Kansas State University Athletics
Texas-Pan American at Kansas State
Dec 11, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 11, 2002
KANSAS STATE HEAD COACH JIM WOOLDRIDGE
On the game...
"The story of the game was how well we started and how we shot it. We built confidence from the start that we had, and it was a shared offense out there. Tonight everybody took part in getting shots and making shots. It was a pretty good effort on that end."
On the play of Matt Siebrandt and Jarrett Hart...
"Anytime you have a little success, hopefully you can build on that. It makes you work a little bit harder. I still think we have a lot of things to iron out on this team, but it was really good to see the shot making, particularly Jarrett. Matt also got off to a good start. For our team to be successful on the offensive end, we have to have a balanced attack. We're going to have to have several guys, as we did tonight, make some shots and plays. It was a great start for us."
On the second 10 minutes of the first half...
"I don't know what happened. Maybe the lead was the culprit there. We didn't sustain our effort, we got a little loose and didn't get to some guys in transition. It was like the game was over in the first 10 minutes, and obviously the game is not over in the first 10 minutes. But we came back, played better, and stretched it out in the first half."
On Jarrett Hart's hand...
"It's hard to say how bad that thing is hurt. He has a very high pain threshold I think. He started the season back in October with some blisters that most people couldn't go out and play with, and he played and got through that. So, that tells me he has got a high pain threshold. His hand might really hurt, I know he got hit tonight. But he told me that he's used to it and he's going to play through it."
On the focus of the game...
"The whole game was centered around energy, running the floor, and not letting defenses just set up on you. We were able to accomplish that early on in the game. We got into a good flow and a good rhythm, and that was a big part of our success tonight."
KANSAS STATE PLAYERS
JARRETT HART, JUNIOR
On the difference tonight...
"Everybody came together and played together as a team. We came out and executed everything coach wanted us to execute. We worked for it. Coach knows what he's talking about. He's been coaching for a real long time."
On seeing shots fall...
"That definitely felt good. All shooters have a little drought when they are off a little bit. I could blame it on my hand or numerous things. My teammates were picking me up as we went along. They kept encouraging me to shoot the ball and that's what I did. I just came out and played the game that I was supposed to play."
FRANK RICHARDS, JUNIOR
On high scoring...
"I believe we need to be in the mid-70's or low-80's for our team to be good."
On how K-State's offense will match up...
"I played pretty decent, pretty solid. I just made the flow of the game."
On spreading out the scoring...
"If we can that's great. We are all out there trying to do what we can for the team and help win. It would be a lot better if we can get a lot of guys to make a difference."
MATT SIEBRANDT, SENIOR
On the offense tonight...
"We just went right at them. The whole thing was strong posts and working inside and exposing that. Guys were hitting threes and shooting the ball really well. It just snowballed from there."
On the meaning of a win...
"We never planned on being 2-4. A win is good for us. It will help our record out and help our confidence. Hopefully we can go get our first road win Saturday and keep improving the record and improving as a team."
UTPA HEAD COACH BOB HOFFMAN
Opening statement...
"I thought Kansas State was as aggressive and quick to the ball as I have seen them on tape or anything this year. They looked very determined. I thought we had spurts where we played like that, but we didn't play extended minutes like we need to play against a good team like Kansas State."
On K-State's shooting...
"I am grateful that Coach Wooldridge got his guys to shoot that well, just wish it would have been on another night. I hope they have a great year. I know there was some separation and it gets a little bit easier to make some of those shots when you get some separation. We didn't guard as well as we would have liked. They were a lot bigger than us and shot over the top of us. When they hit 11 or 12 of their first 13, it is hard to recover from that."
On defending ...Pervis Pasco...
"We tried to, but the biggest we are right now is 6-5 or 6-8. He is just so active and quick to the basket. He and (Matt) Siebrandt both, they make a good tandem in there. They not only try to get shots, but they are very physical about how they play and they took a toll on us inside because they are so strong to the basket."
GUARD KEVIN MITCHELL
On the game...
"There are times when we competed and there were times when we should've competed. And we were just outplayed. There were times when we were outplayed and outmatched and there were times when we competed also."
On the physical nature of the game...
"It was no more physical than other games we have played. We actually play guys that are more physical. They just knocked down shots. We didn't knock down shots and that's the ballgame."
CENTER TOMAS SITNIKOVAS
On defending K-State...
"They were bigger, that's all. We are not used to bigger teams. I think the problem today was that we played weak on defense the first 10 minutes and then they got momentum. Those first couple of minutes are really important for us."