11/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2008
NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL
November 26, 2008
UMBC 64
@ GW 70
Post-game comments
GW Coach Karl Hobbs
Coming so close after the Auburn loss, was it important to get off to a strong start?
"Not at all; it was just important to win the game. Anytime you're going through a rebuilding situation and guys are trying to find what their roles are, we just want to get a win."
Talk about how you kept UMBC from retaking the lead after they tied the game at 53.
"They played exceptionally well all night, and kept us off balance. Our problem was, time and time again, we would have one guy break down, and they took advantage of that. Fortunately for us, we had some key stops down the stretch and converted down at the other end, and got some key rebounds. We knew it would be a tough game. Anytime you play a team with such a terrific point guard who can control the flow of the game and control the tempo--he got them off to a great start and they were playing with a great deal of confidence. Their zone slowed us up and made us become more methodical. We were trying to test their will; you had one team that was trying to force tempo and play up, and another that wanted to keep the score in the 50s. I think they did a great job of being able to force their will and play their style."
Did either team wear down toward the end?
"It didn't' look like that. Proctor and Greene are veteran players who've played a lot of minutes, and could go out and play 20 more. As long as those guys can go, they have a shot."
Where's your team's confidence at this point?
"We're still trying to find our stride and getting familiar with each other...It's a process, and I want them to focus on it and get better after each game. The confidence will come."
Talk about the play of Noel Wilmore.
"We as a team have to do a better job of getting him open and getting the ball to him in spots where he can score. He's really shooting the ball exceptionally well, and the majority of his shots are going to be 3s. With that being said, you want him to get shots up."
You have to be pleased with the scoring contribution from your bench.
"Absolutely. For us, we're trying to wear teams down with our depth. Guys who come off the bench have to be able to produce and get points. The nice part is down the stretch, we have fresh bodies in."
GW junior F Damian Hollis
How important was it to win this game after losing to UMBC last year, and the tough loss to Auburn?
"Auburn was tough because we were up by 15 at the half, then came out flat. For this game, we've been working on our slogan '40 Hard.' This game was our next test to see if we could finish play all 40 minutes hard. Since we're playing Maryland next week, we needed a win to help our morale. This win definitely helped us."
Do you think you played `40 hard'?
"For me personally, I felt a little off. We played a little low, but at least we were consistent. Then toward the end, we stepped it up when we needed to."
Talk about the tip-in at the end that sealed the game.
"I have to credit that move to Regis [Koundjia]. He taught me this little technique to step on the guy's foot before I step in. That puts him off balance, and I can just push him to the side. I tried that a few times in the game and it didn't work so well. It just happened to work toward the end."
Do you think they were wearing down toward the end of the game?
"Yes, I noticed that they only played six guys, so I knew they were going to get tired. It was just a matter of when. We have a good rotation coming off the bench. I came in to deliver a little bit of energy because I was in foul trouble and had to sit most of the game."
Were you tentative against their zone, or did you just have a slow start?
"Personally, I was tentative because I wasn't sure what kind of zone it was. I thought it was a 3-2, but I found out it was a match-up, and we really haven't played against it much. So Coach introduced us to a new concept and we had to ease into it."
UMBC Coach Randy Monroe
Opening statement
"I thought both teams were really scrapping out there. We started out early like a house on fire, and kind of settled down a little bit. You have to credit George Washington. They came out and played hard, especially at the beginning of the second half. They were able to execute some things and go up on us and get some second shots and make some easy baskets. That kind of knocked us off our heels a little bit. It's a learning experience, that's for sure."
You were able to tie it a couple of times, but GW kept pulling ahead.
"We couldn't get over the hump. We had some good looks, they just didn't go down. I'll take those looks any day. Shooters miss shots, and that's going to happen. That's an unfortunate thing, but it happens. But the guys who missed those shots--I'll put them back in those positions again, and I believe they'll knock down those shots."
How hard is it to run with GW when you play only six guys?
"They're pressing all the time and getting after you, and it's never easy. We tried to balance out as much as we could, but the guys who played were the guys who were prepared to play...It's never easy when you play a team that's pressing and disguising their defenses. But for the most part, I think our team did a good job of executing against GW's pressure. Then they picked it up midway through. They were switching, and trapping, and getting up into our guys. And I don't think we took advantage of some opportunities."
GW started with jump shots, then became more aggressive going to the basket. Was that a change in their strategy or yours?
"We want them to shoot over us. That was our gameplan. For a while it worked, then they got some second shots. I think kids may watch too much television because instead of initiating contact under the basket youngsters today think they can out-jump everybody, and then you wind up `playing volleyball.' To me, that's a fundamental mistake."
Were you surprised that Justin Frye did so well on offense tonight?
"I certainly think he's capable of doing that, and hitting those outside shots...I will give him that shot everytime. I wouldn't be afraid of putting him in that position again because I believe he can knock that shot down. It's up to him to believe he can do it."
How does this year's GW team compare with last year's?
"They have good guards. Travis King being back helps a great deal. [Tony] Taylor is a nice player; he's terrific. When you have [Rob] Diggs, who's an all-league player--I thought Darryl Proctor scrapped as hard as he could with Diggs. These guys battled back in their days in the Kenner League, so they're very familiar with each other. I think this team is better than last year's team. They play together too, which is a big part of it. And I credit Coach Hobbs too...They lost a tough game at Auburn and could have easily folded the tent. They did a terrific job tonight."
