Florida defeated Georgia 85-80 on Thursday night, advancing to third round of the SEC Tournament. GC provides you with postgame quotes from senior forward Tyrese Samuel and junior guard Walter Clayton, who combined for 39 points and 19 rebounds in the contest.
FORWARD TYRESE SAMUEL
Tyrese Samuel posted a career-high 15 rebounds to go with 17 points to record his 11th double-double of the season, most by a Gator since Al Horford’s 16 in 2006-07. Samuel posted a double-double in the second half alone, recording 14 points and 10 boards in the final 20 minutes.
Q. Tyrese, how did you fight through mentally the anguish of what was going on at the free-throw line?
TYRESE SAMUEL: “To be honest, I wasn’t even thinking about it at all. I missed already. At this point I just got to go over there and make ’em. That was my mindset the whole time. Just kind of like slow down. In the second half, just slow down and take your time, hopefully they’ll fall – today at least.”
Q. The night-and-day nature of the rebounding in the first half and second half, was it what your coach said? Because it looked like some of the last couple games.
TYRESE SAMUEL: “Yeah, most definitely. Rebounding was the emphasis this week. We worked on it a lot. I think, like, coming into the second half, it was really important ’cause especially for the bigs, nothing was really falling for us close to the rim. I feel like us rebounding helped us get our mojo back.”
Q. Tyrese, scoring in the paint in the second half, how important was that?
TYRESE SAMUEL: “It was important. Just getting the easy lays. In the beginning we weren’t making ’em. Taking our time, playing off of two, shot faking, game foul, getting and-ones, whether it was Will, me, Condo, even the guards as well. It was really important staying poised and making these layups at the end of the second half.”
Q. How important was this win after the way regular season ended at Vanderbilt
TYRESE SAMUEL: “Kind of like what he said. Beating a team three times in a row is really hard. We have to earn it. They’re trying to win games, too, like how we are. Just got to come out and play harder. Came out with the outcome today.”
GUARD WALTER CLAYTON
Walter Clayton led the way with 22 points on 7-15 shooting and 3-7 from the three-point line. With Clayton’s 22 points, he has 548 for the season and jumps from 25th to 14th on Florida’s single season scoring list.
Q. Walt, what was the message at halftime?
WALTER CLAYTON JR: “Coach made it very clear we was losing on the rebounding front. Obviously was fouling a lot. Defend without fouling was the big thing, getting back on the boards. I think we did a good job of that the second half, rebounding.”
Q. Walt, can you go over what happened on that steal.
WALTER CLAYTON JR: “He just threw the ball away, threw it to me. I grabbed it, took off. Fortunately the ref called a foul.”
Q. When Zyon Pullin went out and fouled out, what was your mindset to take this team on your back?
WALTER CLAYTON JR: “I think all around we just got a great team. I’ve always had a mindset of just next man up. Things happen, you got to be able to play through them. Obviously ZP going out, that’s a big part of our team, as far as what he does, facilitating the ball, getting us shots. So just trying to put myself in his shoes a little bit, run the team, put the ball in the basket, get some good looks, not turn it over.”
Q. How important was this win after the way regular season ended at Vanderbilt?
WALTER CLAYTON JR: “I think it’s very important. I was telling the guys today, it’s very tough to beat a team three times in a row. It don’t matter who it is. Beating a team three times is tough. I was telling them we got to go out there and be the tougher team. I definitely think it was very important.”