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Utah 72, Portland 67 - Postgame Quotes
12/19/2011 12:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2011
Utah Head Coach Larry Krystkowiak
"I thought it was kind of a tale of two different games. We came out and did a terrific job of moving the basketball in the first half and defending. It was important for us to think about getting some stops and I think that was indicative of the way things have been going lately. When we play some defense, the rim seems to get bigger for us at the other end. We had 11 assists on (16) baskets in the first half. We shot a really high percentage and things were kind of clicking. I think we got into a situation where we were in some uncharted territory at halftime with a comfortable lead. We got a little bit fat and sassy. I think that is part of a learning experience we haven't crossed yet. We came out, but didn't play with the same kind of energy we needed to defensively. We gave them some easy baskets and we took some really uncharacteristic shots on our end. When things get going hard, just because the rim was big in the first half doesn't mean it is going to get easier in the second half. I think we made the assumption that we were going to get rolling. It was fantastic that we stuck to it. It was, like the Idaho State game, a kind of counter-punch back and forth. We managed to make some plays when we needed to and pulled away."
"It is hard to say for sure [if the Utes would have won the same type of game two weeks ago]. This whole thing has been a big learning experience. I do think there is a lesson to be learned all the time. It is just a great feeling that we were able to learn some lessons and not deal with a loss. That would have been unfortunate if things wouldn't have gone the way they did tonight. It would be hard for us to deal with. It is one of those times, I think the first time this season, where we can chalk up a W and learn a lot of lessons about how not to play. We have learned a lot of lessons how not to play before but we have lost. So this one is important for us to break down some film, we can all feel good about watching our mistakes and know it didn't cost us so dearly."
On Josh Watkins' performance
"The first half I thought it was more of a team thing. We were moving the ball and running our sets, getting our guys shots. Then in the second half, they threw a few curve balls at us with some zone and some trapping. It seemed like we never took the ball off of a rebound and had a chance to fast break, like what we were doing in the first half. We were always taking an out-of-bounds and dealing with their press, whether it was off a free throw or a made basket. They were trapping the first pass in the second half, which got us out of sorts a bit. We saw the pick-and-roll game, which is part of our arsenal. When we put the ball in Jiggy's hands as much as we did tonight, it was great. He bounced back from his last performance. Any time a guy gets his career high and gets six assists, I think is a heck of a performance."
Senior Guard Josh Watkins
On his performance
"I found my teammates early, I had five assists out of the gate. Then the game opened up for me. That let me penetrate and get my flow and jump shots more."
On having a two-game win streak "It feels good. It shows the team chemistry we have. It took the losses to show us what we needed to do and now we are doing all the right things...playing as a team and making shots early in the game.
Junior Center Jason Washburn
On giving up a big lead but holding on to win "It is a test of character. Coach said in the locker room `Maybe that is just something we are not used to, having a 15 point lead'. But they came back and when they tied the game up, we held them back and we stood firm. I am proud of our guys, we came out with a good win."
Portland Head Coach Eric Reveno
"The main thing we did was compete in the second half and we settled down. We made some adjustments. In the first half we were struggling and learning. I give Utah a lot of credit for being prepared and guys hitting shots and making plays. We were the opposite, being back on our heels and being disrupted. We weren't able to find an offensive rhythm."
On the difference between first half and second half
"Defensively we decided that Watkins...we were letting him set up too many guys. If he was going to beat us, let him work to beat us and he did. He got going and hit a bunch of free throws. In the second half he didn't get any assists. We tried to disrupt him that way. They were sharing the ball and everyone was getting involved and that worked. Offensively give Utah a lot of credit for being prepared and us not taking advantage of things that were open. In the second half we were able to run some different stuff, move around a little bit and find our offensive rhythm. It really was a tale of two halves, until the eight minute mark when it was tied. Then at the eight minute mark, offensive rebounds started to hurt us, we missed some free throws, they made some free throws and we just couldn't get over the hump."
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