Postgame Quotes

Nov. 23, 2010

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Postgame Quotes

Kansas 82, Texas A&M Corpus Christi 41

Nov. 23, 2010 – Lawrence, Kan.

Kansas Head Coach Bill Self

On Kansas’ defensive effort:

“We played pretty well defensively. That’s what (Texas A&M-CC Head Coach) Perry (Clark) said after the game. We guarded them pretty well. We have improved in that area 50-percent at least since 10 days ago. We have gotten a lot better.”

On the team loving the game of basketball:

“Of all the teams that we have had here, this team likes to play more than any other team. They play more pick-up and get together and shoot on their own. That is contagious. This is a team that really does like to play. They enjoy playing with each other. They certainly share the ball pretty well.”

On the 63-game home winning streak:

“We do not talk about that much, but it is nice to have. I am not going to down-play it. It was nice that the fans recognized the guys at the end, but that should not be something that is on our mind every time we play at home. We just need to go play. There is no extra pressure having the streak here.”

On the play of the Kansas bench:

“A lot of guys off of our bench would be starters for a lot of teams. Certainly Travis (Releford), Mario (Little) and Elijah (Johnson) are talented, Jeff (Withey) is talented. We have a good 10 without question. Thomas (Robinson) has really produced. He has made the most of his minutes. Tonight our leading starter scored 12 and we had three reserves in double figures. The reserves did a good job scoring the ball.”

Kansas junior guard Tyshawn Taylor

On his rhythm:

“I think it was just one of those fast paced games. The guys were running so I was finding them.”

On the lob pass to Thomas Robinson:

“No, I did not think it was going to get completed. I thought their player was going to steal it, but it went right over his hands and T-Rob made a good play on the ball and dunked it; pretty hard too.”

On the defensive mindset with the streak:

“I think we are just slowly getting better defensively; I think that is what it is. The crowd energy always kind of hypes us up and when we play fast and get a couple dunks like that we get thirsty for more.”

On getting back into the flow of the game:

“I got the ball in my hands a lot more. Coach (Self) is not yelling at me as much. I think when you are able to play without mistakes, that builds confidence.”

On the upcoming competition:

“I am so ready. This is kind of what we have been waiting for. We are Kansas so we want to play against the Arizona’s, the Duke’s and everybody we are playing against. That is kind of what we expect and we expect this competition at all times. I am looking forward to it.”

Senior guard Brady Morningstar

On breaking the record for home court victories:

“It means a lot to the players, coaches, the fans. I think it means a lot to everybody. Especially to be a part of it, that’s a big deal. It is fun, I’m glad you could be a part of it, and we are just going to try to keep it going. If we go out there and play like we know how to play, then the rest will take care of itself.”

On the defensive steals:

“I think the guys are older and wiser and know how to play hard on the floor. The more you play in college, not the easier it gets defensively, but the more the game slows down and you can cheat here or cheat there. We just have to keep working every day on defense and Coach (Self) is going to keep preaching that because the schedule is picking up. We have to keep it steady.”

On the most rewarding part of defense:

“Getting a fast break because then you get your dunks, your alley-oops and get the crowd going. That makes everything that much easier.”

Sophomore forward Thomas Robinson

On the home court crowd tonight:

“We love this crowd. I don’t see how anyone can come in here and be completely calm. It feels like they are on top of you every second of the game, so I definitely think the crowd had something to do with it.”

On what the streak means personally:

“It is good to have my name be a part of who kept it. We are looking forward to this team keeping the streak.”

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Head Coach Perry Clark

On the keys to the game:

“I thought the key to the game was Kansas defensively. I though they did a really good job of taking us out of what we wanted to do. They turned our plays basically into one-on-one endeavor and we’re not good enough to beat them one-on-one. I don’t know too many teams like that.”

“They did a great job taking away our wings. Entries they did a good job. Once we got the ball to the wings (they were) pressuring them and trying to taking away the reversals. When we were able to get it inside they doubled up on (Demond) Watt. (They) Never let him get into a flow and because of that, they got going with steals and bad shots.”

“We got their transition going. I thought early we were trying to control the tempo, but you can’t do that when you don’t get good shot attempts. I thought Bill was a very good coach and he understood that. They turned up the pressure defensively and wouldn’t let us be as patient as we wanted to and wouldn’t let us run the stuff that we wanted to. Once they got off and running it’s like a juggernaut. We weren’t good enough to execute some of the stuff that we wanted to.”

On Kansas’s Defense:

“I don’t know whether it was because of the record or what, but it seemed like to me that they were more aggressive then they had been on film. That’s certainly something that turned the game around. They just didn’t miss any looks. It seemed like if they had a look they would make it. Coming in, I thought they were one of the most intelligent basketball teams I’ve seen play this early in the season in my career. They are so unselfish, they make the extra pass, and they know what they’re doing at all times. If you push out at the shooters, they go over the top to the post. If you double the post, they kick it out to the shooters. They have a complete command of what it is that they’re trying to do. Normally at this time of the year, you just don’t see that. They’re really playing well in the games I’ve seen on film and certainly tonight.”

On the Kansas’s big run:

“Basically, you try and concentrate on the things that you’re capable of doing. I thought we could have executed better. We needed to look at things that would help us down the line. It’s hard the kids, they want to win. You try and keep it out of your mind but obviously it stays with you for a while. Kansas is a real fine basketball team.”