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Quotes: Duke 74, Coastal Carolina 49
11/16/2009 10:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski
On team's performance:
“We're pleased with the win. It was a different kind of game—triangle and two, spreading you out. I thought it took us a while to get adjusted to it and then we did. Our defense overall was very good once we stopped going out and played containment and stopped penetration. We never really got into a really good rhythm offensively in the first half, but in the second half I thought we found some really nice things to do against the triangle and two and got great shots, rebounds. We missed shots, but we got great shots. I thought Jon [Scheyer] played a great game. He sacrificed himself for the team, taking five shots, but five assists and no turnovers. And Kyle [Singler] didn't get a shot for about seven minutes and then he found a good rhythm. There are a couple things we went to in the second half that turned out to be really good and with Andre running the offense, which he's never done. It's just that kind of game where it's November 16 and they have a guy suspended from their starting lineup and they're going to junk it up, which they should. And we got some guys who are out and you try to figure it out so I thought overall we figured it out fine. It will be nice to have Nolan back tomorrow.”
On getting Nolan Smith back in the lineup on Tuesday:
“We've practiced about three times without Nolan and overall we've done a good job without him. So what he does when he comes back is he brings the familiarity that you've known for a month and it's basically what you do. This past week has been difficult because those three guys play really well together. They really like each other and their games complement each other and everybody can't play a triangle and two. Because any of those guys can go for 20 any night or all of them can go for 20 on the same night. That's the type of team we need to be.”
On Andre Dawkins playing point guard:
“It was just that nobody played him. There were guys out there that nobody played. That's an usual situation for a player. All of a sudden nobody's playing me. So you're thinking about that instead of thinking 'I have an open shot'. So you have to be even more attentive and more disciplined. And when you're younger or you don't have the experience that's a very difficult position to be in. He wasn't the point guard, what he was a guy who was wide open and he could be a coach out there and hit people and every once in a while take a shot. I don't think he'll ever play point for us.”
On Andre Dawkins' play:
“Andre of all our guys I thought complemented them the best. He had a presence. He was 3-for-11, but he thought they were all good shots. I liked what he did because then when Nolan comes back tomorrow and Andre comes in, he's had a great two games.”
Senior Jon Scheyer
On hitting his first shot of the game:
“I think in a game like that, there just wasn't much there. They were focusing a lot on Kyle [Singler] and me. It's not something where I need to force anything. The main thing is, we just need to get good shots and if that meant I was taking the shots or our big guys were getting good looks down low, then that is what we had to do. On that first shot, I got a good look and hit it. But that was the main thing; just get good shots every time down.”
On having Nolan Smith back in the lineup on Tuesday:
“He'll take a lot of pressure off of [Singler and me]. Nolan is a great player. In our transition game, he can really help us. I don't think we've had that many easy buckets these past two games and I think Nolan can help with that a lot and take the pressure off both of us handling the ball. He'll obviously take the pressure off the guards and our whole team.”
Senior Brian Zoubek
On Coastal Carolina's play:
“It was a tough game. They really came out hard and were ready to play. They played good defense. They threw us a bit of a loop and it took us awhile to adjust. In the second half, we adjusted and some stuff really started working for us.”
On Coastal Carolina's defense and Duke's response:
“They were playing a triangle-and-two. They were on Kyle [Singler] and Jon [Scheyer] pretty hard. So if we just set screens on them and then they [Scheyer and Singler] get the ball, we would be wide open if we shaped up. We tried to do that. It didn't work as well today. If we keep trying to do that, hopefully it will come to us in the future.”
Junior Kyle Singler
On his taking over offensively in the early part of the game:
“We did start off slow. There is no doubt about that. Just going back to what Coach said, I thought Jon [Scheyer] did a very good job of being patient. I tried to follow and that was basically it. It was all on Jon [Scheyer]. Jon [Scheyer] was our leader out there and we just tried to jump on his back and follow. Whether it was my shots in the first half that kept us ahead, it really was Jon [Scheyer] that took us there.”
Freshman Andre Dawkins
On Duke's overall play:
“They played really well defensively. I think we could have played a lot better defense if we limited their three-point attempts, but overall we played good defense. It was a different kind of game then we expected because of their suspensions and the defense that they played the whole game. Overall, I think we performed well.”
On outside shots that are game planned or just getting open:
“It was a little bit of both. Coach wants me to take shots, especially when they play a triangle-and-two. There were a lot of open shots on the perimeter.”
On a lot of playing time with Nolan Smith out:
“I am definitely a lot more comfortable. I have been playing with these guys for awhile now, so I am comfortable with them. It was a great opportunity, especially when you have a guy like Nolan [Smith] out; you know he is going to play big minutes. Those are big shoes to fill, so I just tried to do my best out there.”
