University of Tennessee Athletics
Postgame Quotes
February 01, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 1, 2003
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TENNESSEE HEAD COACH BUZZ PETERSON
On Today's Game:
"We have been in this situation, it seems like, for a year and a half. We get up on teams and cannot seem to put them away. Today, we were able to get a win. We did a good job on (Marquis) Daniels and (Marco) Killingsworth defensively. Auburn is a good basketball team and we knew they were going to make a run. To pick up a win on the road is tough, especially in the best league in the nation. I am real proud of our guys today. These guys have a big heart. The senior leadership of Ron (Slay) John (Higgins) is big for this team. These guys come out and play hard. Hopefully, this win will give us some confidence."
On the defense Tennessee used:
"We tried to double Marco down low, and put guy on his right shoulder and I think we did a good job on him today. We knew Marquis was going to get his shots, so we wanted to limit as many as possible."
TENNESSEE GUARD C.J. WATSON
On the shot clock buzzer beater shot:
"We knew the clock was running out and I heard coach yelling to shoot it. I just put a shot up and it went in. Coach was telling me in practice not to shoot those shots in practice because they don't go in; I guess I proved him wrong."
On Auburn:
"We knew they were a good team and were going to make a run. I am glad that we won this game."
AUBURN HEAD COACH CLIFF ELLIS
"You have to give credit to Tennessee, they are a good team. Ron Slay made some big plays. The rest of their guys made some big plays. They came in here and deserved to win. Our team didn't play well. You have to look to me for that. We got out of the concept of the team. When the game is over and you look back at the first-half, we just took some bad shots. This league has no mercy for that. Tennessee is a very good basketball team.
I am disappointed and it all falls on my shoulders. Some of it has to do with the week off. Some of it has to do with losing to Kentucky and Georgia while playing well. We need to do a better job. I didn't like the shots we were taking, but the rebounding stat really worries me the most. We have been shooting free throws well, but they didn't come around for us today.
Every game is tough in the SEC. The only game that has been convincing for us is the Alabama game here. Vanderbilt was tough. Going to South Carolina and Arkansas were both tough.
We have to focus as a team and start to get back to doing the things we need to do. In regards to our fans, we are still going to need them here on Wednesday and next Saturday. It is going to be a key stretch. We have to get our emotion back around here."
