The University of Akron Athletics
Keith Dambrot Weekly Press Conference Quotes
February 12 | Men's Basketball
Below is the transcript of head coach
Keith Dambrot's discussion
with the media on today's Mid-American Conference teleconference.
Dambrot will be on the call each Monday throughout the league
season.
Opening Statement:
"I think it's a very typical Mid-American Conference season thus
far. Each team has their strengths but they also have their
weaknesses. Almost everybody is the same with the top team not
being much better than the bottom. We've played them all now and we
have to look forward to the game against Ohio (on Tuesday)."
On the importance of Tuesday's game against
Ohio:
"It depends on what your goals are. We wanted to win the
regular-season MAC title, but we also want to win the tournament.
OU has the best team in the league starters wise. Even though they
didn't play well against Northern Illinois (81-74 Ohio loss on
Saturday), they will definitely come here ready to play.
On Saturday's loss at Toledo:
We are disappointed every time we lose, but we can't focus on that.
We now know that we can play with anyone in the league because
Toledo is a hard place to play when it's packed and we were able to
do it. Not many walk into that place and get their business
done."
On what was taken from this season's first game against
Ohio:
"They beat us up inside with Leon Williams and Jerome Tillman. They
also beat us off the dribble, consistently. The games we haven't
won, we haven't played well on defense. That's how we felt at
Toledo when that game was done. The last two days, we've worked on
defense and very little on offense.'
On Akron guard
Nick Dials play of
late:
"People forget that he had very little rehabbing with his injury
(ACL) last year and came back after just four months, which is like
a miracle with that injury. He's a great athlete with a lot of
dedication and always contributes."
On the MAC race:
"Toledo's in great position to get the No. 1 seed in the
tournament, but I don't think they're better than any one of the
teams in the East (Division). They just don't have to play any of
us again. Right now, they have the advantage with the scheduling
when we have one of the hardest left playing Kent State, Ohio and
the energetic bunch from Duquesne. It should be a difficult
remaining few but we know that things can change quickly and we
can't be quick to assume who's going to get what seed."
