Post Game Quotes vs. FIU

Nov. 24, 2013

Post Game Quotes vs. FIU
Nov. 24, 2013

Head Coach Frank Martin
Opening Statement
I’m really happy with our young kids. I knew this was going to be a hard game. I’m happy with how we protected our home court in the second half. I continue to be unhappy with our perimeter defense. Our perimeter defense is not any good. We don’t put up any fight in our man to man. I knew we had to play some zone today because of match-ups and because they have a bunch of good guys who are dribble-drive guys. But for us to not even provide any resistance, we have to learn a lesson. So I left us out there to make sure we get enough minutes on film so I can show these guys. And then they have to make the decision on whether or not they want to grow as individuals so our team can grow because of their collective efforts. But with that said, I’m happy with how we came out in the second half. Our offense is not bad; I continue to say that . Our defense continues to be a concern.

On Jaylen Shaw
Jaylen was pretty good for the first couple of weeks or month of practice. And then he had a family situation. Which, whenever he speaks to the media you can ask him if he wants to share that with you. And it hurt him. I don’t want to use the word disinterested, but he is a young kid and it affected him. But somehow, here over the last six or seven days he had three unbelievable days of practice. See all I can ever ask is for our players to go out on the court and do what they’re asked to do and then listen and then go out there and compete their tails off. And he’s done that for three days. And when they do that, it’s my duty to play them. You know, how do you ask someone to do their job and then you don’t reward them? And he’s done it so he deserves the right to go out on the court. And then, he missed that first look, but it was there. And then when I saw him take that second look with the confidence of I’ve been doing this all year. It kind of let me know this kid isn’t scared of the moment. And our guys found him and he did a great job of playing. The thing I was proudest of, he made some defensive mistakes, which I expect him to make because he’s so young, but he’s pretty solid on defense too. That’s where he’s grown the most.

Junior Guard Tyrone Johnson
On using zone defense in the second half
I think it got us to focus. Coach got on us at halftime about those guys driving to the basket and us not stopping the ball, us not talking, and them being more hungry than us. So Coach coached us at halftime. He told us we’re going to play 20 minutes and protect our home court or we’re going to lose. Simple as that. He made the switch for us to play zone, which helped to keep them out of the paint. And today, I don’t think their shooters were hitting too much in the second half. First half they were making shots because they were driving in the paint and penetrating. But like I said, Coach decided to make the switch for us to go zone and we protected the paint and rebounded.

On driving in the paint which opened up the 3-point shot
The Baylor game and the Clemson game I missed a lot of layups that I usually make. But I didn’t get down on myself. I just told myself that I’m going to keep on being aggressive. I’m just going to get to the basket and create a lot for others. Again, with seven assists, that’s good on my behalf, which produces points. But again, a team winning means getting your teammates involved and giving them confidence. I think Mindaugus [Kacinas] had another double-double. He was just able to catch the ball and lay it up. I think Coach helped me out all this week in trusting the other guys. He told me to be patient, but keep on attacking. Guys are going to guard two on me, so somebody else is open. I think today I was just trying to be aggressive and today was my day. I’m happy with the win and going on to the next game.

Senior Guard Brenton Williams
On the play of freshman guard Jaylen Shaw
Jaylen, as of this week, had one of his best practices that he’s had since he’s been here. He’s worked really hard this week and especially the last two days before this game. And Frank decided to play him this game. He was great because he was aggressive and he was definitely a spark off the bench right away as soon as he got in the game to keep us going in the first half and he continued in the second half and that’s what we needed. We needed the other guys to step up and that’s what he did.

On the emphasis to feed the ball to the bigs inside
That’s a big emphasis Coach puts on us as far as feeding the post. He wants us to not come into games settling for outside jump shots. He wants us to put pressure on the other team in the paint first.

FIU Head Coach Anthony Evans
Opening Statement
It was a hard fought game, but South Carolina took over in the second half, especially towards the end. They rebounded, they executed, and they slowed us down in the zone.

Overall game thoughts
I thought it was a good effort on our part, but we played against a good basketball team and they finished the game.

On Jaylen Shaw’s performance
He came off the bench and knocked off some shots, which you want, that hurt us. He is a good player.