Dec. 7, 2010

Recap | Final Stats | Notes

Miami Head Coach Charlie Coles
On the game: "This is the first team in a couple years to have just shattered our ball screen defense; we had to change our defense at halftime. They didn't have a full deck. Three of their four best players weren't here tonight so that hurt them, but we will take that; we will count that as a victory."

On Senior Forward Nick Winbush, Senior Forward Antonio Ballard, and Junior Forward Julian Mavunga: "(Nick) Winbush, (Antonio) Ballard and (Julian) Mavunga showed us leadership tonight and that is what we really need on this team. I thought Winbush and Mavunga in particular really dominated on the inside. They blocked shots, and I was very happy with that. I feel good about the game overall."

On his expectations for the game: "One goal of mine was for everyone who played tonight was to play well because that it what we need. More than anything I want for our guys to get back to doing good because that's what they need right now. We need consistency and we have that right now."

Miami Senior Forward Nick Winbush
On the win: "It gives us a chance to focus on us as a team; it gave us an opportunity to work on things that we needed to work on and at the same time get a win at home. With our schedule, every win is big for us. This game was defiantly an important game from us, just in a different way."

On upcoming conference play: "I definitely think we have an advantage when it comes to playing in the paint. We have Julian Mavunga, Antonio Ballard and me who can all get buckets inside and have good height and that will be a definite advantage going into the MAC season. I think we tried to utilize that tonight and got a lot of points inside. I think this (non-conference season) has given us a good opportunity to play a lot of good, ranked teams, and in the end it makes us better and prepares us more."

Miami Junior Forward Julian Mavunga
On preparing for the game: "One thing that the coaches told us was that Saginaw Valley State was going to keep working hard. Just when you thought they were going to go away, they would be right back. We had to just keep fighting. Even when the subs came in during the second half; coach told them the same thing ââ'¬Â¦ that it was a great opportunity for them to work hard. It feels really good to get a "W"."

On trying to improve his game: "I really worked on trying to find a good pace. Sometimes I try to rush too much and sometimes I slow down too much, so lately I have been just trying to work on setting a good pace for myself and knowing when to catch the ball and go or when to probe a little. I have also been trying to put myself in better positions and at better angles to shoot the basketball."