Anthony Grant Press Conference Transcript - January 18
1/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 18, 2010
On Tuesday night's matchup against Tennessee:
"Obviously first on the agenda will be Tennessee, and I am really impressed with their team overall from what they've done throughout the year but specifically the last four games. Any time as a team, as a family, when adversity hits you, you're always interested to see how your guys respond. You have to be really impressed with the job that their coaching staff has done and their players have done. I think it speaks volumes of who they are with really impressive wins the way they've played. They're a really impressive team. We'll have to play extremely well in the game and we're certainly looking forward to the challenge here on Tuesday."
On Saturday's matchup against Mississippi State:
"In regards to Saturday, I've seen very little of Mississippi State, but obviously when you look at the success they've had throughout the course of the year, they appear to be playing very good basketball as well - undefeated in the league. So, this week we've got two of the premier teams in our conference coming into our building. We're looking forward to gauging where we are and facing those teams here with this upcoming week."
On having successful scoring runs followed by lengthy droughts in the last two games:
"Obviously every game is going to bring different runs. For us, that has been the course of the last couple of games where we've had lapses where we haven't been able to score, and for that matter we've struggled with that throughout the year. I think for us it's a matter of developing a level of consistency in terms of what our guys are looking for in the course of those games. We're also not getting to the free throw line. Obviously there is no substitute for putting the ball in the hole. I do feel like from an offensive standpoint we're getting some decent looks, we're getting opportunities, but we've got to get a little smarter in terms of how we attack what we're doing and understanding how we can help ourselves break some of those droughts that we've been going on, especially late game."
On his team's execution:
"I think in different times in the game our execution has been good, but there are also times, specifically down the stretch, when the defensive intensity has increased and we've settled. We haven't done the things that we need to do. I think that when you look at the differential in free throws, teams have doubled us in terms of the number of times they've gotten to the free throw line compared to us. You've got to have balance. We talk about balance in terms of working inside-to-out offensively, but you've also got to be able to get yourself to the free throw line, find a way to get some easy baskets, find a way to break some droughts and not have to necessarily rely on jump shooting or perfect execution every time down the floor."
On whether or not he is happy with his team's performance:
"No, I am not happy losing two in a row. I don't think any coach is happy in defeat. I do feel like in the Arkansas game we didn't play with the purpose and the focus that we have in other games. I think we took a step back in that game. Now, how we respond to that, whether we hang our heads and pout or understand that we have a very challenging road ahead of us with Tennessee coming in here - this is a very unforgiving league. If you're not ready to play night in and night out you can get embarrassed, not just lose games. I think our guys understand that. I think as a team you want to be resilient, but we'll find out here tomorrow how resilient we are. We've got to come prepared to play and we've got to be prepared for exactly what we're facing and that's one of the best teams in the country."
On facing a quick turnaround with two games in four days:
"Obviously the more time you have to prepare as a coach you always want that. I think the other side of that is we've got an opportunity to get exposure with the package that our league has now with ESPN, so many games are nationally televised. I think it's probably the best television package in the country, and our league is benefitting from that. The other side of that is you do have short turnarounds that you have be prepared for. Tennessee is in the same boat. They played on Saturday just like we did. We'll be ready to go."
On the challenge that Tennessee's Wayne Chism presents for the Crimson Tide:
"Being a senior, you would expect him to come out and play with great energy and great passion every night, and he's really upped that over the last several weeks with the adversity that hit their program. I think several of their players have, but specifically him being senior, he's providing great leadership. You look at this ability to stretch the defense from the perimeter and then he's got great size and physicality inside as well, so it will be a great challenge for our front court to be able to match his intensity and effort. I think he's a guy at the pivot position that also makes the game easier for other guys on the floor, and that's unique. You usually see it working from the outside in. He's a guy that can affect from the inside out."
On Tennessee's team as a whole:
"I think they're extremely talented. I think they obviously have really come together as a team with the adversity that's hit their program. Obviously they're very well coached. With the success they've had in their program, you know as well as I do that those guys take pride, every time they step on the floor, in playing and competing. We've got to be able to come out and play with great energy and effort and understand what it takes to put yourself in a position to win."
On whether or not he has been surprised at the toughness of the SEC:
"I don't I really get surprised a whole lot. I spent 10 years in this league and I know how competitive it is on any given night. You're facing one of the best teams in the county. You're facing one of the best coaches in the country, so you've got to be prepared every night. The margin of error is very slim. Games can get away from you very quickly in this league. You really have to understand the importance of playing for 40 minutes, the importance of playing together and the importance of all the things that as coaches, or at least I know for our program that we talk about every single day to our guys about what we need to do. Right now it's just a matter for us of staying the course and trying to put ourselves in a position to be successful."
On Senario Hillman's flagrant foul against Arkansas and subsequent ejection from the game:
"Well, I didn't see it when it happened. The official came to me and told me the decision they had made, and he told me that once I saw it I would understand, so there was really nothing for me to say until I saw it. I did get a chance to see it Saturday night when I got back and I thought it was the right decision to make. Obviously I think Senario is regretful for what he did in the heat of the moment. I think his emotions got the best of him, but I think from my experience with him, it was an out-of-character thing for him. Certainly he understands the ramifications of that, not only for him, but for our team. I think he's very regretful and certainly apologetic for letting his emotions get the best of him."
On not finishing games down the stretch:
"We haven't done that like we need to do that. Those two games (Vanderbilt and Arkansas) were indicative of that. There were several other games during the year where we've struggled to close things out. I think that's a part of us maturing as a basketball team. We need to do that. I know from a coaching standpoint, and I think our players understand, we're aware of what the issues are, now it's a matter of us having the resolve and the determination to go out there and try to fix it. I think it's a matter of us continuing to get better, continuing to understand what allows us to be successful and what prevents us from being successful. I think we have identified it, but now it's just a matter of going out and doing it. It's easy to talk about it. Now we've got to go out on the floor and finish games. We have to play for 40 minutes. We've got to play the game the right way."
