January 16, 2006
Head men's basketball coach Billy Gillispie met with members of the press Monday at the weekly basketball media luncheon held in College Station.
Click the link to the right to listen to the press conference. A transcript is posted below.
Billy Gillispie Media Luncheon Quotes
Going into Kansas State on Wednesday...
"They've got to be playing at an all time high confidence-wise. It had been 31 times they had lost to Kansas in a row, and they won it. They really earned the victory. They got down and had a stretch where they didn't score for 12 minutes in the game and really just hung in there and defended well and made shots. They made a bunch of shots down the stretch...a lot of big shots. They had a lot of different people that made plays that will be playing at an all time high, I would assume, confidence-wise...not just because they beat Kansas, but they have been playing well all year. They have got a really good team. They had a really tough shooting night against Nebraska, but they went to Iowa State and had a great chance to win over there as well. They are a really good team."
Talk about some of the missed layups the last couple of games...
"We need to make them to have a chance to win. Our margin of error is small, and we need to make those layups. We're just not finishing plays like we need to. That's been an emphasis all year long. You're going to have a lot of close games, and usually when you go back and look, it's layups and free throws--and that was definitely the case on Saturday."
There doesn't seem like there were as many (of those things) last year...
"We did a better job last year of closing out games. When we got an 8-point lead, it went to 15. That's how you close out games. You make free throws, don't turn the ball over and you finish plays. Also, we got defensive stops at the most important times. Most of the time, when did get an 8-point lead it went to 15. This year that hasn't happened. As far as finishing plays, Antoine (Wright) wasn't a great finisher either...but I think we probably got the ball into Joe (Jones) a little bit more. It's a little bit different personnel as far as who's taking shots."
Even though you say Antoine (Wright) wasn't a great finisher, was it just the fact that he was out there? Maybe that set up others?
"He was so athletic. I'm not saying he didn't finish any plays. He wasn't a great finisher, but the biggest deal last year was we got the ball to Joe (Jones) more. Joe didn't not finish any plays on Saturday down the stretch, but we just have some other guys that have to do a better job of finishing. When you get the easy ones, you've got to make them. Plus, our margin for error is smaller, because we don't defend quite as well as we did. Right now we have just missed a couple of free throws in the last couple of games that could have given us a better chance to win."
Do you talk to a young team about putting a loss like that behind them?
"I really think practice and preparation makes you mentally tough enough to move on, win, lose or draw. I think the most important thing is to try to improve when you're winning...because with the media gratification the way it is in our world today, everybody thinks that once you win you automatically were perfect. I think we're as critical after a win as we are after a loss. But we're not going to neglect the fact that, hey, we made mistakes down the stretch in the last two games. We've made mistakes early in games that put us in situations where we should have had an 11-point lead at halftime instead of five. We're not going to not talk about missing free throws. We're not going to just act like it didn't happen. (We will) talk about it, address it, talk about how we can improve and hopefully it won't happen again. I think honesty is the best way to help guys move on. With players, I think being honest helps you move on. We know we're going to make mistakes. Let's not neglect the fact that we made mistakes, and let's not act like it didn't happen, even though it's a very emotionally-tough thing to handle sometimes. I believe honesty comes back to ease the emotional stress or emotional part of it and lets you move on quicker."
One of the things you said after the game Saturday is that you really like this team. Does that give you the confidence that they'll be able to get over this?
"I love this team. I'm so proud of what they're doing. I think it's great that everybody can be so disappointed like they are now, after we went to Oklahoma State and lost and had a chance to win, and lost to Oklahoma--a preseason top five or 10 team. I think that's a sign of growth and a sign of where our program is headed. We're really disappointed that we didn't come up on the right end, but I think we are looking at playing a different game than what's been played here in a while, as far as the approach and dealing with things. We don't want to be 1-2, but I think we're heading in the right direction."
Was the Texas Tech game an example of closing out a game like last year? What were some of differences in the last five minutes (between that game and the most recent two)?
