MAUI JIM'S MAUI INVITATIONAL

November 22, 2021

Dana Altman

De'Vion Harmon

Oregon Ducks

Postgame Press Conference

Oregon - 73, Chaminade - 49

DANA ALTMAN: I thought we played a little harder than we've been playing. I liked the effort. We didn't shoot the ball well the first half and took a few quick threes that I thought were maybe guys just trying to get it going.

But we're still trying to find our way. But I did like how hard we played. I thought we were a little more physical in the second half, took the ball to the basket a little bit more like we wanted, had more assists in the second half. So I thought our ball movement was better. We've got a long ways to go, but I thought we made a step in the right direction tonight.

Q. Your thoughts on the difference now. It seemed like the second half you had better offensive execution?

DE'VION HARMON: I think it started with the defense, pressure on defense, which made it easier for our guys. We got more run-outs.

So as a team just keep focusing on defense. In the first half our shots weren't falling early and we kind of got behind but that's all right. Coach makes sure that we're having an emphasis on defense, defense first, blocking out.

Q. Do you feel like you needed to take it upon yourself to be more assertive there offensively in the second half because Will was struggling a little bit with the shot?

DE'VION HARMON: No. Will's one of the best players in the country. So I mean, it doesn't really matter who is hitting shots or not, we're a really good basketball team. I know we gave up one last week but we're really good. Everybody keeps saying it. I just wanted to bring energy to that basketball team and that's what coach brought me here for and that's what I'm going to do. And I just want to win. And I can speak for my teammates on that, we just want to win basketball games. It doesn't matter who is hitting shots or not, coach just tells us that you got to find a way to win.

Q. How does it feel to get this win after the tough BYU loss?

DANA ALTMAN: Well, it was important that we make a step in the right direction. We all were disappointed with our performance. We didn't execute our discipline offensively. Defensively wasn't good. We didn't share the ball very well, and then we just didn't make any of the tough plays.

So I thought it was a step in the right direction. We've got a long ways to go. I think our team can have a good season and can be good, but that's totally up to our guys and how much they want to play together, how hard they want to work, and the effort they want to put into it.

Q. Your thoughts on Frank and, he brought great energy. He's one of those guys, Frank seems like he's another one that this team plays at another level when he's in the game like that.

DE'VION HARMON: Well, one thing about Frank that I really, really love and that we all love like is his energy, his leadership. Like he brings like the type of, a different type of vibe to our team that we need though. It's amazing.

Frank's already one of the best teammates that I've had since I've been started playing basketball. We all love Frank. He smiles every day. Such a big part of our basketball team, man. I just wish that y'all could see it behind the scenes in practice. Like it never changes. Practice, work out, game. Ya'll think he just comes out in the game and does this, but, no, it's every single day. It's a habit. It's definitely a habit. He gets us hyped for the game. We're down 20 at halftime against BYU. Frank's the first one, here we one, here we go, here we go. I love him. He so happy to be a part of it.

Q. What do you have to say about the Chaminade team and the way they competed, especially given the first half?

DANA ALTMAN: No, we knew coming in they were going to play hard and they expended a lot of energy the first half and we're just a little bigger, which gave us a little advantage.

But, no, I told the guys before the game, these guys are going to play hard and it's our job to try to match their intensity. In that first half we didn't have shots falling. Our intensity wasn't quite what it should have been. And I really respect the job Eric does. They played really hard.

Q. Your thoughts on the carry-over from Tuesday to today and just the intensity that you showed today.

DANA ALTMAN: Well, we had a couple really hard practices on Thursday and Friday, and the first half wasn't lack of effort, just guys trying hard and wanting to get it right. We took some quick shots I didn't think we needed to take. It was just a matter of settling them down a little bit. We know how much better we're going to have to play tomorrow night to give ourself a chance.

So just knew it wouldn't be a thing of beauty but we wanted to make sure we just played hard and started getting back to some of the things we wanted to do.

Q. Will shot the ball so well the first two games. He's kind of in a funk right now. What can you do to get him going? And just your thoughts on he seemed to be able to facilitate tonight better than Tuesday?

DANA ALTMAN: I thought he did in the second half, I thought he made some really good plays. He had five assists. I thought in the second half he really did a good job. Everybody goes through a game or two -- and we had a tough game against BYU, we all did, and we had some good looks, the ball just didn't go in, it happens to everybody. Looking at the Curry stats the other night, he didn't have a good game and I tell the guys, If it can happen to them guys, it can happen to you from time to time. You're not going to shoot the ball well every night, so how do you respond? Do you give into it, which we did against BYU, and I thought the first half we didn't shoot it well, but guys kept playing hard. I thought that we kept going. We were just dragging a little bit because we didn't have that energy that happens when you hit a few shots.