Notes & Quotes - Western Carolina
12/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2008
Postgame Notes - MU vs. Western Carolina
(Dec. 19, 2008)
- Marquette recorded its 20th consecutive non-conference victory at the Bradley Center, a streak which stretches back to the 2006-07 season.
- MU jumped out to an early 12-1 lead on the Catamounts with seven points from Lazar Hayward. The Golden Eagles never trailed during the game.
- Freshman center Chris Otule saw his first collegiate regular season action, recording three points, one rebound and one block in 11 minutes of action.
- Sophomore forward Joe Fulce also made his debut at the 3:45 mark of the first half. Fulce played 11 minutes, scoring two points and grabbing four rebounds.
- For the game MU shot a season-high 53.7 percent (29-of-54) from the field and 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from behind the arc.
- Marquette shot a blistering 63 percent from the field in the first half on its way to a season-high 53 points. In the first half MU was 8-of-11 from three-point range.
- Lazar Hayward recorded a career-high 27 points, topping his previous high of 25 points set this year against UWM.
- The Golden Eagles tied a season high with 11 made three-point baskets. Western Carolina's 13 three pointers were the most allowed by MU this season. The Catamounts hit 9-of-15 from three in the second half.
Postgame Quotes - MU vs. Western Carolina
MU Head Coach Buzz Williams:
"I thought it was the tale of two halves. The first was probably as good as it's been all year on both ends of the floor. I thought in the second half we weren't very good and our mentality was poor coming out of the half. Over the last eight-and-a-half, nine -and-a-half minutes, I tried to play Joe and Chris more minutes than they deserve. They have had two full practices if you count today's practice. The mismatches were bad offensively and defensively, and that's only part of what the issue was in the second half.
"We had 24 assists on 29 baskets, that's a typical because our team scores most of its baskets off penetration and we don't get that many assists. When you make shots like we did in the first half it makes everybody look good."
On Fulce and Otule...
" They are not ready to play. They haven't earned the right to play, but from a logistical standpoint, as it relates to the timing of our games over the next two weeks, I think it is important to figure out how Joe can play five minutes a game in January and how Chris can play six or seven minutes a game in January and whether or not they can get to that point in time and be effective on both ends. Chris should have fouled out of the game, he pretty much fouled every possession. Joe does have a knack for rebounding the ball which benefits our team and Chris gives us a post presence."
If you could pick any two players on the team who you knew needed the 42 practices and 10 games prior to tonight, those would be the two that I would pick. We are so size deficient and obviously Chris helps that. We are so length deficient and Joe helps that."
On Lazar Hayward's performance...
"(Lazar) is a hard guy to guard and it becomes harder when our three guards are playing really well. We have tried to get him more touches on different spots on the floor and I think that he is getting into a rhythm of where those touches are going to come from, no matter who it is, Wes maybe (Jerel) some getting touches in the paint, I think that it adds another dimension to our club when (Lazar) plays well."
Junior Forward Lazar Hayward:
On letting up after such a large first half lead...
"I think that guys, when they know that we are going to win the game, I think we just have to get better at playing the way that we want to play. That's doing all the right things no matter what the score is. I think as a mature team we have to learn to get over that hump. We still are learning. We just have to help each other out, starters, bench players, no matter who we have to communicate better."
On the lift that Fulce and Otule's return could provide to the team...
"I think that with Chris down low, he is a big, big post presence that we need. I think that with Joe's athleticism and the way he rebounds, and the way he blocks shots, that helps us. It will show as we progress through the season."
On scoring more...
" I don't want to jinx it but its just me attacking and playing the right way and my teammates getting me the ball in the right place at the right time. I think Dominic is doing a great job on our team getting guys the ball when they are open. It's just them showing their confidence in me.
"I think its just being aggressive at all times. That's the biggest difference for me."
