Nov. 27, 2004

Recap |  Final Stats |  Notes

WSSU 69, North Florida 66
Post Game Quotes

Coach Stitt
Coach, was this about what you expected from this North Florida team?
I don't know how much you knew about them coming into tonight's game. We knew a bit about them, we did know that they played maybe one of the toughest schedules in the country prior to us, they played a few top-25 (Division II) programs and a Division I program in Jacksonville University, so we knew they would be experienced, and we knew that they were going to be a good team, regardless of their record, so that wasn't really a surprise to us.

What was the difference in the second half? They had a size advantage, but you guys shut down the inside, how did you do that?
We tried to use our pressure and try to take advantage of our quickness. We knew we weren't going to have a lot of height. We were missing our starting four/five man tonight in Audly Wehner, so a lot of guys really stepped it up tonight and I think that we played hard, we surely didn't play very intelligent basketball, but I think that playing hard, that really got us the win tonight.

Of course it is still early, but these games are all about getting ready for conference play and the CIAA tournament. So what do you take from a game like this?
What you really get, and what you really notice is that you have to applaud these guys, especially for their effort. Them stepping up, especially with Audly, a starter, missing tonight, I mean, you really have to notice that guys stepped up tonight. Of course, we also notice that we have a lot to work on still. We are a long way from being a good basketball team right now...I mean, we are playing hard enough, but we play poorly sometimes, and I guess that is a mark of a good team, when you play poorly and still win games, and this team is definitely playing hard, and we need to tighten a few things up, especially in terms of offensive execution, because we play so hard defensively that we aren't really taking advantage of the turnovers that we are getting. We turn it right back over to much and we have to be better at taking care of it once we get it. And like I said before, the more we play, the more practice we get, we have smart, intelligent guys and good basketball players, and they will get it and we will be just fine.

Any final thoughts?
Yeah, I am happy to get the win, and I am really happy for these guys, because they really put the effort in, and hopefully we can learn from today and get ready for Tuesday.

Rashad McGee
Talk about the last few minutes, as you guys got the lead cut close by them, but you guys kept coming back and scoring. But they got that 3-pointer to make it close. What was said in the huddle after that?
We were just trying to stay in front of them. In terms of offense, we knew that we had to get good shots, not settle for jump shots. We had to stay disciplined. We knew they were going to have to foul sooner or later, so we just kept moving the ball and we had to make our free throws, and we did.

Do you feel like, and of course it is still early, but what is your assessment of where this team is right now?
I think that with the effort, we are all right. When we play hard, and intense, I think that we are in pretty good shape. I think that if we play two halves of basketball, we are good. But as far as playing smart, like Coach says, and channeling our intensity, that is what we have to work on. Not getting too caught up in the speed of the game, and being smart on defense, and not reaching. Once we get the mental aspect of the game down right, we will be a good team.

Roy Peake
Roy, you came into the game midway into the second half, after the opposition had a bit of a run, and you drew the hot man, and did a good job. Is that the game plan? Is that your assignment, to shadow the other point guy, and shut him down?
Coach just wants me to play hard defense. So I guess yeah, that is my job. We needed to play defense, and we needed some intensity, and I guess that my energy, my teammates feed off that energy and it pumps everyone up, and helps everyone step it up on defense.