University of North Texas Athletics
SBC Quarterfinal Quotes
3/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Opening Statement from Head Coach Johnny Jones:
"First of all I want to congratulate Florida Atlantic on their tremendous regular season and the
way that they played. They are very deserving of the number one seed and they are a very
tough basketball team for us to one prepare for because they are a well coached team and
obviously to play against because of the caliber of guys on the floor. At the same time I want to
compliment our guys on the way that they fought after being down at half and getting back out
there in the second half with a gutsy effort against a very gamed Florida Atlantic."
Question for Head Johnny Jones:
On the difference playing them before... "We didn't get play, we have really been a well balanced
basketball team and a lot of scoring from our guards. We didn't shoot well in Denton. I thought
we did a great job in rebounding the basketball; they are a good rebounding and shot blocking
team as well. One of the key things we needed to do tonight was to make sure we won the war
on the boards. We were able to do that. I thought we got a little bit better rhythm going into the
second half in especially this game. Outside when we played them at our place I thought they
were excellent, they were very good the day that we played them. They controlled the game
from tip to finish. They played well on the offensive end of the floor because they executed really
well. They just took us out of our game and we had the second or third largest win streak when
they beat us at home."
Question for Tristan Thompson:
On his free throws... "At half we were down by seven and I came out and told the guys that this
is my last twenty minutes of playing just give me the ball and let me go to work. Coach had trust
in me and the posts set screens to get me open, the point guards found. I just kept going
attacking the rim. You see one go in and you get comfortable with those. We just kept
converting."
Question for Dominique Johnson:
On the game... "Coach said if you just see something just take it. He has trust in me enough to
just take the gap and go. We just needed to be aggressive to take the layup and get to the free
throw line. It just started to open up for us in the second half."
Florida Atlantic University Quotes
Opening Statement from Head Coach Mike Jarvis:
"Wish the Sun Belt season didn't have to end like this for us, but it is going to end like this for
everyone but one team. We were the team tonight. I wish we would have also acquitted
ourselves a lot better than we did, but you cant get out rebounded the way that we did. You cant
miss as many free throws as we did. You have to take care of business, they did we didn't. I give
them all the credit in the world. That is one thing that they had going for them tonight is that
they have won this tournament before. I think that really made a big difference. They knew what
had to be done, and they did it. We gave them a opportunity to be close enough to use that
experience on us. Instead of being up by double figures at half time we were only up by seven,
of course we know in basketball being up by seven points is only two and a half possessions.
They took care of business. To win championships you have to be able to rebound and make free
throws and we they crushed us in both of those vital critical areas. My hat's off to them."
Question for Head Coach Mike Jarvis:
On the game.... "I think the difference in the game was as much in the first half as in the second.
From the very beginning of the game we did not do a good job staying between them and the
basket without fouling them. We fouled and fouled and fouled. That kept them in, and you know
you cant do that. Then I think the inexperience that we have, some of the youth we have,
showed up at times when we had chances to make a big play to tie it on the steal. A couple of
missed passes and a couple of missed handles. It was like when we had to make the big plays
we couldn't make them. Like one of the guys said you are never going to get this opportunity
backed again but you have to make the most of it. But at the same time, it is over. We have to
regroup and hopefully we will. We will find a lot about the true character of all the characters
including the coach going forward.
Question for Greg Gantt:
On playing in the NIT... "It's going to show a lot about our character. We have to regroup, and
we still have the opportunity to represent FAU and the Sun Belt in the NIT. So we have to come
and be ready to play better. This is going to sing forever, but you still have that opportunity
ahead of you to represent . We still have those goals.
