Monday was the first of a weekly conference call with Mountain West Conference men’s basketball coaches. Here are some quotes that didn’t make my story for Tuesday’s paper.
“I believe I would probably say yes to that. We lost a lot of really talented players and I thought the league would maybe not be quite as good, but now I think maybe the league is better. … I think this is a league that is growing in credibility, which means you’re good every year no matter who you have and who you lose.” — San Diego State coach Steve Fisher.
Fisher described No. 15 New Mexico, which his team opens MWC play with Tuesday, as “great.”
“I’m really pleased with how he has kind of had this target on him and teams have tried to change his game, yet he’s been able to adjust and help our team win.” — BYU coach Dave Rose on Cougars junior guard Jimmer Fredette, who scored 49 points in a 99-69 BYU win last week against Arizona. Fredette leads the MWC in scoring at just over 21 points per game.
“I recruited him at Iowa and when I took the job here three years ago we recruited him out of junior college. We’ve known him for a long time and Darington’s issue has always been consistency. It’s never been about talent or the ability to play. … The difference now is that he’s been very consistent. He’s defending at a high level, and he’s doing all the things we want him doing offensively.” — New Mexico coach Steve Alford on junior wing Darington Hobson, who leads the Lobos in scoring, rebounding and assists.
“Am I happy to be 7-7? No. Am I happy to have beaten Michigan, Illinois, LSU and Utah State? Yes. I love our tough schedule.” — Utah coach Jim Boylen.
“He embraces contact and collision, and in our system if you embrace those things you’re going to be OK.” — Boylen on 7-foot-3 sophomore center David Foster.
“I feel kind of like (Oklahoma football coach) Bob Stoops who lost his best player (quarterback Sam Bradford), got him back and then lost him again to injury.” — Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds, who may be down four players due to injury in his MWC opener at TCU Wednesday.
“Are we really on the mtn. against Wyoming? Really? I don’t have that on my calender. Good, I’ll call my mom. She’ll be happy.” — Colorado State coach Tim Miles on his game with the Cowboys Wednesday.
“Jesse will participate against Wyoming and we will make a decision on whether we shut him down or not. He’s not at 100 percent. He’s not even close. The Wyoming game is the last opportunity for us to play him and still apply for a medical hardship.” — Miles on sophomore guard Jesse Carr.
“I think their length and their athleticism is as good as I’ve ever seen it. They’re style of play is unique. They create chaos and the feed off those chaotic situations with their press. They get you out of rhythm and tempo, which shouldn’t effect us because we have no rhythm or tempo on offense, either. It should be a good match-up for us.” — Miles on describing Wyoming’s team and his team’s offensive shortcomings.”
See Tuesday’s paper for more on UW-CSU and the Mountain West Conference.
