Todd Abernethy Quotations

We felt like Kentucky had pressure on them. This is a big game for them. We really didn't have any pressure, so we weren't worried about losing.

We have no choice but to go to LSU and fight. We have to give it our best shot.

The crazy thing is we've got so many young guys. A lot of these young guys, I think they're kind of spoiled.

I don't blame him for getting loud. We let this one slip by.

We've gone 10-3 the hard way, I think. But no one can take that away from us. It feels good no matter how we've gotten it.

He was straight-up with us at the meeting. He told us the four candidates and said we would know something by next week. The interviews went well, and we were able to get a coach this week.

I think it's going to be a big, big difference having Dwayne with us. ... He just takes up space, but I don't think he would have been the whole difference in the 40-point loss.

I think the mental aspect is really big. After you lose about five in a row, you wonder if you can win. You forget what it tastes like to win.

I think he can be a big difference for us. He can score, and he just takes up space. I don't think he would have been the whole difference in the 40-point loss. I think our team needs to stay focused and not let scoring droughts take us out of the game.

I still think it's a big game for him. He's got to be excited with how he's playing and he's going to make an impact (tonight).

That wasn't anything unusual. He has different styles. Sometimes he's quiet. I don't blame him for getting loud.

Winning at the end would be big. I don't think it wipes everything out ... that's a lot of games. But it sure would help. It would give us a winning season, and that's better than I've ever done here.

We had a lot of success with me coming off the ball screens up there. Usually I come off the screen, and I'm open. Doubling the ball screens was a great strategy. I got some open shots, I just missed them.

We can't just feel sorry for ourselves right now with everything that's going on. We've got to continue to fight.

We needed it. It was very good for us to get back to playing Ole Miss basketball. When you don't practice at all, you forget your defensive principles. Just the sharpness goes away a little bit. The week was great for us. We worked hard and had some intense days.

We got on our heels. They made some tips, some steals, got some points. I think we just kind of fell apart a little bit.

We came here wanting to win, expecting to win, but State played a heck of a game. The last game, we beat them with a lot off on-ball screens. This time, they doubled us coming off the screens. Great strategy. They were more cautious not to let me got the open shot.

We really didn't have anything to lose. We felt like Kentucky had pressure on them ? this was a big game for them. We came out loose and free. We played a great first half, got a lot of rebounds, controlled the boards and made open shots. We were really confident going into the second half.

We feel pretty embarrassed. But we have no choice but to keep pressing on.

Everyone was just stunned. Everyone just hurts for him. I can't imagine losing a brother. We hugged him. We're here for him; we're praying for him. In the weeks to come we'll just rally around him, support him and do anything he needs to help him get through this time.

After he got fired with two games left, he could have packed it up and not even come with us. That just shows his character. He's studying film. He was giving everything he had in these last few games.

It's going to make a big, big difference having Dwayne back. In the last game we didn't establish any post presence, and Dwayne is a guy who takes up a lot of space and can score inside.

It's our fault. We have no one to blame but ourselves. We've had four or five chances to get to No. 15 and haven't been able to lock it down.

It's tough when you lose to think you're awesome. I know when we won a couple games in a row, we were so confident going into the (Mississippi) State game we knew we were going to win. Doubts can come in when you're losing.

It's tough. We love Coach (Barnes), plain and simple. He's put so much into this program. He fights every day and comes to work every day with joy, no matter what. It was sad to hear he won't be with us next year.

In everything, you just have to weigh the options and figure out the best thing. For some people, it might be best to leave, start fresh.

He's our big man and we're going to miss him. We go through him and rely on him scoring and rebounding. But we have no choice but to go out and play the best we can without him.