Comments from Georgia Tech guard Josh Okogie and forward Quinton Stephens following the Yellow Jackets’ 76-61 NIT semifinal win over Cal State Bakersfield Tuesday night at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
JOSH OKOGIE
On preparing for Cal State Bakersfield’s pressure
“We definitely had great preparation prior to this game. We had a couple great practices and a great shootaround on being ball tough and just passing drills and making the right passes, sharpen our passes, and I think we did a good job of transitioning that into the game. We had crisp passes. Coach (Josh Pastner) told us before the game we had to be comfortable being uncomfortable, and I think we did that early. We knew the press was coming and we just stuck to what we knew with our fast breaks and we just trust each other with the ball.”
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On a help-defense block near the end of the first half
“Actually, I was supposed to be there a little earlier. I kind of got caught sleeping, but I ran as fast as I could and he ended up shooting, so I tried to contest the shot to make up for me not being there on time. Fortunately it was a block.”
On the desire to finish the season strong
“You know, beginning of the season, we all wanted to make it to the NCAA Tournament and, you know, after losing to Pitt (in the ACC Tournament), we kind of lost our hopes of getting there. We realized we still had a lot of stuff to play for – to reach 20 wins, which we weren’t there yet, and we had a chance to play for another championship, which I don’t think this school has won an NIT championship. Us winning on Thursday says a big thing on this team about where we came from this summer. We worked our butts off day-in, day-out, and you know just being here is a blessing, and being able to win a championship just shows how great, how hard work pays off in the end.”
QUINTON STEPHENS
On Cal State Bakersfield’s pressure
“I think our coaches really prepared us to let us know they are really going to come at us. First day of preparation, started off, (we) went from stretching to breaking the press break, and we don’t usually do that. But I thought that was a pretty cool way of preparing for them because we know they are just coming right at you and we just attacked first.”
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On the team’s defensive play
“I think that we really started the game off with our hands. We got a lot of deflections, whether we got steals off them or the ball went out of bounds. It gave us a lot of energy. And we kind of, our hands started going down a little bit later in the half. We picked it up and our talk was really good, too. Really just staying out on their shooters. We lost them a couple times, but we tightened up in specific areas and I think we did a good job.”
On how the team played overall
“I would say I’m happy with us winning, but, like I said earlier, we’re not really satisfied. I feel like I could have played better. I feel like our team could have played better today. I think we got a little rust off, so we’ll be ready for Thursday. I think we’re ready to attack them, whoever we play. But to be able to play Madison Square Garden, my last game, will be awesome, especially with the team that we have. Win or lose or draw, ive’ had a good time.”
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