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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Miami at BGSU
March 04, 2007 | Men's Basketball
March 4, 2007
Recap | Final Stats | Notes
BGSU Coach Dan Dakich
Opening Statement
"I thought our guys had a lot of life. I thought that Ryne Hamblet and Otis Polk made the difference in the basketball game. I think that Otis' defense on [Tim] Pollitz to start the second half was really good. Every time you play Miami its going to be a tough game. I thought it was a real effort by our guys and I am proud of them."
How did it feel to watch Ryne Hamblet seal the game for the Falcons in the closing stage?
"It was fantastic. It was something that we needed. Ryne made a great play coming down the lane and made a great shot."
What did you tell Otis Polk today?
"I told Otis that Pollitz has to shoot over you. He can't get to the rim on you. He likes to block shots and Pollitz likes to fake shots, it's a deadly combination. He did a really good job."
Has the play of Ryne Hamblet turned the corner in his transition from junior college basketball to Division I?
"It's hard for me to say he hasn't, because he's averaging 17 points a night. These guys have really worked hard and there hasn't been any quit in them."
What's it like for Martin Samarco and Matt Lefeld to win in their last home game?
"I think that the feeling is something that we talked about. These two have given a lot to people. They have given a lot to their teammates, a lot to their coaches, a lot to their school. They have given a lot to a ton of people. Particularly, they have given a lot to their teammates. In the summertime when they organized things like weights and things we can't do. I just say Martin, tell me when you want to lift and make sure it happens because we aren't involved in that. That's what is sad about having the record we have, because these guys have done the work. Matt and Martin gave a lot to their teammates and I thought tonight their teammates gave a lot to them."
BGSU Junior Ryne Hamblet
What has been the difference lately in your play to put up four 20 point games recently?
"We started the first half of the MAC season and I didn't play that well. I decided I was going to get in the gym and work with the coaches more, and try to work on my shot and get a feel for the Division I game. I felt as the season went into the second half, I became more comfortable and started making plays."
Your team has been in a lot of tight games, what was the difference in today's win?
"This time coach told us that we're going to go to the ball screen and told me to go to the hole. If they collapsed on me then I should kick it out to [Martin] Samarco."
What was the feeling like today in your play?
"It was one of those zones. It felt like the bucket was like the ocean, that's what it felt like."
"I think that this whole season has been mental. We are really trying to cut down on our turnovers at the end of games because that is what seemed to be hurting us a lot."
Can you talk about the energy that Otis Polk provided off the bench?
"Otis came in provided a lot of energy, he was able to alter the game with the way he blocked their shots early in the second half."
How much energy did your defensive play give you?
"That gave us a real boost of confidence knowing that we could stop them. That is something that we are going to have to work on in practice, boxing out. We have been working on it but it has been one of our downfalls."
How does the win feel tonight? "It's great especially for Martin [Samarco] and Matt [Lefeld], we wanted to give them this win."
Miami Coach Charlie Coles
"I knew it was going to be tough, I am not sure if the players knew it, but I knew this was going to be a tough game. I knew that during the second game of the week and with the loss on Thursday it was going to be a tough game. I have never seen a team fight so hard with apparently not a lot on the line. They weren't playing for anything but pride. Sometimes pride counts more than playing for a bye and they proved that."
"From start to finish, even when we got a lead, I don't think we ever had control of the game. I think the period before the first half is what hurt us. We were up nine and it was cut to four. Then they came out after the half and had it tied. My hats off to Bowling Green coach Dan Dakich. They did a great job for the Bowling Green people. Even though I am on the other team, I had to admire that. I don't want to, but I do."
I knew Hamblet would come up big and he did. He came up real big! I think they have three players that they can really look to. Hamblet has had some real big games and Samarco, well he was just his usual self. Nate Miller is just a work horse. I thought they just put together a great effort.
"I think Otis Polk had more of an effect in the second half than I thought. This is what you want out of a big man at this stage. He comes in, gets a couple of blocked shots and we are not getting that out of our big guys. We get no energy out of our big guys. Polk gave them energy and that is what you have to have."
"I think we could have stopped Hamblet but it is up to the defensive player. We had our hands in his face a couple of times but you just knew he was going to let loose. I just go done telling the coaches that was the guy I was worried about. Doggone if he didn't dribble, dribble, dribble and pop one.
"I think he was talking to Alex Moosman saying, "Hey Alex, how are you doing? When did you get into town? You are a freshman, aren't ya? Oh, good, you are going to be ok." Then boom, basket. Alex has been the subject to that type of play all year. You have to know when you are a smaller guy, you have to crowd a guy like that and get him."
