March 5, 2012

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Southern Utah head coach Roger Reid

"First thing, I'd like to congratulate Oakland. I know they don't feel good. We've been there many many times with two and three point losses, overtime losses and things this year. It's tough to beat a team three times but when you talk about athletics, what we did today is what athletics are all about. Staying focused, never quitting, and it's never over until the last second and that's how you conduct your life. You never quit, you always work hard. I'm just so proud of our basketball team knowing where we're at this point in time and what they've done. And I just want to say this more than anything else. When you look at these guys on this team, we're talking about a 3.4 GPA. We're not talking about like 90% of the athletes in this country on basketball teams. And those things win. Character wins. I just want you to know when you watch that basketball team you're watching more than just guys who go out and play basketball."

On if it was about time things rolled their way, after things didn't go your way last time you played Oakland
"That's the thing we've been preaching all week: it's tough to beat a team three times. We felt like they had that overtime game on their floor, this is a neutral floor and so it was our time. It was our time to win and if you stay focused enough and so forth, you're going to win your share if you just keep after it. I can't say enough about what this league is. When you win a game in this league, you're very fortunate. The strength of the league is very tough and anybody can beat any team on any night."

On Reggie Hamilton putting up 31 with a 3-7 assist-turnover ratio and if they felt like they limited the damage
"Let me just say this: we've got five of the premier players that are underrated and nobody knows about in this country [in this league] and of course Reggie Hamilton is one of them. No question about it. I don't care what you do. He can beat you so many ways. I mean when a guy can get by you and he shoots it on a dime there's really no way to guard him. You can double team him, we went triangles and twos and all that but the thing about it is, he's going to find a way to score. Yes, those people [Hamilton and Bader] have great games, but they have great games against everybody and that's because they're good basketball players."

On facing SDSU in the semifinals
"This is a fun opportunity. If you're an athlete and you're a player, this is where you want to be. And so what I'm saying is: sure they're playing at home. The place is going to be packed and they have a great team. You're talking about, once again, one of the premier players [Nate Wolters]. Because he's so just calm and under control and great. [Jordan] Dysktra can shoot it. What makes them good is they've got great perimeter shooters and they've got a guy that's so under control that can beat you any way. So once again, that's the neat thing and that's why it's great to have a tournament in a setting like this because we're playing them basically on their home court and it's going to be a tough chore. But if you're a coach and an athlete you want to have that opportunity. And I'm sure they're excited to play us. The crowd was cheering like heck at the end of the game and all that so they get what they wanted: they get to play us."

Southern Utah forward Jackson Stevenett

On guarding Drew (Valentine) all game long and what was it like getting a chance to score on him on that last SUU possession
"We've been running that play all year and teams are kind of expecting it now. I was talking to one of our assistant coaches yesterday about that play and saying 'what do i do if this happens? or in certain situations?'. He walked me through exactly everything and that's how it went. It was a certain situation and I did what he told me to do and scored it."

On finding a quick spark after being down 11 and Oakland seeming to have things in control with three minutes left
"I looked up at the score and we were down and realized this could be our last game and everyone just came together. We played as a team. Everyone came together, everyone made plays and that's how you win games as a team."

On how he was able to finish so consistently at the rim while being fouled or facing contact
"Again, our assistant coach challenged me to see how many times I could get to the free throw line. So that was kind of my motive tonight, try to draw contact, that was the game plan. That's what I was trying to do."

Southern Utah guard Damon Heuir

On the semifinal match-up
"I can't wait. I know our team can't wait to have another go at South Dakota [State]. We've had a couple losses [to them] this year and I really think we're all hungry and have another go. What better place to come out and try and beat them than in their home state. So I think we're all hungry and really want to win."

Oakland head coach Greg Kampe

"I just want to congratulate Roger [Reid] and Southern Utah. They deserved to win that game. They battled until the end. They made some great plays down the stretch the things you need to do to win. On the flipside, we didn't. An eleven point lead with a couple minutes ago in a do-or-die situation like this you need to finish that. It's kind of been the story of our season, we've really had struggled with doing the little things pulling away from people and getting distance. Not surprised that it got us at the most important time."

On the last play
"I had three timeouts. We called timeout and we decided that make or miss on the free throw, we would try and use our timeouts to get the ball to half court where we could at least get a shot. We got the quick timeout. There was 0.6 and I can't remember if Reggie [Hamilton] got a good look, but he got a shot, it would of been a prayer anyway. That was the philosophy of the strategy behind it."

On the level of play of the league
"They [Southern Utah] came out and made shots. I thought our team played very well. We were 15-of-27 from the three. When you are 15-of-27 from the three, you don't often lose. I think you have to give them a lot of credit. We did a lot of stupid stuff down the stretch that caused us to lose. There are good teams in this league. There have always been good teams in this league and there will continue to be good teams in this league."

On the career of Reggie Hamilton
"He has had a great career in Oakland. The year he sat out and the transfer year, we won the conference championship and he had a lot to do with that in practice against Johnathon Jones. J.J. would tell you that helped him get better and have a great senior year. He won a lot of games for us with great shots and great plays at the end. Tonight it didn't go his way. It always is that way your last game no matter who you are. He had 31 tonight, he was six of eight from three, but no one is going to remember that. They are just going to remember what happened down the stretch."

Oakland guard Reggie Hamilton

On the team's let down at the end
"I'll take credit for that. I had some sloppy plays at the end. I tried to make a play by throwing it off a guy and it didn't bounce our way. Got to give them credit too. They made some tough shots."

On losing this tough game
"I don't think I will forget this day for a very long time. I'm very thankful for the opportunity they gave me and unfortunately I'm really upset that I have to go out this way in my career. I love these guys and I love the Grizz family. I'm thankful for the opportunity they gave me."

Oakland forward Drew Valentine

On match-up with Jackson Stevenett
"He's a good player. He was making a lot of tough shots. Trying to make it tough on him and bother him down low. He is a good player and I give him credit for making shots when his team needed