University of Tennessee Athletics
Postgame Quotes
March 01, 2003 | Men's Basketball
March 1, 2003
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LSU vs. Tennessee
Thompson-Boling Arena
March 1, 2003
TENNESSEE HEAD COACH BUZZ PETERSON: "Give L.S.U. credit for shooting the ball like they did tonight. They really knocked down the 3-pointers. We're not playing defense with the energy and the intensity that we did two weeks ago. I've tried to motivate the team by pushing the right buttons, but I haven't succeeded. I told them after the game that they've had too good a season so far to hang their heads now.
"What makes this so discouraging is that we were going along so well; then to have four straight losses, including two here at home. But who knows? Maybe we can come back and beat Mississippi State and Vanderbilt next week.
"We need to be in a low-scoring game where we can count the clock down. At the half, I felt okay with only a 14-point deficit. We got the momentum going for a little while in the second half, but then L.S.U. opened it up again. L.S.U. is a team that is playing with confidence and knocking down its shots."
LOUISIANA STATE HEAD COACH JOHN BRADY: "Winning on the road is about execution. It also helps to make a few shots. We made 30 baskets, and had 27 assists. Fifteen assists would be normal, that shows a team that is sharing the ball, making the extra pass, and getting quality shots. We're playing with a lot of confidence. We shot 63% from the floor, 78% from the 3-point line, and had 6 turnovers. Those numbers are pretty good for our team, and I am proud of them.
"Collis Temple III is shooting the ball like I thought he would. After the Mississippi State game, we went into a shooting spin, but the right people are making quality shots, and we're playing well. You have to convince them to stay with what they are doing, selling them on the fact that they're fine. They just have to relax and play. We have to convince them to trust each other, the grades are positive and they have to keep shooting the ball. I think we made a statement tonight. This is a good Tennessee team, and we came in here and controlled the game from the opening tip.
"I thought we played well against Vanderbilt, and played well at Kentucky. Then we played well against Arkansas and Auburn."