Coastal Carolina Head Coach Cliff Ellis with guards Logan Johnson and Mario Edwards
On team's performance:
Coach Ellis
“I was proud of our team. We fought hard. Very simply, we didn't make shots. That's the bottom line. We didn't make shots. We put ourselves in a position to really make things tight. They turned it over, four turnovers right off the bat. Our defense was super. I think that's where we'll hang our hats all year. We got to be able to score. Their size was a factor. That's not a good team, that's a great team. I'm proud of our team. I thought we did the things we needed to do to win and if the ball goes in the hole, I think it could've really got interesting the last few minutes of the game. We were there for about 25 minutes, 28 minutes, after that, it was pretty much their game. I'm proud of our team. It was a great experience for them.“
On playing in a tough environment:
Coach Ellis
“I think it shows we're better. I don't think we're where we're going to be. This is just a start. I like our team. I think we're going to get better. I think we're going to get better as we play. But I think we're going to play better than this, to be honest with you. As a matter of fact, offensively, and I give credit to Duke, I think we'll play better offensively.”
Guard Mario Edwards
“It was a fun experience. We knew what to expect. We watch a lot of Duke basketball games. We came here to win and play hard. I feel like we did that, but overall it was a fun experience playing here.”
Guard Logan Johnson
“Like he said, it was a good experience. We all know the history involved with Duke, this arena. That's obviously a different crows that what we see. But we kinda blocked that out at the beginning. You just into the flow of the game and don't let it really get to you too much. It's a fun experience to be able to play here and see the atmosphere that's involved with it.
On the size difference:
Coach Ellis
“I think that was a factor. I think that when we get to the rim, we have to get a little stronger. I think they were stronger when they got there. We probably kept it out of the paint more than they did. I think we got it in the paint. We didn't finish in the paint, but we got it in the paint. I think Mario [Edwards] and Dexter [Moore] were the only ones who really hit an outside shot the rest of the way. I think we need to have that inside-outside balance. They blocked a lot of shots, we did get it in there. I thought Jon [Pack} and Sam [McLaurin] and Joe [Harris] got opportunities inside and a lot of shots, perhaps their size bothered them.”
Guard Logan Johnson
“I think our big men did a good job down low, battling with their size. That's more size than we're used to seeing, more size than we'll see all year. They were able to get in there and battle with them. It was close in rebounding, that's a good thing to see.”
Guard Mario Edwards
“They were big. Bigger than our guys. That had to do with a lot of missed shots in there. We played hard and we played strong. I feel we should have made those shots anyways, no matter how big they are. I think that influence some shots.”
On team's performance:
“We're pleased with the win. It was a different kind of game—triangle and two, spreading you out. I thought it took us a while to get adjusted to it and then we did. Our defense overall was very good once we stopped going out and played containment and stopped penetration. We never really got into a really good rhythm offensively in the first half, but in the second half I thought we found some really nice things to do against the triangle and two and got great shots, rebounds. We missed shots, but we got great shots. I thought Jon [Scheyer] played a great game. He sacrificed himself for the team, taking five shots, but five assists and no turnovers. And Kyle [Singler] didn't get a shot for about seven minutes and then he found a good rhythm. There are a couple things we went to in the second half that turned out to be really good and with Andre running the offense, which he's never done. It's just that kind of game where it's November 16 and they have a guy suspended from their starting lineup and they're going to junk it up, which they should. And we got some guys who are out and you try to figure it out so I thought overall we figured it out fine. It will be nice to have Nolan back tomorrow.”
On getting Nolan Smith back in the lineup on Tuesday:
“We've practiced about three times without Nolan and overall we've done a good job without him. So what he does when he comes back is he brings the familiarity that you've known for a month and it's basically what you do. This past week has been difficult because those three guys play really well together. They really like each other and their games complement each other and everybody can't play a triangle and two. Because any of those guys can go for 20 any night or all of them can go for 20 on the same night. That's the type of team we need to be.”
On Andre Dawkins playing point guard:
“It was just that nobody played him. There were guys out there that nobody played. That's an usual situation for a player. All of a sudden nobody's playing me. So you're thinking about that instead of thinking 'I have an open shot'. So you have to be even more attentive and more disciplined. And when you're younger or you don't have the experience that's a very difficult position to be in. He wasn't the point guard, what he was a guy who was wide open and he could be a coach out there and hit people and every once in a while take a shot. I don't think he'll ever play point for us.”
On Andre Dawkins' play:
“Andre of all our guys I thought complemented them the best. He had a presence. He was 3-for-11, but he thought they were all good shots. I liked what he did because then when Nolan comes back tomorrow and Andre comes in, he's had a great two games.”
Senior Jon Scheyer
On hitting his first shot of the game:
“I think in a game like that, there just wasn't much there. They were focusing a lot on Kyle [Singler] and me. It's not something where I need to force anything. The main thing is, we just need to get good shots and if that meant I was taking the shots or our big guys were getting good looks down low, then that is what we had to do. On that first shot, I got a good look and hit it. But that was the main thing; just get good shots every time down.”
