From The Locker Room
12/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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No. 8/2 Kentucky vs. Michigan State
Dec. 13, 2003 * Ford Field * Detroit, Mich.
Michigan State Post-Game Quotes
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo
"Disappointment is the first thing that comes to mind. We battled back and we played hard throughout most of the game, but we got off to a bad start and we just did not make some plays down the stretch. We tried to force some things and we are still not checking like a Michigan State team and (the blame) should all be on me. We were defeated by a team that is very good and very well-coached. I thought it was one of the better officiated games that I have ever been involved with. It is just disappointing that they made some plays down the stretch on the offensive end and on the defensive end, but we didn't. I am proud of these guys, but they just did not come up with the plays. We did not make enough plays to win and they deserved to win. They made plays down the stretch and we did not and that is what it all comes down to.
"We have to learn how to make plays. We really had some opportunities, but we just got a little bit ahead of ourselves. We got a little bit out of control. It was a one-point lead and we made a couple of turnovers that killed it. (This game) will be a good memory, it just won't be a good memory for a while. Today was a special day for everybody at Michigan State and, maybe, for everybody around the country. Still, we can't enjoy it now because of what happened.
"We have to get better defensively. You cannot just outscore (an opponent) to win consistently. Tubby (Smith) doesn't do that, Kelvin (Sampson) doesn't and Mike (Krzyzewski) doesn't. Of the three teams who we last played, nobody is just outscoring anybody. They are checking, getting their noses bloody, getting down and getting after, but we are not doing that. Don't blame (Spartan players), blame me, but it is going to change.
Center Paul Davis
"We are definitely going to remember (this game) and if we were to have won, it would have meant that much more. We never got it together. It is going to be kind of hard to remember this day because we put so much into it and we were ready to come out and play. The first half definitely lost us the game, even though we came back. It is our fault, not coach's.
"We had a good performance on the offensive end. Sadly enough, we have to play defense too. Today, in the first half, our defense was not there. I cannot concentrate just on offense and, as a team, we have to get that in our heads."
Forward Alan Anderson
"The atmosphere today was great. I was really impressed with the setup. It had a really good basketball feel to it. Everyone involved did a really good job putting this together. Unfortunately, we did not come out with the win, but like coach said, it was a great day for both schools."
UK Head Coach Tubby Smith
"It was an unbelievable atmosphere and great that we could get this win. I thought it was a hard-fought game, which we knew it was going to be. It would be which team could will themselves and limit the droughts as far as possessions were concerned. I thought our guys showed a lot of courage and a lot of heart. I want to compliment Michigan State, I know they are struggling right now, but I know Tom Izzo and I know he'll have his troops ready to play the next time out."
On Kentucky not letting Michigan State get back in the game "We have a veteran team, an experienced team and I thought defensive stops is something we worked extremely hard on in practice-every second, every possession. When you have players like Cliff (Hawkins) Gerald (Fitch) and Chuck (Hayes), who are experienced guys and understand how to raise their intensity when it's called for..."
Forward Chuck Hayes
"Me and Erik (Daniels) noticed that they weren't really double teaming us in the post and that just gave us the opportunity to get them in foul trouble and since we are a little bit undersized we have to do our best job to get angles in there on the block...Everything was falling for us, I was able to get a couple rolls and Erik (Daniels) was able to do his up and under move."
On the atmosphere
"I was more anxious and excited and now we are in the history books, it was a big time win in front of a record crowd. I don't think it really affected us at all."
