Dec. 2, 2008
Recap | Box Score | Notes | Game Action
Coach Herb Sendek -
Thoughts on the game against UTEP: :
"I was really pleased with the way our guys responded and bounced back today. I don't want to take anything away from Baylor, they played a terrific basketball game, but we certainly didn't feel good about our performance the other night. Today, I thought our defense was much better. UTEP is a very difficult team to guard. In fact, we had a difficult time keeping them off the free throw line, but we held them to low percentages. Obviously, the difference with us in addition to the defense was James (Harden). He just had a remarkable game and it was mesmerizing to watch."
On James Harden's record-breaking performance:
"He's had so many great games. He scored more points tonight than I think he ever has, but he's played great on a number of occasions. It is difficult to split hairs and say which one is better than another. He's had some brilliant performances and tonight was certainly one of them with the way he was in a groove shooting the basketball. More importantly, I thought he did an even better job than normal of attending to a lot of the details of the game and fighting through a couple stretches where he would have liked to come out of the game and catch his breath a little bit. He stayed with things and didn't let his guard down today."
On UTEP's Randy Culpepper:
"We tried to deliver the message before the game started, but it took us awhile to pick it up and to (Randy Culpepper's) credit he is an excellent player. He is good. He is quick off the dribble as is (Stefon) Jackson. Those guys are going to cause problems throughout the year for whomever they play and we have seen that here in this tournament."
On his teams effort throughout the tournament:
"It is a grueling event when you play three games in four days and have all the preparation that goes on in between. In our case, we have a lot of guys who play extended minutes so you really have to step up and answer the call. I thought we played two good games and I didn't think our defensive effort was anywhere near what we needed to have to beat a team as offensively explosive as Baylor. So, we started well and finished strong."
On the 76 Classic:
"The event has been fabulous. Everybody has been so welcoming and nice and it was a real honor for Arizona State to participate in the 76 Classic. We want to come back as soon as we are eligible again and represent our school here. We've been to a number of events over the years and this is as well-run and welcoming as any that we've been to. So, we are really excited about the opportunity that we have had here."
On his career-high and tournament-record 40-point performance:
"First, I tried to maintain on the defensive end, because that's how I get a lot of my buckets; off of transition. Then I made sure I rebounded the ball well. Our guards and big men did a great job of kicking the ball out and making the extra pass. That is why we played so well."
On his teammates play throughout the game:
"My teammates did a wonderful job of looking for me and giving me the pass on time and on target. They put me in a position to score and be successful."
On the teams mindset before playing UTEP:
"I just knew we had to bounce back from the loss. I wasn't thinking of anything besides bouncing back and playing well. I think our team played a collective effort in this win and we all had the mindset of trying to play well and redeem ourselves."