Jan. 14, 2004

Recap| Final Stats| Notes

Toledo vs. Marshall Post Game Quotes (1/14/04)

Toledo Head Coach Stan Joplin

(on the Rockets' foul shooting and missing 8-of-11 free throws in final 1:30)

"The way we finished was really bad. I don't know if it was a lack of concentration or what. Those free throws weren't even close and we didn't have any confidence."

"We made a run at the end and we were able to make some plays. I was happy with the way we got the ball inside. It's hard to explain because sometimes we look good on offense and sometimes we look bad. Sometimes we look like a young team. We're very inconsistent and we have a lot of room for improvement. At times, our defense was good but our rebounding was suspect. But we won and we're 4-1 in the league. We're not clicking the way we should be and hopefully it will come sooner than later."

(on A.J. Shellabarger having a double-double)

"A.J. came in and gave us a spark. If we can rotate guys in like that it really helps. We wanted to make a better effort getting the ball inside. Our perimeter players were shooting a lot of shots and I think our opponents' big men were using all their energy on offense. A.J.'s definitely a team player and there's no question about that. I tell our players that everybody can't be on the first team but everyone can put the team first. A.J. has done that and this is the most minutes he's played in a while. We're going to continue to rotate those guys and use their fouls and try to play hard and make some plays. Whoever starts doesn't mean anything. The guys that are playing well are the ones who are going to play."

Senior center A.J. Shellabarger

(on having a double-double)

"My teammates were penetrating and dumping it off to me. All I had to do was lay it up and it was pretty easy. We really have emphasized getting the ball into the post. We put in a few plays to get it into the post. Coach had a lot to do with that and everybody was looking for me a lot more."

(on coming off the bench this year)

"Allen (Pinson) and I are real good friends and I don't hold anything against him because he's starting. I come in off the bench and help the team out as much as possible. Everybody obviously wants to be in the starting lineup but everyone can't. I feel like if I'm playing well I'm going to play."

Marshall Head Coach Ron Jirsa

"I give Toledo credit because they played hard and they have a good team that's playing well. Stan is doing a very good job as far as getting his players to share the ball. They have people who can really shoot and even though they didn't make a lot of threes tonight they got us spread out and that was a big part in (A.J.) Shellabarger having a big game inside."

(on Toledo's foul shooting at the end of the game)

"We really weren't sure who to foul because they have a good free throw shooting team. But even they missed they were able to get some big offensive rebounds"

(on senior forward Marvin Black missing the game with a sternum injury)

"He's our leading scorer and rebounder and he's an important part of the team. We're really not sure of his status for Saturday's game. He's still having some trouble breathing. Injuries are a part of team sports. You have to have the depth and people who can step in."