Bowling Green State University Athletics
Dan Dakich Press Conference Quotes
December 28, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2004
BGSU Coach Dan Dakich
OAKLAND IS 1-8 AND ON THE SURFACE SOME MAY SEE AN EASY WIN, BUT THEY'VE PLAYED A REALLY TOUGH SCHEDULE, YOUR THOUGHTS?
"I think our easy wins are by the wayside. Anyone that would play their schedule-- at Xavier, at Illinois, at (Texas) A& M, at Kansas State, at Missouri, at Saint Louis and home against Marquette...we would probably be in the same spot they are record wise. What we focus on is what we do. Every game that we've had has been decided by our mentality, including the DePaul game. If we come out and play like were capable, it is a game that we can play in. If we don't, I don't think there is a team on our schedule that can't beat us."
FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE FALCONS OUTSTANDING SHOOTING
"I think we're getting easier baskets through our defense which is something you can take through sevengames and I think we've gotten more baskets from our defense than last year in 30 games." ...And when you have opportunities for lay-ups and fast break situations then you shoot a higher percentage.And I also think that guys have worked really hard at shooting, very, very, hard. I think my coaches have done an exceptionally good job at getting our players in here to work extra. It is like any other sport or anything else, it you're doing it right, the better you become."
ARE YOU AT ALL CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE TIME OFF?
"Very much. I'm very concerned because we've looked very rusty out here. We've thrown the ball all over the place. We came in yesterday and worked twice. Tomorrow we'll practice here and then go there and spend about an hour on there court so hopefully by the time we play Thursday we'll be alright."
ON GETTING BALANCED SCORING...
"A couple years ago when we won 24 games, by the end of the year if Keith and Lenny don't score, it narrowed it down. I'm trying to do the opposite this year I'm trying to expand it. I've been really happy with the way Cory Eyink has come off the bench...Sometimes in our system the scorers are supposed to score and it almost where everyone else is looking for an individual or two individuals and I would like it to be ten guys ideally. John (Floyd) has been one of those guys, Fitch, Scott Vandermeer, Mawel, Austin...I want to broaden it and not diminish it."
FACTORS FOR EARLY SUCCESS...
"I think it has been the fact that we have three seniors that want to win more than they want to eat. I knew we were going to lose guys over the summer. I knew because the way we played last year, acted last year, the leadership last year was no good. But I also knew through the summer that we were going to have three seniors that really want the team to do well. Now, we're seven games into it...and I think the one thing as the season goes on that won't change is how much the seniors want to win. You're not going to shoot 22 for 25 but the success we've had or will have, will be directly a result of those three guys. I keep Cory Eyink on the second team basically every practice and it is ridiculous how much he makes the first team work. A lot of seniors might sulk or bristle at that...I stopped and asked him why he was going so hard and he kind of looked at me and said, "I want to win." So that is the reason I think."
