Oregon State Post-Game Quotes
January 02, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 2, 2011
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Oregon State vs. Arizona
January 2, 2011
Gill Coliseum
Corvallis, Ore.
Head Coach Craig Robinson
On the game ...
"To be able to win a game when you have three of your important cogs, Omari (Johnson), Roberto (Nelson) and Ahmad (Starks) not play that well, not their usual, and still win that game, that's character."
On free throw shooting by both teams ...
"First of all, (Derrick) Williams, he was 3-for-10. He's a good foul shooter. So to have that happen made this kind of weird and to have us on the other side go 75 percent, those are the kind of things you need to do to win games like this. To only have three turnovers in the second half. That is all toughness. This was the complete toughness win."
On what he thought of Jared Cunningham's dunk ...
"I thought it was one of the best dunks I have ever been a part of; pro, college, high school. When it happened, he kept going up and up and up, and he went up so high that it took him a long time to come down and dunk it. I was sure it was going to hit the back of the rim. From a basketball standpoint and fan standpoint, it had to be great for everybody in the gym."
On the energy of the crowd ...
"First of all, the crowd was great having the students back. That is the difference between playing on Saturday and Sunday on this weekend because all of the kids are back for class tomorrow. Not only does it energize the crowd and team, we have been on the receiving end of one of those and that hurts.
On his thoughts of the team ...
"I thought I couldn't be more proud of the guys on Thursday, but I couldn't be more proud now. This is toughness which we have always been, but to be this tough on a consistent basis is just great to see because they deserve it."
On beating a good program like Arizona ...
"Every conference win for us is a great conference win. This was sweet because it is the third time we beat a team in a row. That is a big deal. Everything is a big deal that hasn't happened here for so long, so it feels good from that standpoint. Arizona is Arizona, they are always going to be good and have good players. If we can play them tough this many times then your program is getting better."
On the poise of freshman Devon Collier ...
"That kid works hard every day in practice. That last play when he was driving down I thought he was going to miss the layup but he made it. He makes the most awkward shots going in and it's just not because he is left-handed, he can just do stuff like that. When we were recruiting him we didn't think we could get a guy like that to come all the way out from New York. It doesn't go under the radar screen that his toughness permeates through the team, too. We have added some very tough kids."
On Calvin wanting the ball at the end of the game ...
"Every day of practice he works so hard. You know he wants to be good. When people say they want to be good that doesn't mean as much to me because anybody can say it. Watching him come into practice every day and work his tail off. You guys don't get to see that, but he tries to kill the freshmen and then he tells them how he did it so they can figure out how to not let it happen. It's like what a big brother does to his little brother. That's how I know he wants to be good because he doesn't care when Ahmad (Starks) and Roberto (Nelson) are playing well. He is like leave them in there they are doing well. When they don't do well he steps up. So I know he wants to be that guy. His leadership is really starting to get us over the hump."
Sophomore guard Jared Cunningham
On the highlight put back dunk ...
"I just tried to crash the glass and I think Joe (Burton) shot a fade away jump shot and it luckily hit the back of the rim and I went up and got it. You're getting the crowd excited, getting my teammates excited and we just went out there with pressure defense. I mean, the dunk was good but the defense was awesome."
On whether the dunk is a Sportscenter top 10 highlight tonight ...
"Hopefully. Hopefully I can go home and watch it."
On key free throws made in the second half that helped secure the win ...
"At the end of every practice we shoot free throws, take our time, concentrate and just try to follow through and make the shot. We come and make a few clutch free throws in the end and helped us get the win."
On making a school record-tying 34 straight free throws and if he knew when he tied it ...
"No, I didn't know. I was just glad I was helping my team win. Free throws, you make some and then you miss some. We still won so that's not a problem."
On the newfound confidence of group as a result ...
"We just have to come to practice every day and work hard. That's what's going to help us win games. We need to focus on the scouting report and just keep winning games."
Sophomore forward Joe Burton
On Oregon State's energy in the closing minutes of the game after Cunningham's dunk ...
"It energized us quite a bit. I mean, once you get us going it's hard to stop. I've seen put back dunks, but his was just amazing."
On the importance for him to be an important post presence down low this season ...
"Actually, my teammates told me, this guy (Jared Cunningham) mostly, about being more aggressive, take more shots, and don't be afraid to miss. That's what they keep telling me. I had a bad preseason so come Pac-10 I had to change my whole demeanor and my attitude. Being more aggressive comes easy now. You get your nose in there and get dirty."
On getting the ball for a big shot made late in the game ...
"Every winner wants the ball at the end of the game. Jared (Cunningham) hitting those clutch free throws and Calvin (Haynes) when we wanted to get fouled we wanted the ball in his hands to clinch the game. Honestly, it really doesn't matter to me who has the ball at the end of the game, because I trust my teammates and I have faith in them that they'll make the right decision."
On the no charge call on his final basket ...
"I just knew I needed to make the shot. So whatever happens, happens. I have no control of the refs."
On ability to contain Arizona forward Derrick Williams ...
"We weren't going to make him shoot it but he got to the line a lot. Luckily he didn't make a lot of free throws, which would have kept them in the game but our hopes were to just try and make him take some jump shots and not really get into the paint and score."
