Murray State University Athletics
Cronin addresses media conference
11/21/2005 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CRONIN ON CINCINNATI GAME: Our whole game plan was to make them guard four or five passes. It worked; we wore them down and got good shots. We just shot it too quick sometimes. You learn how to win and make it hard on your opponents. I equate it to football: you can't have your defense on the field the whole game. So we worked the clock and it worked. We had our chances to win but we made critical mistakes.
ON CINCINNATI GAME PREPARATION: (Assistant coach Chris Goggin) was two years there past when I was. Chris knew what (Cincinnati interim head coach Andy Kennedy) wanted to do even if it was his first game as a head coach. They didn't do anything that surprised us. At no time were we hit with something that we didn't know about, and that gave our team a chance to stay in the game. We don't want to get broadsided and we hope we never have to go into a game and not be ready for something.
ON UPCOMING OPPONENT CAMPBELLSVILLE: We have to defend the three-point line. They shoot 26 threes a game. The three-pointer is the equalizer. It's a way for the underdog team to jump up and bite you. We have to guard Zach Ingles because he's played here before and he's a good shooter.
ON BALANCED SCORING: We're headed into the direction of five guys who average double figures. Ideally, that's what we want, and to get two guys coming off the bench who are potent.
ON JUSTIN ORR AND BENCH PLAY VS. CINCINNATI: Justin fell off in the second half, and I take the blame for that. We have to play our bench more. You get down 10 on the road, you have to go with the guys who can get you back in the game. But, when it happens like that, you get back in the game and then your best guys are tired.
ON TREY PEARSON: Trey has to get more mid-range jumpers. He can't live behind the line. If you live behind the line, you die behind the line.
ON PEARSON GRIFFITH: He showed up big-time on defense, but he has to finish better around the rim. He's settling for jump hooks. I compare him to Shaq: a guy who gets fouled a lot. We wanted to go right at Eric Hicks and make him commit, but Pearson was settling for jump hooks. If he got it blocked a few times, that's great because he would probably foul him out, but instead Pearson fouled out. Defensively, he's giving us a much better presence.
ON HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE: Playing at home is a big advantage. It's pretty simple. Our conference, because of financial reasons, has to play too many road games. You see the value of playing at home. Tennessee Tech lost by 20 at Dayton, but won big at home vs. Oregon State.
