The University of Mississippi Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Tennessee
2/24/2018 | Men's Basketball
Ole Miss Acting Head Coach Tony Madlock
Opening statement…
"When you don't make shots, some of the hustle plays and the defensive plays don't work. We didn't make enough shots early to get us going defensively. We lost a lot of 50/50 balls, and it just kind of snowballed on us a little bit."
On going 1 for 23 from the three…
"It is never any fun when you see it. We had good looks for the most part. They have been working all year. They have been in the gym, so it is not like we are getting lack of reps, it is just a matter of getting them in in the game."
On shooting worse than at Missouri…
"Shots didn't fall. Guys didn't step up today and make shots. They shot it better in the second half, but couldn't get that three ball like we needed to."
On if he thought they would be in the game knowing Grant Williams only had six points…
"You never know how it's going to turn out. They are a really good team. They are top 20 in the country for a reason. Usually when someone doesn't have a good game, someone else steps up and that's what happened with (Admiral) Schofield today."
Tennessee Head Coach Rick Barnes
Opening statement…
"Give them credit. They stayed in it. We were able to build a lead back up and get a win. This time of the year, a win is a win. I don't think they should get it down the floor, but the way we responded was good. Our guards still have to do a better job of staying in front of the basketball. Better offense. Our offense led to so many good baskets in the second half. We took tough shots, but didn't have enough offensive rebounds. I thought Derrick Walker was really good today for a guy that hadn't practiced in two days. He and Pons came in whose three was a big one at the time, but overall, it is a good win for us."
On this win giving momentum…
"I think this time of the year you are trying to build momentum and get better in every area. The disappointing thing is that we talked a lot about coming out and starting the second half and that was the exact opposite of what we talked about doing. That was concentration, and being at the end of February right now you would like to think your team understands momentum. Knowing what you have to do to come out when you have a lead. There is no lead that is big enough, especially earlier in the game. The fact that we did respond when it got within four was a good thing that we need to build off of.