"Not really. Last year's team I think would have been able to close it out a little bit better. We made some mistakes at the end. You have to be mentally tough to make all your free throws. You have to make sure you get a shot at the basket every time. The most important thing is you have to defend every single possession. When you get a 4-point lead in a game like you did on Saturday, you have to defend like crazy right then. The last play ends up being the play that everyone looks at. The play before that gave them an opportunity to pull within 44-42. You can't not defend in that situation.
"As far as the Tech game goes, I think in all three games we've done about the same as far as closing the games out. I think that sometimes your opponent makes or misses shots. I think that we've been hoping for things to happen instead of making things happen in all three of those games. I have great respect for our opponents too. Sometimes you can do stuff...sometimes you can't. We're probably a little bit inexperienced in understanding how to handle those close-out situations. (The) North Texas (game) was the same way...Penn State was the same way. I think that we'll get better at it if we ever get in that position again."
On Oklahoma's final 3-pointer, as Acie (Law) was defending it, is that almost a personal preference on that final screen, that he went under instead of over?
"No, you should always go over at the end (of a game). Joe (Jones) should have helped him better. The whole thing about (Oklahoma guard Terrell) Everett is he has to have space. He loves space. He doesn't like crowded areas. We didn't play the screen right. But then again, (Oklahoma center Kevin) Bookout did a great job. Nobody talks about what he did. Bookout gave (Everett) two opportunities to use his big body as a screen. Joe has to help Acie more. Acie has to do a better job of getting over the top, but we'd been playing him below the screen the whole way. It was a situation where it was a different deal. At the end of a game you can never go below a screen."
When you breakdown that game, was the number one cardinal sin giving up the two points so quickly after you took a 4-point lead?
"I think so. We gave up a layup after making a basket at like the 4-minute mark where we didn't pickup our man. That's a cardinal sin. They were really having a difficult time scoring. We make a substitute at the timeout, they come right down after our score and we didn't pick our man up. We just gave them one and you can't do that. We didn't celebrate, but we just didn't pay enough attention to detail in regards to the way we needed to. I probably should have called timeout just to make sure we understood the importance. I thought with the personnel involved that we would, so I didn't call timeout. A lot of times I do call timeouts in those situations, but we were down to two timeouts. I knew it was going to get hairy. I thought we'd have a hard time getting the ball in, those kinds of things--normally we'd have a few more timeouts left at that time."
It seemed like there were a couple plays like that in the second half at Oklahoma State...a few lapses, easy baskets, but other than that the defense was good the rest of way...
"Really, the defense wasn't that good at Oklahoma State. They shot 56 percent. I'm not taking anything away from them, but they got the ball to the basket too many times, and we fouled in critical situations. You can't do that. You've got to make them earn their points. But they did come down a lot of times after we scored and put it straight into the post. Our post defense has been fantastic all year long, but against Oklahoma State they threw it in there too easily and got easy baskets without having to work hard enough or take any time off the clock."
(Oklahoma's Kevin) Bookout looked like the left tackle making a block on that screen (at the end of the game)...
"He's a really smart player. That's one of the things they do in transition all the time. He runs down through there and they play around him. It's a moving screen, and he does a really good job...and (Terrell) Everett really knows how to play off it."
Do you see in those defensive lapses a common thread? Is it concentration?
"It's nothing bad. It's guys making errors against really good players. There's not a big deal about it. We have to get better at it, but I don't have any question that they will."
Is it difficult going on the road for two games now, then getting Kansas back here?
