2021-22 Chattanooga Mocs Men's Basketball
Game 16 – vs. The Citadel – Jan. 8 – McKenzie Arena
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Lamont Paris:
Opening statement.
"That was a fun one. The guys played inspired defense, especially in the second half. Even though they scored more points in the second half, that tends to happen. In the second, we got locked in and were more solid defensively. We showed more attention to the ball when it got around the basket. We did a good job on Hayden Brown. If we do a good job on him, that'll limit their offensive ability. Darius Banks had the assignment. He wanted the job and accepted the job. He did a really good job and other guys helped as well. It was a really good team performance. I can't say enough about what Darius Banks did against Hayden Brown."
On what this team can accomplish.
"I said earlier that our ceiling was incredibly high. That was before we put in plays and sets. I think our ceiling is still incredibly high and possibly higher. We aren't there yet, but we show signs in games like this that we are getting closer. I look at the ETSU game, and I thought we underperformed as shooters, as silly as that is to say. Every game is a different game. I'm saying this at face value, not as a mid-major, at face value, the ceiling for this team is really high. If we can get near it, it's going to be a really fun year."
Silvio DeSousa – F., Gr.
On the atmosphere inside McKenzie.
"Wow. These people, those fans. The atmosphere, the energy and the motivation they bring is amazing. Whenever we come out on the court, we have to deliver for them. I'm just proud that we got the win today. I'm proud of my teammates and that we got the dub."
On the defensive effort by the team.
"Defensively we were good. We made sure we helped when we needed to. That's what it came down to. Guys were in the right place and we knew where to go."
Malachi Smith – G., So.
On facing one of the best players in the Southern Conference.
"I know the work I put in. I have a great respect for my opponent. I know it's a team game. I embrace the challenge that comes, and I know what I am capable of. I have a huge chip on my shoulder, I'm not about talking but [my opponent] has to lace their shoes up the same way as me."
On Smith, DeSousa and DJB's production.
"We are very versatile. Darius Banks does a lot of the things that don't show up on the stat sheet; he's like a swiss army knife. We are able to hit you from multiple ways, we can go inside with Silvio [DeSousa] Avery [Diggs] and Josh [Ayeni] and outside with Darius [Banks], David [Jean Baptiste] and myself. Everyone knows their role and contributes in their ways. We have won in a variety of ways. We have won games where we didn't shoot well because our defense stepped up."
On Darius Banks' effort against Hayden Brown.
"As soon as we got to the locker room, we congratulated Darius. It was a team effort, but he took that challenge. For the entire game, he boxed Hayden out, he kept him in check. It doesn't show up on the stat sheet, but he did a lot of things to hold Hayden Brown to four points."
