ECU, UTSA Postgame Quotes
February 08, 2014 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 8, 2014
East Carolina Head Coach Jeff Lebo
Opening Statement
"It was a really good win for us, obviously to win at home. We haven't won at home in a while, so it was nice to get that. Akeem [Richmond] and Caleb [White] were terrific offensively. It was a slow start for us and them, but then both teams settled down a little bit. We had a nice start to the second half. We got up 20, then we had a couple of untimely turnovers, which got them back in the game. I thought [Jordan] Sims made a couple of key baskets. He got loose a couple of times, and got a couple 3s off to get them back into the game. Otherwise, we did a really good job on him in the zone, taking away his three. Caleb made a big shot from three and Akeem made a big shot late in the second half. We shot the ball well from the foul line when they were fouling. We were 14-of-14 the last two and a half minutes of the game that sealed the win.
On Akeem Richmond's performance
"He's the only guy that has consistent offensive confidence. He's as confident a shooter as I've ever coached. I'd like to be able to sprinkle some of that extra confidence and hand it out to some of the other guys who really don't have that type of consistent confidence."
On individual confidence
"Confidence is a funny thing. To me the only way you get real, consistent confidence--especially offensively--is to play well in games. They've got to go out in a game situation and get that. It's painful when you see them going through it, and you want to help them so badly, but you know that it's going to take a couple of balls going in the bucket to help."
On finishing the game after seeing a big lead dwindle
"We were up 17 with about nine to go and it's at that point right there when you're not sure if you should slow it down, or speed it up. You really want to use a little bit of shot clock. We slowed down a little bit, and that was probably my fault trying to use some of that clock when you're up as many as 17. In basketball that's not very much, and that can evaporate very quickly. We've seen it good and bad with this team over the last couple of years. I'm really proud of the way we finished the game. We got the ball in the right guy's hands, they fouled, and it was fifteen of fifteen from the foul line, and that's pretty strong."
UTSA Head Coach Brooks Thompson
Opening Statement
"This was a pretty hard fought basketball game. You've got to give East Carolina a lot of credit. Coach Lebo is a good coach, and they have good players out there. They jumped out on us in the second half, but our guys kept battling and doing some things. For the most part, defensively, we failed to do some things execution wise, and East Carolina took advantage of that. The rebounding was right where we wanted it to be, but you've got to give [Akeem] Richmond a lot of credit. He's a hard guard, he understands how to play and get open. We focused a lot on him, but he still was open to make four 3s. He got them open, and obviously untimely for us. We're disappointed in ourselves, but East Carolina deserves a lot of credit."
On the game plan against Akeem Richmond
"We wanted to make sure that he was a dribbler, and be there on the catch. We didn't want to completely sacrifice everything. We don't do a great job of containing the basketball as a team, and we felt like if we just faced up on him that they would be able to expose us in the paint. We were very aware of what he's done, and how he shoots the ball. But great shooters don't just shoot the ball, they understand how to get open and find space to get the ball. He knows how to do that. We wanted to make sure that we were there on the catch, make him a dribbler, and not let him have open looks. But he's unique, and he finds a way."
Senior Guard Akeem Richmond
On getting first C-USA home win
"Oh man, I just want to thank God for the win. I'm so ecstatic about the win. We haven't won here in a hot minute. I'm just ecstatic about it."
On his offensive performance
"I'm just playing with a lot of confidence. I know teams are going to play me very hard and I'm not laying down for anybody. They really threw me through a loop when they played man-to-man because I heard they played all zone, but I just tried to adapt as best as I could. I gotta come out in attack mode and do what I can do to help the team win."
Freshman Forward Caleb White
On his game tonight after not playing well Thursday against UTEP
"I came into the game with just as much confidence as I did the last one, no matter the outcome of the last one. I stuck with what I knew and it turned out well for me tonight."
On ending the five-game home losing streak
"It just gives us momentum and confidence. Our confidence has kind of taken a hit so we really need to get back up there and I think the win really helps with that. I think it will help us get right back into a groove."
