Chattanooga Basketball Postgame Quotes
Hiwassee at Chattanooga
McKenzie Arena – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Thursday – Nov. 16, 2017

Head Coach Lamont Paris
Opening thoughts on the game:
"We will evaluate this game for what it was and not for what the score was.  The same way if we lose the game, our whole evaluation process of this team and our growth has not as much to do with the overall result of the game, as far as how many points we scored, but more just about how we played.  Got better at things that we had been specifically working on.  I thought we did a good job with that."

On some bright spots in the game:
"There were a lot of things. I thought defensively, we were locked in and really committed for the majority of the game.  We were committed to following our rules and our defensive scheme.  I thought that was really good. 

"There were a couple of times we got outside of that and then we reeled each other back in. Then we got right back into it.  I think that encouraged some tough shots and I think we saw how it all fits together.  That was one thing.

"I thought our sharing of the ball on the offensive end and decision-making, we had 22 assists on 31 baskets, that is probably higher than what it would normally be, but that is obviously a good number.  Those were two areas that I was really happy with. 

"Defensively, if you look at who we have back from last year's team, we don't have a reigning defensive player of the year on the team that is going to alter and block and bunch of shots.  We only had two blocked shots, and we were able to hold them down.  They scored 12 points on five of their last six possession at the end, so we could have held them down a little more.  That is just to say that I was happy with what we did defensively."

On the play of Makinde London:
"I liked how he responded.  That was one thing.  Early on in the game he didn't have the juice he needs to play with, but he responded.  We challenged him and he responded.  I liked that a lot. 

"I am going to be different than some people here.  Basketball is basketball, there were some things I liked that he did.  I look at his stat line and I like that.  I like how he responded.  There are going to be times he is going to have to respond.  There is going to be a guy who is physical with him, there are going to be some bad calls, I am going to say something he doesn't like, teammates are going to rub him the wrong way.  Guys have to respond when you get in those situations, and he did.  That was really encouraging."

On the difference in tonight and the last game at UAB:
"Obviously, they were much better.  My job is to evaluate what happened from last game to this game.  I will evaluate more from practice yesterday to today.  That is what I am thinking about more than what happened in the last game.  The game is the game. 

"If those guys play terrible in the next game, you are going to ask me, 'Well what happened from the last game …'  They are young guys and I was more focused on what happened at practice yesterday and how that translated today. 

"We specifically addressed a couple things, as far as drills go, and we saw results that were 100% results of what we did in those specific drills.  When you see that kind of carry over, that is very encouraging."

On getting his first career win:
"It feels great just to win.  Really, to be honest, I haven't put much stock into it.  I don't say that just to say it.  I really mean it.  I was excited for the guys.  I was excited that they were able to feel the feeling that they felt in the game.  I was excited that guys that started the game were able to cheer for the other guys and know what that was like.  I was excited to able to see guys do things that they haven't been doing.  I am worried more about that than winning one game for me."

On getting playing time for all of the players:
"That is key. It was good for all of these guys that played.  If you don't think it did something for Dillon's confidence to come in and knock home a couple of threes right out of the gates.  They guy has come off of being injured and is probably second-guessing a lot of things and just started practicing not too long ago.  That will pay dividends down the road for him and all of the guys that got in there. 

"I thought Jonathan Bryant did a good job and was aggressive. Made some good decisions.  It had nothing to do with … it is so funny, everyone will look at the dunk, it is great that our guys get to see that, but we are so excited because he did a better job on a ball screen.  For the first time in real live action, he guarded the ball screen the way we asked him to do it.  Everybody was happy about that. That is the stuff that counts.  That is the stuff that can come back later and pay dividends down the road."

Makinde London – Jr.-F
"Like coach said, we take it day-by-day and we had another opportunity today.  We practiced against each other for a long time, since the summer and we got to see another team.  Regardless of who it is, it is a different jersey, and we want to go compete.  That is what we want to do.  Every time we lace them up and play anybody different, we want to go compete. 

"It was at ground zero again.  Every day is a new day and we try to be better than we were yesterday.  I think it was good for us to get this win, nothing immaculate.  There are a lot of games left in the year.  We try not to get too high or get too low on a loss or a win.  Just keep on attacking everyday, trying to get better. 

On seeing all of the guys play today:
"I think it is great.  Especially for me growing up, going through the whole basketball process period.  High school, college, whatever, experience is probably one of the best teachers.  You can go through it all you want to, but actually being game night, lights on and have to do everything we practiced, I think that is probably some of the best teachings.  Doing it wrong or doing everything, right you are learning.  I think that is big to see them out there, all of the young guys, coming in and getting the feel.  I think it is going to pay off big in the end."
 
On the big run to open the game:
"I think we just compete. Every day, every game, every play. We just try to go back at it like it is your first game.  If you keep trying to instill that, especially in the younger guys.  I think James had a great game, I think John played well like coach said.  Duane had a good game as well.  Next play, look at is as if it is the first play."

Rodney Chatman – So.G
On the three-point shooting tonight:
"We practice shots going in almost every time we shoot them.  It is just a matter of being confident in yourself and stepping into it and knocking it down.  We know we all can shoot and we all trust each other.  I think tonight is good.  We hit 14 threes and gained our confidence."