Postgame Quotes
Chattanooga vs. Appalachian State
Chattanooga, Tenn. - McKenzie Arena
Dec. 2, 2010
Chattanooga Head Coach John Shulman
Opening Statement:
"We had talked about really struggling coming off a horrible game at FIU, and tonight we had the best so-called best preseason team in the Southern Conference coming into our place. We came out with great energy, and then they matched it. We were down by four at half time, and the whole half time speech was "are we going to just wait and be losers, or are we going to keep on battling and be winners?" I told them I didn't care what the scoreboard said. I wanted to see great effort. I saw great effort, I saw great enthusiasm, and I saw a really good team win. It was a win that we had to have and we did it. It was a team effort. Keegan Bell had 13 assists, and I was really proud of DeAntre Jefferson. I challenged every part of DeAntre's body, soul and heart. Everything I could challenge, I challenged at half time and he responded. He had a great second half, and I was really pleased with our basketball team tonight."
On the emerging defense:
"We've been so fatigued that we haven't had legs and energy to play defense. They know what to do, and we still missed some assignments, but I thought we were much better. We're 280th going into today in defensive field goal percentage in the country. Let's see if we can't creep up little by little. We got much better tonight."
On Donald Sims:
"Sims is a great player. His first year, he was a great shooter. Second year, he was a great shooter and you double him off the ball screen and he called timeout. I have great respect for him as a player. He has turned himself into one of the better guards in the country. The guy is a winner and he is a great player."
On the team's energy level:
"I was so refreshed to see energy. It was nice to see energy and enthusiasm. I just thought we were enthused and energized. We had some tough breaks. We missed layup after layup in the first half and we got a little discouraged. That is why I challenged them at half time. I didn't care about the score. Either we were going to be a loser or we were going to be a winner. We had some guys step up and be veterans tonight."
On Omar Wattad and Chris Early's performances:
"Omar Wattad made some shots and made some plays. It's nice that he had success. He's put an awful lot of pressure on himself, and I put a lot of pressure on him. And I was proud of Chris Early. He made a big shot and he made two big free throws. He stepped up and I told him so. I am pretty hard on our guys and I was really proud of him."
Junior Guard Ricky Taylor
On the game:
"I believe we felt free tonight. Coach Shulman told us yesterday to play like we were 11 years old again. I just felt like we went out there and had fun tonight. I felt like he gave us that freedom that we've been looking for."
On the defensive game plan:
"Our defense was to slow Sims down a little bit. He had a good game, but I believe we done a good job on him tonight and fortunately we got the victory."
On the difference between this game and past games:
"We're more focused and attentive now that conference play is here. The coaches are doing a phenomenal job with scouting reports and we just want to win. Our goal is to win the SoCon championship and win the regular season. We're ready to take it to another level."
On the first two minutes of the second half:
"Coach told us that we needed energy early. Chris Early came in with some big momentum plays. Those first five minutes are the most important because it determines what you do the rest of the game."
Junior Guard Omar Wataad
On the game:
"First, we got the win. That is most important. I think we had a lot more time to prepare for them and we executed a good game plan. Coach Shulman and all the coaches did a great job of giving us the right game plan."
On Coach Shulman's half time talk:
"Coach told us to come out with energy in the second half. We started out with energy and we stuck together. We had a couple of turnovers to start the half, but we stayed mentally tough."
On how big the win is:
"It was a big win. It's a big win because now we're 1-0. That's most important. We're 1-0 in the conference and our goal is, and always was, to win the conference regular season. We want that and this is a good way to start."
Appalachian State Head Coach Jason Capel
Opening Statement:
"Chattanooga played a very good game. I thought they
executed well. I can't say enough about Keegan Bell. I thought that was Steve
Nash out there with 13 assists and two turnovers. He really controlled the game
and got them to get open looks. He controlled the whole basketball game. We
have to do a better job defensively and we will."
On Chattanooga playing better than you expected:
"They are pretty well coached. It is the conference, so it
is a clean slate and you have to step up and be ready to play. The thing about
our guys that we have to realize is that we are the hunted now. We have a
target on our back and I do not think we really responded to that. I think the
first half we came out and did not have a lot of energy. We were thankful
enough to be up by four points. In the second half, we still did not have any
energy and allowed Chattanooga to get going. We allowed Keegan Bell to come off
of ball screens and pick us apart. We were never able to get the game under
control. Again, I give a lot of credit to Chattanooga, but also we are a better
basketball team than we showed tonight."
On being the hunted:
"We are a team that people look to as being one of the teams
that is going to do some things in this league. You don't have to look any
further than the rankings. Is that something that we do ourselves? Not so much.
If people are going to give you respect, then you better go out there and earn
it. You better prepare for it and be ready to take everyone's best shot."
"This is not the basketball team that we have had for the
first four games. It is our job to go back and watch film and get better. It is
not the end of the world, but it is disappointing. This thing is not a spring,
but it is a marathon and we are just getting started."
