March 15, 2010
BAYLOR WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Monday, March 15, 2010 | NCAA Tournament Preview (Baylor vs. Sam Houston State
Head Coach Scott Drew
Opening Statement €¦
"I think the biggest difference is going two years ago with a group of people that we have that still that remember what that experience was like, and then last year going to the NIT Final Four. Those two things should really help us this year to be prepared for the NCAA tournament."
On the experience the team has €¦
"I think all experiences can be beneficial. At the same time the big thing is that the players have been there because they are the ones at the end of the day that have to feel comfortable, have to not be overwhelmed with the experience and they have to be able to focus and know it is a business trip. Whenever you have upperclassmen that can give that leadership of 'hey we have done this, this is important', that really helps."
On this year compared to two years ago €¦
"Well I think all year long our team has had a mindset where we have not been satisfied yet. As long as we keep that mindset, good things should hopefully happen for us or can happen for us. When you go to a tournament, if you are happy to be in it, you do not last very long. We know we are in it to give it our best shot and we know once you lose you are out."
On being predicted to do well €¦
"I know it is a compliment when people speak highly of you. At the same time, I think our team understands the importance of each and every game and understands we cannot get caught up in what people say. If we did, we would not have been able to get to this point and if we take the positive things they are saying now, we will not last at this point very long. Every team that is in the NCAA is in there for a reason. They are a good team; they are well coached; they have talent. I think the difference when the teams that advance are the teams that have that upperclassman leadership that can handle the distractions that make sure they stay focused, that can handle every possession and make sure they are concentrating 100 percent on the game. I think with this group we have been fortunate with upperclassman leadership and I think we will keep that going for us. As far as being seeded high: right now once you are in the tournament seeds really do not matter. For us it is a situation of single elimination, we know the importance of each and every moment out on the court."
On Ekpe Udoh's impact €¦
"Ekpe (Udoh) has that maturity about him; he is somebody that came in, his nickname was 'Pops' at one point and I think just that overall maturity he brings to the team. Tweety (Carter) is the same way; he has been around awhile, as well as Josh (Lomers). I think that is a calming effect and also helps people on the team prioritize what is important and what they need to focus on."
On guard play in the NCAA tournament €¦
"Well if you do not have good guards, you are not in the tournament to begin with, so I think right now everybody does have good guards. The experience part is obviously a good factor in being a good guard because if you cannot handle the pressure out there and you cannot handle the ball and make good decisions you are probably not playing as well, your team is not playing as well right now. I feel very comfortable obviously with Tweety (Carter) and LaceDarius (Dunn), I would not trade them for any backcourt in the nation. But at the same time, I know the real value they have brought to this team may not be measured in statistics as much as it is in the leadership they have portrayed and the chemistry they have helped filter down as well."
Senior Guard Tweety Carter
On the feelings going into the game €¦
"We know that we have got to come ready to play. Sam Houston State is a good team and we have to come out with the same focus and the same intensity that we have had all this year."
On Sam Houston State €¦
"I know one of their guards. He is from Louisiana and I have seen him play against my cousin. So we are not looking past this team; we have to come out ready to play."
On the importance of guard play €¦
"The great thing about us is that we have (an) inside and outside (game). When you have the inside and outside (games) that way it allows the guards to get a lot of one-on- ones. It allows the bigs to get one-on-ones. It allows kick outs for Ekpe Udoh. Like I said we have to keep the same focus and the same mentality we have had all this year and know that we have to come out and play for 40 minutes and compete. I think that is one of the big things about this team; we know that we have to come out and compete for 40 minutes."
On the team's confidence €¦
"This team has been confident since the summer. Playing against each other was not easy. It was always a battle and we kept track of wins and losses. It was like you had to come out and win every game or when you come home you are going to hear about it the whole day. It was like we were competing like it was the tournament time. We made each other better and I think it showed throughout this season."
Junior Forward Ekpe Udoh
On being back in the tournament €¦
"It is big for Baylor and Waco, Texas. It shows that when you work hard, when the lights are off that it will come into the light."
On preparing for Sam Houston State €¦
"I think this time of the year it is about the small things because everybody is good. I think this week we really have to focus and exaggerate on the small things before Sam Houston State. And just come ready and prepared and not let a possession go where you did not try your hardest."
Junior Guard LaceDarius Dunn
On the excitement following the announcement €¦
"I was happy. It was a great feeling, but three days before I already said we were going to be in New Orleans. It is a great feeling to get to back and see some of our family members. Just to play in front of your home crowd. I know my people said they are going to beat me there; they are probably there right now."
On Baylor's confidence €¦
"Right now we are playing with a lot of confidence. Throughout the season we did a lot of great things. Before the season, we were picked 10th in the Big 12, but ended up being tied for second which was a great accomplishment for us. Everybody knew what our focus was this summer as well as we knew and we just stayed focused. One of our goals was not to finish 10th in the Big 12 and to do some great things with this team."
On Ekpe (Udoh)'s impact €¦
"He is a great guy. He just started out being a great guy. Not only on the court, but when you see him in public he is always smiling, always keeping the jokes flowing. He keeps everything good. The thing he brought to the team was that he had this 'no scoring rule on me'. You are not scoring on me. We had our words back then. I go down and I think I am 6'10''or 6'11" trying to fight with him when he first got here. But that is what he brings to the table, playing with confidence and just being the guy that he is and doing great things. This year that is all he said, we are going to do a lot of great things. People had us ranked here and ranked there but we are going to get it together and we are going to surprise some people so he really brought a lot to this team."
