Postgame Quotes From Michigan State - Detroit
11/12/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 12, 2001
Postgame Quotes From Michigan State - Detroit
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo:
"Well, I was pleased with the win. I wasn't pleased with some of the way we got it. I really felt that our kids competed, they played hard. I'm not sure Detroit played as well as I have seen them on film, but that is going to be a very very good basketball team that is going to create some problems not only in their league, but I think that is a team you are going to see the NCAA Tournament. When I look at it that way, I think it was a good win. There were some good things we did tonight that I was really excited about. When I look at some of the bad things we did, we forced some shots. We had some turnovers. We gave up some threes. We looked like freshman at times and yet we looked very talented and very good at times. We are now bridging that gap."
On the play of Marcus Taylor:
"I guess Marcus (Taylor) would take most of that load. There was a time when he wasn't shooting as well and I think got a little frustrated. Once he settled down, and started running our team and being a true point guard. I think he let the game come to him. He did a very good job of getting guys open and making some good passes."
On the play of the freshman:
"Tolbert still did not play as well as I think he can, but had a couple moments where he got some big rebounds, got our brake going and made some big plays. Alan Anderson is still playing, as you can see, limping. He played pretty well when you look at some of the moves he made."
On the defense and rebounding:
"I also thought that defensively, in general, we did a pretty decent job of stopping their penetration, which led to our rebounding advantage. Now it is more of a gang rebounding team than Richardson flying through the air and grabbing one. It's a different kind of team and yet it is a win that I think is going to help this team grow."
"Wolfe got some great offensive rebounds, getting four. Anagonye early did a great job of rebounding the basketball. He ends up with eight or nine (rebounds) and Ballinger helped as well."
MSU Forward Aloysius Anagonye:
"Effort was very important tonight. We had to have effort to win and we got it. Detroit has a good team and they played well tonight. They gave a lot of effort too."
"In the second half we settled down and Marcus did a good job of leading and getting the ball to the right people at the right time for open shots."
MSU Guard Marcus Taylor:
"I came out aggressive and tried to look for openings. In the second half, I tried to run more and also kick the ball out more to open guys for shots. It is important to penetrate because it opens up down low and outside."
"We need to finish better than we did today. We had a lot of boards tonight and we just need to convert those into points and then get back on defense."
Detroit Head Coach Perry Watson
"I thought you saw a tremendous first game of basketball. You have to remember this is November, not March. One game doesn't make a whole season. This first game definitely gave us some indication and answered some questions we may have in terms of replacing Rashad Phillips which was a big loss, but anytime you can come against the 12th ranked team in the country on their home court, which has the longest winning streak in the country, and battle them like we did, and come back and never quit. Well, I'm certainly proud of my guys tonight."
What he liked about his team's performance:
"We wouldn't quit, and we wouldn't hang our heads. They definitely had an advantage on the offensive boards. There was a lot of contact, whether the contact was fouls or not, it's all the same. We're going to come out and compete. I think for that first game we definitely did some things that I'm proud of."