"Yeah. That's the Big 12. I'm really excited about it after how our team's doing. We've really improved and I love their effort. I love their practices, they've been good all year. They've become great in the last two or three weeks. They're excited about playing, and we're excited about the challenge. We know it's difficult. If you're going to start predicting and all that kind of stuff, it could be doomsday for some people. We're going to play for 16 games. Our schedule at the start is brutal. If we had any give-up in us, we would have given up at the half against (Texas) Tech. We aren't giving up. We're going to play 16 games and see where we're at after 16. I really believe, in our conference this year and the way the games have looked thus far, it looks like every game is going to be competitive. There are going to be a lot of games that come down to the last possession. The team that handles winning and losing the best over a 16-game schedule is going to be the team that's going to be (left). There may be one or two teams (emerge) as elite, and Texas is probably at that level right now already, but it's going to be interesting to see how it goes. I've always believed that you play 16 games, and it doesn't matter if you start off 4-0 or 0-4. You play 16 games and you see what happens. Last year Iowa State started 0-5 and ended up winning seven in a row, going to the NCAA Tournament and getting a good seed. So, only if you handle it wrong can your start be bad. Our guys will handle it right no matter what. If we were sitting here 3-0, our guys would be approaching this game the same way we're going to be approaching it. We're not 3-0. We could be 3-0--we could also be 0-3. We're 1-2. That's not where we want to be, but I'm confident we'll play 16 games."
After the game the other day Chris (Walker) talked about going back to practice, and getting over it during practice, he even had to ask who they played next. Is that the attitude you like?
"The guys are great. They're great. That's what they do. I really believe they enjoy practice. I know they enjoy competing. You couldn't compete like they do if you didn't enjoy it. They don't get too high...they don't get too low. I love their maturity in that respect. I know they are hurting after getting beat in two close games like that, but I also have confidence it won't affect them the next time they practice or play."
I guess one positive thing that got overlooked (against Oklahoma) was Chris (Walker) hitting two 3-pointers late in the second half. How important is it for other teams to have to respect him more as an offensive threat?
"It means a great deal. I think there were a lot more positives than only one, but that was a big positive. I have great confidence that Chris can make threes. His form is good, his toughness is good enough to shoot it. He's not afraid to miss. It's going to be important for us to continue to develop guys as we go, especially on the perimeter because we're a little shorthanded there. But if he continues to make threes, and they have to guard him, then that really helps Joe (Jones) inside and helps Acie (Law) be able to drive more. We have to get to the foul line more. We've got a lot of areas we have to continue to improve in. But, the more perimeter shooters you can put out there, the better off you are."
You think a little bit of that is that he's just getting more comfortable after his injury?
"I don't know, probably. Maybe it's just getting 15 games under your belt. This is when he started playing really well last year. This is where Joe (Jones) started playing really well last year, above being a freshman. (Chris's) leg is feeling better all the time."
He's got to be one of the best stories you've ever had...
"I don't know how anybody could have any better story than Chris (Walker). I can't imagine as a fan not just totally waiting to get to see a game to go see Chris play, the way he plays with his passion. Chris is liable to be the head of IBM or something like that. If he's not I'll be very disappointed. He's one of the most unique people you've ever seen. He's already graduated. He's the most unique, smart, tough, fun, common-sense...he's got it all. He's charming. He's a great, great story."
Have you ever sort of thought what would have happened to if he'd not walked on at A&M?
"We'd all be better off now, because we'd have won about six or seven or eight games last year, so when we were 1-2 everybody wouldn't think the sky is falling. They'd think, 'Man, they are making progress in year two!' It's Chris's fault that everybody's expectations have risen so high so quickly."
He's such a good person, he could take that couldn't he?
"He has no choice (laughing). He's the best. We've got a lot of great young people on our team. You talk about high character, quality...everything a coach could ask for. I wish they were a little bit taller, could shoot a little bit better, could defend a little bit better...but that's our responsibility to make them better. Whatever we ask them to do they try to do it on and off the court. You couldn't have better situation than what we've got."
With Joe (Jones), is there something you guys are going to try to do or work with him on to try to avoid foul trouble early?
