Alabama vs. Montevallo Postgame Quotes
11/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 4, 2009
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ALABAMA HEAD COACH Anthony Grant
Opening Statement:
"This game I challenged our guys to come out and try to play to our identity in terms of the things we've worked on, the way want to defend and obviously from an offensive standpoint pushing the pace of the game and playing at a tempo that we want to try to create. I thought that there were some good things that we did today and some things that we can definitely get better at, but overall when you look at it this was a game that we really didn't have prep for - a very unfamiliar opponent. I told our guys after the game, from a defensive standpoint, I thought our energy was good. I thought there was an understanding of what I wanted from an effort standpoint. Certainly we'll will look at this as a learning experience and an opportunity for us to get better as a basketball team. Hopefully, over the course of the game, halftime and after the game, this was an opportunity for our guys to understand my expectations and really the way that we need to approach what we're doing right now, and that's to take every single day to get better as a basketball team. We'll look at this, and obviously at the end of the day you're always happy to get a win, but my main focus and I told them before the game, was being concerned with what we were doing, how we were playing, in terms of our identity, and doing the things that we needed to do to get better as a basketball team. Overall I would say we made strides today and we'll take this and try to grow from it."
On the play of JaMychal Green in the second half:
"I thought in the first half we had some opportunities where we didn't do a very good job of getting the ball inside. I think with the excitement of the game early, we took some really ill-advised shots that we had opportunities to go inside and we didn't take advantage of it. The guys did a very good job in the second half of settling down a little bit and getting the ball inside. JaMychal picked up his second foul pretty early in the first half and sat for a while. That obviously had something to do with it. I thought he did a very good job in the second half of making himself available, getting to the free-throw line and being able to finish those plays. I thought our guys made a concerted effort in the second half to go inside."
On committing 22 turnovers:
"I thought, and I told the guys this at halftime, that a lot of it was we were trying to make plays that weren't there. We were forcing action as opposed to taking what the defense gives us. That's something that - because of the pace that we play at - we have to learn how to play quick but not in a hurry. We have to learn that I want the ball pushed up the floor, but that doesn't mean that we have to get a quick shot every time, that doesn't mean we have to try to make a play every time down the floor. I think it takes a little time to understand that. We've got to learn to execute better. I thought some of the turnovers we had tonight were simply the result of we didn't execute. We didn't do the things that we were supposed to do. Consequently, the ball didn't go where it was supposed to go. Right now we're not comfortable enough with what we're doing to be able to flow back into offense yet. It caused some turnovers. We'll take the game tape today, break it down and obviously try to learn from it and try to get better. Obviously 22 turnovers is a lot of turnovers and we've got to do a much better job of taking care of the basketball."
On the free throw shooting:
"In the first half we were constantly going 1-for-2 from the line. Free throws are so mental. I thought the guys really settled down in the second half. We really didn't harp on the free throw shooting in the first half. I think they settled down and maybe got some jitters out in the first half where they could make some free throws."
MONTEVALLO HEAD COACH DANNY YOUNG
"I thought we were very tentative early. They are so big, athletic, and strong, so we got rattled early by that. We rushed our shots, even the uncontested ones that we had. That is just a testament to how physical and athletic they are. They do everything that Coach Grant wants them to do and have bought into what he wants them to do. It's always a good chance to get to play somebody in a big arena like this and see how the team can do. I know they are all disappointed right now, but that's just part of it."
ALABAMA PLAYERS
Senior Guard Mikhail Torrance
On the game:
"It's just a learning experience for me as well as the team. It's a humbling experience, we're not where we want to be, but that's what practice is for. We've just got to come in, get locked in and just get better."
On the team turnovers:
"We caused some turnovers early and so we kind of slacked off and not doing our assignment like we're supposed to be. We just have to get better. We're going to watch film and figure out where we need to get better at."
On the new upbeat tempo style of play:
"Just from an execution standpoint, there's a lot of things I missed personally as well as the team. There were a lot of unforced turnovers. For instance, for me trying to do too much instead of just making the simple plays. That's what these exhibition games are for, we're going to try to get better."
Sophomore Forward JaMychal Green
On difference in his play in first and second half:
"I wasn't where I was supposed to be in the first half mentally. I got a little frustrated because of my fouls. The second half I think I came out more aggressive. I had my head right and my teammates just got me the ball when I was open. My teammates and coaches got me prepared for the second half."
On if his early fouls worried him about last year's problems:
"No, I wasn't worried. Coach Grant gets on me a lot about fouling in practice. I think I'm a little smarter than last year."
On the new playing style versus last year's style:
"It's a lot different. I feel like everyone is in better shape. I mean it was hard at first during preseason conditioning, but it's working out for the best and we like the new style so far."
