George Washington University Athletics
1/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 10, 2009
NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL
January 10, 2009
Richmond 60
@ GW 48
GW Coach Karl Hobbs
What was the key to the game early on?
"They were very composed. We missed our first couple of shots, and offensively we got tentative. They got into a great rhythm. And yet, we kept playing hard. Our problem was not scoring baskets. We got it to 8 and felt pretty good. They really are an experienced team, and they played like it tonight."
What changed between the first and second halves?
"We settled down and started executing better offensively. And that was the difference in the game. I really thought our defense tightened up in the second half, and forced them to make tough shots. In the first half, they were really shooting the ball very comfortably."
Are you pleased with the turnaround in the game?
"Absolutely. I felt that in the second half, we grew a little bit tonight. Now, we have to focus on putting two halves together. We're a young team trying to find ourselves. As a coach, I have to have a certain level of patience with this team."
GW senior F Wynton Witherspoon
Do you feel you can take any positives from the second half?
"Definitely so. I know this is a young team, so it's hard for them to keep up that kind of intensity for two halves. We just have to keep working hard. It starts at practice, so Monday we'll get back to it."
Did you feel like tonight was a missed opportunity, playing at home after four road losses?
"It was, but we can't hang our heads for too long. We have another big game coming up on Wednesday."
Richmond Coach Chris Mooney
Opening statement
"Our defense was excellent tonight, probably our best defensive game. I think we've played a handful of good defensive games in a row, so I'm very pleased with that. Anytime you're going to win on the road, especially in this conference, it's going to take good defensive play. The first half set the tone, we were good throughout. We showed some explosiveness in the first half and some toughness in the second half. So obviously we're very pleased to get a conference win on the road."
What was the key early to build such a big lead?
"Our defense was terrific. We wanted to try and neutralize Diggs as best we could. He's a very good player. Last year, he really hurt us in the first half; I think he had 20 [points]. Jarhon [Giddings] and Josh [Duinker] did an outstanding job just following what the gameplan was, trying not to let him get any easy baskets. Dave got stuck on him one time, made him make a hard shot. It was really hard for them to get anything."
What is causing GW to struggle so much?
"Nothing. I think they're doing great. They had a tough stretch. Going to Hawai'i is challenging...It's a good tournament, so there's a danger in losing games. And then the trip out and back is really taxing. I wouldn't be surprised if they now go on a nice little stretch. That trip takes a lot out of you."
Richmond sophomore G David Gonzalvez
You handled the traps very maturely. Did you know GW would play a half-court defense like that?
"Coach prepared us well for it. He went over how they play that funky half-court trap over and over again. He told us not to get bored with it, and we have to beat it the same way every time. Last year, I made a lot of unforced turnovers. This year we made a focus on not turning over the ball in the backcourt."
