University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI vs. South Dakota State Men's Basketball Post-Game Quotes
11/24/2006 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 24, 2006
UNI Head Coach Ben Jacobson
"We played a tough, hard-nosed basketball team. We knew that was what we were going to see tonight. SDSU did a nice job of running their stuff and making shots at key times. It seemed like every time we had a change to get away - from maybe six to eight or eight to 10 - each time they would come up and make a big shot. That is credit to their team and their coaching staff. We knew they were a good basketball team and they played very hard.
"[Coleman is so important to our team. Not only can he score and block and if they double him he is a great passer, so he can find the right guy. When he gets things going, he will wave his arms and get our fans into it and get our guys into it. There are so many things that he does well."
UNI Junior Center Eric Coleman
"As one of the guys with two years of experience, Brooks, Stout and I need to keep the team focused no matter what is happening. Even if they go on a run or we go on a run, we have to keep the team focused. That is our job at hand. We pride ourselves on toughness and if you are not tough, you are not going to play.
"Any home team is going to feed off their crowd. Our crowd did a great job of getting loud and cheering for us. I think that boosted our team and we went on runs whenever they did that. It helped us win the game in the end.
"Kwadzo shoots it well in practice, but he usually practices being the point guard and getting others the shots. He had his number called a few times and he knocked them down tonight, which he does in practice. We knew he could shoot, but he just hasn't taken a lot of shots in games. It might have been a surprise to everyone else, but it wasn't to us."
UNI Junior Guard Adam Viet
"I know when I come in I am probably going to get some shots in. I have made myself ready for that.
["Coleman] is always playing with energy. He gets the crowd fired up. He gets all of us fired up. When the crowd gets into it, everybody gets into it and it seems like it makes it easier to pull off a win.
"We knew SDSU would play a lot of freshman and sophomores and they would be ready. We knew we were not going to have an easy game tonight. All of us were ready for it and coach did an awesome job of having us ready."
