March 5, 2008

Recap | Final Stats | Notes

Columbia, S.C. –

South Carolina head coach Dave Odom
“Certainly a disappointing beginning and a disappointing end [to the game]. If you asked me at anytime today how I thought our team would play tonight, I would have told you that we would turn in a great performance. Our preparation could not have been better.”

“We were rested and coming off a win. I thought we had a really good game plan. I thought things were headed in the right direction. You’ve got to give Kentucky a lot of credit. They had an excellent game plan.”

“The only guy that looked like he had his game in gear from beginning to end was Mike Holmes. He certainly continues to get better as he goes along. I thought Sam Muldrow played very well.”

“The story of the game was [Kentucky’s] defense, the way they played it, and the way we did not react favorably to their double-teams, off ball picks, and things of that nature.”

“In the end, it was too much Joe Crawford, too much Ramel Bradley. Those two, on the offensive end and on the defensive end, controlled the game.”

“When [Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley] put their mind to it, they are as good as any two-some in the [SEC]. As you saw tonight, it was an extraordinary performance by Joe [Crawford].”

Players
Mike Holmes
“We worked hard in practice, but we didn’t play that good overall tonight. For Dwayne [Day] and Coach [Dave] Odom, we know it was their last game. We wanted to play hard to get the win, but we didn’t get going in the beginning of the game. We did the second half. If the whole game was like that, I think there would have been a better outcome.”

Zam Fredrick
“It was emotional. For Dwayne [Day] and Coach [Dave] Odom it was their last home game. We wanted to go out with a win. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. I’ll be back. I am taking it one game at a time.”

“We still have games to play. We played each team well in our conference. We have a chance to win the SEC tournament and get an automatic bid [the NCAA Tournament]. If we come out and work hard, anything can happen.”

Devan Downey
“They were double-teaming me all night. The first half, we put ourselves into a hole.”

“We were playing for Coach [Dave] Odom and Dwayne [Day]. This was the last night in the Colonial Center for everyone. We wanted to make this a memorable night.”

Dwayne Day
“I am not disappointed at all. I didn’t play as well as I thought I would.”

“I wanted to come out and win. Things happen. I am not going to be down. All I can do is come out to practice and get ready for the SEC Tournament.”

“I was not nervous at all tonight. I just wanted to go out and enjoy my last minutes in the Colonial Center.”

Head Coach Billy Gillispie

“It was a great win for us tonight against a scary team. Coach Odom is a classy coach. Every coach wants to be like him. It was a huge win for us though. These guys amaze me. They play really well together.”

“It was an unbelievable night for [Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford]. Both of those guys combined for 55 points. When seniors have commitment like they do, good leadership qualities, and are hungry to win, this happens sometimes. It makes me proud as a coach to see them work through tough times.”

(On chances of making the NCAA Tournament) “It was a big win for us. I don’t know what’ll happen with the other teams that play tonight. If things fall for us the way they can, we have a chance to be playing for the SEC Championship Sunday. [The selection committee] can’t ignore what this team has done in conference play. Both home and away, in wins and losses, this team does whatever it takes to win.”