Nov. 15, 2006
Vanderbilt vs. Georgetown
Memorial Gymnasium
Nov. 15, 2006
VANDERBILT QUOTES
Vanderbilt Head Coach Kevin Stallings
“We unfortunately ran into an awfully good basketball team. They were certainly the superior team tonight. We didn’t think it would go like it did tonight. Our guys played with a lot of effort and intensity. We tried to be too big around the goal at times. We got in foul trouble early with our post players. Shan [Foster] never really got going. All in all, it wasn’t nearly the kind of performance we needed to beat a team of their caliber. Fortunately, it’s a long season and we have time to bounce back.”
On Shan Foster’s play:
“Georgetown defended him well. He had some good looks too. I don’t really remember him ever going [a game] without a field goal.”
On Georgetown’s Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green:
“We knew they were going to be tough. Hibbert got us in foul trouble early. When they had the lead, then in comes Green. He’s a tough match up and we don’t have anyone that matches up well with him.”
On Derrick Byars’ Play:
“I think he made a couple of aggressive defensive plays and got himself going. Shan [Foster] wasn’t able to do that. Derrick [Byars] just got a little bit going; he wasn’t vintage Derrick. We just weren’t good enough to beat them tonight.
“We had some lapses on defense. That’s what really made it tough to close the margin.”
“It was difficult getting a quick offensive start, but we weren’t really worried about that. We have very talented offensive guys.”
“Playing No. 8 in the country right now gives a gauge as to where we are. It’s better than playing Unknown State University A&M. This is better for us in the long run. We played one of the top five front courts in America. Our defense can certainly improve from that.”
“I always feel like I have to get my teammates going. It’s my responsibility as a point guard.”
“At the beginning of the second half we didn’t come out and play with the intensity that coach wanted.”
GEORGETOWN QUOTES
Georgetown Head Coach John Thompson III
On the performance of Jeff Green, who played just seven minutes in the
first half but 16 in the second:
“I felt like he was only out there for five minutes [in the first half]. It is a completely different game when he is on the floor.”
“It was a collective effort tonight, no doubt about it. Everyone in that locker room contributed.”
“All three of the freshmen are basketball players. They have a real feel for the game and now they just have to get out there and get their reps.”
On Vanderbilt not playing much zone defense:
“I didn’t think that our effort was that good at all. I wouldn’t fault them for what they did. It is going to take time for us to get smooth and to get rolling.”
“Roy [Hibbert] has a long way to go. Everyone said last year how much better he got. But now he has to be more consistent in all facets of the game. People are going to be expecting things from him now. So, he as a long way to go.”
“This time of year, who knows who the top 10 teams are. Everyone is trying to figure out how they are going to go about it. It is to early to even think about who is ranked what. And that is not just coach-speak.”
“It is good to come in here, to play against a good team, a well coached team in a hostile environment and get a win. We showed some mettle tonight when they made some runs at us.”
“That is a good team over there. They are an experienced team. So for us to come away with a win is good.”
On playing a tough non-conference road game:
“We hope it will prepare us for later in the season. That was the plan when we put the series together. Hopefully it will prepare us for league play. You come away with a win and you say it is a great plan. This time last year I thought it was a horrible plan.”
Georgetown Center Roy Hibbert
On Georgetown’s play tonight against Vanderbilt:
“We’re pretty happy, but we have to move on. We have to make more strides and get prepared for the next game.”
On His Weight Loss Since Last Season:
“It has helped, [particularly] running up and down the court.”
On Getting Three Fouls Early in the Game:
“I had faith in my teammates that they would pull out the win.”
