University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee-LSU Postgame Quotes
January 26, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 26, 2011
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ACTING TENNESSEE HEAD COACH Tony Jones:
"Great effort by our kids. They came out with a mind-set and the focus and they were determined to win this basketball game. Our message was to get our identity back. We built this program in the five years we've been here on toughness, aggression and playing Tennessee basketball. We kind of got away from that, especially in the second half, in the game against UConn. I thought our players were really focused on the scouting report. We knew their personnel's tendencies. We took away their strengths. I think we won the game going away.
"I was disappointed a little bit in the first half with Malcom White getting opportunities and keeping them in the basketball game. They had 10 second-chance points and Malcom White had nine rebounds (by halftime). We talked about that, keeping him off the glass. We're familiar with him. He transferred from Ole Miss. Their two freshmen, (Matt) Derenbecker and (Andre) Stringer, we knew we had to limit their touches. They are capable basketball players that have shown the tendency to knock down open 3s and get on a roll and keep them in the basketball game. Derenbecker hurt us early. We lost him and didn't stay attached. That was a little troubling also. But overall, I'm very happy with the young men's performances out there. We had a lot of great individual performances. As a team, seven turnovers; we took care of the basketball. We had seven turnovers and probably a couple of them were late. That's a focus of ours. We had an 18-6 advantage in points off turnovers. We did a good job of turning them over and then turning it into points, something we thought we could do.
"Tobias Harris got his sixth double-double of the season. He had nine rebounds in the first half. Tobias missed some easy shots in the first half right around the basket that he usually converts. He was a little disappointed in that, but I'm happy that he battled back and got that double-double.
"We held LSU to 34 percent shooting. We had nine steals, seven blocks. We outscored them 34-18 in the paint and that was a focus of ours, not to just settle for jump shots because we knew they were going to play a 2-3 zone. That's been their M.O. for the better part of the year, to play 95 percent zone. In some instances, we've not attacked the zone throughout the season the way we would have liked. But our kids did a good job of moving the ball, knowing where the next pass should go before they even catch the basketball. Overall, I'm very happy with this performance and I'm sure Bruce (Pearl, head coach) watching the game at home when I speak to him tonight.
"That was the focus: Let's don't forget to pass. We've come out and laid eggs in some instances. We've given away double-digit leads in some instances this year. I wanted to make sure they were aware of that, and our focus was not to do that, to control the offensive glass, not allow them second opportunities, stay attached to their hip on 3-point shooters and continue to move the ball. I mean, 20 assists on 29 baskets - that tells me our guys were sharing the basketball. We did a good job of hitting Scotty (Hopson) in rhythm for some open shots. We hit Skylar (McBee) in rhythm for some shots. Melvin (Goins) got some shots off ball reversal. We got the ball to the short corner and Cam (Tatum) got some shots. The list goes on and on. John Fields got five blocks, and I wish he could have gotten another one. Six is the school record. Cameron and Scotty, those guys played awfully well. Melvin played well and was a double-digit scorer tonight. He had six assists and no turnovers. And our bench gave us a lift. When our starters had a little lull out there in the second half, Josh Bone, Steven Pearl, Trae (Golden) and Skylar came in to give us a great lift. And Brian (Williams) played better in the second half, also."
LSU HEAD COACH TRENT JOHNSON:
"We had some breakdowns right before the half. We were within striking distance, but when you've got a team as talented, skilled, and on the edge like they were from previous performance, you can't let them open a cushion. What I am talking about is we had two guys leaking out and I think they had two rebound putbacks on loose balls. Then we broke down on the offensive glass and you're talking about five possessions that led to 15 points right before the half.
"When they are like that, they are good. They shoot it well. It had nothing to do with what we were doing or couldn't do. They were in a rhythm and they were relaxed. We couldn't put any pressure on them - man or zone.
"We just need to get some guys healthy. It will be nice to have Ralston Turner back in the fold. Ralston is our best player and we are struggling to shoot the ball, struggling to score right now. So that would be a positive thing.
"There have been three teams - the last two losses to Kentucky and Ole Miss, or tonight against Tennessee - they are better than we are."
Players Mentioned
