In Case You Missed It: Selby Quotes, Game One

Just a few of the postgame comments on Selby's pretty impressive debut this past weekend to reflect on as we get ready for tonight's second game with Selby and the Jayhawks first on the road. I'd say if anything he might have even raised the bar of expectation, if that's the case we'll see how he responds tonight.

Kansas Head Coach Bill Self

On trusting Josh Selby in the final minutes of the game:

"We had him out there, and he was obviously our ‘broken floor' offense. Of course he shot the ball unbelievably well from behind the arc - but the kid (Josh Selby) has a lot of (Sherron Collins) in him. We tried to run a lob play for him to try and get an easy basket, but (USC) backed off, and the shot wasn't there. It was nice to see his first three-pointer go down for him.

He bailed us out, he saved us - he doesn't know what he is doing out there, but he still comes away with 21 points and was our best offensive player. I'm happy for him, and we played like we practiced - and we haven't practiced well of late - but we did play with some energy. It's nice to have a guy who wants the ball in that kind of situation, and it is nice to know that (Selby) is that kind of player."

It's been mentioned but I'm not sure anyone has really commented all that much on the Sherron to Selby comparison.  Thoughts?  If I were to say, it would be the confidence that the two had or seem to have.

On the similarities he sees between Josh Selby and Sherron Collins:

"They both think they're pretty good, neither one lacks confidence - and I like that a lot. Josh is still going to be up and down, but he likes this stage, he is a gamer. He has to do a lot of things to become a better basketball player. If you watch the film, he didn't do some things very well. But he can do some things that you cannot teach."

On if he is surprised that Selby took the final shot of the game:

"No, I would be surprised if he didn't. We really labored in a lot of ways this game and I'm not sure anyone else wanted to take the last shot. I couldn't have scripted a better ending. National stage, national TV, and now he is going to be the talk of the country. I'm really happy for Josh and his mother; they have made a lot of sacrifices for this day to come."

 

Kansas freshman guard Josh Selby

On his last shot:

"Marcus (Morris) was like ‘are you ready to shoot? Because I have a feeling they are going to double team me, don't hesitate to just let it go. You have been hitting shots all day.' So when he said that, I didn't hesitate to shoot the ball and it just went in."

On his game day experience:

"It was wonderful, just to be out there playing along with my teammates, playing for the fans and the coaches. It was a great environment."

On his feelings when he entered the game:

"I wasn't nervous, because the night before the game I was with my teammates. They weren't putting any pressure on me. They just told me to do what I do and I will fit right in. Don't worry about trying to do too much, and when they said that, I didn't hesitate."

On whether his life will change:

"I am not really focusing on that right now. I am just worried about getting to California and getting another win with my teammates."

On the support from the crowd:

"It's wonderful; I think we have the best fans in college basketball. They never give up on us, (even when) we were down. They were cheering for us, they were getting us motivated, they were giving us energy, so they played a big part in this game."

On whether he expected to be in at the end of the game:

"I really don't know, I don't know what the coaches are thinking."

On his turnovers:

"The ball was slippery, but I am not going to blame it on that. I am going to try and lessen my turnovers. I am not even going to make an excuse. Hopefully next game I won't have four turnovers."

On losing the lead:

"USC is pretty good, they're scrappy. They play defense, they make big shots, so we knew the game was going to be close. They fought hard and never gave up, but we came out with the victory."

 

Kansas junior guard Tyshawn Taylor

On Selby's performance:

"I think everybody was waiting to see him play and so were we. I am excited for him. He stepped up and did what we knew he could do."

 

Kansas sophomore forward Thomas Robinson

On Selby's debut:

"It is beyond words. I have been watching him play now for more time than the public has and I have known he was a good player. He fit in just how we thought he would."

On Selby fitting in:

"The offense doesn't change at all. He bought in real early. He bought into what Coach (Self) was trying to say, which is that our offense is to move the ball, and it worked out for him."