate was awesome. Alabama came in as the No. 1 defensive efficiency team in the SEC - you saw how big they are - we knew we had to move them, drive them and make good decisions and that is exactly what we did. Then we made shots. It helps when you make shots. We made some mistakes, some turnovers and come ill-advised shots. Alabama's first three or four baskets were runouts or offensive rebounds and then they settled in, started moving the ball, relaxed a little bit and made some shots. Really proud of our guys to take that punch and to come right back and finish the half strong. When we started the second half I thought we had decent looks at the rim, just didn't finish over their length. Alabama got out in the open floor and next thing you know it's a two or three possession game again. I think it got down to one and responded. I said all along when we really get contributions, we play five guards. Devonte Shuler is a true freshman, so like most true freshman this time of the year, their production has slips a little bit. They will kind of get their second wind and respond. Our four veterans, if they all play well, which they did tonight, then we are a pretty good basketball team."
On Markel Crawford...
"It was great to see him go 6 for 9. He is a 22-year old post-grad, he knew that ball was going to lift. He makes that steal, goes down and gets that dunk that really got the energy in the building back. Then he made open shots. Good defensive teams are going to get to the level of the ball, so all of our ball screen action, we were driving it and they were sinking to the level of the ball, but we were executing by making the pass and then at the end of all of that, you have to make the shot. Tonight we were fortunate to make it."
On the defense...
"Our ball-screen defense is getting better. We allowed them to have a clear path to the basketball. We did not know if Sexton was going to play or not. We prepared for him to go, but he obviously wasn't finishing at the rate he usually does. Some of that was rust and some of that was us putting bodies on him."