Nov. 29, 2011
SAN DIEGO - NEWS CONFERENCE
San Diego State Associate Head Coach/Coach in Waiting Brian Dutcher
Opening Statement:
"The Aztecs are coming off two really hard fought road victories that I think a lot of people really thought we wouldn't get. We ended Arizona's 22-game home winning streak and played extremely well in doing so. We played ahead the whole game, which is a nice thing to do on the road, went on a tremendous spurt in the first half, held onto a two-point lead at halftime and then stretched it out again in the second half and were able to hold on despite some pretty erratic free-throw shooting, to steal a road victory.
"We followed that up with a quick turn around and flew back Thanksgiving morning, then left Friday for Santa Barbara where we were able to battle an undefeated team for a victory. That game was played a little differently in the fact that we got ahead, lost the lead, and then had to come from behind late in the game. Jamaal Franklin did an excellent job, we went small the last five minutes of the game with Jamaal playing power forward and he did an outstanding job down the stretch for us to help secure the victory in overtime. Now we are back to the friendly confines of Viejas Arena playing two ranked teams this week. Creighton is a very good team, Greg McDermott is an excellent head coach and he has the benefit of having his son on the team, who is a first-team Missouri Valley player, Doug McDermott. They score a lot of points, averaging 90 points a game while only giving up 65 defensively, so it's a great challenge that we look forward to. We're happy to have them at home because our home-court advantage has been as fine as any in the country."
On the team's confidence and character:
"Coming into the year, we knew we were going to have very good guard play, which we've had and when you have good guard play, you can stay in every game. With Chase, James, and Jamaal all returning, it's allowed us to have really good guard play. Plus, with the addition of Xavier Thames and LaBradford Franklin, it's given us solid backcourt play. We've got veteran guards that can manage the game, keep us in the game, and our bigs can continue to develop. Tim Shelton has been great, it's not stuff that will show up on a stat sheet, but when you take 10 charges in two games, that's an incredible thing."
On their schedule and fast start:
"As coaches, we're always nervous looking at the schedule, and to look at this stretch that we have had playing at Arizona, at Baylor, at UC Santa Barbara, with home games of USC and Long Beach State, we were definitely concerned. But as you start winning you start building momentum and athletics is a game of momentum. As you win one, then another one, and another one, you build positive momentum and now we are very confident."
San Diego State Sophomore Guard Jamaal Franklin
On staying focused:
"The coaches do a good job on getting us prepared for every game. One thing as a player is that you need to make sure of is have you take care of your body and stay focused on hoop and school, nothing is on your mind besides those two."
On what he has learned from the two overtime games:
"That we are family, we do whatever it takes to win. We don't care who has the last shot, we don't care who was scoring all the points, we just want to win"
On coming off the bench:
"No player likes coming off the bench, but I don't have a problem with it because I feel that's my role for the team and I am willing to do whatever it takes to win. If my role is to come off the bench and be a spark and let James, Chase and Xavier take over the guard spot starting the game, I really don't mind it. It also gives me the chance to see the flow of the game and watch how to guard certain players on the court, so I would have to say I like coming off the bench more than I dislike it."