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University of Houston Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: Houston 67, Cincinnati 62
2/15/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
#5/5 CINCINNATI BEARCATS (23-3 • 12-1 American)
at HOUSTON COUGARS (20-5 • 10-3 American)
Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018 • Health & PE Arena • Houston
HOUSTON HEAD COACH Kelvin Sampson
Opening Statement
"This game was really similar to last game we played against them, except maybe role reversal. We came out, really punched Cincinnati hard, and went up 18. Tonight, they came out and punched us hard, but the roles were the same after that. They got up thirteen, we come down and I think our biggest lead was seven. We outscored them by 20 at one point, we were up 18 and then they came back and won by 10. That's what good teams do, though. We knew there were some things we had to improve, namely rebounding, from the first time we played them.
I think this was a game we expected to win. Cincinnati is really good, well coached, great culture and program. Mick Cronin deserves a lot of credit for what he has done over the years there, he really does. Our program has just come a long way. I think back to 2014 and what we had to endure that year. Every ounce of the credit goes to these kids. I can't tell you how proud I am of their toughness, competitiveness and grit. This is not a game that was ever going to be pretty, for them or for us. We're ranked in the top 20 defense nationally, they're in the top two or three, so two tough defensive teams. It wasn't going to be pretty."
On impact of this year's journey for the program
"The coach in me knows we have five games left and that tomorrow's practice is important to get ready for Temple. The worrywart in me knows that from the time these guys leave tonight to the time I see them tomorrow, they're going to have a million people tell them how great they are. I'm going to get them down to earth tomorrow. We have a game Sunday. I think there is a time and place to sit back and reflect and recognize the journey. When you're in the middle of the race you don't stop to say 'that was a great 50 yards'. We have 50 more yards. It has been a fun journey, but I am really focused on the task at hand and I want to finish the season the right way."
On Nura Zanna's performance
"You know I grabbed Nura at practice on Tuesday, and I said to him 'You understand that you're here for this game, play against these guys'. This is not a game for boys, this is a game for grown men and Nura is a grown man. Having been through this league a couple times and having played against these guys with what we had before. It wasn't a fair fight. You correct that by recruiting and that's what we have done pretty effectively. You recruit specific things, we needed strength, bulk and toughness. That is why we brought in as many bigs as we did. We had a plan for them and we have executed that plan. This game was Nura's. He was brought here to play in games like this. "
On tonight's defensive performance
"We spend a lot of attention on detail and scouting reports. Our double teams were excellent, crack backs were excellent, the top of the 'I' was excellent. There are four things that have to happen when the ball is in flight and they have to happen simultaneously. We have to lock down the passer so they can't throw it out, we have to take away the baseline, come from the middle with a hard double, weak side guard has to crack back and the top guard takes the top of the 'I' and we rotate again. I thought our execution of the scouting report was as good as it has been."
On Rob Gray down the stretch
"There was a thought there. We got going when he was on the bench the first half, but we've done that before. That's why I tell people, we don't live and die with A guy. Our best player in many games is Devin, sometimes it's Corey, or look how many times Armoni is our best player. This is not last year's team, or the year before, it's this year's. A strength on this team is our depth. But I stuck with Rob because I believe in him, but I can't point to one guy."
JUNIOR GUARD Corey Davis Jr.
On the crowd rushing the court
"It's hard to describe, I've never been through anything like that. My heart was racing the entire time, we felt like we worked for this win, and I'm blessed to be in this position."
On the crowds intensity
"There was a number of times down the stretch where their energy carried us and gave us the energy to get stops and get buckets when we needed them."
On how big the win is for the team
"I think this win set off some alarms for some people, but we can't focus on this game, it's in the past now. Our next game is Sunday and we need to get focused and ready to play."
On Cincinnati's hot start
"Our intensity level wasn't there in the beginning of the game but once our competitive juices started flowing we started to pick it up, we were lackadaisical, and we weren't as aggressive as we normally are."
On Kelvin Sampson calling him a cold-blooded killer
"It's an honor, coach Sampson is a blessing honestly, we learn new lessons everyday with him. To hear any praise from Sampson is heartwarming to us. He comes from a long line of winning and when he says something he knows what he's talking about. I appreciate everything."
On what was said in the locker room after the win
"There were a lot of bad dance moves and a lot of water being thrown around. We were just excited about the win. We celebrated a little but we know we need to stay focused and get ready for our next game."
On the intensity level at practice
"It never changes, they're always tough practices, it never changes no matter who we play."
On the message at halftime
"We had to stick to the game plan and stay focused. We had to play our hearts out and that's what we did.
On the mindset moving forward
"We have to play like we're always behind, regardless of what wins we have. We never settle and we're never lackadaisical. We're always on our toes and ready to get the next win."
SENIOR FORWARD Devin Davis
On the crowd rushing the court
"It was amazing to see all of the fans behind us like that and it was exciting to celebrate with the other 14 guys on this team."
On the crowds intensity
"Hearing them cheering defense really kept us locked in. Thanks to the fans."
On how big this win is for the team
"It was good, but we're still locked in. Tomorrow's practice is probably the biggest practice of the year. The next game against Temple is the biggest game of the year, too. We just need to stay locked in."
On Cincinnati's hot start
"We were just trying to figure out what they were doing to beat us. I think they kept ducking into the middle. We just had to fix some things, correct them and keep competing. Coach said in the huddle we came out performing when we had to compete."
On Kelvin Sampson saying he is an All-Conference player
"Like Corey said, it's heartwarming but we have to stay hungry. It's good to hear him say that, but none of it matters if we don't keep winning."
On the plan moving forward
"Rebounding and defending. We're going to stay locked in and focused on the little things."
On the message at halftime
"We knew Cincinnati was a better team in the second half statistically. We knew we had to come locked in and ready to compete."