On having Nolan Smith back in the lineup on Tuesday:
“He'll take a lot of pressure off of [Singler and me]. Nolan is a great player. In our transition game, he can really help us. I don't think we've had that many easy buckets these past two games and I think Nolan can help with that a lot and take the pressure off both of us handling the ball. He'll obviously take the pressure off the guards and our whole team.”
Senior Brian Zoubek
On Coastal Carolina's play:
“It was a tough game. They really came out hard and were ready to play. They played good defense. They threw us a bit of a loop and it took us awhile to adjust. In the second half, we adjusted and some stuff really started working for us.”
On Coastal Carolina's defense and Duke's response:
“They were playing a triangle-and-two. They were on Kyle [Singler] and Jon [Scheyer] pretty hard. So if we just set screens on them and then they [Scheyer and Singler] get the ball, we would be wide open if we shaped up. We tried to do that. It didn't work as well today. If we keep trying to do that, hopefully it will come to us in the future.”
Junior Kyle Singler
On his taking over offensively in the early part of the game:
“We did start off slow. There is no doubt about that. Just going back to what Coach said, I thought Jon [Scheyer] did a very good job of being patient. I tried to follow and that was basically it. It was all on Jon [Scheyer]. Jon [Scheyer] was our leader out there and we just tried to jump on his back and follow. Whether it was my shots in the first half that kept us ahead, it really was Jon [Scheyer] that took us there.”
Freshman Andre Dawkins
On Duke's overall play:
“They played really well defensively. I think we could have played a lot better defense if we limited their three-point attempts, but overall we played good defense. It was a different kind of game then we expected because of their suspensions and the defense that they played the whole game. Overall, I think we performed well.”
On outside shots that are game planned or just getting open:
“It was a little bit of both. Coach wants me to take shots, especially when they play a triangle-and-two. There were a lot of open shots on the perimeter.”
On a lot of playing time with Nolan Smith out:
“I am definitely a lot more comfortable. I have been playing with these guys for awhile now, so I am comfortable with them. It was a great opportunity, especially when you have a guy like Nolan [Smith] out; you know he is going to play big minutes. Those are big shoes to fill, so I just tried to do my best out there.”
Coastal Carolina Head Coach Cliff Ellis with guards Logan Johnson and Mario Edwards
On team's performance:
Coach Ellis
“I was proud of our team. We fought hard. Very simply, we didn't make shots. That's the bottom line. We didn't make shots. We put ourselves in a position to really make things tight. They turned it over, four turnovers right off the bat. Our defense was super. I think that's where we'll hang our hats all year. We got to be able to score. Their size was a factor. That's not a good team, that's a great team. I'm proud of our team. I thought we did the things we needed to do to win and if the ball goes in the hole, I think it could've really got interesting the last few minutes of the game. We were there for about 25 minutes, 28 minutes, after that, it was pretty much their game. I'm proud of our team. It was a great experience for them.“
On playing in a tough environment:
Coach Ellis
“I think it shows we're better. I don't think we're where we're going to be. This is just a start. I like our team. I think we're going to get better. I think we're going to get better as we play. But I think we're going to play better than this, to be honest with you. As a matter of fact, offensively, and I give credit to Duke, I think we'll play better offensively.”
Guard Mario Edwards
“It was a fun experience. We knew what to expect. We watch a lot of Duke basketball games. We came here to win and play hard. I feel like we did that, but overall it was a fun experience playing here.”
Guard Logan Johnson
“Like he said, it was a good experience. We all know the history involved with Duke, this arena. That's obviously a different crows that what we see. But we kinda blocked that out at the beginning. You just into the flow of the game and don't let it really get to you too much. It's a fun experience to be able to play here and see the atmosphere that's involved with it.
On the size difference:
Coach Ellis
“I think that was a factor. I think that when we get to the rim, we have to get a little stronger. I think they were stronger when they got there. We probably kept it out of the paint more than they did. I think we got it in the paint. We didn't finish in the paint, but we got it in the paint. I think Mario [Edwards] and Dexter [Moore] were the only ones who really hit an outside shot the rest of the way. I think we need to have that inside-outside balance. They blocked a lot of shots, we did get it in there. I thought Jon [Pack} and Sam [McLaurin] and Joe [Harris] got opportunities inside and a lot of shots, perhaps their size bothered them.”
Guard Logan Johnson
“I think our big men did a good job down low, battling with their size. That's more size than we're used to seeing, more size than we'll see all year. They were able to get in there and battle with them. It was close in rebounding, that's a good thing to see.”
Guard Mario Edwards
“They were big. Bigger than our guys. That had to do with a lot of missed shots in there. We played hard and we played strong. I feel we should have made those shots anyways, no matter how big they are. I think that influence some shots.”
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