Jan. 22, 2004

Recap| Final Stats| Notes

Toledo Head Coach Stan Joplin

Opening comments:

"The amazing thing is that it is very tough for this team to play with a lead. If we can ever figure out how to play with a lead, we might have something. I can't blame it on inexperience. I just think it's a lack of concentration. BG erased a 10-point lead in what seemed like less than a minute. In the second half, we took care of the basketball and they made some tough shots. We had some players step up for us too in the second half. Justin Ingram hit some big shots for us when things weren't going well and Keith Triplett is Keith Triplett. We had to get the ball to Keith because he can make plays and makes everybody a lot better. We're 7-1 in the MAC and I'm really happy for the players. I think they're doing a nice job but I think there is room for improvement. I would like to have our big guys not foul too much. They're reacting too much in the low post. Now we have to get ready for Kent State and it will be a big game on Sunday.

On Ricardo Thomas' and A.J. Shellabarger's play:

"That's how they're supposed to play. Ricardo and A.J. are seniors and like I said the reason Western Michigan is playing well is because their seniors are playing well. Bowling Green is playing well because their senior is playing well. You have to have experience to be successful. We need those guys to step up and make plays. When Ricardo makes plays and A.J. gets rebounds and they start playing defense and don't turn the ball over that makes us a much better basketball team."

On the three-pointer by John Reimold at the end of the game:

"I was really disappointed because that wasn't supposed to happen. No one is supposed to get an open three-point shot like that. We talked about that in the huddle after we called a timeout. To get a shot like that is mind-boggling and should never happen. You have to give Bowling Green credit because they ran the play and got the shot they wanted but I was really disappointed with our defense because we said that was the only way they could stay in the game. I think part of the reason that he might have missed the three was because he was trying to guard Keith Triplett all night and I think he was tired. There's not too many people in our league that can check Keith Triplett because he makes you work by shooting it from outside or taking it to the basket. I think that hurt him with his legs."

On Triplett getting to the free-throw line late in the game:

"I would like Keith try to get to the line all the time. I won't say this very often but Keith should be a little more selfish. As long as he takes good shots we're in pretty decent shape. I just don't want him to shoot the basketball just to be shooting it. The players have to realize they have to get Keith the ball because he can make a lot of things happen. Keith is one of those guys who wants to turn it on and off like a faucet and that's stopping him from taking his game to another level. When he can be competitive all the time, he's going to be pretty good. He has some work to do in that area."

(on the crowd and having a homecourt advantage)

"I think the players and the fans enjoyed it. It was a good basketball game and both teams played hard. That's what this rivalry is about and what college basketball is about. It was nice to see the fans come out and I think the fans really gave us a homecourt advantage. Hopefully they well come back Wednesday and help us against Ball State."

(on the Kent State game on Sunday)

"I think everybody is going to test us. I believe that once you get into conference play there is no such thing as an upset. Everybody knows your strengths and weaknesses as well as you do. I think it's going to be a tough game. We have to make sure we play good basketball. If we come out like we did against Ball State we'll get beat by 20 or 25 points. Hopefully the players won't just feel good about themselves and come out and compete and play hard right away."

Senior guard Keith Triplett

(on getting to the free throw line in the second half)

"I picked my game up in the second half and I was looking for my jump shot too much in the first half. In the second half, I was getting to the line and hitting my free throws. I think when I pick my game up everybody else does too."

(on winning another close game after struggling in that area last year)

"We didn't have a true point guard last year because Sammy was more of a shooter. This year we have one with Justin and that helps us at the end of games. Justin was the one who started the run for us by hitting some threes and penetrating and I fed off him."

Senior forward Ricardo Thomas

(on his rebounding)

"I've been trying to get to the offensive glass a lot more. I got a lot of help tonight from teammates. They really helped me on the glass. When I was in with Kareem, I knew he was going to check his man out and I was going to be free to get the rebound without traffic. That was key for us because toward the middle of the second half they were only getting one shot and we were cleaning the glass."

(on playing with a sense of urgency coming off the bench)

"The better you do things the longer you stay on the court. When I come off the bench I'm trying to be instant energy for the team. The guys look to me for leadership and once they see me come in the game I can see that the guys are responding when I come in the game. A lot of times we go on runs when the guys come off the bench. I think the guys see a sense of urgency from A.J. and myself because they know we were in the doghouse at the start of the year and we've fought to get into the playing group and the regular rotations. I think the guys look at us as seniors who have shown them if they can work hard we can work hard. We also feed off the young guys because they came in with a great work ethic. It's not like we had to show them. It's really great when you have seniors that can lead and young guys who are trying to step up and lead."

Freshman guard Justin Ingram

(on his play at the start of the second half)

"I like to bring a lot of energy to our team. I had to sit out after picking up two fouls in the first half and I wanted to come out and give us a spark in the second half."

(on his first game against Bowling Green)

"I loved the atmosphere. I like the spotlight and playing in big games like this. It was a great experience. It was a lot of fun playing against our rival team."

Bowling Green Head Coach Dan Dakich

Opening comments:

"I thought it was one helluva basketball game. I thought that both teams competed and battled. I thought the refs let the kids decide the game on the court for the most part. Unfortunately for us, the last shot didn't go in which would have extended the game five minutes. My hats off to Toledo. I thought they competed and we competed. The key to the game was the play of (Justin) Ingram at the start of the second half. He really got their team going. We got down 10 points on the road against one of the better if not the best team in the league and we came back and got it tied. We got the look we wanted at the end but we missed it. I would take Reimold shooting that shot any day of the week three over anybody else I've ever coached. I feel awful for him because he prides himself in making everything when you need it."

On the last play of the game:

"We had four options. Kevin (Netter) could step back with Shellabarger staying inside. The other option was Austin (Montgomery) coming off a screen set by Kevin. Reimold was another option and Steven (Wright) was our other option."

On Toledo's perimeter shooting:

"It's been pretty good and you know that it's been good. It was probably the difference in the ballgame when they went 10-for-17 on three-pointers. You rarely beat a team when they make 10 three-pointers and Ingram making four of them was crucial for them."

Bowling Green senior center Kevin Netter

On being worn out in the second half:

"No. We just didn't come out to play. We were in the same situation last year here with a lead at halftime. We came out soft and didn't throw the first punch and Toledo did. There were two good teams battling out there."

On the intensity during the game:

"It's the Battle of I-75. Everybody's intensity is as high as it's going to be. Everything was going good for us and we went into halftime thinking we were going to win this game. We didn't come out to battle like we should have."