Baylor, Central Arkansas Postgame Quotes
11/10/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Fri., Nov. 10, 2017
Ferrell Center (Waco, Texas)
Attendance: 7,791
BAYLOR POSTGAME QUOTES
Baylor Head Coach Scott Drew
Opening statement...
"You know coaches are nervous about everything, so the first game you never know what it is going to be like. If you could get 85 percent from the free throw line and 66 percent from the field and 71 percent from three, you probably would want to end the season right there. So we really executed well offensively, we were very unselfish. The only negative was probably our turnovers, but very pleased in a first game, especially not knowing the opponent. Central Arkansas is a very good offense, best in the Southland [Conference]. They returned four starters and Jordan Howard is an all-league player for them and he showed why tonight, but I thought to hold them to 39 percent field goal percentage was good because they are a very efficient offense."
On Baylor's passing today...
"All but the turnovers were tremendous. I thought we were unselfish. The tough thing too is when you get a lead, especially early because everyone's excited, they have played, they have worked on their game for the last eight months. They want to show the fans what they can do, and we stayed true to ourselves and did a good job in not settling for shots, but trying to get great shots."
On Tristan Clark's debut performance today...
"Tristan has been very good in practice, and the thing you love about Tristan is he had three assists and only one turnover, so normally freshmen tend to turn it over, and he really does a good job of being silent with the ball. He is very skilled, and you can see that from the 7-for-9 from the field, and I know Tristan is one of those guys that our upper classmen love because he is coachable, he listens, and he is respectful. Those guys are happy when he does well and they are able to help him."
Senior Manu Lecomte
On the balanced scoring attack...
"We have a lot of weapons this year, and we just showed it today. Inside, obviously, our guys you know, they can't stop them, so we just have to keep feeding them. Outside, we have great shooters, guys that can get in the lane, and so we have a lot of weapons that can make up for [Johnathan Motley's] scoring from last year, and so that is really positive."
Freshman Tristan Clark
On his first start of his Baylor career...
"It was definitely first game jitters. The first couple of plays I was a little shaky, but I just needed to run the floor a little bit, and I just needed to get one bucket to get my rhythm going. But you know, after that I just played my game."
CENTRAL ARKANSAS POSTGAME QUOTES
Central Arkansas Head Coach Russ Pennell
Opening statement...
"I was very impressed with Baylor. I know that when you lose a player like [Johnathan] Motley, you are always wondering who's next. I think that got answered today. The length and strength of this team inside was very impressive, and with the point guard play [Baylor had] in that game, this has the making of a very good team. I think Scott [Drew] has done a very good job of consistently bringing talent in here and making this one of the premier programs, obviously a top 25 program. From our stand point, I thought the second half we got a little discouraged, which is typical of a team like us. If you don't watch it you start playing the scoreboard when you are playing these big teams and you don't get any better and I don't feel this second half we got any better, and I think this is something we can build off of."
On Jordan Howard's Performance...
"I think Jordan played just about how we expected, he just didn't get any help. Jordan has always been an efficient player and will probably go down as this school's all-time leading scorer and already owns every three-point record we have. I think great scorers have to be willing passers first and Jordan is certainty that."
On Baylor's big men...
"Their interior passing is really good, they do a great job of taking away help and getting you in high-low situations. Then they use their length to give them an advantage."
On Baylor's passing and assists...
"I think that's what makes Baylor so special. I think I saw they had 29 assists. That's sharing the basketball, and everyone likes to play in that system. It's fun to watch that and you are going to win a lot of games when you are what we refer to as a willing passer, and I think they definitely do that."
