Postgame Comments: GW vs. La Salle
1/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 5, 2011
Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery 
NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL
January 5, 2011
La Salle 67
@ GW 72
Postgame Quotes
GW Coach Karl Hobbs
You held La Salle below their scoring average. What were you able to do defensively?
"We wanted to create a certain pace. And once we established it at the beginning of the game, we were able to force turnovers. La Salle knows how to take care of the ball. For us, we stayed focused. We wanted to shut [Ruben Guillandeaux] down and not let him shoot any 3s. But our focus was the key to the game."
What caused the momentum shifts in the first half?
"It was a game of runs. In the midst of their run, we went 6 or 7 minutes without a basket. Some of them were layups, others went in and out. Those kinds of things happen when you play a game at this level, with that kind of intensity."
You seemed more animated than usual tonight.
"Having the Mayor here put a little more pressure on me, I guess. [laughs] I was extremely nervous to have him and President Knapp and his wife there; and also Russ Ramsey, the President of our Board of Trustees. But I told them `you're putting a lot of pressure on me! But I always coach with a lot of passion and energy, and I don't think tonight was too different."
How important was it to start A-10 play 1-0?
"It's big. Anytime you start league play at home, it's a huge advantage. It gives you momentum and confidence. We feel that if we have success at home, we have a good chance to finish strong in the league."
Talk about the importance of GW's play in the middle tonight.
"We wanted to keep [Jerrell] Willams and [Aaric] Murray off the backboard. We really challenged our guys to keep them off the backboard. We told our defenders that it didn't matter if they didn't get the rebound; we just didn't want those guys to get the rebound. And Joe Katuka did a fantastic job of getting open and making strong plays to the basket, and he shot well from the free throw line."
It wasn't that long ago that wins were hard to come by, and now you've won five of the last seven. What's made the difference?
"It's been a real season of adjustments. First Lasan [Kromah] goes down for the year, then Jabari Edwards goes out. Then there was the difficult situation with the passing of Dan Guest's mother recently. So there's been a lot of adjustments, and along with that, guys have had to learn new roles. But I think we're getting better, and I hope we can continue to grow knowing that we have to play our basketball in league play."
GW Jr. G Tony Taylor
You were the center of play in the closing minutes; it seemed like every play went through you.
"Coach Hobbs trusts me and put the ball in my hands. My teammates were there for me, and told me to just take over. They had my back; if I missed, they were going to get the rebound and let me try again."
Talk about the play where you landed on your head.
"I saw and opening and went to dunk it. I think the guy came under me, and I fell on my arm, then my head. But I'm tough and I got through it [laughs]."
What has gotten you guys going offensively?
"Our stops have been helping us get a lot of easy baskets, and giving guys better looks. We're moving the ball more, and doing the extra pass so we can get that nice shot fade. But it's a matter of us hitting more shots when we're open."
La Salle Coach Dr. John Giannini
Opening statement
"George Washington won the game largely because they outrebounded us and outran us. They got a lot of shots in transition, and a lot of times when they went to the free throw line, it was because they hit ahead, got guys open, and forced us to foul them. Their effort was tremendous. We were a very unfocused, very frustrated team today. No coach is ever pleased with that...Taylor had a great game, but we didn't defend the ball screen any way like we normally do. Why--it's really a struggle to answer. I have a team that could really be good, but I have some challenges and I have to make them better."
It seemed like you lost focus and that changed the momentum.
"Our focus and frustration levels both hurt us. A good team is far more focused and controlled toward the officiating that ours was today, and it's a shame. We should be better than that."
Talk about the role of George Washington's defense tonight.
"Their defense had a lot to do with it. They were the more energetic team all night long. We did turn it over, and I give them a lot of credit for that. Our problems were more in terms of transition, defending the ball screen, and getting outrebounded. Those were the things that hurt us the most."
