Jan. 9, 2013

Recap

Ole Miss Head Coach Andy Kennedy

Postgame Quotes

Opening Statement

"I was proud of my guys, they came out and were very aggressive. When I look at the stat sheet, I see we're plus-15 on the glass, which never happens to a Tennessee team. We scored 92 points and didn't even shoot it particularly well, only 4-15 from three. We made foul shots at a very high clip, and that's what you have to do on the road. We didn't make a three until probably the last six or seven minutes of the game, when Marshall (Henderson) sprayed those two threes to take it from 10 to 16. We stuck to the gameplan, which was to stick the ball inside and put pressure on the rim. That's how you win in the SEC, and that's what we did tonight."

On the Rebels' defensive rebounding

"It was a clash of Titans, so to speak. Tennessee is second in the SEC in defensive rebound percentage, meaning they rebound a very high percentage of shots that come off of the defense glass. We're a good offensive rebounding team, so we have to do what we do. As I look at the stat sheet, I see 14 offensive rebounds that kept the ball alive and gave us second-chance points. We had to do a good job on our defensive boards, they're also a very good offensive rebounding team. We held them in single-digits (in offensive rebounds).

On Marshall Henderson's 32 points

"Marshall finally settled in and made a couple of shots. You look at his numbers, he scores 32 points but he goes 8-19 (from the field), 3-12 (from three-point range). It's his first road game in SEC play. I thought we were a little anxious early and once we settled down in the second half, we were able to get some separation."

On having two players, Buckner and Holloway, with double-doubles

"If that Reginald Buckner shows up, then the Rebels are going to be a handful for a lot of people. He goes for 13 points, 15 rebounds, was a presence at the rim, goes 7-9 at the foul line. Then his cohort Murphy Holloway, who I didn't start, because we have a silly little rule that if you don't practice he day before I can't start you. Murphy didn't practice yesterday, he could barely move in shootaround, he's had a sinus issue, migraine headaches, but he goes 15 (points) and 12 (rebounds), and that's what you need your seniors to do."

On hosting Missouri next

"I heard Coach (Nick) Saban after the National Championship game talk about his 24-hour rule, you get 24 hours when you have seven days between games, we've got three days. We're going to give this about 12 hours. We're going to land, get a good night's rest and get up in the morning and turn our focus to Missouri."