Feb. 11, 2008
SAN DIEGO -
SDSU Men's Basketball
Weekly News Conference Quotes
Aztec Athletics Center
Head Coach Steve Fisher
Opening statement regarding the Kyle Spain suspension:
"I would initially like to address the Kyle Spain situation. He will be suspended for the remainder of the season. (He) will not play another game this year. He will have the ability to follow through on some commitments that we have placed on him. If he does that and does what's necessary, then he will have the opportunity to be a member of this team next year. But, he will not be involved in playing any games for us for the remainder of the season."
On Saturday's loss to TCU and the upcoming game against New Mexico:
"We're coming off a very disappointing game at TCU, one that we felt like we could've won, needed to win, but didn't win. We were well aware that they were averaging 76 points at home. They have beaten New Mexico at home and others. And they're a formidable team. They beat us up on the glass, they beat us with some transition baskets. We still had some opportunities, but we couldn't make a play. If we would've made free throws like we shot them in some of our victories, we would've won the game. But it wasn't to be.
"Now we move forward to maybe the hottest team in the league in New Mexico, who won by 45 against Wyoming on Saturday and won by 40 the previous game (vs. Colorado State). So hopefully we won't be beaten by 50 if they continue to move up the way they've been going. They're a good team. They're a team that has a lot of offensive weapons, and they will be remembering the victory that we got from them at their place earlier in the season. We've got a big game on Wednesday. (It's) the old cliché, `every game's a big game,' and we need to take care of home turf and focus exclusively for the Lobos of New Mexico."
On the team's reaction to the Kyle Spain suspension:
"You move forward with your team. The mettle of our team will be tested in every regard. We will have to step up; everybody will have to play a little better. Kelvin (Davis), who has now moved into the starting lineup, had 15 points and shot the ball at TCU better than he has in ages. So we need to have everybody do their part. The season is not over. Our opportunities are still there in front of us. Trust me, three wins will win the league outright. And that's where we're sitting right now. So if we take of business at home against New Mexico, we're doing what we can control. We need to control what's in front of us and that's preparing ourselves that best way that can--with no distractions--for New Mexico."
On the nature of the requirements needed for Kyle Spain to return to the team:
"Kyle is still on scholarship, still in school. Kyle and I have talked about and will continue to talk about what is necessary in order for him to return next year. The ball is in his court to some measure."
On the rest of the team having to step up in Spain's absence:
"We have to have somebody step up and do what they need to do. It means that Lorrenzo (Wade) is going to have to rebound a little bit more; Amoroso is going to have to rebound a little bit more. We're going to have to get those loose ball rebounds from Richie (Williams) and D.J. (Gay), and Billy (White) is going to have to do a little bit more. So opportunities will be there for the next guy in line, and that's what we have to focus on now. We have to prepare the group that's playing on Wednesday to be in the best positions and the best match-ups we can give them, so that they can be successful against an athletic, but not exceedingly big, New Mexico team."
On TCU's plus-16 rebounding margin last Saturday:
"TCU is statistically the best rebounding team in the Mountain West Conference. Their three big guys are the most physical group in the league, and they use that physicality to take advantage of second-chance opportunities in spots. We failed a couple of times with form and technique to execute. I think the offensive rebound put-backs that they got were a little more glaring than the one's we got. From an offensive rebounding standpoint, there wasn't a huge disparity in offensive rebounds that led to baskets. But they had the big ones in stages where if we get the rebound, now we have a chance to take the lead. And those stand out when they happen."
On the team's mood in the wake of Spain's suspension:
"You play with hand that you've got. Take losing at TCU. I wished it hadn't happened. In some regard, we think we could've done some things that would've allowed it not to happen, but it happened ... That's life. The challenges are there for all of us. It isn't a perfect world. If you walk around like Charlie Brown saying, `Woe is me, woe is me,' with this cloud over your head, that helps nothing or no one. We will be ready to practice and we will be excited and ready to play New Mexico on Wednesday and proud to represent San Diego State."