Coaches vs. Cancer - Semifinal One Coaches Quotes
11/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 8, 2006
Youngstown State Head Coach Jerry Slocum
Opening Statement...
This is one of the more enjoyable times of the year because you're optimistic and working with a new group of kids and have a fresh start. We were aware of where Central Michigan is this year - starting over and trying to start a new mindset - and I thought our kids did a very good job tonight of playing hard and smart.
On his team's fast-paced offensive style...
We're definitely opportunistic and like to push the ball and get shots up. As many shots as we can take in terms of playing fast, that's how we'll play.
On his team's defensive performance...
I thought we did a good job defensively, but I wasn't very happy with the way we rebounded the basketball. That's obviously Michigan State's forte and what they're known for, and for us to be even competitive tomorrow night we have to rebound the ball.
Central Michigan Head Coach Ernie Zeigler
On what the team will take away from the game...
Well, we're very much at a building stage, and trying to establish ourselves and learn how to win and compete. For us, we were kind of like deer in the headlights for those first 10 minutes, and if you look at the second half, we actually held them to 35 percent shooting, and we battled a little bit. This is a team that is ahead of us in terms of rebuilding. Youngstown went through some of the same stages, and they have some athletes, and they have a chance of having a very good team. We're very much in a rebuilding stage, and we just have to take our lumps, and move on to the next game. Fortunately for us, the next game is tomorrow.
On the positives his team showed...
Well, I was very pleased with the way Andre Smyth battled, and I think that's something that we're definitely going to be able to build on. I think in the second half, we actually did a better job defensively, mixing up our defenses and giving ourselves a chance to continue to compete. When you're down 25 points, it's really tough to knock into that lead if you don't get on an 8-0 or 10-0 run. Definitely that second half for us defensively was something to build on, and we just need to get guys confidence.
