Nov. 7, 2011
Vanderbilt vs Xavier (Louisiana)
November 7, 2011
Memorial Gymnasium
Vanderbilt Head Coach Kevin Stallings
Opening Comments:
“I really liked our energy. I liked that we played together. We shot the ball well, particularly in the first half… We did a better job of getting to the foul line and playing efficiently in the second half. We had open looks in the first half and made them, so it’s hard to say what was happening on the offensive end… Overall, this was a good opportunity to play against someone else. We play bigger and longer. Our size and skill impacted the game.”
On Vanderbilt’s Lineup Size:
“It depends on the size of our opponents. [Tonight] we played with two point guards [at a time] and almost three. We’ll have to be better against Oregon. We have to do a better job in transition, a better job on the backboards, and better playing defense without fouling.”
On Vanderbilt Forward Lance Goulbourne:
“Lance is really important for us on both ends. He got the game for us really well. He… looks like a condor finishing it. He’s easily our best defensive rebounder. Lance is extremely important to what we’re doing and even more important in Festus [Ezeli’s] absence.
On Vanderbilt’s Overall Game:
“We were able to get the ball in transition and I would have liked for us to do it even more. We need to be a team that pushes the tempo.”
Vanderbilt Player Quotes
Forward Lance Goulbourne
On Playing a Smaller Lineup without Festus Ezeli:
“We played some makeshift lineups. That will happen more, especially with Festus out. I think I can hold my own on defense. [A smaller lineup] makes us a faster team; we get up and down the court better. I think we can hold our own pretty well with the smaller lineup.”
On Matching Up Against Oregon Center Tony Woods:
“I don’t know much about him yet. I don’t know what he looks like [on the court]. I think it’s an advantage that he will have to guard different people. We play team defense. I think we can hold our own.”
Forward Jeffery Taylor
On Festus Ezeli Not Playing:
“We don’t have the luxury of having Festus out there. He turned out to be our bailout guy last year. We could throw him the ball and he could make a shot… It has made it a little more difficult, but we have a lot of great players.
On Vanderbilt’s Three-Point Shooting:
“We want to get to the free throw line a lot as well… We make a concerted effort to get the ball inside. If we are making the three, then fine, but we also need to get to the free throw line.“
On Vanderbilt’s Freshman Players:
“They are a talented bunch. They do a lot of things well. With three new players, there is always an adjustment period. However, I think we’ve handled that well.