"We've been working with him. He's just got to restrain sometimes. He's got to use his fouls (better). He's improved, but he's got to know sometimes that the reason he gets in foul trouble is because he does what we ask him to do all the time. He has to continue to want to do that, and he won't ever change, but he's also got to understand he's playing with his hands too much. When he gets in foul trouble, (it's because) he's not moving his feet enough and not anticipating. He's always reacting instead of anticipating. He's got to do a little bit better job, but he's also got to do a little bit better job of understanding, 'Hey, Joe, we need you in the game all the time. So try to do it like we want to, but sometimes don't take it to the letter of the law.' He will, because he's a really intelligent player. The other guys that came in the other day played great when he wasn't in there. We want him in there all the time. I think that we have got to do a better job of getting him more shots all the time. He only took 5 shots the other day. That's not good enough. We don't have a great chance for success when he does that. His foul problems are going to be a thing of the past very soon I think."
Is he getting too many fouls that aren't directly involved with the play?
"They're directly involved. It's usually because somebody gets penetrated on and he has to rotate, or he has to go over. They've just been unfortunate situations in the last three or four games. He'll go over and try to cover up for somebody after a loose ball. He gets his third foul against (Texas) Tech after a scramble, where four guys had jumped on the floor for a loose ball...Tech comes up with it, throws it to the basket and he fouls the guy. So they're hustle plays, and as long as they're hustle plays I don't think it's negative. He's going to be fine. I would think that as we go, his foul problems will go. We had the same problem with Brian Cook when we were at Illinois. We've got every foul that Joe's committed all year long on a tape, and we show him that tape and say, 'Hey, here's what you need to do and here are the times these fouls are being committed.' We're trying to help him the most with it, but his knowledge and experience and understanding of the game will take care of it. Brian Cook was the same way. It's almost identical. He'd have two fouls early in the first half, have to sit out quite a bit of the half--but then all of a sudden it just clicked and it was a thing of the past. Cook was a very intelligent player, but I haven't seen anybody more intelligent than Joe as far as knowing how to play in the interior at a very early age."
Last year it seemed like Marlon (Pompey) was one who had trouble with fouls...
"Marlon's matured to understanding how to play without fouling. Dominique (Kirk) has to do the same thing. You've been out there for 40-45 games now, and you can't continue to make the same fouls in tough situations. You talk about closing out games, and you get a lead or you're trying to come back or whatever, and the other team's having a hard time scoring...and you foul them on the perimeter. They don't have to earn anything. We fouled (Oklahoma's) Austin Johnson the other day. We can't do that and have the best chance to win, (especially) when we foul him with 11 seconds left on the shot clock and they had zero going on offense. You've got to restrain from putting your hands on guys or grabbing a guy's jersey in those situations. (Oklahoma State's JamesOn) Curry gets two fouls the other day when we were defending at Oklahoma State, and we fouled him twice...that's four points. We lose by two. We've got to be smarter in knowing how to use our fouls for the best. It's not only Joe, it's our team. And that's my fault, because I teach a very aggressive style. But they're getting better at it, and we'll continue to get better."
Before season you hoped that depth would take the pressure off Acie (Law) a bit, but are you still to the point that he's asked to do too much?
"Too much. Offense, defense. I'm mad at him because he doesn't get enough defensive rebounds. Well, I'm not really mad at him. His assists are down, but that's a lot to do with our other guys and not him. He's been playing great, but we need him to play better. Eddie (Smith) was sick the other day. He's still sick now, and I don't know if he'll be able to play a whole lot on Wednesday. There are just not a lot of alternatives. An injury that killed us early in the year was Logan Lee. That was a devastating injury that too many people don't talk about. He's a great shooter from the perimeter. He's a really good backup point guard in this situation. We could move Acie to the point when they play together. I'm not making excuses..."
But before the season you thought you'd have that depth...
"I thought we'd have a lot. I'm not saying we have none. I thought he'd be playing 30 minutes a game instead of 38. You want him to defend every possession, push it every possession on offense and run your offense. That's a great deal of stress to place on one guy."
Is that why you like and need Eddie (Smith) because he can bring the ball up and take some of that off Acie (Law)?
"We need him because he's fast. He can really guard the ball and he is fast and we need him. Until we improve our roster, we need him to be a factor every game instead of once every three games. He tried to go the other day but he couldn't. I don't know how long he's going to be out. He was still sick yesterday."