They Said It: Austin Peay
Samford Scoop got the chance to talk with Samford head coach Bucky McMillan and Riley Allenspach following the 72-47 win over Austin Peay. Jones finished with a 15 points and three rebounds in 19 minutes of action.
How proud of the work your team did defensively especially after the kind of shootout that was South Carolina State? The first time you have held a team to under 50 points this season.
Bucky McMillan: “It’s just different ways to win. Sometimes it’s man, zone, sometimes it’s offense is going to carry the day and sometimes it’s defense. Holding a team to 35% from the field and obviously below 50 points is great. You know we didn’t have our night with our scoring for the top scoring team in the country. You know you look at halftime and it was 26 points, and it is probably not what you are accustomed to seeing. But when you play defense like that, eventually shots are going to fall and we’re going to be able to make a serious push. How many threes did we have in the second half? Eight threes in the second half. That will do it especially when you guard like that.”
How have you seen your defense kind of change once you put Isaiah West into the starting lineup? He only had four points but he was +16 overall today.
McMillan: “You are going to try to find the guys that play the best together and one thing about Isaiah is that he can have such a massive impact on the game whether he scores or doesn’t score. He moves the ball, the ball doesn't stick with him. He can finish at the rim but most importantly, he’s going to do every small thing that matters. He’s a smart defender, he’s a great rebounder and he knows the scouting report. So all of those little things that equate to winning, he’s going to do and you need that to compliment a Rylan Jones, a Trey Fort, a Collin, a Jaden who can all score the basketball. So it’s really this time of year is about finding the right rotations, who plays well with who, and by the way when you get to league play you have a better idea and a better picture for the way you need to substitute.”
What has it been like dealing with the physicality of this season especially after being a freshman a season ago.
Riley Allenspach: ”It’s a lot easier than last year. I think just being a freshman having to adjust to everything and I put on a little bit of weight, so that’s helped. I think it just makes it easier down on the post, posting people up especially on defense. I don’t get pushed under the rim as much.”
